Arike Ogunbowale’s electric WNBA All-Star Game performance earned her MVP honors and so much love from hoops fans

Arike Ogunbowale absolutely COOKED Team USA, and hoops fans loved it.

Arike Ogunbowale was on an ABSOLUTE HEATER during Saturday’s WNBA All-Star game.

All day, I could not land on who I thought might be the All-Star Game MVP. Update: IT’S ARIKE OGUNBOWALE. The woman dropped 21 points — DURING THE THIRD QUARTER ALONE — and somehow, that wasn’t enough. She just kept going until she got to 34 points and a new WNBA All-Star record.

Arike. GIRL. These Team USA players have families. You didn’t have to do them like this. Actually, you know what? I’M GLAD YOU DID. You dropped buckets on headtops with over 16,000 fans in the building and a ton more watching from home. That brilliant effort earned you WELL-DESERVED MVP honors.

Arike is just the fourth player behind Lisa Leslie, Maya Moore and Swin Cash to win multiple All-Star Game MVP trophies. Super impressive stuff.

Her performance was so good that fans couldn’t help but share some fitting memes about her huge night against Team USA.

UPDATE: Arike posted a nearly soundless postgame reaction showing off the MVP trophy and then dropped a single emoji minutes later. COLD.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=117952]

Angel Reese had a double-double during the WNBA All-Star Game because of course she did

Did you expect anything less?

Of course, Angel Reese had a double-double at the WNBA All-Star. Of course, she did.

Well, I’ll be. Caitlin Clark called it. Angel Reese, in fact, did grab the most rebounds. I mean, I didn’t doubt she would. But to see it happen live — against Team USA — was something special. Angel also added 12 points to that amazing effort — including a dope bounce pass from Caitlin that led to a bucket  — and honestly, we love that for her. The girl’s motor is just relentless, and to see her shine Saturday was awesome.

After the game, she talked about how she wanted to make her impact felt, saying, “I just wanted to leave my mark. One day, I wanna be able to be a [USA Basketball] member.” This is one heck of a start, Angel. You’re the first rookie in WNBA All-Star history to have a double-double. WELL DONE.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=117952]

Kelsey Mitchell hit the coldest step-back buzzer-beater during the WNBA All-Star Game

Kelsey Mitchell — ARE YOU SERIOUS?!

Kelsey Mitchell hit an absolutely filthy stepback buzzer-beater to end the third quarter during the WNBA All-Star Game.

OK, fine. I’ll say I did not take anything seriously that was being said about this game. Both teams reportedly were very serious about it, but I wasn’t — until I saw that they were HOOPING out there.

So many good things were happening. Caitlin Clark assists. Angel Reese rebounds. Arike Ogunbowale on an ABSOLUTE HEATER. And then, Kelsey Mitchell dropped a NASTY buzzer-beater to end the third quarter, and I LOVED IT. YES, PLAY IT ON A LOOP. INJECT THIS INTO MY VEINS. I NEED IT. If it sounds like I’m yelling — I DEFINTELY AM.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=117952]

A’ja Wilson jokingly mocked Allisha Gray for flopping after the best friends collided during the WNBA All-Star Game

Leave it to your best friend to roast you.

A’ja Wilson and Allisha Gray‘s friendship is perfect.

When Allisha Gray won the skills contest and 3-point challenge Friday, A’ja Wilson was right there, cheering her on. Wilson was even wholesomely rocking a pair of goggles, too, as a tribute to Gray’s signature on-court look.

So, it’s not surprising that when they both had the chance to play each other, some friendly banter would happen. Allisha was driving to the basket for an easy score when A’ja dropped into the paint and jumped up to contest the shot — only she accidentally fouled Gray, sending her to the ground. Right on cue, Allisha says, “Dang, A’ja!” and A’ja responds by jokingly complaining to the refs that her bestie was flopping.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=117952]

Angel Reese hyped up Allisha Gray during WNBA All-Star weekend using a hysterical Quinta Brunson meme

Angel Reese hyping up Allisha Gray was perfect.

Angel Reese hyping up Allisha Gray by using a Quinta Brunson meme was so incredibly fitting and hilarious.

In case you missed it, Allisha won the WNBA All-Star skills challenge AND the 3-point contest — on the same night. It’s the first time ever that a player has won both contests in the same season, and fans reacted with some ELITE money-related memes because Gray took home a nice $110,000 check for winning.

On Saturday, ahead of the WNBA All-Star game, Allisha was on the orange walkway showing off her fit when Angel was nearby, waiting for her turn. As Allisha was posing for photos, Angel hyped her up, saying, “That’s the money, man. Period!” She then added, “She got money! She got money”, a fitting tribute to a very well-known Quinta Brunson meme.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=117952]

Sophie Cunningham had a very relatable NSFW reaction to missing shots during WNBA All-Star skills challenge

Listen, Sophie. We totally understand.

Sophie Cunningham cursed very loudly during Friday’s WNBA All-Star skills challenge, and the moment was so funny.

Listen, I’m not going to pretend to know what kind of pressure the players participating were under. With $55,000 on the line, I’m sure that it probably felt immense. (Allisha Gray probably has nerves of steel.) So, I’m not going to judge Sophie for having what was probably an “in-the-mind” thought out loud.

She was certainly trying her hardest to overcome all the obstacles when a nearby hot mic caught her somewhat panicking — chiding herself, really —about several shots that just would not go down. One missed shot produced a hilariously relatable “Oh, well, [expletive]” from Sophie, and broadcaster Ryan Ruocco quickly tried to explain what was happening. (Warning: NSFW language.)

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=117952]

Allisha Gray’s $110K win during WNBA All-Star weekend had hoops fans dropping so many elite memes

Allisha Gray’s historic win sent her home with $110k and some amazing cash-related memes from hoops fans.

Allisha Gray won the 2024 WNBA All-Star Skills Challenge and the 3-point contest.

Yes, you read that right. SHE WON BOTH.

It’s the first time in the history of the WNBA All-Star game that’s happened on the same night. Big Al — not the little one! — had hoops fans captivated after she smoked the skills challenge and very shyly said, “It’s a possibility,” when asked if she could win the 3-point contest, too.

She went toe-to-toe with Jonquel Jones, who ultimately came up short near the very end. Gray’s reaction to winning is so awesome, and she more than earned it with her sharpshooting skills.

What makes the moment even sweeter is that Allisha is taking home $110,000 from Aflac ($55k for each event she won) and a ton of love from hoops fans.

They dropped so many elite memes to celebrate her big accomplishment. (Warning: NSFW language.)

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=117952]

A’ja Wilson hyping up a Flau’jae Johnson performance at WNBA All-Star weekend is so perfect

Get you a hype woman like A’ja Wilson.

Flau’jae Johnson performed during WNBA All-Star weekend, and A’ja Wilson‘s reaction to it is a whole vibe.

Flau’jae’s been on a whirlwind tour since LSU’s season ended earlier this year. She recently performed new music at the ESPY’s, where she absolutely did her BIG one with the performance. She shut it DOWN.

She performed again, this time for some folks down at WNBA All-Star weekend in Phoenix. In a new video, Flau’jae is working the room when she lands on someone special — A’ja Wilson! — who is totally hyped over the song. The vibes seemed immaculate, and so was A’ja’s reaction.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=117952]

Aliyah Boston jokingly predicts Caitlin Clark will get a technical foul during the WNBA All-Star Game

Aliyah Boston’s got jokes.

The 2024 WNBA All-Star Game should be really good — so good that Aliyah Boston joked that Caitlin Clark would likely get a technical foul.

It’s not a secret that Team WNBA and Team USA are taking Saturday’s contest seriously. Team USA will use the game as time to develop chemistry before Paris. As Cheryl Miller informed the media Friday, Team WNBA wants to “beat the brakes” off the Olympians.

That means what was thought to be an exhibition is probably going to be a WHOLE LOT like an actual game. So many things could happen, and Aliyah Boston knows it. While discussing the weekend’s events on the orange carpet Thursday, Aliyah answered a technical foul question by perfectly segwaying into the next person behind her. That individual was Caitlin Clark.

@caitlin.clarkmuse

GOTTA LOVE AB AND CAITLIN!!🥹#caitlinclark #aliyahboston #indianafever #fypp #foryoupage #WNBAALLSTARS2024 #foryou #fypage #fypシ゚viral #fypp #fypage #fypage #viral #fy #fypage

♬ original sound – CC=🐐

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=117952]

 

Why Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu are not in the WNBA’s All-Star 3-point contest

Here’s the reason why Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu won’t be in the WNBA’s All-Star 3-point contest.

Caitlin Clark and her fellow 3-point specialist, Sabrina Ionescu, are not participating in the WNBA’s 3-point contest during All-Star weekend. If you’re here, you’re probably wondering one thing: WHY NOT?!

The answer is very simple. They both declined. YEP. They both said no.

Per Doug Feinberg of the Associated Press, both athletes were invited but opted not to participate. Ionescu is on the U.S. women’s national team and is preparing for the Olympics. Feinberg did not list the reasoning regarding Caitlin, but it’s not inconceivable to assume that it’s likely for rest. She’s been playing basketball nearly nonstop since last year, and per her own admission, she needs “to not” pick up a ball during the Olympic break.

Something else to consider is that Caitlin wants WNBA All-Star weekend to be about every player there. As she previously mentioned, She doesn’t want the focus to be on just her or her fellow All-Star rookie, Angel Reese.

UPDATE: Caitlin Clark confirms that she is out of the contest so she can rest. “I’ve been playing basketball for a year straight,” she told media during AllStar weekend. “Like it’s not an easy thing to just show up to and shoot off of a rack.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=117952]