Microsoft’s global outage on Friday, which affected banks, hospitals, train stations and airports, also had an impact on the sports world, with Indiana Fever star Erica Wheeler missing the WNBA Skills Challenge in Phoenix, part of the league’s All-Star weekend.
Wheeler was planning to fly from Atlanta to Phoenix for the event when she got stranded at the airport. Her teammate Kelsey Mitchell took her place in the festivities.
Stranded in Atlanta, Wheeler missed out on a chance to win $55,000, which was awarded to the individual winners of the skills competition and the 3-point shooting competition.
For the first time in the competition’s history, the same person won both events: Allisha Gray of the Atlanta Dream.
New York Liberty star Jonquel Jones and Phoenix Mercury star Sophie Cunningham finished second in both events.
Wheeler was forced to miss the WNBA’s All-Star Skills Challenge on Friday due to the Microsoft outage
Hundreds of flights across the country were delayed or canceled due to the Microsoft outage
Wheeler was supported by teammate Caitlin Clark, who sat on the ground during the event.
“I am so hurt! But I do want to THANK @Delta employees Geraldine Bird and Pamela Palmer at ATL for helping me all day! And Indiana Fever/Pacer CEO Mel Raines for calling all over the world trying to get me a charter flight but nothing was available!” Wheeler said on social media.
The WNBA All-Star on Friday night will be combined with the All-Star Game on Saturday night, pitting Team USA against the WNBA All-Stars.
All twelve members of Team USA play in the WNBA, while the WNBA All-Stars are likely the league’s top stars not selected for a spot in Paris.
The WNBA All-Stars included Clark and Chicago Sky star Angel Reese, though neither made the Olympic team.
Some of the competition’s veteran stars, such as Sabrina Ionescu, A’ja Wilson and Brittney Griner, are part of Team USA.