Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese will crew up on the WNBA All-Star crew to play towards the US Olympic crew led by A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart.
The 2 rookies have been chosen on Tuesday by a mix of votes from the media, gamers and followers, in addition to the league’s 12 coaches, to play within the recreation in Phoenix on 20 July.
Clark was the main vote-getter amongst followers, receiving 700,735 together with her Indiana teammate Aliyah Boston ending second, 72,000 votes behind. Reese was fifth with 381,518 votes. Wilson and Stewart have been third and fourth. Wilson garnered 607,300 votes and Stewart had 424,135.
Clark and Reese have been a boon for the WNBA in scores, merchandise gross sales and attendance. They’re additionally taking part in nicely on the court docket with Clark third in assists with 6.9 per recreation and Reese main the WNBA in rebounds at 11.4 per recreation. It’s solely the eighth time that two rookies have been on the All-Star crew. The final time was when Shoni Schimmel and Chiney Ogwumike made the crew in 2014.
Becoming a member of the rookies on the WNBA crew have been DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones of Connecticut, Allisha Grey of Atlanta, Dearica Hamby of Los Angeles, Jonquel Jones of New York, Kayla McBride of Minnesota, Kelsey Mitchell of Indiana, Nneka Ogwumike of Seattle and Arike Ogunbowale of Dallas.
Ogunbowale was the MVP of the 2021 All-Star recreation which featured the identical format of the US crew taking part in a league All-Star crew. The WNBA crew gained that recreation.
The US crew, which shall be going for an eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal in Paris later this month, additionally options Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi. The 2 Phoenix gamers will get an opportunity to play in entrance of their house crowd within the exhibition recreation. Taurasi shall be vying for a document sixth Olympic gold medal.
Three of Wilson’s Las Vegas teammates – Chelsea Grey, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Younger – are on the US crew. Grey was on the Tokyo Olympic squad whereas Plum and Younger each helped the People win the inaugural 3-on-3 gold medal.
Different returnees from the Tokyo Video games embody Napheesa Collier and Jewell Loyd. A number of first-time Olympians will be a part of the crew with Alyssa Thomas, Sabrina Ionescu and Kahleah Copper. All three performed on the American crew that gained the World Cup in Australia in 2022.
Each participant chosen for both the US crew or the WNBA squad is taken into account an All-Star, making this Taurasi’s eleventh time within the recreation. She’s now alone in second behind Sue Chicken for many all time. Chicken was a 13-time All-Star.
The league can have a three-point problem and ability contest the evening earlier than the All-Star recreation.
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