Arike Ogunbowale sets scoring record as WNBA All-Stars capture win over Team USA

The U.S. women’s basketball team was put to the test ahead of the Olympics when it faced the best the WNBA could offer in the WNBA All-Star Game Saturday in Phoenix, and it took a fourth-quarter rally for the WNBA All-Stars to secure a 117-109 victory.

Dallas Wings point guard Arike Ogunbowale, a four-time All-Star, had an iconic performance, leading all scorers with 34 points. She broke the scoring record of 31 by Jewell Loyd last year, and was named the game’s MVP.

The last time the 27-year-old earned MVP at the All-Star Game was in 2021, when Team USA matched up against All-Star members ahead of the Tokyo Games.

Other highlights included WNBA rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, who were rivals in college, making a statement on the court, and Breanna Stewart leading Team USA with 31 points.

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It was a tough matchup for both teams, which made it that much better. Team USA led 54-52 at the half. But Team WNBA started to find its footing in the second half and never looked back as the points started to pour in.

Team USA fell behind by 20 points in the fourth quarter, their largest deficit of the game. Despite clawing back with Stewart, A’ja Wilson (22 points), and Diana Taurasi (14) contributing double figures, it wasn’t enough to reclaim the lead.

Ogunbowale went scoreless in the first half, then dominated the floor with 21 points in the third quarter and 13 in the fourth.

The 5-foot-8 guard, who’s averaging 22.3 points, made 8 of 13 attempts from deep, where she was the most in control — Team USA couldn’t stop her. She scored the most three-pointers of the game (no one else had more than three) while also adding six assists and three rebounds.

Clark, who averages 17.1 points and leads the WNBA in assists (8.2) with the Indiana Fever, got off to a slow start. She went 0-for-7 from three-point range, but she dominated in assists. Clark had six at halftime.

The 22-year-old former Iowa standout flirted with the all-time assists record, which is held by Sue Bird (11). In her first All-Star game, Clark finished with 10 assists and four points.

Speaking of stellar rookie performances, Reese of the Chicago Sky had a double-double — 12 points and 11 rebounds, the first in the All-Star Game since 1999.

The stars were out Saturday night. Bird and her wife, former U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe, were courtside with actress Aubrey Plaza, who reportedly suffered a torn ACL while playing a game of knockout at the new Mercury facility.

Others included Vanessa Bryant with her daughters — Clark was repping the Kobe 6 sneakers during her debut — as well as actor Jason Sudeikis, and UConn star Paige Bueckers.