Team WNBA won its All-Star Game at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas in a 93-85 scoreline over Team USA on Wednesday.
Team WNBA picks up the win against Team USA
Arike Ogunbowale of the Dallas Wings showcased a remarkable performance and earn the spotlight, tallying a game-high 26 points. She scored 14 second-half points, including a rare four-point play with 5:37 left that extended the WNBA stars’ lead to 79-73.
She scored her fifth 3-pointer in the match with 3:42 remaining for an 86-78 advantage and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
Connecticut’s Jonquel Jones contributed 18 points and 14 rebounds to the winning side, while Courtney Williams of Atlanta, who was substituted into the game got 15 points.
Williams’ runner off the glass in the last minute helped Team WNBA bag the victory. Also to be mentioned, Brittney Griner scored 17 points to lead Team USA, going 8 of 10 from the field.
Breanna Stewart garnered a good amount of 15 points while Sylvia Fowles came off the bench to put up 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
The game saw little difference between the teams as Team WNBA stars were able to get 11 of 30 on 3-pointers while Team USA saw 7 of 20 and they earned a 41-37 advantage on the boards.
They saw seven turnovers while forcing 15, leading to 10 more field goal attempts. Both teams were involved in the shootout in the first quarter of the match
Team USA had earlier got a 15-7 lead on A’ja Wilson’s jumper about three and half minutes into the game, but the WNBA squad rallied and tied the game four times. Skylar Diggins-Smith’s 3-pointer made it 28-25 in favor of the USA after one. Then they went a bit defensive.
The Team WNBA stars defended well as well, allowing only 15 points in the second quarter, and took a narrow edge of 44-43 into halftime when Williams hit a long jumper with 19.5 seconds left.
It was Chicago’s Allie Quigley who won her third 3-point shooting contest title during halftime, the teams battled to get the advantage in the cagey third quarter. Chelsea Gray’s hit a beautiful finger roll just before time expired pulled and helped Team USA into a 66-66 tie.
Despite the ties during the match, it was the WNBA squad who got the last laugh after they picked up the victory against Team USA.
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