This was the first official All-Star game during an Olympic year since it was scrapped ahead of the Athens Games in 2004. Team USA also faced a WNBA selection that year but it was only considered an exhibition match.
The U.S. women’s national team, who are gunning for seventh straight gold in Tokyo later this month, were pitted against the rest of the league’s best. All-Star MVP Arike Ogunbowale and Jonquel Jones made life difficult for Team USA, eventually sealing the win for Team WNBA.
Here are some of the best moments from the 2021 All-Star Game:
Ogunbowale revenge game
Arike Ogunbowale was all business, unleashing 26 points – the fourth highest in an All-Star game – including a clutch four-point play in the fourth quarter. Not bad for a rookie All-Star.
.@Arike_O with the 4-POINT PLAY 🥶 pic.twitter.com/rj4fB7YdgR
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 15, 2021
Part of the anticipation for this year’s All-Star game was the opportunity for Team USA snubs to show out. While the biggest snub in Nneka Ogwumike was not voted to Team WNBA because she missed a huge chunk of the season, Ogunbowale and Candace Parker were there to sort of represent those who were left off the Olympic team.
Ogunbowale was part of the U.S. training pool, although she’s still relatively new compared to Ogwumike, who remains the only WNBA MVP who has not competed in the Olympics. Parker, meanwhile, is a two-time Olympic gold medalist who was controversially not included in the 2016 Rio Games roster.
“Y’all want some drama,” Ogunbowale said while laughing when asked about proving herself in front of Team USA. “All those girls are deserving, so hopefully, they all win a gold medal.”
“She’s young, she’s gonna have her opportunity,” Jones, who was with Ogunbowale during the press conference, chimed in.
JJ-Quigley shootout
Aside from dropping a co-MVP-worthy performance (18 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks), Jonquel Jones shot the lights out in the 3-point competition at halftime. A 6’6” big woman killing it from downtown, rack after rack? Why not!
Jones made it a thrilling fight but 3-point queen Allie Quigley was simply on another level. After winning it back-to-back in 2017 and 2018, Quigley could not be denied another championship. There’s a reason Parker called it the “Allie Quigley Invitational”.
Look at Courtney Vandersloot celebrating when her wife Quigley surpassed JJ’s score with one more rack remaining.
Sloot was HYPE for @alliequigley in the #MTNDEW3PT Contest ?? @MountainDew pic.twitter.com/aetuGhbM4E
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 15, 2021
Quigley drew some boos from the crowd when she said this would be her last 3-point competition. We can only hope that she did not mean that.
Live-tweeting from the bench
If phones were allowed on the bench during games, we would see more athletes do what Kahleah Copper and Ogunbowale did.
REPORTING LIVE #WNBAAllStar #WNBA pic.twitter.com/9oqemYMSKN
— Kahleah Copper (@kahleahcopper) July 14, 2021
Ogunbowale even roasted her own shot. All-Star MVP on the court and on social media?
I smoked that layup 🥲
— Arike Ogunbowale (@Arike_O) July 14, 2021
Cambage popcorn meme
Liz Cambage did not play a single second in the All-Star game to rest and avoid injury ahead of the Olympics, where she will compete for the Australian national team.
That did not stop her from being talked about on social media, from her fierce entrance during the player intros to her wholesome hug-from-behind moment with Parker on the bench.
And of course, the video of her eating popcorn while the game was ongoing instantly went viral.
.@ecambage is a vibe 😂 🍿 pic.twitter.com/lArnDnF50r
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 15, 2021
“You get to have fun and relax with women you’re usually going up against. I love being in the same locker room as Courtney Williams, JJ, and my big sister Candace,” said Cambage after the game. “I was blessed to still be on the bench today, enjoying my popcorn, watching some great basketball, watching the girls get the win.”
#WNBASlay on the orange carpet
From Courtney Williams’ suit that mixed well with her green hair to A’ja Wilson’s bright pink blazer, the WNBA players – as expected – slayed the orange carpet in Las Vegas.
It might be hard to name the best-dressed star, but there’s one thing we can agree on: Dearica Hamby and her daughter Amaya showing up in matching outfits was the cutest thing.
😍😍😍
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) July 14, 2021
It's the matching fit and kicks for us.@dearicamarie // #WNBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/73tMYXEhm1
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