Jun 30, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) towards Phoenix Mercury heart Brittney Griner (42) throughout a WNBA recreation at Footprint Heart. Necessary Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports activities The 2024 WNBA All-Star Recreation takes the stage Saturday evening in Phoenix, when a gaggle of gamers headlined by rookie phenoms Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese tackle the U.S. nationwide group in a tune-up exhibition earlier than the Individuals head to the Summer time Olympics in search of an eighth consecutive gold medal.
Within the 25-year historical past of the WNBA All-Star Recreation, that is the fourth time utilizing this format, or one thing related. Members of Crew USA took on a gaggle of non-Olympic WNBA gamers in 2004, 2010 and in 2021. The Olympic group received the primary two matchups, however the WNBA gamers took a victory in 2021, 93-85, behind 26 factors from Arike Ogunbowale, and 18 factors and 14 rebounds from Jonquel Jones.
Each gamers are again on the WNBA group Saturday becoming a member of rookies Clark and Reese, and different standout gamers like DeWanna Bonner of the Connecticut Solar, Nneka Ogwumike of the Seattle Storm and Dearica Hamby of the Los Angeles Sparks.
Hamby is the lone participant on the WNBA group that can take part within the Olympic Video games this summer season. She was a late addition to the U.S. 3×3 group after Cameron Brink suffered a season-ending knee damage.
Ogwumike is showing in her ninth All-Star recreation, which is the third-most amongst energetic gamers behind Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner, each of whom play for the Phoenix Mercury and can characteristic for Crew USA. Taurasi, 42, might be taking part in in her sixth Olympics this summer season.
“I do not love how my final Olympics went personally,” Taurasi stated in an AP interview. “I feel as a group we nonetheless have rather a lot to show. I really like taking part in USA Basketball. You play with one of the best on the planet. Basketball is a group sport and when you have the chance to play with one of the best on the planet, I am going to all the time enroll.”
Crew USA is headlined by A’ja Wilson, the two-time and reigning league MVP who’s the frontrunner for the award in 2024. The Las Vegas Aces ahead leads the WNBA in scoring and rebounding this season with 27.2 factors and 12.0 boards per recreation. Crew USA additionally options former MVP and six-time All-Star Breanna Stewart, fellow six-time all-stars Jewell Loyd and Chelsea Grey, and 10-year veteran Alyssa Thomas.
For Clark and Reese, lengthy seen as rivals courting again to their matchup within the 2023 nationwide championship recreation when the previous was at Iowa and the latter at LSU, it is the primary time the pair might be teammates. Moreover, it is the primary time since 2014 that two rookies have been voted to the All-Star squad.
“I am fairly excited. I feel it is cool. It is clearly uncommon to have two rookies within the All-Star Recreation. So, I feel, simply take pleasure in that,” Clark stated. “She’s definitely in all probability going to guide the sport in rebounds. I count on that out of (Reese). That is simply what she does.”
The All-Star Recreation is bought out. It can air reside on ABC at 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.
–Discipline Degree Media