Kelsey Plum wins WNBA All-Star Game MVP with 30-point blast

Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum shone in a 30-point WNBA All-Star performance that showcased her talent as one of the best in the game.

Kelsey Plum crowned an impressive performance in an emotional game with a strong commitment: her WNBA All-Star MVP award was dedicated to her Brittney Griner.

There’s a whole conversation to be had about it size of Kelsey Plum’s WNBA All-Star MVP trophy — especially when you compare it to what Steph Curry hoisted over his head after his All-Star game — but Plum has a lot of fun with the fairly accurate “sippy cup” comparison.

The trophy size in no way reflects what the Las Vegas Aces star accomplished in his 30-point All-Star performance as the points leader ahead of Jonquel Jones (29) and Jewell Loyd (21). As ESPN writers Mechelle Voepel and Alexa Philippou put it, these three “assure everyone that the WNBA will remain in good hands when its longtime legends retire.”

Team A’ja Wilson defeated Team Breanna Stewart 134-112, a win made possible by Wilson’s Aces coach and teammates. Aces coach Becky Hammon coached Team Wilson, and Plum joined Wilson as an All-Star teammate two combined for 40 points.

It was a meaningful game as it marked the end for two historic WNBA players: Seattle Storm staple Sue Bird and Minnesota Lynx star Sylvia Fowles.

As the torch passed between generations, Kelsey Plum became a focal point as one of the bright young stars who will propel the league forward in the years to come.

Kelsey Plum shines in an incredible WNBA All-Star game

According to ESPN, when Sue Bird saw Stewart didn’t pick Plum first when the captains were drafted, she said she was concerned. Bird believed Plum would be an asset during the All-Star performance, and she was spot on. Plum managed to have the lowest score in the 3-point contest to have the most points of anyone in the All-Star Game.

That choice benefited Team Wilson, who paired Plum with Fowles for an incredible dunk highlight.

“Especially [as] someone saw yesterday, I had to redeem myself,” Plum said. “I’m not a rack shooter. I’m more of a game shooter. I’m glad it worked out.”

“I was a kid in a candy store. I enjoy running; I could have just been pacing up and down the whole time and would have been happy.”

The 27-year-old guard now has another trophy to add to her case, albeit a small one. Plum helped the United States win gold in the 3×3 basketball tournament during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.