Even though they still have the strongest squad in the Olympics, the US didn’t have every star in the game on Saturday night in the All-Star Game. The WNBA All-Star squad defeated the US Olympians 117-109, led by Arike Ogunbowale, who was the team’s greatest scorer and passer, and Angel Reese, who continued to produce double-doubles and was averaging double-doubles. The victory over the Olympic squad was the WNBA All-Star team’s second straight. Under the leadership of Arike Ogunbowale, who was voted the game’s MVP, the All-Stars triumphed again in 2021. Ogunbowale broke the scoring record for the All-Star game on Saturday with 34 points, and Clark narrowly missed the assist threshold in her first All-Star game. “This will be a huge assistance to us. We don’t have many opportunities to play games,” stated US leader Breanna Stewart, who finished with 31 points. “We can view the movie again and concentrate on how we can keep improving. It seemed a little bit like deja vu, but it was locked in. The Americans won their seventh consecutive Olympic gold medal in 2021, and that was their only setback. In Paris later this month, the US is hoping for a similar outcome, as no team can match the WNBA All-Stars’ depth or quality.
“Which of these teams is Arike playing for that we have coming up?” Following the defeat, US coach Cheryl Reeve joked around. The US men’s Olympic team defeated South Sudan by one point in an exhibition match played in London on Saturday, only hours before. Before competing against Belgium, Japan, and Germany at the Paris Games, the US women’s team will next play Germany in an exhibition match on Tuesday in London. Reeve remarked, “We know that we have work to do.” Sometimes there is tribulation, goodness, etc. We could have entertained ourselves without a game like this, in my opinion. We have work ahead of us to accomplish our goals, and we are aware of how difficult they are. With all of her points coming in the second half, Arike Ogunbowale proved a pain in the side for the US squad once more. In the third quarter, the 2021 All-Star MVP grabbed control of the game, scoring 21 points on six of her ten shots, including five three-pointers. The Dallas Wings standout was unstoppable despite the US team’s best efforts.

“Which of these teams is Arike playing for that we have coming up?” U.S. head coach Cheryl Reeve teased

The U.S. men’s Olympic team defeated South Sudan by one point in an exhibition match held in London just hours before Saturday’s defeat. The United States will next play Germany in an exhibition match on Tuesday in London before traveling to France to compete in the Olympics. Germany, Belgium, and Japan are in the pool with the Americans. Reeve remarked, “We know that we have work to do.” Sometimes there is tribulation, goodness, etc. We could have entertained ourselves without a game like this, in my opinion. We have work ahead of us to accomplish our goals, and we are aware of how difficult they are.
Arike Ogunbowale, who scored all of her points in the second half, was a pain in the side for the American squad once more. With 21 points from six of ten attempts, including five three-pointers, in the third quarter, the 2021 All-Star MVP gained control of the contest. Despite everything being thrown at the Dallas Wings star, the U.S. team was unable to stop her. At the break, Arike Ogunbowale claimed that WNBA team coach Cheryl Miller spoke with her about being more assertive.

“Told me to go outside and play my game and take a deep breath,” she remarked

In the last two Olympics, Arike Ogunbowale was in the U.S. national team pool, but he was not included on the roster. This time, she withdrew her name from the player pool early, claiming that the entire procedure was political. After Arike Ogunbowale finished the third quarter, the WNBA All-Stars had overcome a two-point deficit at the half to take an 88-79 lead. She scored a three-pointer late in the fourth quarter to surpass Jewell Loyd’s All-Star scoring mark of 31, which was set the previous year. After just two days of practice together, the Olympians never truly threatened. Wilson A’ja contributed 22 points.
With Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese making their All-Star Game debuts, there was a lot of excitement and build-up to this game. With record attendance and viewership this season, the two have contributed to the WNBA reaching new heights. The young stars have never performed together before. Reese, who got 12 points and 11 rebounds in the game, received one of Clark’s ten assists. “We were confident we would win after our brief 30-minute practice yesterday,” Reese stated. “The mood was established.”