The 2024 WNBA All-Star Game takes the stage Saturday night in Phoenix, when a group of players headlined by rookie phenoms Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese take on the U.S. national team in a tune-up exhibition before the Americans head to the Summer Olympics seeking an eighth consecutive gold medal.
In the 25-year history of the WNBA All-Star Game, this is the fourth time using this format, or something similar. Members of Team USA took on a group of non-Olympic WNBA players in 2004, 2010 and in 2021. The Olympic team won the first two matchups, but the WNBA players took a victory in 2021, 93-85, behind 26 points from Arike Ogunbowale, and 18 points and 14 rebounds from Jonquel Jones.
Both players are back on the WNBA team Saturday joining rookies Clark and Reese, and other standout players like DeWanna Bonner of the Connecticut Sun, Nneka Ogwumike of the Seattle Storm and Dearica Hamby of the Los Angeles Sparks. Hamby is the lone player on the WNBA team that will participate in the Olympic Games this summer. She was a late addition to the U.S. 3×3 team after Cameron Brink suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Ogwumike is appearing in her ninth All-Star game, which is the third-most among active players behind Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner, both of whom play for the Phoenix Mercury and will feature for Team USA. Taurasi, 42, will be playing in her sixth Olympics this summer.
“I don’t love how my last Olympics went personally,” Taurasi said in an AP interview. “I think as a team we still have a lot to prove. I love playing USA Basketball. You play with the best in the world. Basketball is a team sport and if you have the opportunity to play with the best in the world, I’ll always sign up.” Team USA is headlined by A’ja Wilson, the two-time and reigning league MVP who is the frontrunner for the award in 2024.
The Las Vegas Aces forward leads the WNBA in scoring and rebounding this season with 27.2 points and 12.0 boards per game. Team USA also features former MVP and six-time All-Star Breanna Stewart, fellow six-time all-stars Jewell Loyd and Chelsea Gray, and 10-year veteran Alyssa Thomas.
For Clark and Reese, long seen as rivals dating back to their matchup in the 2023 national championship game when the former was at Iowa and the latter at LSU, it’s the first time the pair will be teammates. Additionally, it’s the first time since 2014 that two rookies were voted to the All-Star squad.
“I’m pretty excited. I think it’s cool. It’s obviously rare to have two rookies in the All-Star Game. So, I think, just enjoy that,” Clark said. “She’s certainly probably going to lead the game in rebounds. I expect that out of (Reese). That’s just what she does.” The All-Star Game is sold out. It will air live on ABC at 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.
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