Caitlin Clark continues to take the WNBA by storm.
Clark, alongside fellow rookie Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky, bannered the 12-woman Team WNBA team who will compete against the Paris-bound Team USA women's basketball squad as the main event of the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game.
The countdown begins... ?
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 3, 2024
Get ready to witness the ultimate clash of talent as #WNBAAllStar meets the USA Women's National Team on July 20th at 8:30pm/ET on ABC đź“ş pic.twitter.com/oEyJciHmEx
Clark and Reese, the respective no. 1 and no. 7 picks in the 2024 WNBA draft, are joined by Dearica Hamby of the LA Sparks, Arike Ogunbowale of the Dallas Wings, DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones of the Connecticut Suns, Jonquel Jones of the New York Liberty, Kayla McBride of the Minnesota Lynx, nine-time All-Star Nneka Ogwumike of the Seattle Storm, Allisha Gray of the Atlanta Dream, as well as Clark’s teammates in Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston.
A combination of votes from the media, players and fans as well as the league’s 12 coaches factored in in making the WNBA squad that will challenge the USA women’s national basketball team.
Team USA will feature notable WNBA legends and greats such as Dianna Taurasi, A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Brittney Griner, Sabrina Ionescu, Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum, Alyssa Thomas and Jackie Young.
After being left out of US’ women’s national squad for the upcoming Olympic Games Paris 2024, Clark is set to face the same team that snubbed her out of the roster– a decision that remains a highly-debated one.
She emerged as the top-vote getter in fan votes, receiving 700,735 votes followed by Boston (618,680), Wilson (607,300), Stewart (424,135) and Reese (381,518).
The 22-year-old rookie sensation is averaging 16.2 points and 6.9 assists per game, both of which rank tops among rookies as she will team up with longtime rival Reese for the first time.
Reese, on the other hand, leads the WNBA with 11.8 rebounds per game, and is one of just four players averaging a double-double this season.
Dating back to their playing days at Iowa and LSU, the dynamic pair and their on-court rivalry have definitely propel women's basketball to greater heights since their arrival in the league.
The U.S. team, which will be going for an eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal in Paris 2024 later this month, has combined 67 All-Star appearances and 98 years of WNBA experience.
Griner and Taurasi, a five-time Olympic gold medalist will get a chance to play in front while the defending champion Aces parade two-time champion MVP Wilson, Gray, Plum and Young on the squad.
Other returners from the Tokyo Games 2020 include Collier and Loyd while Thomas, Ionescu and Copper are bound to their first Olympics.
[ALSO READ: A’Ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi banner Caitlin Clark-less USA Women’s Basketball squad for Paris 2024]
