USA Finish Eventful WNBA All-Star Weekend With 109-117 Loss to Team WNBA

21 July 2024

USA 109, WNBA 117

View the USA-WNBA box score here.

The 2024 USA Basketball Women's National Team began their preparations for the Paris Olympic Games 2024 with an exhibition at the 2024 WNBA All-Star Weekend in Phoenix. The U.S. was defeated by Team WNBA, 109-117.

The USA is 21-5 since 2000 in pre-Olympic exhibition games.

Ditat Deus: In the first of two tune-ups before the Olympic Games, the 2024 USA Women's National Team trotted out a starting lineup of Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd, Diana Taurasi, Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson. Each member of the first five has won an Olympic gold medal with USA Basketball.

Life, Liberty and Buckets: Stewart was one of four U.S. athletes to score in double figures. She led the USA with 31 points against the WNBA, shooting 10-of-21 to go with 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block in 31 minutes. Tonight was her first time scoring 30+ points in a senior national team game.

Desert Ace: Wilson filled the box score in her sixth WNBA All-Star Game appearance. In 28 minutes, the two-time WNBA MVP put up 22 points (8-13 FG, 2-3 3FG, 4-4 FT), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and a block.

Valley of the Sun: No stranger to USA Basketball, it was only fitting the Taurasi scored the first points of the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game in Phoenix. In the opening possession, the five-time Olympian lined up and knocked down a 3-pointer. The 11-time All-Star finished the game with 14 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists in 20 minutes.

Hot, Hot, Hot: The USA shot 50.6% (41-81 FG) from the floor, 36.4% (12-33 3FG) from 3 and 93.8% (15-16 FT) from the line. Team WNBA shot 50% (44-88 FG) from the field, 33.3% (12-36 3FG) from beyond the arc and 85% (17-20 FT) from the charity stripe.

The Gold Spot of America: Tonight tipped the journey towards an eighth straight gold medal for the U.S. Women's National Team. A gold medal in Paris would give the USA the longest Olympic gold streak in a ball-and-stick sport. The USA Men’s National Team won seven straight gold medals from 1936-1968.