It was a aggressive sport between the most effective ladies’s basketball gamers on the planet on Saturday evening in Phoenix, AZ, as Staff USA confronted off towards Staff WNBA. The sport was an excellent contest as much as the midway mark, however due to Arike Ogunbowale going nuclear within the second half, Staff WNBA got here out on high, successful 117-109.
Ogunbowale was a star amongst stars, scoring all 34 of her factors within the second half. The important thing to her big turnaround after halftime? Respiration. “She (Staff WNBA coach Cheryl Miller) simply advised me to take a deep breath and play my sport,” Ogunbowale stated within the postgame presser. Possibly we must always all take a deep breath earlier than it’s time to go to work.
After the win, it was clear the All-Star MVP would belong to Ogunbowale.
It took greater than a masterclass by the Dallas Wings guard to get the win, as different WNBA All-Stars stepped up. Nneka Ogwumike had 14 factors, three rebounds, and two assists; she was the one different Staff WNBA starter in double figures. Allisha Grey, who received each the Abilities Problem and the 3-Level Contest on Friday, saved her profitable weekend in Phoenix going with a team-high 16 factors off the bench.
Angel Reese added one other double-double to her resume, scoring 12 factors and grabbing 11 rebounds. Caitlin Clark was quiet, scoring simply 4 factors, however she was an elite distributor with 10 assists. Kelsey Mitchell additionally had a double-digit efficiency for Staff WNBA, scoring 13 factors on 6-for-8 taking pictures from the sphere.
For Staff USA, Breanna Stewart did the whole lot to attempt to safe the consequence, scoring 31 factors, grabbing three rebounds and passing out three assists. A’ja Wilson was additionally dominant with 22 factors and was showered with “MVP” chants whereas she took free throws late within the sport. The native legend Diana Taurasi had 14 factors, six rebounds and 5 assists, however the most effective America has to supply wasn’t sufficient to beat the most effective gamers within the WNBA.
The end result would possibly trigger some followers to be involved that the ladies are unprepared for the Olympics, however do not forget that Staff WNBA probably is healthier than any group Staff USA will play in Paris. The final time Staff USA performed Staff WNBA in preparation for the Olympics, the consequence was comparable, with Staff WNBA successful 93-85. And Staff USA nonetheless simply received the gold medal.
The WNBA All-Stars now will start their Olympic break, and Staff USA will flip this loss right into a lesson as they head to London.
How Staff WNBA acquired it executed
The sport began properly for Staff USA, as they went on a 6-0 run. Staff WNBA rapidly responded, and we had a aggressive sport with 5 minutes remaining within the opening quarter, with Staff USA up 14-9. Ogwumike began off scorching with eight factors on 4-for-5 taking pictures for Staff WNBA. After a 3-pointer by Kayla McBride, a pull-up jumper by Mitchell and one other bucket by Reese, Staff WNBA held a one-point benefit after one quarter of play.
The remainder of the primary half was pretty balanced, as neither group may create any vital separation. Clark was distributing the ball properly for Staff WNBA, and Stewart and Taurasi have been gamers Staff USA may go to for a basket. Brionna Jones scored a buzzer beater for Staff WNBA to make it 54-52 on the break, with Staff USA main by two factors.
Staff WNBA switched jerseys at halftime and got here out roaring, beginning the third quarter on a 9-2 run. Due to Ogunbowale, they saved that momentum all through the quarter. She had 21 factors within the third quarter alone and helped lengthen the result in six with beneath two minutes left within the third. Staff USA couldn’t shut the hole and Staff WNBA took a nine-point benefit into the fourth.
Each groups exchanged baskets to begin the closing quarter as Staff WNBA maintained their benefit over Staff USA. Halfway by means of the quarter, Staff WNBA continued its dominance and started distancing itself. Following a Grey steal and basket, the lead ballooned to fifteen factors, a part of a 10-0 run that each one however sealed this consequence. Reese scored a basket close to the rim to get into double digits, and Ogunbowale was hitting one-legged jumpers, placing this sport out of attain. Ogunbowale hit one other 3-pointer and walked again on protection with the most important smile on her face.
Staff USA made a late surge, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient as they misplaced the sport and can head abroad with work to be executed as they put together for the Paris Olympics.
Key takeaways
It’d sound like a cop out, however ladies’s basketball received this weekend. Arenas have been offered out. Grey shined on Friday. And on Saturday, Staff WNBA confirmed that, whereas Staff USA would be the most dominant nation on this sport, this league is in a special stratosphere.
That is exactly what you need an All-Star weekend to be: dream eventualities changing into actuality as gamers give a aggressive effort.
We noticed Clark passing to Reese, Ogunbowale dominating and Staff USA testing themselves. Every part was constructive, and now the one query that is still is the place the WNBA All-Star will go subsequent. Given how efficiently Phoenix hosted this occasion, 2025 may have a excessive customary to succeed in.
