Mark J. Rebillas/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark performed together for the first time.
CNN
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Dallas Wings guard Areke Ogunbowale set a WNBA All-Star Game record with 34 points, and Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese each set rookie records to 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 of them coming in the third quarter, as the WNBA team overcame a two-point halftime deficit to win and set Team USA up for the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Ogunbowale’s scoring performance earned him his second All-Star MVP award in front of 16,407 fans at the Footprint Center.
“Coach (Cheryl Miller) called me out at halftime in front of everybody and told me to take a deep breath and just play my game,” the 27-year-old said after the game. “I think everybody saw what happened.”
Ogunbowale is just the fourth player in league history to win the All-Star Game trophy multiple times.
Ross D. Franklin/AP
Arike Ogunbowale, right, celebrates with teammates Caitlin Clark (center) and Aaliyah Boston (left) after making a three-point shot against Team USA.
Meanwhile, Chicago Sky rookie forward Reese and Indiana Fever guard Clark were playing on the same team for the first time, and both enjoyed historic games in their All-Star debuts.
Reese, who already set the WNBA record for most consecutive double-doubles this season, finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds to become the first rookie with a double-double in an All-Star Game.
In addition to scoring four points, Clark set a rookie All-Star Game record with 10 assists, one of which came from Reese, just one shy of Sue Bird’s overall All-Star Game record.
“It was a lot of fun. We came out here and fought hard,” Clark told reporters after the game. “We knew they wanted to win and we came out with that 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 came as a shock, but she told reporters there was “a lot of talent on the team.”
“I think it was the same four years ago, when the WNBA team beat Team USA and had a perfect run in the Olympics,” she added. “I think it just shows how good this league is, how talented it is. I’ll be rooting for them, cheering for them. I love the Olympics. They’re going to win gold and have a dominant run.”
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 U.S. next plays a friendly against Germany in London on Tuesday before heading to the Summer Olympics in France, where it will try to win its eighth consecutive gold medal.
The WNBA will resume its regular season on Aug. 15 after the Olympics.
