Allie Quigley is at her best when the challenge is the most formidable.
Two years ago amidst a TV sports-starved desert during the height of the pandemic, ESPN conducted a H-O-R-S-E competition featuring NBA and WNBA stars.
In a highly publicized opening matchup, the former DePaul standout and current Chicago Sky WNBA champion prevailed over iconic Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul.
Not long after, Quigley received texts and videos from moms all over the Chicago area showing little girls dancing in their living rooms in celebration.
It was Annie Oakley outshooting Frank Butler. It was Billie Jean King over Bobby Riggs.
There was more celebrating last weekend when Quigley surpassed another NBA legend after winning the MTN DEW 3-Point Contest at McCormick Place on WNBA All-Star Weekend.
Boston Celtic all-time great Larry Bird had won a trio of 3-Point Contests as did former Rich East and Chicago Bulls guard Craig Hodges. No one in history had ever won four---until last Saturday.
"I was asking someone if anyone has ever done it five times," Quigley said. "It feels cool obviously to break a record and be in the category with some great players like that. I'm just enjoying the ride and happy to be doing this in my hometown."
Quigley's masterful performance in the final round scoring 30 points blew away the competition of the Washington Mystic's Ariel Atkins (21 points) and the Atlanta Dream's Rhyne Howard (14).
The former Blue Demon was so dominant that she clinched the crown on only her fourth rack of balls. As an encore, Quigley went 5-for-5 on the final rack as the PA announcer loudly proclaimed her the champion before she was done shooting.
"It's definitely pretty cool to be in the history books with so many great shooters like Larry Bird," Quigley said. "It always feels good to win such an exciting event.
"With my teammates there---especially home in Chicago---and all my family and friends came so it was just special to do it in Chicago and break a record at the same time. It's definitely a good memory."
Quigley advanced to the finals after racking up 26 points in the first round.
The 3-Point queen of pro basketball also won the WNBA shootouts in 2017, 2018 and 2021.
Proudly wearing an Allie Quigley DePaul jersey, Candace Parker was asked where her Sky teammate stands in the pantheon of all-time great shooters.
She told the Chicago Tribune: "It's time to rename the 3-Point Contest the Allie Quigley Invitational."
After winning the shootout last year, Quigley had announced it would be her final long-range shooting performance.
Three days before the 2022 event, Quigley gave in to the besieging of family and friends to give it one more shot.
Led by her spouse and backcourt mate Courtney Vandersloot and teammate Candace Parker, Quigley's Sky teammates provided boisterous vocal support.
"It's definitely a nerve wracking competition for me," Quigley said. "I get a little anxious with it, but with those two---Courtney's always been there and the Courtney Cam is always there with her celebrating me and giving me that confidence.
"And to see Candace do that with my jersey on was pretty cool. It's awesome and says a lot about our team and how we celebrate each other. I'm so lucky to have them."
No doubt Quigley would gladly trade all of this in exchange for sharing some good fortune with her overseas basketball teammate Brittney Griner who has been imprisoned since Feb. 17 for bringing cannabis-derived oil cartridges to Russia.
"It's a tough situation," said Quigley who played in Russia last winter until the Russian invasion of Ukraine. "She's been an amazing teammate of mine for four years overseas. Anyone who meets her knows she is the sweetest person ever so it's been tough just imagining her over there for this long.
"I'm hoping what we're doing as a league is getting the President's attention and they're going to make some serious moves soon because she doesn't deserve to be over there this long.
"We need her home."
Original source can be found here.
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