WNBA
What records did Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Arike Ogunbowale set at the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game?
Saturday’s All-Star Game in Phoenix lived up to all expectations with the league’s two star rookies combining to rewrite the history books. Arike Ogunbowale won the MVP.
Team WNBA edged Team USA 117-109 in front of a sell-out crowd at Phoenix’s Footprint Center on Saturday - a game that not only lived up to the hype but also saw several records rewritten.
Much of the pre-game spotlight fell on Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, two rookies who have been redefining the WNBA, and the league’s record books, since the season started in May. Both players, along with Arike Ogunbowale were at the fore in Phoenix.
Ogunbowale, MVP again
Ogunbowale, currently the WNBA’s third top scorer with an average of 22.3 points per game, embarked on a sizzling second-half run, finishing with 34 points - a WNBA All-Star Game record. The Dallas Wings guard, who also pulled down six rebounds and dished out six assists, overtook the record tally of 31 set last year by Seattle Storm’s Jewell Lloyd. Breanna Stewart, with 31 points, equalled Lloyd and also became the first player to finish with 30+ points and 10 rebounds.
Arike deservedly picked up the MVP, joining a select group of players who have won the award multiple times. She won her first All-Star MVP in 2021, and now stands alongside Lisa Leslie (three), Maya Moore (three) and Swin Cash (two) as the WNBA players who have repeated the feat.
Caitlin Clark closes in on Sue Bird’s assists record
Several other records fell in the All-Star Game and during the course of the All-Star weekend. Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark set new rookie record for assists in an All-Star Game, finishing with 10 - just two short of the all-time held by 13-time All-Star Sue Bird.
Angel Reese, who recently set new records for the most consecutive double-doubles in single and consecutive seasons, became the first rookie in All-Star history to score a double-double. with 12 points and 11 rebounds
Earlier this weekend, Allisha Gray became the first player ever to win both the skills challenge and 3-point contest. The Atlanta Dream player scored 22 in the 3-point contest then finished ahead of Sophie Cunningham in the skills challenge, making All-Star history in the process.