In a surprising turn of events, the WNBA All-Stars defeated the U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team 117-109 in a pre-Olympic exhibition game on Saturday. This upset has raised questions about Team USA’s readiness for the upcoming Paris Olympics and sparked debate over roster selections.Arike Ogunbowale of the Dallas Wings led the WNBA All-Stars with a record-breaking 34 points, earning her second All-Star Game MVP title. Rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese also made significant contributions, with Clark dishing out 10 assists and Reese recording a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.The performance of Clark and Reese, who were not selected for the Olympic team, has intensified criticism of Team USA’s roster choices. Fans and analysts have questioned whether the ‘wrong team’ is being sent to Paris, given the depth of talent in the WNBA.Despite the loss, Team USA remains optimistic. Breanna Stewart, who scored 31 points for Team USA, stated, ‘This is going to help us tremendously. We don’t get that many game opportunities… We can go back and watch the film and focus on how we can continue to be better’.The U.S. team will face Germany in another exhibition game in London on Tuesday before heading to Paris for the Olympics. Meanwhile, this upset victory has highlighted the increasing competitiveness and depth of talent in the WNBA, with many noting that the game exceeded expectations and set a high bar for basketball competitions.
Key points
- WNBA All-Stars defeated Team USA 117-109 in a pre-Olympic exhibition game.
- Arike Ogunbowale set an All-Star Game scoring record with 34 points.
- Rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese impressed, sparking debate about Olympic team selections.
- Team USA remains optimistic, viewing the loss as a learning opportunity before the Olympics.
Contradictions👾While some sources emphasize the upset as a positive showcase of WNBA talent, others frame it as a concerning setback for Team USA.
👾Team USA coach Cheryl Reeve’s reaction is portrayed differently, with some sources suggesting she’s ‘bitter’, while others present a more neutral stance.
