From player introductions featuring Cirque du Soleil performances, a concert party at Mandalay Bay Beach, to even a half-time concert performance by Teyana Taylor, the 2019 WNBA All-Star Weekend had a touch of Vegas in every detail.
While the main attraction was Saturday’s All-Star Game, won by the Western Conference (aka Team A’ja Wilson) 129-126, there was still a lot of attention and high praise for the entertainment surrounding the event, including from the players.
“It was electric. It was positive. And I think we should have it here every year,” Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson said in regard to her team hosting the event in their city. “Granted, I didn't have to travel far, but it was really nice to just have -- like [Kayla McBride] said, have people go through what we go through and the energy from the fans.”
The fans’ energy was not the only contributing factor to the event’s success, the planning and effort put in by the Aces and MGM was clearly noticed as well. It was hard to walk or drive anywhere along the Las Vegas Strip and not see some type of advertisement with players’ faces promoting the event. And all the thoughtful planning and investment that went into the entire weekend was certainly not missed by the players, even the ones who traveled from afar.
“Loved it. I think it was put on really well from the moment that we got here. I think it was a lot of preparation that went into it. The team dinner, the parties, everything, Teyana Taylor at our game. So, I think they did a really good job here in Vegas,” said Brittney Griner from the Phoenix Mercury, who on Saturday became the first player in the WNBA to have multiple dunks in the All-Star Game.
Vegas certainly brought the “wow factor” to the WNB All-Star Weekend, and some player even think that what the city has brought to the league with the addition of the Aces is something that the rest of the league could learn from.
Elena Delle Donne, forward for the Washington Mystics, says, “I think it would be nice to see every game like this. I mean, you see what happens when there's an investment in a team. I mean, the Aces are, what, two years young, and look what they've been able to do. It proves that it works. I think we can look to the Aces and see what they did this entire All-Star, what they've been doing with their team. You see them everywhere. They're marketed very well, and kind of take that model and run with it.”
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