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WNBA All-Star Game: Arike Ogunbowale wins MVP with record 34 points as Team WNBA defeats Team USA

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WNBA All-Star Game: Arike Ogunbowale wins MVP with record 34 points as Team WNBA defeats Team USA

Team WNBA defeated Team USA decisively, 117–109, in the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday night. But the real winner was the game’s format. Despite the final score, this was a real game played like it counted, not an exhibition.

For Team USA, full of veteran stars, this was preparation for the Olympics with only one more exhibition against Germany before the Paris Games begin. For Team WNBA, this was an opportunity for players to show they could’ve been on the national team as well. Many of those players will be on Team USA four years from now.

One fan of the format is clearly Arike Ogunbowale. The Dallas Wings star won MVP honors with an All-Star Game record 34 points – all scored in the second half – with 8-for-13 shooting on 3-pointers, along with six assists. She also won All-Star Game MVP in 2021, the last time that the All-Star Game was played with the WNBA versus USA format.

Ogunbowale was a notable snub from the women’s national team and sure played like she had something to say about that. After the Team USA roster was officially announced, Ogunbowale appeared on the “Nightcap” podcast to explain she withdrew from consideration when she could see that politics were playing a big role in choosing the team.

Perhaps the real winners were everyone watching because this All-Star Game was a competitive contest. Stars played defense! Tough defense, even, with hard fouls. Passing lanes were jumped for steals. Team USA broke out a full-court press in the second quarter, providing their Olympic competition a sample of what might be in store.

Both teams ran actual offensive sets – with screens, pick and rolls, and post-ups – rather than taking turns trying to show off.

Yes, there were occasional reminders that this was a showcase event for the WNBA. Fans gave huge ovations to rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, in addition to hometown favorites Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi. Nneka Ogwumike and Angel Reese were interviewed in-game from the bench. Breanna Stewart did a walk-and-talk with ESPN’s Holly Rowe out of the halftime locker room.

Most importantly, players were clearly having fun being on the court with the best in their sport and the spotlight squarely on women’s basketball.

“I’m having fun!” Team WNBA coach and women’s basketball icon Cheryl Miller said to her players in the huddle, picked up by ABC mics. “I don’t know what I’m doing, but I’m having fun.”

These were the rosters for Team WNBA and Team USA:

Team WNBA: DeWanna Bonner (Connecticut Sun), Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever), Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever), Allisha Gray (Atlanta Dream), Dearica Hamby (Los Angeles Sparks), Brionna Jones (Connecticut Sun), Jonquel Jones (New York Liberty), Kayla McBride (Minnesota Lynx), Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever), Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas Wings), Nneka Ogwumike (Seattle Storm), Angel Reese (Chicago Sky)

Team USA: Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx), Kahleah Copper (Phoenix Mercury), Chelsea Gray (Las Vegas Aces), Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury), Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty), Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm), Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces), Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun), A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces), Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces)

Here is how the exciting action unfolded on Yahoo Sports’ live blog Saturday night with Cassandra Negley providing live updates and highlights.

Live47 updates

  • Arike Ogunbowale is the the 2024 WNBA All-Star MVP

  • WNBA All-Star Game: Arike Ogunbowale wins MVP with record 34 points as Team WNBA defeats Team USA

    The All-Star scoring record is 33, set by Arike Ogunbowale after a masterful second-half performance to lift Team WNBA to a 117-109 win over Team USA. No need to panic about the US national team yet. Cheryl Miller said earlier this is a great test playing against the best in the world. Clean up the sloppy passes, hit some more shots, and this one looks different.

  • WNBA All-Star Game: Arike Ogunbowale wins MVP with record 34 points as Team WNBA defeats Team USA

    Record watch, via Across the Timeline:

    — Ogunbowale holds the scoring record with 32 points, one more than Jewell Loyd last year. Stewart has 31.

    — Allisha Gray’s five steals are off tying the record of six set by Ruthie Bolton in 2001

    — Caitlin Clark’s 10 assists are one off of tying Sue Bird’s record of 11 set in 2017

  • WNBA All-Star Game: Arike Ogunbowale wins MVP with record 34 points as Team WNBA defeats Team USA

    There’s 30.6 on the clock in an All-Star game and Nneka Ogwumike is talking to the ref about why that was a foul. MVP chants ring out from an arena corner for A’ja Wilson shooting free throws.

  • WNBA All-Star Game: Arike Ogunbowale wins MVP with record 34 points as Team WNBA defeats Team USA

    At halftime, USA was 4-14 (28.6%) from 3 and WNBA was 3-17 (17.6%). They’re still shooting about the same percentages as each other (10-29 USA, 11-33 WNBA), but Arike going off tilted this game in the third quarter and USA couldn’t come back. Ogunbowale is 7-11 from 3 and 9-18 overall.

    Notably, Clark is sitting at 10 assists, one shy of tying the WNBA record in an All-Star game set by Sue Bird, who is in attendance. Still 2:48 to play.

  • WNBA All-Star Game: Arike Ogunbowale wins MVP with record 34 points as Team WNBA defeats Team USA

    OH MY GOSH ARIKE, THEY HAVE FAMILIES

  • While Arike Ogunbowale looks to be on her way to winning WNBA All-Star Game MVP, some might be wondering why she’s not on Team USA. She says it’s about politics, not about a player’s game.

    “I pretty much had an idea that I wouldn’t be on it,” Ogunbowale said on the “Nightcap” podcast. “I just felt the vibes. When it comes to that stuff, it really doesn’t have much to do with your game.”

  • WNBA All-Star Game: Arike Ogunbowale wins MVP with record 34 points as Team WNBA defeats Team USA

    Caitlin Clark vs Sabrina 1v1 is also fun. Clark beats her to the basket there and it’s an 11-point WNBA lead

  • Arike Ogunbowale is certainly making a statement against Team USA. 21 points after 3 quarters!

  • WNBA All-Star Game: Arike Ogunbowale wins MVP with record 34 points as Team WNBA defeats Team USA

    Basket is good, 88-79 WNBA lead stands.

  • WNBA All-Star Game: Arike Ogunbowale wins MVP with record 34 points as Team WNBA defeats Team USA

    Team WNBA mobs Kelsey Mitchell in the corner after her buzzer 3 puts them up, 88-79, heading into the fourth quarter. It is being reviewed.

  • WNBA All-Star Game: Arike Ogunbowale wins MVP with record 34 points as Team WNBA defeats Team USA

    Team USA playing a little loose with the ball. Really questionable passes leading to 11 Team WNBA steals. Six are in this quarter alone.

  • WNBA All-Star Game: Arike Ogunbowale wins MVP with record 34 points as Team WNBA defeats Team USA

    Probably shouldn’t keep letting Ogunbowale set up shop there. Or there. Crowd is up and loud after her fourth 3 on six attempts. Up to 17 points in a jiffy this quarter. Only Team USA’s Wilson and Stewie (18 each) have more total.

  • WNBA All-Star Game: Arike Ogunbowale wins MVP with record 34 points as Team WNBA defeats Team USA

    There is a small contingent trying to start “USA USA” chants behind the Team WNBA bench. Probably the line of people in USA jerseys sticking out in a wave of orange, white and No. 22 Clark jerseys.

  • WNBA All-Star Game: Arike Ogunbowale wins MVP with record 34 points as Team WNBA defeats Team USA

    Arike with the steal, but can’t hit the 3. Wilson scores in transition to snap the WNBA streak. Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna bonnern are out on the floor together again and guarding each other.

  • WNBA All-Star Game: Arike Ogunbowale wins MVP with record 34 points as Team WNBA defeats Team USA

    It’s WNBA 61, USA 56 coming out of this timeout. Was a 9-0 run for WNBA.

  • WNBA All-Star Game: Arike Ogunbowale wins MVP with record 34 points as Team WNBA defeats Team USA

    Team WNBA came out HOT, forcing Cheryl Reeve to take a Team USA timeout ninety seconds into the frame. Jones blocked Stewie, her Liberty teammate. Ogunbowale, the 2021 star against Team USA who took herself out of consideration this national cycle because of “politics,” gets on the board with five points, and Clark assists on three buckets for nine in the game. She’s three away from breaking the All-Star game record

  • Halftime!

    Enjoy it like Sophie Cunningham!

  • WNBA All-Star Game: Arike Ogunbowale wins MVP with record 34 points as Team WNBA defeats Team USA

    HALFTIME : Team USA 54, Team WNBA 52

    Team USA is led by A’ja Wilson (13p/4r/2a/2s, 5-7 overall with a 3) and Breanna Stewart (14p/5r/1a, 5-8 overall, 1-4 3FG). They are the new leading generation of the team. Taurasi has eight points shooting 3-5.

    It’s Allisha Gray’s weekend, though. She leads Team WNBA with 12 points, but shooting 2-6. Clark has six assists and Reese has seven rebounds. The rooks doing their thing.

    Neither team is shooting well from deep. The team that can start doing that should pull away in this one.

  • WNBA All-Star Game: Arike Ogunbowale wins MVP with record 34 points as Team WNBA defeats Team USA

    Team WNBA sets up for a deep Caitlin Clark 3 to end the half. Brionna Jones cleans up the miss and Team USA leads, 54-52, at the half.

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