Team WNBA upsets Team USA for the second time in spicy All-Star Game matchup

The GIST: In case you missed the memes, WNBA All-Star Weekend (ASW) turned 115-degree Phoenix into Arizona’s hottest club. From the Atlanta Dream’s Allisha Gray’s Skills Challenge payday to Saturday’s spicy, sold-out All-Star Game (ASG), here’s what made this ASW extra special.

The ASG format: Unlike the lackluster performances at February’s NBA All-Star Game, Saturday’s WNBA showdown between Team USA’s Olympians and Team WNBA’s All-Stars was intense, with Team WNBA surging to a 117–109 upset win in front of 16,407 fans.

• The dub makes Team WNBA a two-time winner in this format, which was last used in 2021 ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.

• Adding to the Scoville scale this time around? The piping hot on-court clashes, pitting rookies against vets and turning fiancées into (temporary) foes. Pass the milk.

The stars: Just like in 2021, Team WNBA’s Arike Ogunbowale (pronounced ah-REE-kay oh-goon-bow-WAH-lay) was named All-Star MVP after scoring 34 points to spark her squad’s comeback win. Even more impressive? All of the Dallas Wings’ star’s points were scored in the second half. Never back down, never what?

• Other highlights? Team WNBA’s Angel Reese (Chicago Sky), who became the first rookie with a double-double in an ASG since 1999 and showed off her chemistry with “rival” Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever).

• Though the Team USA postgame locker room chat was probably strained, hopes remain high for the squad to win an eighth consecutive Olympic gold, with Breanna Stewart (NY Liberty) and A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces) combining for 53 of the team’s ASG points.

• And we’d be remiss not to mention Allisha Gray — on Friday, she became the first player to win both the Skills Challenge and 3-Point Contest to take home over $110K in the process, more than half of her usual $185K WNBA salary. Sheesh.

Zooming out: Without an Olympics or FIBA World Cup next year, the onus is on the WNBA to recreate the passion of this year’s ASW without pitting Team USA against league All-Stars. But commissioner Cathy Engelbert is already thinking about the league’s evolution, announcing a possible 44-game regular season in 2025. The best is yet to come.