WNBA All-Star game highlights: Arike Ogunbowale wins MVP as Olympians suffer loss

PHOENIX — Cheryl Reeve, head coach of the U.S. women’s national team, predicted that Team USA would face adversity in Saturday’s exhibition match against Team WNBA in Phoenix.

She was right.

Team WNBA handed Team USA a 117-109 loss in front of a sold-out crowd at Footprint Center in the WNBA All-Star game. The matchup was closely contested through the first half, but then entered Team WNBA’s Arike Ogunbowale, who set a record for the most points scored in a WNBA All-Star game and earned her second MVP nod.

Ogunbowale was held scoreless in the first half, but went on to record 34 points (10-for-20 FG) following a pep talk from coach Cheryl Miller. She knocked down eight of 13 three-pointers to help Team WNBA extend its lead to as many as 20 points. Ogunbowale finished with six assists, three rebounds and two steals.

Ogunbowale joined Lisa Leslie (1999, 2001, 2022), Swin Cash (2009, 2011) and Maya Moore (2015, 2017, 2018) as the only WNBA stars to win multiple All-Star MVP awards. Ogunbowale was the All-Star MVP in 2021.

Arike Ogunbowale became the fourth player to earn more than one WNBA All-Star Game MVPs.

Arike Ogunbowale became the fourth player to earn more than one WNBA All-Star Game MVPs.
Caitlin Clark set a rookie record with 10 assists and Angel Reese became the first rookie with a double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Allisha Gray, who won the 3-point shooting contest and the skills competition Friday, added 16 points.

Breanna Stewart led Team USA with 31 points. A’ja Wilson added 22, while Diana Taurasi had 14.

How many points did Caitlin Clark score?

Clark finished with four points on 2-of-9 shooting, 0-for-7 from beyond the arc.

Angel Reese first rookie to record double-double

Reese becomes the first rookie to record a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Caitlin Clark connects with Angel Reese

After years of facing off as fierce rivals, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are teammates at the WNBA All-Star game. They are the first pair of rookies to earn a nod since 2014 and their rookie connection was on display in the third quarter. Clark found Reese in the paint for an easy layup to put Team WNBA up 95-86 over Team USA. The two high-fived after the play.