PHOENIX — The WNBA All-Star festivities continue Saturday night in Phoenix as the All-Star squad takes on Team USA.
For the first time, rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese – longtime college rivals – will play together as members of the All-Star team.
History was made at the 2024 WNBA All-Star weekend Friday when Allisha Gray of the Atlanta Dream became the first player to win the skills challenge and 3-point contest in the same season.
Team USA, headlined by five-time Olympic gold medalist Diana Taurasi, will face off against Team WNBA, which features up-and-coming rookies Clark and Reese, on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET. The U.S. women’s national team may have won seven consecutive gold medals, but Team WNBA coach Cheryl Miller said her team of All-Stars aren’t going to make it easy for them.
Follow along with USA TODAY Sports for all the action from Phoenix’s sold-out Footprint Center:
Halftime: Team USA 54, Team WNBA 52
Team USA outscored Team WNBA 31-28 in the second quarter to take a 54-52 lead over the All-Stars. Breanna Stewart scored 10 of Team USA’s final 12 points in the first half and is closing in on a double-double with a game-high 14 points and five rebounds.
Team WNBA’s Allisha Gray has a team-high 12 points off the bench. Gray could pull off a trifecta — she already won last night’s 3-point contest and skills challenge. Is an All-Star game MVP next?
It’s been a high-scoring affair so far, but nearly all the points have come from inside the arc as both teams have struggled from the 3-point line. Team USA is 4-of-14 from three and Team WNBA is 3-of-17. Caitlin Clark is 0-for-5 from three.
All-Stars attract stars
Among the celebrities spotted in the crowd at Footprint Center: actor and Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis, four-time WNBA champion and five-time Olympic gold medalist Sue Bird, Olympic champion and World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe, rapper Ty Dolla $ign, three-time WNBA MVP and three-time gold medalist Sheryl Swoopes, the Mercury’s Sophie Cunningham, UConn guard Paige Bueckers, the Cardinals’ Marvin Harrison Jr. and Kyler Murray, and Shannon Sharpe.
Caitlin Clark finally scores in second quarter
Caitlin Clark is on the board.
The WNBA All-Star rookie did so by turning defense into offense. She deflected a pass from Team USA’s Alyssa Thomas, gained possession and had a clear path to lay it in for her first points of the game. Clark hasn’t been able to get it going form beyond the arc just yet — she’s 0-for-3 from three.
Watch: Caitlin Clark’s behind-the-back dime
Caitlin Clark, the league leader in assists per game, is dishing dimes at the WNBA All-Star game. She pulled off a behind-the-back pass under the basket to connect with Indiana Fever teammate Aliyah Boston for a layup. She found Jonquel Jones the next possession for another bucket. Clark may be scoreless in the game, but she’s up three assists.
Earlier this week, Clark set a WNBA record for single-game assists, dishing 19 during the Fever’s game against the Dallas Wings.
1Q: Team WNBA 24, Team USA 23
This may be an exhibition match, but the effort and energy from both teams says otherwise. And the first quarter lived up to the hype. Team USA’s Diana Taurasi opened the game with a 3-point shot to get the Olympic team on the board, but Team WNBA answered every time. Nneka Ogwumike scored eight of Team WNBA’s 24 points. A’Ja Wilson leads the Olympic team with seven points, including one basket from beyond the arc. Team WNBA (11-for-22) and Team USA (10-for-20) are shooting an impressive 50% from the field.
Although defense usually takes a backseat in All-Star games, it’s on full display. Team USA’s Breanna Stewart is already up to five rebounds.
Ann Meyers Drysdale named honorary coach by Cheryl Miller
There’s a new coach on Team WNBA’s bench. Ahead of tip-off at Footprint Center on Saturday, Team WNBA head coach Cheryl Miller walked over to the other side of the court and handed Hall of Famer Ann Meyers Drysdale a coaching hoodie to put on. Meyers Drysdale got a large applause from the crowd as she went to join Team WNBA’s bench.
Earlier in the night, Miller called Meyers Drysdale her WNBA GOAT. Meyers Drysdale served as general manager and president of the Phoenix Mercury. She was a member of the first Olympic women’s team, which won silver at the Montreal Olympics in 1976.
Diana Taurasi scores first points
Taurasi pulled up from the left top of the key and nailed a three-pointer to open scoring in the WNBA All-Star Game, giving Team USA the early 3-0 edge.
Caitlin Clark introduced as All-Star, starter for first time
Team USA vs. Team WNBA starting lineups
WNBA: Caitlin Clark, DeWanna Bonner, Jonquel Jones, Arike Ogunbowale, Nneka Ogwumike
USA: Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd, Diana Taurasi
When is the WNBA All-Star game?
The WNBA All-Stars play Team USA on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
How to watch the WNBA All-Star game
The game will be televised on ABC.
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How to stream the WNBA All-Star game
You can stream with free trial from FUBO.
Caitlin Clark not nervous for first All-Star game
It may be Caitlin Clark’s first WNBA All-Star game, but she’s not nervous.
“I don’t get nervous for any game. I think more so just excitement more than anything,” Clark told the media ahead of Saturday’s game. “There’s been a build-up to finally get to the game, because you are here all weekend and have so many events to go to and so many things to do. Everybody is just ready to play the game.”
Clark predicts a “really competitive” contest.
“That’s what I’m looking forward to,” she added. “Both teams competing, but also we want to help them get better and prepared for Paris.”
Caitlin Clark, Fever teammates make stylish entrance
Team USA coach expects team to face ‘adversity’
Cheryl Reeve, the coach of the Minnesota Lynx and the U.S. women’s national team, said she expects a hard fought game on Saturday when Team USA takes on Team WNBA.
“This is such a great game for USA basketball because of the level of competition. We are going to experience adversity in this game,” she said Saturday. “I don’t think you can reach your greatest heights without experiencing adversity. You have to go through that first. This game is going to give us that because (of) the level of talent that exists on both teams.”
Cheryl Miller says Team WNBA ‘wants to win’
Caitlin Clark may not be nervous, but her WNBA All-Star coach surely is. Cheryl Miller was frank about her butterflies ahead of the WNBA All-Stars’ main event Saturday.
“First of all, I’m nervous as heck. Woke up nervous, went to bed nervous, had a nap woke up and was nervous. But that’s what I love about this game … It doesn’t get better than this afternoon,” Miller said. “(Team USA) wants to win. Fun is winning. We are going to put the best product out there.”
It’s a full-circle moment for Miller, who served as the first head coach and general manager of the Phoenix Mercury from 1997 to 2000. She received a standing ovation at Footprint Center on Friday evening.
Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese on same team for once
Where Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese go, attention follows.
The rivalry between Clark and Reese captivated the nation during their collegiate days at Iowa and LSU, respectively, and the well-deserved hype has followed the two superstars into the WNBA.
Clark, who was drafted No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever, and Reese, who was taken with the No. 7 pick by the Chicago Sky, have been pitted against each other throughout their careers – whether by their devoted fanbases or in the media – but a white flag has been raised temporarily. They were both named to the 2024 WNBA All-Star team, becoming the first pair of rookies to earn a nod since 2014. After years of going head-to-head, Clark and Reese will team up for the first time in their careers.
“Everybody can wear their ‘get along’ shirts together for one day at least,” Reese joked Friday. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Read Cydney Henderson’s story.
Who has scored the most points in WNBA All-Star game?
Seattle Storm’s Jewell Loyd scored 31 points at the 2023 WNBA All-Star Game, breaking Maya Moore and Kelsey Plum’s previous record of 30 points set in 2015 and 2022, respectively.
Who was the WNBA All-Star game MVP last year?
Jewell Loyd was named the WNBA All-Star Game MVP last year in Las Vegas following a record-setting 31-point performance.
2024 WNBA All-Star rosters
Team WNBA
- DeWanna Bonner, Connecticut
- Aliyah Boston, Indiana
- Caitlin Clark, Indiana
- Allisha Gray, Atlanta
- Dearica Hamby, Los Angeles
- Brionna 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
- Kahleah Copper, Phoenix
- Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas
- Brittney Griner, Phoenix
- Sabrina Ionescu, New York
- Jewell Loyd, Seattle
- Kelsey Plum, Las Vegas
- Breanna Stewart, New York
- Diana Taurasi, Phoenix
- Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut
- A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas
- Jackie Young, Las Vegas
Has this format been used previously?
Yes. Once before.
In 2021, ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, the WNBA All-Star Team faced off against Team USA, with the WNBA All-Stars winning 93-85. Arike Ogunbowale of Dallas was named MVP after leading all players with 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting.
Team USA later won Olympic gold with a 90-75 victory against Japan in the Tokyo Games.
Allisha Gray wins 3-point contest AND skills challenge
Atlanta Dream’s Allisha Gray swept the WNBA All-Star activites on Friday. After winning the skills challenge earlier in the night, she took down New York Liberty big Jonquel Jones in the 3-point challenge to become the first person in WNBA history to win both in the same season.
“It feels amazing. Another $55K in my pocket,” Gray said, referring to Aflac’s $55K bonus for each competition.
It came down to the final 3-point ball.
Both Gray and Jones had hot and cold streaks during the final round. Gray finished with 22 points, which she contributed to fatigue from competing in both events. Jones had the opportunity to tie Gray’s score with her last ball, but it came up just short of the basket. Jones held her head in disappointment as she finished with 21 points.
“(Jones) had me nervous, I’m not going to lie,” Gray admitted.
Diana Taurasi back from injury
All signs are pointing toward Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi making her sixth Olympic appearance later this month after an injury scare sidelined her for three games with a lower left leg ailment.
Taurasi came back against the Connecticut Sun on July 14, scoring six points and grabbing six rebounds in 25 minutes in a 96-69 road defeat.
Closing out the season’s first half before the All-Star Game and the Olympic break, Taurasi had 18 points and five assists in 28 minutes in a 96-87 win over the Washington Mystics on Tuesday.
Read more from Scooby Axson here.
Caitlin Clark’s rise parallels Tiger’s early brilliance
One sports career is in disheartening decline. The other is in exhilarating ascendance. Born in different centuries, Tiger Woods and Caitlin Clark are going in opposite directions.
Yet, while one is 26 years older than the other, they do have much in common. It’s as if their thrilling careers have been running on parallel tracks a generation apart.
How often over the past year and a half, since Clark’s rise to her immense popularity, has the rush to buy tickets to see her or national obsession to watch her on TV reminded us of someone else? And when we thought about it, and landed on who that someone might be, wasn’t it Tiger?
Read more from Christine Brennan here.
How much do WNBA All-Stars earn?
It pays to play in the WNBA All-Star game. Under the WNBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, All-Star game participants each earn $2,575. The All-Star Game MVP is awarded an additional $5,150. Skills Competition and 3-point contest participants get $1,030 each, while the winners earn $2,575 from the league. — Josh Peter
Team USA vs. Team WNBA picks, predictions, odds
Team USA and a team of WNBA All-Stars face off Saturday night. Who has the best shot to win?
Team USA is a 6.5-point favorite over Team WNBA in WNBA All-Star Game odds, courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
Team USA is -260 on the moneyline, while Team WNBA is +215.
Read more from Jeremy Cluff here.
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