Kaitlyn Clark and Angel Reese will team up on the WNBA All-Star team to face off against A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart's U.S. Olympic team.
The two notable rookies were selected Tuesday by a vote of media, players, fans and 12 league coaches to play in the game in Phoenix on July 20, which will be the 20th All-Star Game in league history.
Clark received the most votes from fans with 700,735. Indiana teammate Aaliyah Boston came in second, 72,000 votes back. Reese came in fifth with 381,518 votes. Wilson and Stewart finished third and fourth. Wilson received 607,300 votes and Stewart 424,135.
Clark and Reese have been a boon to the WNBA in viewership, merchandise sales and attendance. They have also been strong on the court, with Clark ranking third in assists with 6.9 and Reese leading the WNBA in rebounds with 11.4. This marks the eighth time that two rookies have joined the team, following Shaunie Shimel and Chiney Ogwumike in 2014.
Joining the rookies on WNBA teams are DeWanna Bonner and Breonna Jones of Connecticut, Alisha Gray of Atlanta, Dearika Hamby of Los Angeles, Jonquel Jones of New York, Kayla McBride of Minnesota, Kelsey Mitchell of Indiana, Nneka Ogwumike of Seattle and Aleke Ogunbowale of Dallas.
Ogunbowale was named MVP of the 2021 All-Star Game, which played the same format as the U.S. team against the league's all-star team. The WNBA team won that game.
The U.S. team also includes Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi, who will be seeking an eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal in Paris later this month. The Phoenix duo will get a chance to play in front of a home crowd in an exhibition game, with Taurasi competing for a record sixth Olympic gold medal.
Three of Wilson's Las Vegas teammates, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young, are members of the U.S. team. Gray was a member of the Tokyo Olympic team, while Plum and Young both helped the U.S. win its first 3-on-3 gold medal.
Returning players from the Tokyo Olympics include Napheesa Collier and Jewel Loyd. The team will also have several players making their Olympic debut, including Alyssa Thomas, Sabrina Ionescu and Kalia Copper. All three played on the U.S. team that won the 2022 World Cup in Australia.
All players selected to the USA or WNBA teams are considered All-Stars, and this will be Taurasi's 11th appearance, putting her second-most all-time behind Sue Bird, who has been selected to the All-Star team 13 times.
The league will hold a three-point challenge and skills contest on the eve of the All-Star game.
