Minnesota guard Kayla McBride shows skills in her 4th WNBA All-Star weekend appearance

PHOENIX — The Minnesota Lynx’s Kayla McBride showed up this past weekend for the WNBA All-Star game held in Phoenix, proud to represent the Lynx for the first time.

McBride, an Erie native, participated in both the 3-point contest and the All-Star game over the course of two days. She was the one to watch going into Friday’s 3-point contest. McBride currently leads the WNBA in made 3s at 76.

McBride, pointing at her Minnesota jersey as she began, brought it down to the wire during the 3-point contest, but she hit the final “moneyball” to keep her in the game, pushing her score from 19 to 21 points, only to be ousted later by the New York Liberty’s Jonquel Jones.

But for McBride, the 3-point contest was about more than winning. It was about doing it with a Minnesota Lynx jersey on her back. She said during media availability Friday that she was really just excited for the contest because she gets to represent the Lynx.

“I’m really excited to go out there in my Lynx jersey and shoot some 3s. That’s the fun part. It’s like playing in a playground,” McBride said. “Just going around, seeing how many you can make, competing and having fun.”

More: Allisha Gray cashes in at WNBA All-Star weekend, wins skills and 3-point contests

McBride, in her 11th season, was drafted No. 3 overall in the 2014 WNBA draft to the San Antonio Stars (who later relocated to the Las Vegas Aces). She was traded from the Aces to the Lynx in 2021. At her new team, she has been able to show her ability beyond the arc.

“There’s multiple games where we have taken 20 3s in the first half. I don’t think that’s ever happened with a team coached by Cheryl (Reeves) ever,” McBride said with a laugh on Friday. “She’s just kind of given us free reign to let loose a little bit. That’s just where the game is too as a whole. I think it’s just kind of where the trajectory of the game is going.

“When you’re shooting it well, you know over 40%, they can’t say much.”

A fourth all-star appearnce: Erie's Kayla McBride joins Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, others on WNBA All-Star roster

Confidence contributes to McBride's successful season

This was McBride's fourth WNBA All-Star game, but her first with the Lynx. It’s her first All-Star selection since 2019. A high school graduate of Villa Maria Academy , McBride has posted career highs in assists per game (3.7) and 3-point shooting percentage (43.3%). She’s the 13th player in Lynx history to earn All-Star status.

“Just my confidence and my peace outside the court,” McBride said about what is helping her have a great season. “It’s something I have been working on the last year or two.”

McBride faced her Lynx teammate Napheesa Collier, who was playing on Team USA at the All-Star weekend. It was something she was excited about.

“I’m looking forward to it,” she said with a laugh. “I have so much love for Phee. Being across from her will be fun, being competitive. Same with Cheryl (Reeves). Obviously they are playing for something so much bigger with the Olympics coming up in a couple weeks. But it’s just fun to be on the other side and to be in the moment. We’ve gone through so much together.”

McBride finished the All-Star game with three points and two assists in 11 minutes of play.

McBride and Team WNBA emerged with the victory Saturday, beating Team USA 117-109.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Minnesota guard Kayla McBride shows skills in her 4th WNBA All-Star weekend appearance