Stars light up the night as Team WNBA beats Paris-bound U.S. women’s squad

So it was appropriate when the five-time gold medalist, a 42-year-old who in Paris is about to play in her sixth Olympics, came out and buried the first shot of the game — a three-pointer for the league’s all-time leader in that category. “Personally, I know that the end is way closer than the beginning,” she said. “So I just try to enjoy every single moment.”

This midseason showcase had a spicy feel and a competitive nature typically missing in these sorts of games. Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller, who coached Team WNBA, made that clear Friday, when she said her squad wanted to “beat the brakes” off the U.S. women’s national team. There was something at stake on both sides: Team USA wanted to prepare for the Olympics, and the members of Team WNBA wanted to show they could beat the most accomplished roster in the world.

“It is one of the greatest spectacles, I think, in the history of our league, this game today,” Team USA Coach Cheryl Reeve said beforehand. “This is such a great game for USA Basketball because of the level of competition. And we are going to experience adversity in this game.”

Reeve was correct: Team WNBA prevailed, 117-109, in front of a sellout crowd at Footprint Center as All-Star Game MVP Arike Ogunbowale led the way with a game-record 34 points. Ogunbowale, who was left off the Olympic team and has said politics played a role in the roster selection, erupted in the third quarter with 21 points and five three-pointers after a scoreless first half. Team WNBA’s lead was nine after three quarters and grew to as large as 20 in the fourth before Team USA rallied late. The MVP award was the second for Ogunbowale, who also was honored in 2021 when she faced the Tokyo-bound U.S. Olympians. She became the fourth player to win multiple All-Star Game MVPs, joining Lisa Leslie, Swin Cash and Maya Moore.

Breanna Stewart led Team USA with 31 points and 10 rebounds. Taurasi finished with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists in 20 minutes.

Ogunbowale said Coach Cheryl Miller specifically had some words for her after being held scoreless in the first half.

“Coach, actually called me out at halftime in front of everybody,” Arike said with a laugh. “Was like just take a deep breath and play your game. I guess you guys saw what happened.

“I wasn’t expecting her to say my name. She was talking about the team and she pointed at me.”

The storylines ran deep, well beyond Taurasi and Ogunbowale.

No. 1 overall draft pick Caitlin Clark and fellow star rookie Angel Reese not only made their all-star debuts, but their rivalry that began in college was put on hold as they competed as teammates for the first time. Like Taurasi, both received a lot of support from the crowd at the culmination of a hectic weekend. Clark stormed into the postgame news conference with a smile and announced she’s going on vacation and later said she can’t wait to not touch a basketball.

Clark said there was no vindication of beating Team USA after not being selected and noted that the Team WNBA won in 2021, also.

“They were perfectly fine in the Olympics,” Clark said. “If anything, it shows how good this league is. It shows how much talent is in this league and how you have to show up and prepare every single night.”

Reeve added, “The depth of talent that we have in the USA, there’s no one that has anything close to it.”

Clark, who was announced as a starter shortly before the game, finished with four points and a game-high 10 assists. The 10 assists were one shy of the All-Star Game record held by Sue Bird. Reese, who set a WNBA record with 15 consecutive double-doubles, had another in her first all-star appearance, finishing with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

“It’s definitely been busy,” Clark said. “… But it’s been fun to get to experience this with other WNBA players, too, and get to know them.”

Miller was back in the city where she made her lone WNBA coaching stop. Before the game, she walked to the baseline with another coaching shirt and gave it to fellow Hall of Famer Ann Meyers Drysdale, who headed to the bench as an honorary coach. And this wasn’t just fun and games for Miller, who was animated as she talked to the team during huddles.

There were teammate combinations on both squads with A’ja Wilson-Chelsea Gray-Jackie Young-Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces), Stewart-Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty) and Taurasi-Brittney Griner-Kahleah Copper (Mercury) on Team USA. Team WNBA featured DeWanna Bonner-Brionna Jones (Connecticut Sun) and Clark-Kelsey Mitchell-Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever). And Bonner was on the opposite side from Alyssa Thomas, her fiancée and Sun teammate.

Speaking of Griner, she is headed to Europe to play for the first time since being released from a Russian prison in December 2022. And Friday night, Allisha Gray became the first player to win both the three-point contest and skills challenge.

The stars were not only on the court but in the stands. University of Connecticut guard Paige Bueckers sat courtside next to Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes. Sue Bird and former U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe were courtside, too. Hall of Fame tight end and media personality Shannon Sharpe, musicians Fabolous and Ty Dolla Sign, actress Aubrey Plaza and actor Jason Sudeikis were present. Vanessa Bryant, wife of the late Kobe Bryant, and her daughters also sat courtside, and Pitbull performed at halftime.

While there was certainly some disappointment from Team USA in the way they played, there was no panic in the building from the program that has won every Olympic gold since the 1996 Atlanta Games.

“Obviously this is going to help us tremendously,” Stewart said. “Because we don’t get that many game reps, game opportunities. … It was like a little bit of deja vu feeling, honestly.”

A’ja Wilson added, “I’m glad we got tested. This is something that we needed to do.”