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The Washington Wizards and Mystics held their eighth annual Special Olympics Unified All-Star Game at Dunbar High School in Washington on Monday. The game featured Special Olympics players from DC and Virginia’s who were in Division 1.
Wizards point guards John Wall and Gary Payton II were referees in the game, while Mystics players Elena Delle Donne and Ariel Atkins were honorary coaches. Wizards players Troy Brown Jr., Moritz Wagner, Ish Smith and Thomas Bryant were also honorary coaches.
The game ended in a 34-all tie, and both teams also made some wild shots to finish the game!
Yo @WashWizards the end of this game is wild! #RESPECT #TogetherDC #WizCares pic.twitter.com/E9WORdCh2u
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) March 9, 2020
In addition, if you wanted to see how well Wall can move, see below. It’s interesting to see that he was also wearing a retro-Wizards hat in blue and bronze, if there’s significance to that.
Halftime at Special Olympics turned into a dance party feat. @JohnWall #RESPECT | #WizCares pic.twitter.com/MWs5g5aVqH
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) March 9, 2020
The Special Olympics have a particularly significant meaning for Delle Donne. She has been a global ambassador since beginning her WNBA career in 2013 when she played for the Chicago Sky. Her older sister Lizzie has cerebral palsy, and is also blind and deaf. Site Manager Emeritus Jake Whitacre interviewed her in 2017 before her wedding where she preferred donations go to charity instead of gifts at a typical wedding registry.