Caitlin Clark, home-team stars
headline 2024 WNBA All-Star Game
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[July 20, 2024]
The 2024 WNBA All-Star Game takes the stage Saturday night in
Phoenix, when a group of players headlined by rookie phenoms Caitlin
Clark and Angel Reese take on the U.S. national team in a tune-up
exhibition before the Americans head to the Summer Olympics seeking
an eighth consecutive gold medal.
In the 25-year history of the WNBA All-Star Game, this is the fourth
time using this format, or something similar. Members of Team USA
took on a group of non-Olympic WNBA players in 2004, 2010 and in
2021. The Olympic team won the first two matchups, but the WNBA
players took a victory in 2021, 93-85, behind 26 points from Arike
Ogunbowale, and 18 points and 14 rebounds from Jonquel Jones.
Both players are back on the WNBA team Saturday joining rookies
Clark and Reese, and other standout players like DeWanna Bonner of
the Connecticut Sun, Nneka Ogwumike of the Seattle Storm and Dearica
Hamby of the Los Angeles Sparks.
Hamby is the lone player on the WNBA team that will participate in
the Olympic Games this summer. She was a late addition to the U.S.
3x3 team after Cameron Brink suffered a season-ending knee injury.
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Ogwumike is appearing in her ninth All-Star game, which is the
third-most among active players behind Diana Taurasi and Brittney
Griner, both of whom play for the Phoenix Mercury and will feature
for Team USA. Taurasi, 42, will be playing in her sixth Olympics
this summer.
"I don't love how my last Olympics went personally," Taurasi said in
an AP interview. "I think as a team we still have a lot to prove. I
love playing USA Basketball. You play with the best in the world.
Basketball is a team sport and if you have the opportunity to play
with the best in the world, I'll always sign up."
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Jul 13, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky forward Angel
Reese (5) brings the ball up court against the New York Liberty
during the second half of a WNBA game at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory
Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
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Team USA is headlined by A'ja Wilson, the two-time
and reigning league MVP who is the frontrunner for the award in
2024. The Las Vegas Aces forward leads the WNBA in scoring and
rebounding this season with 27.2 points and 12.0 boards per game.
Team USA also features former MVP and six-time All-Star Breanna
Stewart, fellow six-time all-stars Jewell Loyd and Chelsea Gray, and
10-year veteran Alyssa Thomas.
For Clark and Reese, long seen as rivals dating back to their
matchup in the 2023 national championship game when the former was
at Iowa and the latter at LSU, it's the first time the pair will be
teammates. Additionally, it's the first time since 2014 that two
rookies were voted to the All-Star squad.
"I'm pretty excited. I think it's cool. It's obviously rare to have
two rookies in the All-Star Game. So, I think, just enjoy that,"
Clark said. "She's certainly probably going to lead the game in
rebounds. I expect that out of (Reese). That's just what she does."
The All-Star Game is sold out. It will air live on ABC at 8:30 p.m.
ET on Saturday.
--Field Level Media
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