Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, two of the WNBA’s most promising rookies, are set to join forces on the WNBA All-Star team for an upcoming exhibition match against the U.S. Olympic team, which will be led by stars A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart.
The dynamic duo was selected on Tuesday through a combination of votes from the media, players, fans, and the league’s 12 coaches to participate in the All-Star Game in Phoenix on July 20. This event marks the 20th All-Star Game in the history of the WNBA.
Clark, who emerged as the leading vote-getter among fans, received a total of 700,735 votes, with her Indiana teammate Aliyah Boston trailing behind by 72,000 votes. Reese secured the fifth position with 381,518 votes. Meanwhile, Wilson and Stewart were ranked third and fourth, garnering 607,300 and 424,135 votes, respectively.
Clark and Reese have significantly boosted the WNBA’s popularity, contributing to increased ratings, merchandise sales, and game attendance. On the court, their performances have been equally impressive. Clark ranks third in assists, averaging 6.9 per game, while Reese leads the league in rebounds with an average of 11.4 per game. This marks only the eighth instance in WNBA history that two rookies have made it to the All-Star team, with the last occurrence being in 2014 when Shoni Schimmel and Chiney Ogwumike were selected.
Caitlin spoke about playing with Angel for the very first time:
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In addition to Clark and Reese, the WNBA All-Star team will include DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones from Connecticut, Allisha Gray from Atlanta, Dearica Hamby from Los Angeles, Jonquel Jones from New York, Kayla McBride from Minnesota, Kelsey Mitchell from Indiana, Nneka Ogwumike from Seattle, and Arike Ogunbowale from Dallas.
Ogunbowale, the MVP of the 2021 All-Star game, will bring her experience to the team, having previously played in a similar format where the WNBA All-Star team faced off against the U.S. team.
The U.S. team, preparing for their quest for an eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal in Paris later this month, boasts a lineup featuring Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi. Both players will have the opportunity to perform in front of their home crowd in Phoenix. Taurasi is aiming for a record sixth Olympic gold medal.
Three of Wilson’s Las Vegas teammates—Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young—will also join the U.S. team. Gray was part of the Tokyo Olympic squad, while Plum and Young contributed to the Americans’ victory in the inaugural 3-on-3 gold medal event.
Other returning players from the Tokyo Games include Napheesa Collier and Jewell Loyd. The team will also feature several first-time Olympians such as Alyssa Thomas, Sabrina Ionescu, and Kahleah Copper, all of whom played on the American team that won the World Cup in Australia in 2022.
Every player chosen for either the U.S. team or the WNBA squad is regarded as an All-Star, making this Taurasi’s 11th appearance in the game. She now stands second only to Sue Bird, who holds the record with 13 All-Star appearances.
The festivities will also include a 3-point challenge and a skills contest on the night before the All-Star game, adding to the excitement surrounding this prestigious event.
