There were lots of people who were at the Footprint Center watching this year’s WNBA All-Star Game. The number was over 16,000 to be exact.
There were even more who watched all of the proceedings on ABC on primetime Saturday. We are seeing the words “ratings” and “record” as we peer into our crystal basketball.
Whether one watched at the arena or on television, one probably noticed something that typically is not a fixture of All-Star Games – actual defense played in waves.
Your fellow Gamecock, A’ja Wilson. Your fellow Gamecock…
One may look at the final score of the game and think that it was another typical All-Star Game where there was very little defense played. While this year’s rendition was higher scoring than the last time this game was played under the Team WNBA vs. Team USA format, there were occasions where it simply did not resemble a pickup game at Rucker Park.
Here is a bit of context. The last time WNBA All-Star took on the format of Team WNBA vs. Team USA, Team WNBA won by a final score of 93-85. The site was Michelob Ultra Arena -the home of the Las Vegas Aces.
Guess who won MVP?
Arike Ogunbowale.
Fast-forward to this year’s All-Star Game. The final score ended up being 117-109. It was a bit more high-scoring than the 2021 version but certainly at lot less scoring than last year’s All-Star Game which ended in a 143-127 victory for Team (Breanna) Stewart over Team (A’ja) Wilson.
Guess who won MVP once again this year?
Arike Ogunbowale.
The defense that was played this year was obviously a byproduct of the Team USA vs. Team WNBA format. But the question that usually ensues following either WNBA or NBA All-Star weekends is a topic of debate once again.
Is the All-Star Game better with defense or without defense?
Ask plenty of fans and they will say without question that they believe the All-Star Game is better with defense. To be honest, we disagree.
We will say that there is no defense – and not even trying. We actually had in the NBA’s version of All-Star this year in Indianapolis a team cross the 200-point threshold. It was fitting for the NBA since the final scores of regular season games have resembled those of All-Star Games from 20 or so years ago.
But we must remember that the All-Star Game is still an exhibition. An exhibition of the best players among the best players, but it is an exhibition. At least with the WNBA version we are not seeing gaudy numbers like 200 points on the NBA side.
It is called an All-Star break for a reason. It is supposed to be a break from the arduous grind of a WNBA season – one that is becoming more and more arduous as media attention continues to grow and the seasons grow more from sprints to marathons.
Also – does one really think WNBA governors would be keen with their players being in an All-Star Game as if it was treated like any other contest during the regular season…with an injury risk?
All-Star Games are for the fans and fans particularly love it when all of a league’s star players are all in one setting in one game. Another thing fans love? A bevy of offense.
That was absolutely the perfect response from Wilson. Just as fans love All-Star Games because of the star power on the court at one time, players love All-Star Games because they know there is a possibility they will interact and party with some of their favorite celebrities.
Some WNBA fans scoff at the idea of comparing the W to male sports, but the NFL did realize that its Pro Bowl was so noncompetitive where players only wanted to be there for the additional money that it was scrapped and replaced with Pro Bowl recognition and the Pro Bowl Games.
In Major League Baseball, there was a portion of the All-Star Game that actually counted towards home field advantage in the World Series. Then they realized how nonsensical of an idea that was. The WNBA to its credit does not have either of those problems.
The WNBA’s version of an All-Star Game is an example of an All-Star Game that does not need fixing. It does not need to make the mistake other leagues have made. Instead of worrying about defense, the WNBA needs to continue to add events to increase the already growing size of All-Star weekend – and go on offense.
