Arike Ogunbowale, Caitlin Clark lead WNBA All-Stars to 117-109 win over US Olympic Team

DOUG FEINBERG, Associated Press

6 minutes ago

Brittney Griner, left, of Team USA, passes Nneka Ogwumike, right, of Team WNBA, to score during the first half of a WNBA All-Star basketball game Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

PHOENIX (AP) — Arike Ogunbowale set the WNBA All-Star scoring record with 34 points and Caitlin Clark made the most of her All-Star debut as the WNBA team defeated the U.S. Olympic team 117-109 on Saturday night.

It was the second straight victory for the WNBA All-Star team over the Olympians. The All-Stars also won in 2021 under Ogunbowale, who was the MVP of that game.

That loss was the only one the Americans suffered in 2021 en route to winning their seventh straight Olympic gold medal. The U.S. will be hoping for the same results in Paris later this month. No team in the world could match the depth or talent of the WNBA All-Stars.

Saturday’s loss came hours after the U.S. men’s Olympic team defeated South Sudan by one point in a practice match in London.

The US will play a friendly against Germany in London on Tuesday before travelling to France for the Olympic Games. The Americans are in a group with Belgium, Japan and Germany.

Ogunbowale was once again a thorn in the side of the USA team, scoring all of her points in the second half. The 2021 All-Star MVP took over the game in the third quarter, scoring 21 points, hitting six of her ten shots, including five 3-pointers. The USA team threw everything at the Dallas Wings star, but they just couldn’t stop her.

Ogunbowale was in the U.S. national team pool for the past two Olympics, but failed to make the cut both times. She pulled her name from the pool early this time, saying the entire process was political.

By the time Ogunbowale finished in the third quarter, the WNBA All-Stars had turned a two-point halftime deficit into an 88-79 lead, breaking Jewell Loyd’s all-time All-Star scoring record of 31 from last year with a 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter.

The Olympians, who have trained together for only two days, never really threatened. Breanna Stewart scored 31 points and A’ja Wilson added 22.

There was so much hype and energy surrounding this All-Star Game with the debut of phenomenal rookies Clark and Angel Reese. The duo has taken the WNBA to new heights this season with record attendance and television ratings.

It was the first time the young stars played together. One of Clark’s 10 assists came from Reese, who finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

The race was held in Phoenix to celebrate the 20-year career of Mercury star Diana Taurasi and the return of Brittney Griner from her wrongful imprisonment in Russia in 2022.

“This is going to be one of the hardest things to focus on. It’s really coaching the team because of what’s happening,” U.S. coach Cheryl Reeve said. “It’s one of the greatest spectacles, I think, in the history of our league.”

While Clark and Reese received a loud round of applause from the crowd during pre-game introductions, nothing could match the applause for Taurasi, who was playing in her 11th All-Star Game.

She started the scoring with a 3-pointer from the wing in the back-and-forth first half, giving the U.S. a slim 54-52 lead. It didn’t take long, as the WNBA team scored nine of the first 11 points in the third quarter to take control.

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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball