Arike Ogunbowale carries Team WNBA over Team USA in All-Star Game

Field Level Media|published: Sat 20th July, 23:32 2024

Team USA forward Napheesa Collier (11) and guard Kahleah Copper (7) defend Team WNBA forward Angel Reese (5) during the WNBA All-Star Game at Footprint Center in Phoenix on July 20, 2024.

Arike Ogunbowale scored a WNBA All-Star Game record 34 points to lead Team WNBA to a 117-109 victory over Team USA on Saturday night in Phoenix.

It's the second time that the non-Olympian WNBA players have beaten Team USA in this sort of exhibition, also doing so in 2021. Just like in that game, Ogunbowale was named All-Star Game MVP. She also finished with six assists and knocked down 8 of 13 3-point attempts on Saturday.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark set an All-Star Game rookie record with 10 assists while playing for Team WNBA. Sue Bird still holds the All-Star Game overall assist record with 11.

Additionally for Team WNBA, rookie Angel Reese finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds, Allisha Gray had 16 points and Nneka Ogwumike had 14 points.

Team USA was powered by 31 points and 10 rebounds from Breanna Stewart, 22 points from A'ja Wilson and 14 points, six boards and five assists from Diana Taurasi.

The game opened with its oldest player, the 42-year-old Taurasi, sinking a 3-pointer. The Phoenix Mercury guard is seeking her sixth Olympic gold medal this summer. She also drove right at Clark near the midpoint of the second quarter, sinking a layup in traffic, then sticking her tongue out at the crowd.

Notable for Team USA, Napheesa Collier played three minutes after checking into the game at the 7:37 mark of the second quarter. The Minnesota Lynx forward hadn't played since aggravating plantar fasciitis in her left foot on July 4.

Team USA led by two points, 54-52, at halftime, but Clark then assisted on three of the WNBA All-Stars' first four baskets of the third quarter to help them take a five-point lead at 61-56. Two of those assists came on baskets by Ogunbowale, who torched the Olympians for 21 points in the third.

Clark notched her 10th assist of the game with 6:36 to go in the fourth, setting up Reese for an easy layup from the low block.

The game also served as a celebration of yesterday's stars and tomorrow's future in women's college basketball. Three-time National Player of the Year and the first-ever head coach of the Mercury, Cheryl Miller, served as the coach for the WNBA All-Stars. In courtside seats, three-time WNBA MVP Sheryl Swoopes sat next to UConn All-American Paige Bueckers.

--Field Level Media