Arike Ogunbowale sets WNBA All-Star record while Angel Reyes, Kaitlyn Clark set rookie records in win over Team USA

CNN
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Dallas Wings guard Eric Ogunbowale set a new WNBA All-Star Game record with 34 points while Caitlin Clark And Angel Reese They set rookie records as they helped the WNBA beat Team USA 117-109 on Saturday in Phoenix.

Ogunbowale scored 34 points in the second half and had 21 in the third quarter as the WNBA overcame a two-point halftime deficit to win as Team USA prepares for the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris.

Ogunbowale was named Man of the Match for the second time thanks to her goalscoring exploits in front of 16,407 fans at the Footprint Centre.

“Coach (Cheryl Miller) called me in at halftime in front of everyone and said, ‘Just take a deep breath and play your game,'” the 27-year-old said after the game. “I think you saw what happened.”

Ogunbowale is the fourth player in league history to earn multiple All-Star Game honors.

Meanwhile, rookie forward Reese of the Chicago Sky and Indiana goalie Vivre Clark played on the same team for the first time and both enjoyed historic matches in their first All-Star appearances.

Reese, who already set a WNBA record for most consecutive double-doubles this season, became the first rookie to accomplish the feat. register He had a double-double in the All-Star Game after finishing with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Clark scored four points and also made an All-Star Rookie Game appearance. register With 10 assists, one of which came from Reese, she is just one assist away from Sue Bird’s All-Star Game record.

“It was a really fun game,” Clark told reporters after the game. “We came in here and competed hard. We knew they wanted to win, so we came out with the same mentality… We started the third quarter strong and that set the tone.”

Clarke was left off the Olympic team, a decision that initially came as a shock, but she told reporters there was “a lot of talent on this team.”

“I think it was the same four years ago, the WNBA beat the USA team and they did well in the Olympics. If anything, it shows how good this league is, how much talent there is… I’m going to support them and cheer for them, I love the Olympics… They’re going to win the gold medal and dominate,” she added.

Brianna Stewart, a six-time New York Liberty and national team player, led the United States with 31 points and 10 rebounds, while A’ja Wilson, a six-time Las Vegas Aces and national team player, added 22 points, six rebounds and three assists.

The United States will then play Germany in an exhibition match in London on Tuesday before heading to France for the Summer Olympics, where the team will seek an eighth straight gold medal.

The WNBA resumes regular season play after the Olympics on August 15.