Tag: WNBA All-Star Game

Arike Ogunbowale sets WNBA All-Star scoring record, wins second MVP

Irish fans know she’s not afraid of the spotlight.

Notre Dame legend [autotag]Arike Ogunbowale[/autotag] didn’t think she had a shot at making Team USA for the 2024 Olympics. She saved herself the frustration by withdrawing from the pool of potential players early. But when she represented Team WNBA against the same U.S. Olympic team in the WNBA All-Star Game in Phoenix, she proved she should be going to Paris.

After being held scoreless in the first half, Ogunbowale set a WNBA All-Star record with 34 points, all in the second half, to lead Team WNBA to a 117-109 victory. She scored 24 of those points on eight 3-pointers.

Ogunbowale’s reward was her second WNBA All-Star MVP Award, her first coming in 2021 when the league All-Stars last faced an Olympic team. She’s the fourth player to win the award more than once. It marked the third time in four years a former Notre Dame player won All-Star MVP.

[autotag]Jewell Loyd[/autotag], the 2023 All-Star MVP, failed to score on three field-goal attempts. Her U.S. teammate, [autotag]Jackie Young[/autotag], made a single field goal on five attempts. [autotag]Kayla McBride[/autotag], the fourth former Irish player in the game, made her only shot attempt for Team WNBA, which came from 3-point range.

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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.

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Caitlin Clark nailed a fantastic bounce pass to Angel Reese for a stellar layup in the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game

This is the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game highlight you’ve all been waiting for.

The moment you’d been waiting for during Saturday night’s 2024 WNBA All-Star Game finally happened.

On a really excellent sequence for Team WNBA, Indiana Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark found Chicago Sky rookie forward Angel Reese for a basket.

This is the first time these two superstars have played with each other, and Clark’s great bounce pass turned into a stellar layup from Reese for two big points during the game’s fourth quarter.

WNBA fans had hoped to see Clark and Reese get a moment together on the court as they were playing together with Team WNBA, and the two did not disappoint.

It was a dynamite assist for Clark and an equally impressive basket for Reese. Something tells us these two have a bright future.

Feature image courtesy of ESPN.

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Caitlin Clark got very excited about possibly breaking a Sue Bird WNBA All-Star Game record for a hysterical reason

Caitlin Clark sounded very excited to break another Sue Bird record.

Indiana Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark brought her A-game to this year’s WNBA All-Star Game, and she got close to breaking another big league record during the contest’s third quarter.

After landing nine assists in the game at that point, Clark broke the WNBA rookie record for assists in an All-Star Game and got close to matching Sue Bird’s all-time record for assists in an All-Star Game with 11.

As soon as ESPN broadcaster Ryan Ruocco told Clark about how close she was breaking Bird’s all-time record during a mid-game interview, she immediately got fired up.

Why you ask? Clark joked that she was now intent on breaking it because Bird had been talking trash to her on the sideline while the latter was in the stands.

“It’s Sue’s? OK, then I’m breaking it,” Clark told Ruocco. “She’s been talking crap all game.”

Clark literally just broke one of Bird’s records the other day in her stellar performance against the Dallas Wings, and she sure sounded motivated to break another for a delightful reason in this very funny mid-game interview.

Feature image courtesy of ESPN. 

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A mic’d-up Caitlin Clark made a very funny promise to one of her 2024 WNBA All-Star Game teammates

Caitlin Clark wore a mic during the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game. The results were great.

Indiana Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark wore a game mic during Saturday’s 2024 WNBA All-Star Game, and she made a delightful promise to one of her Team WNBA teammates during the first half.

Clark told her Team WNBA teammate that she was going to launch a bomb from midcourt for a logo 3-pointer before halftime, which is absolutely what WNBA fans wanted to see from one of the best scorers in the game.

She lived up to that promise right before half by pulling up from the midcourt logo, but the ball didn’t connect with the hoop like it usually does.

Hey, at least she followed through with her promise!

Feature image courtesy of ESPN.

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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.

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A mic’d-up Cheryl Miller made a delightful admission to the Team WNBA huddle during this year’s All-Star Game

Cheryl Miller was having the time of her life at the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game.

Women’s basketball legend Cheryl Miller hasn’t coached basketball formally in a half a decade, but she looked like she was having a blast during this year’s 2024 WNBA All-Star Game.

Miller coached Team WNBA against Cheryl Reeve and Team USA during this year’s All-Star Game, and the ESPN broadcast captured a delightful moment of her in the huddle with her team.

A mic’d-up Miller said that “I’m having fun… don’t know what I’m doing, but I’m having fun” to her team, which is just such a wonderful way of firing up your team while finding some good humor in the moment.

Maybe Miller will get back into coaching one of these days because she’s clearly having a ball with coaching Team WNBA this year.

Feature image courtesy of ESPN.

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Caitlin Clark delivered a ridiculous assist to Jonquel Jones from the other side of the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game court

Caitlin Clark delivered on this ridiculous assist to Jonquel Jones during the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game.

Indiana Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark brought her phenomenal passing to this year’s WNBA All-Star Game in Phoenix on Saturday.

While driving the ball, Clark launched a missile of an assist from the other side of the court right to New York Liberty forward Jonquel Jones for a fantastic bucket.

These are the types of plays that has made Clark’s rookie season in Indiana such must-see T.V., as her elite ability to create offense with assists is a major part of her success as a WNBA player.

This pass is just special. It created points for Team WNBA, and it should definitely be on the highlight reel for Clark’s rookie campaign.

Feature image courtesy of ESPN.

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Caitlin Clark delivered a very inspiring message to young fans ahead of the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game

This is a great message for anybody going after their dreams from Caitlin Clark.

Indiana Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark delivered an incredibly inspiring message to young fans ahead of Saturday’s WNBA All-Star Game.

Clark gave a message to young fans pursuing their dreams during a question-and-answer session, reinforcing the tried-and-true mentality of not allowing doubters to seep into one’s goals and hopes.

“Don’t let anybody tell you, you can’t do something,” Clark told the young fans about chasing their dreams. “You can achieve whatever you want in life.”

This is a really great message for all folks to remember, as Clark is the living proof that going after your dreams really can work out in your favor.

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Caitlin Clark sinking multiple midcourt logo 3-pointers in WNBA All-Star Game practice was beyond impressive

Okay, how is she so good at this?!

Indiana Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark has a knack for hitting deep 3-pointers in the WNBA.

However, this reel of her sinking multiple midcourt logo 3-pointers in a Team WNBA practice in Phoenix on Friday is just on a different level of impressive.

Clark just nails these deep 3-pointers from right by the Phoenix Mercury logo with absolute ease, showcasing her amazing range without really breaking a sweat.

The Fever rookie will represent her team alongside fellow Fever standouts Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell on Team WNBA during the league’s Saturday All-Star Game.

As far as shooting possible midcourt 3-pointers, Clark looks more than prepared.

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