We are officially halfway through the 2024 WNBA season, which means that the league has revealed the 12 players who will make up the team WNBA roster. You see, Team WNBA is set to take on the U.S. women’s national team in the 2024 WNBA All-star game, and there are two individuals in particular who stand out from the rest of crowd. If there was ongoing popularity contest in the WNBA, there is no doubt that Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese would finish in the top two spots. Why did I provide you with that information? Well, despite not being neck-and-neck in the fan voting standings (Clark-1st, Reese-5th), Clark and Reese appear to be the first two players that WNBA fans are mentioning in the WNBA All-star discussion. The former high-major college basketball stars have carried their rivalry over to the big leagues, and the recent uptick in viewership suggests that the fans have enjoyed every second of it. Their latest clash reeled in 2.3 million viewers, making it the most viewed WNBA contest in two decades.
When Clark was asked about teaming up with Reese for the first time in her basketball career, the No. 1 overall pick stated that “I don’t think I’ve ever been her teammate before, even at USA Basketball. I know people will be really excited about it, but I hope it doesn’t take away from everyone else. This is a huge accomplishment for everybody on Team USA and everyone on Team WNBA. They all deserve the same praise. I don’t want it to take away from any of that and be the focal point of All-Star weekend because that’s not fair to them.”
Reese, who was visibly elated when she learned that she would be competing in the WNBA All-Star game, told the media that she was “just so happy” during the Chicago Sky’s postgame press conference on Tuesday night (Sky defeated the Dream 85-77). Rease added that “I know the work I put in. Coming into this league, so many people doubted me and didn’t think my game would translate and I wouldn’t be the player that I was in college or better or would be worse and wouldn’t be where I am right now. But I trusted the process and I believed and I’m thankful that I dropped to [pick No. 7] and was able to come to Chicago. And like, it’s just a blessing. I can’t thank my teammates and my coaches enough for just believing in me and trusting me. I know all of them are going to come to Phoenix and support me. So, I’m really happy right now.”
The Indiana Fever guard and Chicago Sky forward will be joined by Nneka Ogwumike, DeWanna Bonner, Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, Brionna Jones, Allisha Gray, Dearica Hamby, Jonquel Jones, Kayla McBride and Arika Ogunbowale on July 20th in Phoenix, Arizona for a highly entertaining WNBA All-Star game.
