One of the memorable All-Star weekends in WNBA history has come to a close with Team WNBA once again prevailing over its adversaries from USA Basketball. The final score was 117-109.
While the stars of the WNBA will take a break from ball for the next few weeks, those of Team USA will be en route to Paris to vie for an eighth consecutive gold medal.
Following the week it was in the desert, there are several thoughts that All-Star weekend left us with. Without further ado, here are our five takeaways from the third WNBA All-Star festivities to be held in Arizona.
Arike Ogunbowale
The Dallas Wings superstar and Notre Dame legend etched her name further in WNBA history by becoming the fourth player in history to win multiple All-Star Game MVP awards. Lisa Leslie, Swin Cash and Maya Moore were the other four to accomplish such a lofty feat.
Ogunbowale’s accomplishment has an extra bit of significance to it given both of her MVPs occurred in years where the All-Star Game was contested under the Team USA vs. Team WNBA format.
The other year where Ogunbowale came away with MVP honors was 2021 when Team WNBA also earned a victory over the Stars and Stripes. She scored 26 points in a 93-85 victory. This time around, she tallied 34 to set a new individual scoring record for the All-Star Game.
That record has now either been tied or broken at three consecutive All-Star Games. It happened in 2022 in Chicago at Wintrust Arena when Kelsey Plum scored 30 in a 134-112 win for Team (A’ja) Wilson over Team (Breanna) Stewart. Jewell Loyd did so as part of Team Stewart last year in Las Vegas at Michelob Ultra Arena. She scored 31 in a 143-127 win for Team Stewart over Team Wilson.
Perhaps…Ogunbowale was the real snub from USA Basketball.
Caitlin Clark
Of course, a major focal point of All-Star weekend was Caitlin Clark competing in her first All-Star Game. The rookie sensation for the Indiana Fever may have had an off night from the field as she only scored four points, but dished out a game-high 10 assists for Team WNBA.
She was a major reason as to why this year’s All-Star Game was so highly anticipated. It was expected that Clark would be one of the participants in this year’s 3-Point Contest but she was not among the five that participated.
One can tell given many of the answers she gave to the media throughout All-Star weekend that Clark was ready to have some time off where she could be…just Caitlin. Not the superstar basketball player that has so much media and security around her. Not the woman who wears No. 22 and has inspired many young girls to pick up a basketball…just a young woman from the Midwest who is a diehard Swiftie.
That is why we did not get why there was such uproar when she was left off of the Olympic team. Clark probably would have declined the invite anyway and she did not even participate in USA Basketball’s camp in Cleveland because Iowa was in the Final Four. She wants a break from basketball and media and the Olympics will certainly provide that.
Angel Reese
The Double-Double Barbie on the other hand will still be in the spotlight during the Olympic break as she will be en route to Paris to cheer on Team USA in its quest for an eighth consecutive gold medal.
Reese shined in her first All-Star Game as she does what she does best – earn double-doubles. This time, Reese tallied 12 points and collected 11 rebounds. One of the baskets she earned on the Phoenix court was off a feed from Clark.
Of course, she also played a massive role in why this year’s All-Star Game was so anticipated given Reese and Clark were on the same team. In their own ways, both rose to the occasion under the bright All-Star lights. There is no “hate” between the two and there never was. Something tells us this will not be the last time they sport the same uniform…
Atlanta Dream
Even though it may not be as ballyhooed as the Ogunbowale, Clark and Reese stories, the Atlanta Dream contingency that was in Phoenix had itself a great weekend.
Allisha Gray may have been the lone representative for the Dream in the actual All-Star Game, but she participated in both the Skills Challenge and the 3-Point Contest.
In a field that also included Marina Mabrey (Connecticut Sun), Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever – substitution for Erica Wheeler), Sophie Cunningham and Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury), Gray and Cunningham advanced to the final only for Gray to get the better of Cunningham.
Then came the 3-Point Contest. And while there may not have been any Clark or Sabrina Ionescu, this year’s rendition featured plenty of drama.
As well as Gray, Jonquel Jones (New York Liberty), Kayla McBride (Minnesota Lynx), Stefanie Dolson (Washington Mystics) and Mabrey.
Gray and Jones advanced to the final. Gray posted a 22 score. Jones was at 21 with a chance to win it on her final money ball attempt, but Jones’ try was unsuccessful.
Not to mention in the 3x challenge that featured USA Basketball’s 3×3 team vs. the U23 Select team, Rhyne Howard lifted the national team with a 12-point effort to earn a 19-16 win.
No need to panic
We already can see some of the lazy narratives that may be coming from various personalities as the dust settles from this weekend.
People will say that this proves Clark should have been on the team or it proves that Team USA is in trouble in Paris.
While it does give coach Cheryl Reeve and team to think about, there is no need to panic. After all, Team USA was on the receiving end of the 93-85 decision in Las Vegas and still won gold in Tokyo.
Reeve even said herself that the assembling of WNBA All-Stars could have earned spots on the national team because the WNBA is that deep with talent – and will only get deeper with expansion.
Panic may be what drives clicks and inflates ratings, but it is not based in reality. When it comes to international tournaments like the Olympics, give us A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner and company over the rest of the field.
