PHOENIX — WNBA All-Star festivities continue Saturday night in Phoenix with the All-Star team taking on Team USA.
First time, newbie Caitlin Clark Angel Reese – Longtime college rival – play together As a member of the All-Star team.
History was made on Friday during the 2024 WNBA All-Star Weekend when the Atlanta Dream’s Alisha Gray became the first player to win the Skills Challenge and the 3-Point Contest in the same season.
Team USA, featuring five-time Olympic gold medalist Diana Taurasi, will face off against Team WNBA, featuring up-and-coming stars Clark and Reese. Saturday 8:30pm ETThe U.S. women’s national team won their seventh consecutive gold medal, but WNBA coach Cheryl Miller said her all-star team won’t be easy to beat.
Follow all the action from the sold-out Footprint Center in Phoenix with USA TODAY Sports.
Caitlin Clark finally scores in the second quarter
Caitlin Clark serves as director.
The WNBA All-Star rookie did it by turning defense into offense. She deflected a pass from U.S. forward Alyssa Thomas, stole the ball and created a clear path for the pass that would lead to the first points of the game. Clarke has yet to hit well on 3-pointers, going 0-for-3 on 3-pointers.
Check it out: Caitlin Clark’s dime from behind
Caitlin Clark, who leads the league in assists per game, was churning out assists in the WNBA All-Star Game. She made a behind-the-back pass under the basket and connected with Indiana Fever teammate Aaliyah Boston for a layup. She then passed to Jonquel Jones on the next possession for another score. Clark did not score any points in the game, but her assist total increased by three.
Earlier this week, Clark set the WNBA single-game assist record.scoring 19 points in a game against the Dallas Wings.
1Q: WNBA Team 24, USA Team 23
This may have been an exhibition match, but the effort and energy of both teams said otherwise, and the first quarter lived up to expectations. Team USA’s Diana Taurasi opened the game with a three-pointer to open the points for the Olympic team, but Team WNBA answered back every time. Nneka Ogwumike scored eight of Team WNBA’s 24 points. A’ja Wilson led the Olympic team with seven points, one of which was a three-pointer. Team WNBA (11-of-22) and Team USA (10-of-20) shot an impressive 50% from the field.
Defense is usually a secondary consideration in the All-Star Game, but this time it’s on full display. Breanna Stewart of the U.S. team has already grabbed five rebounds.
Ann Myers Drysdale named coach emeritus by Cheryl Miller
Team WNBA has a new coach on the bench. Prior to the start of Saturday’s game at Footprint Center, Team WNBA head coach Cheryl Miller walked to the other side of the court and presented Hall of Fame player Ann Myers Drysdale with a coaches hoodie. Myers Drysdale was greeted with thunderous applause from the crowd as she joined the Team WNBA bench.
That evening, Miller called Myers-Drysdale the GOAT of the WNBA. Myers-Drysdale was general manager and president of the Phoenix Mercury. She was a member of the first women’s Olympic team that won a silver medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
Diana Taurasi scores first goal
Taurasi rose from the top left corner of the key and drained a 3-pointer for her first point of the WNBA All-Star Game, giving Team USA an early 3-0 lead.
Caitlin Clark was selected to the All-Star team and made her first start.
Team USA vs. Team WNBA starting lineup
WNBA: Caitlin Clark, Dewanna Bonner, Jonquel Jones, Arike Ogunbowale, Nneka Ogwuemike
united states of america: Breanna Stewart, Aja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Jewel Loyd, Diana Taurasi
When is the WNBA All-Star Game?
The WNBA All-Stars will face Team USA on Saturday at 8:30 pm ET.
How to watch the WNBA All-Star Game
The match will be broadcast on ABC.
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How to Stream the WNBA All-Star Game
you can Stream with a free trial of FUBO.
Caitlin Clark not nervous about first All-Star game
It’s Caitlin Clark’s first WNBA All-Star game, but she’s not nervous.
“I’m not nervous for any of the games. I think I’m just excited more than anything,” Clark told media ahead of Saturday’s match. “We’ve been here all weekend and we’ve got so many events to go to and things to do, so we’re just pumped to finally get to play. Everybody’s just ready to play.”
Clark expects the match to be “really competitive.”
“That’s what I’m looking forward to,” she added. “Not only will both teams compete, but we want to help them improve and be more prepared for Paris.”
Caitlin Clark, Fever teammate, enters in style
U.S. coach expects team to face ‘adversity’
Cheryl Reeve, coach of the Minnesota Lynx and U.S. women’s national team, said she expects Saturday’s matchup between the U.S. and WNBA teams to be a tough battle.
“This game is a really great game for USA Basketball because of the level of competition. We’re going to go through adversity in this game,” she said Saturday. “I don’t think you can get to the highest level without going through adversity. You have to overcome that first, and this game is going to give us that because of the level of talent that exists on both teams.”
Cheryl Miller Team WNBA says they want to win
Caitlin Clark may not be nervous, but her WNBA All-Star coach certainly is. Cheryl Miller spoke candidly about being nervous ahead of Saturday’s WNBA All-Star main event.
“First of all, I’m super nervous. I woke up nervous, I went to bed nervous, I took a nap and woke up still nervous. But that’s what I love about it. It couldn’t get any better than it was this afternoon,” Miller said. “[Team USA]wants to win. Having fun is winning. We’re going to put our best stuff out there.”
It’s a full-circle moment for Miller, who served as the Phoenix Mercury’s first head coach and general manager from 1997 to 2000. She received a standing ovation Friday night at the Footprint Center.
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are on the same team for the first time
where Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese As you go, attention follows.
of The rivalry between Clark and Rees captivated the nation. After excelling in college at the University of Iowa and Louisiana State University, respectively, the natural expectations were there for these two superstars to lead to the WNBA.
Clark was the first overall draft pick. Indiana Feverand Reese, Chicago Skyhave been pitted against each other by rabid fans and the media throughout their careers, but the white flag has temporarily been raised. 2024 WNBA All-Star TeamThis is the first time they have been selected as a rookie pairing since 2014. After years of going head-to-head, Clark and Reese will team up for the first time in their careers.
“At least for one day we can all wear the shirt together in harmony.” Reese joked. Friday. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Sidney Henderson’s Story.
Who has scored the most points in the WNBA All-Star Game?
Jewel Loyd of the Seattle Storms scored 31 points in the 2023 WNBA All-Star Game, breaking the previous record of 30 points set by Maya Moore and Kelsey Plum in 2015 and 2022, respectively.
Who was the MVP of last year’s WNBA All-Star Game?
Jewel Loyd was named MVP at last year’s WNBA All-Star Game in Las Vegas after scoring a record 31 points.
2024 WNBA All-Star roster
Team WNBA
- Dewanna Bonner, Connecticut
- Aaliyah Boston, Indiana
- Caitlin Clark, Indiana
- Alisha Gray, Atlanta
- Dearrica Hamby, Los Angeles
- Breonna Jones, Connecticut
- Jonquel Jones, New York
- Kayla McBride, Minnesota
- Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana
- Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas
- Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle
- Angel Reese, Chicago
Team USA
- Napheesa Collier, Minnesota
- Kalea Copper, Phoenix
- Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas
- Brittney Griner, Phoenix
- Sabrina Ionescu, New York
- Jewel Loyd, Seattle
- Kelsey Plum, Las Vegas
- Breanna Stewart, New York
- Diana Taurasi, Phoenix
- Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut
- Aja Wilson, Las Vegas
- Jackie Young, Las Vegas
Has this format been used before?
Yes, once before.
In 2021, ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, the WNBA All-Star team faced Team USA and won 93-85. Dallas’ Arike Ogunbowale led all players with 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting and was named MVP.
The US team then went on to win the Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, defeating Japan 90-75.
Alisha Gray wins the 3-Point Contest and Skills Challenge
The Atlanta Dream’s Alisha Gray dominated WNBA All-Star activities on Friday: After winning the Skills Challenge earlier in the day, she defeated New York Liberty big Jonquel Jones in the 3-point challenge to become the first player in WNBA history to win both titles in the same season.
“It feels great. Another $55,000 in my pocket,” Gray said of the $55,000 bonus Aflac is paying out per tournament.
In the end it came down to a three-point shot.
Both Gray and Jones had ups and downs in the final round, Gray finishing with 22 points, but fatigue from competing in both events affected his performance, and Jones had a chance to tie Gray with the last ball, but fell short and finished with 21 points, leaving Jones holding his head in disappointment.
“(Jones) made me nervous, I’m not gonna lie,” Gray admitted.
Diana Taurasi returns from injury
All signs arePhoenix MercuryguardDiana Taurasi She missed three games with a low left leg injury but will compete in her sixth Olympic Games later this month.
Taurasi isConnecticut Sun On July 14, he recorded six points and six rebounds in 25 minutes.96-69 Road loss.
Taurasi recorded 18 points and five assists in 28 minutes of action to close out the first half of the season before the All-Star Game and Olympic break.Won 96-87over-Washington Mystics on tuesday.
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Caitlin Clark’s rise parallels Tiger’s early brilliance
One athlete is in disappointing decline. The other is experiencing exhilarating growth. Athletes born in different centuriesTiger WoodsandCaitlin ClarkIt’s going in the opposite direction.
But despite one being 26 years older than the other, they have much in common, as if their thrilling careers had run parallel, a generation apart.
How many times in the last year and a half since Clark’s explosive rise to fame, the rush to buy tickets to see her play, the national obsession with seeing her on TV, has reminded us of someone else? And when we think about who that someone is, we wonder who that someone might be: Tiger.
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How much do WNBA All-Stars make?
You will be paid to play in the WNBA All-Star Game. Under the WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement, Each All-Star Game participant will receive $2,575.The All-Star Game MVP will receive an additional $5,150. Participants in the skills competition and 3-point contest will receive $1,030 each, and the winner will receive $2,575 from the league. Josh Peter
Team USA vs Team WNBA picks, predictions and odds
On Saturday night, Team USA and the WNBA All-Star team face off. Who do you think is more likely to win?
The WNBA All-Star Game odds have Team USA favored by 6.5 points over Team WNBA.FanDuel Sportsbook.
The money line for Team USA is -260, while Team WNBA is +215.
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