SAMI WHITCOMB TO REPRESENT SEATTLE STORM IN WNBA SKILLS CHALLENGE

ESPN to provide live coverage of AT&T WNBA All-Star Friday Night 2019 beginning at 4 p.m. PT

LAS VEGAS – Seattle Storm guard Sami Whitcomb will compete against seven other players in the WNBA Skills Challenge, the league today announced. ESPN will provide live coverage of the WNBA Skills Challenge and WNBA Three-Point Contest presented by MTN DEW beginning Friday, July 26 at 4 p.m. PT as part of AT&T WNBA All-Star Friday Night 2019.

Whitcomb, who made her first WNBA career start on June 28, reached a milestone with her 100^th made three-pointer on Tuesday vs. the Las Vegas Aces. The versatile guard dished out a career-high eight assists at Minnesota on July 17 and tied her career best with six rebounds against Phoenix on June 30. Whitcomb is averaging 7.7 points, 2.8 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game with 41 made three-point field goals, which is tied for third in the league with Kelsey Mitchell.

Whitcomb will compete against Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner, Chicago guards Diamond DeShields and Courtney Vandersloot, Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier and guard Odyssey Sims, Connecticut forward/center Jonquel Jones and Atlanta Dream center/forward Elizabeth Williams.

The Skills Challenge is a head-to-head, bracket-style tournament.  The three-round event features two players competing simultaneously on identical obstacle courses that test ball handling, passing, agility and three-point shooting skills.  The fastest finisher in each matchup advances to the next round.  The four first-round winners reach the second round, and the two second-round winners advance to compete for the title in the championship round.  First-round matchups will be determined at a later date.

In addition to the WNBA Three-Point Contest presented by MTN DEW and Skills Challenge, the event schedule on July 26 will feature a Fan Fest from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. PT and the WNBA All-Star Beach Concert & Party after the two on-court competitions.  Fan Fest, which will be open to the public free of charge, will also take place on July 27 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. PT.

AT&T WNBA All-Star Friday Night 2019 precedes AT&T WNBA All-Star Game 2019, which will be played on Saturday, July 27 at 3:30 p.m. ET at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.  The 16^th WNBA All-Star Game will be televised live by ABC. Tickets to WNBA All-Star Friday Night are free with the purchase of tickets to the AT&T WNBA All-Star Game but may also be purchased separately.  For information about tickets to WNBA All-Star Friday Night, the AT&T WNBA All-Star Game and the Beach Concert & Party, fans can visit http://bit.ly/WNBAallstar.

Whitcomb, along with AT&T WNBA All-Star Game 2019 starters Natasha Howard and Jewell Loyd, will return to Angel of the Winds Arena on Friday, Aug. 2 at 7 p.m. PT for a rematch of the 2018 WNBA Finals vs. the Washington Mystics.

Raise the trophy with the Storm with a Storm 360 Membership, package or group experience available online or by calling (206) 217-WNBA (9622). Single-game tickets are available at StormBasketball.com.