The WNBA All-Star Game is finally here, showcasing the league’s best talent in a spectacular showdown. This year’s event is even more thrilling as it features the USA Basketball Women’s Olympic Team taking on the WNBA All-Stars, providing a thrilling preview ahead of the Paris Games. Here’s a comprehensive look at the star-studded lineups and how you can catch all the action live.
Team WNBA Lineup
- DeWanna Bonner (Connecticut Sun)
- Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever)
- Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever)
- Allisha Gray (Atlanta Dream)
- Dearica Hamby (Los Angeles Sparks)
- Brionna Jones (Connecticut Sun)
- Jonquel Jones (New York Liberty)
- Kayla McBride (Minnesota Lynx)
- Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever)
- Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas Wings)
- Nneka Ogwumike (Seattle Storm)
- Angel Reese (Chicago Sky)
Team USA Lineup
- Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx)
- Kahleah Copper (Phoenix Mercury)
- Chelsea Gray (Las Vegas Aces)
- Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury)
- Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty)
- Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm)
- Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces)
- Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty)
- Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury)
- Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun)
- A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces)
- Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces)
How to Watch the WNBA All-Star Game
Date: Saturday, July 20, 2024
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Location: Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
TV Channel: ABC
Streaming: DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu
For the latest updates and live highlights, follow along with Soccer Clan 2pac as he provides real-time coverage of the WNBA All-Star Game.
Key Highlights and Moments
The game promises to be a thrilling contest as the top players from the WNBA compete against the elite squad of USA Basketball. With the Paris Olympics around the corner, this game serves as a crucial preparation match for Team USA, making it an unmissable event for basketball fans.
Arike Ogunbowale has been named the 2024 WNBA All-Star MVP after setting a new scoring record with 33 points, leading Team WNBA to a 117-109 victory over Team USA. Her stellar second-half performance was instrumental in securing the win and earning her the MVP honors.
Arike Ogunbowale set the All-Star scoring record with 33 points after a masterful second-half performance, lifting Team WNBA to a 117-109 win over Team USA. No need to panic about the US national team just yet; Cheryl Miller mentioned earlier that this game serves as a great test against the best in the world. Clean up the sloppy passes, hit a few more shots, and the outcome could be different.
Record Watch, via Across the Timeline:
- Ogunbowale holds the scoring record with 33 points, surpassing Jewell Loyd’s 31 points from last year. Breanna Stewart also scored 31 points in the game.
- Allisha Gray’s five steals are just one shy of tying the record of six set by Ruthie Bolton in 2001.
- Caitlin Clark’s 10 assists are one short of tying Sue Bird’s record of 11, set in 2017.
With 30.6 seconds on the clock, Nneka Ogwumike is seen discussing a foul call with the referee. Meanwhile, MVP chants ring out from a corner of the arena as A’ja Wilson steps to the free-throw line.
At halftime, Team USA was 4-14 (28.6%) from three, while Team WNBA was 3-17 (17.6%). Both teams are still shooting similar percentages from beyond the arc (10-29 for USA, 11-33 for WNBA), but Arike Ogunbowale’s explosive performance tilted the game in Team WNBA’s favor during the third quarter, preventing Team USA from making a comeback. Ogunbowale is 7-11 from three and 9-18 overall.
Notably, Caitlin Clark is sitting at 10 assists, just one shy of tying the WNBA All-Star game record set by Sue Bird, who is in attendance. There are still 2:48 left to play.
OH MY GOSH ARIKE, THEY HAVE FAMILIES
While Arike Ogunbowale appears to be on her way to winning the WNBA All-Star Game MVP, some might wonder why she’s not on Team USA. She attributes it to politics rather than her playing skills.
“I pretty much had an idea that I wouldn’t be on it,” Ogunbowale said on the “Nightcap” podcast. “I just felt the vibes. When it comes to that stuff, it really doesn’t have much to do with your game.”
A Caitlin Clark vs. Sabrina Ionescu one-on-one matchup adds to the excitement. Clark beats Ionescu to the basket, extending Team WNBA’s lead to 11 points.
Arike Ogunbowale is certainly making a statement against Team USA. 21 points after 3 quarters!
The basket is good, and Team WNBA’s lead stands at 88-79.
Team WNBA mobs Kelsey Mitchell in the corner after her buzzer-beating three-pointer puts them up, 88-79, heading into the fourth quarter. The shot is currently under review.
Team USA has been playing a little loose with the ball, making questionable passes that have led to 11 Team WNBA steals, six of which occurred in this quarter alone.
Arike Ogunbowale is on fire, sinking her fourth three-pointer on six attempts. The crowd is up and loud as she quickly racks up 17 points in this quarter alone. Only Team USA’s A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, with 18 points each, have more total points.
A small contingent is trying to start “USA! USA!” chants behind the Team WNBA bench. This group, clad in USA jerseys, stands out amid a sea of orange, white, and No. 22 Caitlin Clark jerseys.
Arike Ogunbowale makes a steal but misses the three-pointer. A’ja Wilson scores in transition, snapping Team WNBA’s streak. Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner are back on the floor together, guarding each other in a familiar matchup.
It’s WNBA 61, USA 56 coming out of this timeout, following a 9-0 run for Team WNBA.
Team WNBA came out hot, prompting Cheryl Reeve to call a Team USA timeout just ninety seconds into the quarter. Brionna Jones blocked her Liberty teammate, Breanna Stewart. Arike Ogunbowale, who shined in 2021 against Team USA and opted out of this national cycle due to “politics,” got on the board with five points. Caitlin Clark assisted on three buckets, bringing her total to nine assists, just three away from breaking the All-Star game record.
Halftime!
Enjoy it like Sophie Cunningham!
Halftime: Team USA 54, Team WNBA 52
Team USA is led by A’ja Wilson (13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 5-7 FG, 1-1 3FG) and Breanna Stewart (14 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 5-8 FG, 1-4 3FG). These two represent the new leading generation of the team. Diana Taurasi contributes eight points, shooting 3-5 from the field.
It’s Allisha Gray’s weekend, though. She leads Team WNBA with 12 points, despite shooting 2-6. Caitlin Clark has six assists, and Angel Reese has seven rebounds, showcasing the rookies’ impact.
Neither team is shooting well from deep. The team that can improve their three-point shooting stands a good chance to pull away in the second half.
Team WNBA set up for a deep Caitlin Clark three-pointer to end the half. Brionna Jones cleaned up the miss, but Team USA holds a narrow lead, 54-52, at halftime.
Aliyah Boston scoring over A’ja Wilson must leave South Carolina fans feeling conflicted. Moments later, Caitlin Clark pulls up to attempt a three-pointer but decides against it, smiling and muttering a four-letter word.
According to Across the Timeline data, the record for assists in an All-Star game (any format) is 11, set by Sue Bird in 2017 when it was Western vs. Eastern. Bird (2009), Layshia Clarendon (2017), and Chelsea Gray (2019) have each recorded 10 assists.
Clark is already at five assists with 2:16 remaining until halftime. She has played 10:41, the most of any Team WNBA player, and has four assists. To secure a win — a clear goal for everyone on Team WNBA this weekend — keeping Clark on the court is essential to maintain smooth ball movement.
A’ja Wilson looks surprised as her former South Carolina teammate and best friend, Allisha Gray, falls over on a foul. She playfully mimics a flop move afterward, transforming from biggest cheerleader to toughest opponent in just 24 hours.
Highlighted attendees so far include Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe, Ty Dolla $ign, Sheryl Swoopes, and Paige Bueckers. Shannon Sharpe is also in attendance, sitting near the media side.
Napheesa Collier subs in, marking a significant return after missing considerable time with the Minnesota Lynx due to injury. She came off the bench during the last Olympics and is expected to play a crucial role for Team USA in Paris.
Oh my goodness, Team USA is pulling out the full-court press, scoring off a steal to ramp up the intensity.
Caitlin Clark showcases her playmaking skills to start the second quarter, connecting with Aliyah Boston and then finding Jonquel Jones on the next possession, quickly racking up three assists.
In a fun moment, Sophie Cunningham chugs the rest of her drink on the big screen when announced to the crowd, getting her vacation activities started early.
The “next generation of WNBA All-Stars” is also present, participating in the WNBA and NBA’s Basketball Without Borders program.
Team WNBA 24, Team USA 23: First Quarter Highlights and Tributes
The loudest cheers erupt as Angel Reese grabs an offensive rebound and patiently waits for it to drain through, giving Team WNBA a slim lead. This marks Reese’s first All-Star minutes, arriving late in the first quarter. Meanwhile, Kelsey Mitchell and Kelsey Plum tangle up on the perimeter, with Mitchell looking perturbed and Plum smiling it off. Mitchell quickly scores off the inbound play.
The All-Star event is paying homage to WBL legends, celebrating the rich history of women’s basketball. This is particularly meaningful for many new fans in attendance. If you’re curious about the pioneers of the game like Galloway McQuitter and Adrian Mitchell Newell, I’ve highlighted their significance in previous articles.
All-Star veterans Nneka Ogwumike and DeWanna Bonner make impactful plays early for Team WNBA. First substitutions occur at 5:37, bringing Brittney Griner and A’ja Wilson to the floor for Team USA, facing off against Dearica Hamby and Ogwumike. Hamby, also on the USA 3×3 team for Paris, mentioned earlier that she would likely limit her playing time to stay fresh.
In a fitting moment, Diana Taurasi opens the scoring with a three-pointer, delighting the Phoenix crowd. Taurasi, a beloved figure in Pac-12 country, receives immense cheers, as do fellow Phoenix stars Kahleah Copper and Griner. The atmosphere feels like a celebration of Taurasi, possibly marking her final Olympics and WNBA All-Star appearance, though we’ve thought this in previous years as well.
Caitlin Clark, the first Team WNBA starter announced, is met with thunderous applause, followed by cheers for Arike Ogunbowale, DeWanna Bonner, Jonquel Jones, and Nneka Ogwumike. Team WNBA’s unique jersey numbers stand out, with Angel Reese and Dearica Hamby both donning No. 5, and DeWanna Bonner and Arike Ogunbowale each wearing No. 24.
Team WNBA’s mindset is clear. Head coach Cheryl Miller emphasized their determination to win, inspired by watching the Team USA men’s game against South Sudan. This is only the second time the All-Star game features Team USA vs. Team WNBA, presenting a unique dynamic.
USA Basketball head coach Cheryl Reeve mentioned their goals for the game, including understanding player dynamics and refining lineups amidst the festivities.
Starters Announced for Team USA and Team WNBA
Rookie Caitlin Clark joins Arike Ogunbowale, DeWanna Bonner, Nneka Ogwumike, and Jonquel Jones in the starting lineup for Team WNBA. Team USA’s starters are Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd, Diana Taurasi, Breanna Stewart, and A’ja Wilson.
Source: Yahoo Sports
Join us in celebrating the incredible talent and spirit of women’s basketball as we gear up for the Olympics. Stay tuned for more updates and enjoy the excitement of the WNBA All-Star Game!
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