July 27th, 2018: All-Star open practice

Scattershot notes from open practice, featuring late arrivals, hair commentary, the running gag of Allie Quigley hitting shots, and twerking.

Good afternoon, folks! We're coming to you in stereophonic sound from All-Star open practice at the Target Center.

So far I have spotted Chicago, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Seattle gear. And, of course, Lynx gear. C'mon, everyone else, step up!

There are two constants in my life: basketball and the EDD Watch Me Work ad. At least I finally got to see the Tina Charles one. The behind-the-scenes looks are fun.

I am still not used to Crystal Robinson with long hair.

Add New York and two small Dallas fans to the count. And we've got a Dream shirt!

Here we go. Introductory remarks from the president of Rasmussen College, which is sponsoring the event, and Coach Reeve. Who just gave my husband an enormous shoutout. She teased a group of Merc fans, too.

Lynx fans got up for intros and haven't sat down. Makes it hard to see, but I love the passion.

Mama Taj is here and got a huge cheer from the crowd.

Kayla, what did you do to your hair?

Griner hits a dunk after Stewart misses one. The crowd goes wild. I was more impressed with her flicking up the half court shot.

Dan Hughes is out here drawing up plays like anything is going to be seriously run in this game. “And now you've seen the entire playbook.” Fair enough.

Time for Five Spots! Coach has asked us to keep count. “They've been known to cheat on this drill.”

Half court shot contest with a $1000 donation for BHA at stake. So far, McBride and Delle Donne have hit and we are in a shoot-off. Delle Donne take it on the fourth round.

T-shirt tossing time! (after a detour to the second row of seats from Big Syl) The stakes just got raised. Signed warm-ups are going up, spearheaded by Fowles.

I think the dance-off is next. Brittney, please keep your shirt on, this is not that kind of dance contest. Not everyone participated, and the split weirded me out a little bit.

Seimone, the “Whose house?” “Our house!” call and response is not effective when there are two Lynx on each All-Star team.
Aaaaaand I am on the wrong side of the arena for the Inspiring Women symposium.

I'm not sure about the “support all women” thing. I mean, Betsy DeVos is a woman, but she's also evil.

Yes, bring up the importance of diversity on a panel of extremely minimal color. And that's a generous inclusion there. It was interesting, though. I wish the Liberty had had Michele Van Gorp longer. She's very well spoken.

Team Parker is off to a late start.

Awww. Chiney Ogwumike and Candace Parker are FaceTiming Nneka into the festivities.

Mama Loyd and her signs are here.

Upnod of respect to the woman in the Comets jersey.

Five Spots again. Shockingly, the half of the team with Allie Quigley is better at shooting threes.

Brondello is running the squad through basic plays nominally from every team's playbook. I think Liz is bored, though.

On to knockout, with a Rick Barry twist. Chelsea Gray seemed to take great glee in knocking Candace Parker's put back off line. The three point version has led to some wacky rebounds. Shockingly, Allie Quigley won a three-point contest she was involved in.

Half court shots, same rules as the other team's, $1000 to charity. Shockingly, Allie Quigley won another shooting contest. Granted, a halfcourt shot taken much like your average jump shot is pretty spectacular.

Trick shots now. It's not going well. Maya Moore tried a few standing on the scorer's table, Skylar Diggins-Smith did the seated shot, Chelsea Gray took hers from the stands, and Jewell Loyd hit one from behind the shot clock. Either Candace Parker absconded with someone's kid from the stands, or she brought out Lailaa.

Sideline interview with Liz. Interviewer brought up the 53-point game. Cue up the ball spike from Tina and play-wrestling. Somehow this led to Liz giving Tina a piggyback ride for the team photo.

God bless you, random dude in the Fever shirt. Bless and keep you. We also spotted someone in an Aces shirt, so it looks like the last stragglers are Connecticut and Washington. Step your game up, Eastern Seaboard!

Post-practice notes, only because we are literally the next table over from Mama Taj and people keep bothering her. I'm being good.