The star guard for the Dallas Wings was unstoppable in Team USA’s triumph.
In the WNBA All-Star game, the WNBA All-Stars defeated Team USA 117-109. squad USA fielded its Olympic national squad, while Team WNBA was made up of All-Star players who were not chosen for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. The WNBA has used this All-Star format twice, the first occasion being prior to the 2020–2021 Tokyo Olympics.
There were many stories about players who weren’t selected for the Olympic team, considering the nature of this sport. Arike Ogunbowale of the Dallas Wings was one such victim.
Although Ogunbowale was eventually left off of Team USA, many believed she fulfilled the requirements to be included. Ogunbowale earned the final laugh in the All-Star game. With 34 points, the superstar broke the scoring mark for the WNBA All-Star Game.
The most insane aspect? In the second half, she scored each and every one of them. Ogunbowale appeared content to play a supporting role and create for others during the first half. After a hard-fought first half, Team WNBA fell behind 54–52 at the intermission. And then there was Arike.
Ogunbowale scored a staggering 21 points in the third quarter, including five three-pointers. A game’s course can be drastically altered by an Arike superheater, as everyone who has followed the Wings throughout their tenure knows.
And in the third period, that is precisely what took place. Ogunbowale was an incredible force, and Team WNBA was able to get a significant lead and pull away from Team USA thanks to her incredible shotmaking.
Ogunbowale wasn’t done, though. She added 13 more points in the fourth quarter to seal Team WNBA’s triumph. Who would be named the MVP of the game was a done deal. It was a unique, iconic performance. And you know what else? This is not Ogunbowale’s first instance of doing this. In the 2021 WNBA All-Star game, Ogunbowale scored 29 points and won MVP, both against Team USA.
Arike gets triggered by those national team shirts for some reason. She’s proven she belongs among the best in the game, whether it’s because she plays better when the chips are down or because she has a chip on her shoulder.
Both teams played pretty well, so it was a lot of pleasure to watch. When the players play a real basketball game and take it seriously, watch how amazing an All-Star Game can be!