It was a fantastic night at the WNBA All-Star game as the WNBA All-Stars beat the USA Basketball team 117 to 109 on Saturday at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
The game was pretty nip and tuck for the first two quarters, with Team USA taking a 54-52 lead at the half.
Ogubowale Explodes
In the second, the Dallas Wings’ Arike Qgunbowale, who scored no points in the first half, erupted in the third quarter after being called by coach Cheryl Miller.
“I wasn’t expecting her to say my name,” Ogunbowale said. “She just told me to take a deep breath and play my game.”
Ogunbowale exploded with 21 points in the third quarter, the most scored by a single-quarter player in an All-Star Game. She shot 6-10 from the field, 5-7 from three, while adding four more assists and two steals.
Ogunbowale outburst led the All-Stars to an 88-79 lead heading into the final quarter.
In the final quarter, Ogunbowale shot 4-8 from the field and 3-6 from deep to finish with a game-best 34 points off 10-of-20 shooting, an 8-of-13 mark from three, six assists, two steals, and three rebounds in 31 minutes.
Ogunbowale took home the All-Star Game MVP Award for the second time, becoming the fourth player to win multiple MVPs in the All-Star Game. She joined Lisa Leslie and Maya Moore, who each had three, and Swin Cash, who had two.
“Those are three greats, people who paved the way for players like us,” Ogunbowale said. “That’s definitely dope to be in that conversation.”
Ogunbowale got help from her team’s WNBA teammates. Allisha Gray‘s 16 points, Nneka Ogwumike‘s 14, and Kelsey Mitchell‘s 13.
Rookie WNBA All-Stars
Rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel played in the first All-Star Game. Clark struggled, shooting 2-9 from the field and 0-7 from three, but did dish out ten assists. Reese, the double-double Queen, scored 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds off the bench.
“I thought that they were professional, like, as anyone at this level would be,” Team WNBA forward Ogwumike said of Reese and Clark. “I’m always impressed by the two of them. I think it was also really fun to see them playing together tonight. They had some synergy and the maturity that they have going in, not even just being here at All-Star but managing all of the influx that they get as the two rookies that are really getting a lot, a lot of attention.
Reese became the first rookie to record a double-double in an All-Star Game, and Clark set a rookie record for assist.
Team USA
Team USA was led by Breanna Stewart’s 31 points and 10 rebounds. A’Ja Wilson added 22 points.
“We didn’t come out and really compete to say we have a certain identity we’re trying to play to,” Team USA head coach Cheryl Reeve said. “I’ve got to figure that out. I’ve got to help them get there.”
Team USA has some work to do. I expect to be fine when the Olympics start with Wilson and Stewart leading the way.
“We’re in, like, the shifting of the guards, if you will,” Stewart said. “A’ja and I have talked about it. It’s making sure that this is our team and we don’t let anything get past us. “Throughout this entire trip, A’ja and I are going to continue to find our voices more in the locker room. It’s not time to panic but it is time to learn and grow and figure out how we can be our best together.”
Team USA plays against Germany at 1:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday on FS1 in London in the USA Basketball Showcase.
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