In a star-studded weekend in Phoenix, Arizona, the 2024 WNBA All-Star weekend saw heat checks, both in and outside the arena. On Friday, July 19th, history was made as Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray won both the three-point and skills competitions. She becomes the first player in the WNBA to win both contests, showcasing her stardom in this league. In an Olympic year, different events occurred that wouldn’t happen in a regular All-Star weekend. The Team USA 3v3 team, going for a second straight gold medal in the Paris Olympics, matched up with the U23 team in the first-ever USA basketball 3v3 challenge. Team USA showed why they are a gold medal contender, winning the matchup 19-16.
On Saturday, July 20th, the main event showcased the Team USA Olympic roster, headlined by A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, who share the previous three MVP awards. They faced off against the WNBA All-Stars, headlined by rookie sensations Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, who joined forces in their All-Star debut. The WNBA All-Stars bested Team USA, winning 117-108, led by the game’s MVP, Arike Ogunbowale thanks to her 34 points. Most of her points came in the second half, as head coach Cheryl Miller incorporated her in the game plan to gain the extra edge over Team USA. Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike started the game with eight points in the first quarter, looking like the early game MVP favorite. However, she had two scoreless quarters before an eight-point fourth quarter, mainly because of Ogunbowale’s big night. Clark only took nine shots and scored four points, but showcased her All-Star status with her passing ability. She had 10 assists, including a half-court pass to her Fever teammate Aliyah Boston that was perfectly placed for an easy layup. Gray didn’t stop showcasing her talent from Friday, as she scored 16 points, but earned most of them from the free throw line. Whether it’s a Chicago Sky game or an All-Star game against Team USA, Reese is a lock for a double-double. She finished with 12 points, and 11 rebounds in the win.
Despite Team USA's loss, Stewart scored 31 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, proving her status as one of the best. Wilson also added 22 points in 28 minutes which is a preview of how she should perform in Paris. Despite not starting in front of her hometown crowd, Phoenix Mercury Center Brittney Griner dominated in her minutes. She finished with 10 points on seven shots, but the opposing defense never had an answer for her. New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu played 21 minutes in this game, and although she scored five points, her impact was on defense. The first-time Olympian primarily guarded Clark, resembling the NBA matchup of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. She played her tough, not making anything easy on the defensive end. Mercury guard and five-time Gold Medalist Diana Taurasi scored 14 points in the loss, including a drive to the hoop that drew a foul on Clark. She only played 20 minutes, which is surprising considering Team USA was playing to win. Storm guard Jewell Loyd had the most disappointing day, scoring zero points on only three shots and 13 minutes. The reigning All-Star game MVP showcased her ability to show out in Las Vegas last season, and the expectation never changed even being on the Olympic team. Her volume of shooting should be what fans are used to seeing when the competition begins in Paris, but it didn’t show in Phoenix.
The WNBA All-Stars will get a one-month break before starting the second half of the season with their respective teams. Meanwhile, the Team USA Olympic squad will head to Paris to begin Group Play in the 2024 Olympics, hoping to earn their 10th gold medal.
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