Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark played together for the first time.
CNN
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Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale set a new WNBA All-Star Game record with 34 points, while Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese set rookie records in helping lead Team WNBA to a 117-109 victory over Team USA on Saturday in Phoenix.
All 34 of Ogunbowale’s points came in the second half, with 21 in the third quarter, as Team WNBA overturned a four-point halftime deficit to defeat Team USA as it prepares for the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Ogunbowale’s scoring exploits earned him a second All-Star Game MVP award in front of 16,407 fans at the Footprint Center.
“Coach (Cheryl Miller) called me out at halftime in front of everyone and told me to take a deep breath and play my game,” the 27-year-old said after the game. “I guess you guys saw what happened.”
Ogunbowale is the fourth player in league history with multiple All-Star trophies.
Ross D. Franklin/AP
Arike Ogunbowale, right, celebrates after her three-pointer against Team USA with teammates Caitlin Clark, center, and Aliyah Boston, left.
Meanwhile, Chicago Sky rookies forward Reese and Indiana Fever guard Clark played on the same team for the first time and both enjoyed historic games in their All-Star debuts.
Reese, who has already set a WNBA record for most consecutive double-doubles this season, became the first rookie to record a double-double in an All-Star game after finishing with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Clark scored four points and also set a rookie All-Star Game record with 10 assists, one of which went to Reese, to finish just one assist shy of Sue Bird’s overall All-Star Game record.
“It was a lot of fun, we came in here and competed hard,” Clark told reporters after the game. “We knew they wanted to win, so we came out with the same mindset… We started the third quarter really strong and that set the tone.”
Clark was left off the Olympic roster, a decision that initially caused some surprise, but she told reporters there was “a lot of talent on that team.”
“I think it was the same four years ago, the WNBA team beat Team USA and they had a perfect performance at the Olympics,” she added. “If anything, it shows how good this league is, how much talent there is… I’m going to support them and cheer them on, I love the Olympics… they’re going to win gold and dominate.”
Six-time All-Star and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart led Team USA with 31 points and 10 rebounds, while six-time All-Star and Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson added 22 points, six rebounds and three assists.
The United States will next play Germany in an exhibition match on Tuesday in London before heading to France for the Summer Olympics, where the team will seek its eighth consecutive gold medal.
The WNBA will resume regular season action after the Olympics on August 15.