Rookie sensations Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese were both named to the 2024 WNBA All-Star team, it was announced Tuesday.
Clark will be joined by two teammates, guard Kelsey Mitchell and forward Aliyah Boston. Reese is the only member of the Chicago Sky to make the squad.
The format of the competition is unique. Team WNBA will face off against the U.S. women’s national team in Phoenix on July 20 in the All-Star Game.
That means Clark and Reese will be teammates for the first time in their careers. Adding to the drama, they’re going up against the likes of A’ja Wilson, Diana Taurasi, Kelsey Plum, and Brtiney Griner on the U.S. national team.
The same team that snubbed Clark for a spot on the roster because they were concerned her fans wouldn’t like the fact that she didn’t get enough minutes.
Caitlin Clark Is Your Top Vote-Getter
Both Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese were clearly excited to have made the WNBA All-Star roster. The Indiana Fever rookie though, led all players in fan votes with 700,735.
Clark was followed by Boston (618,680), Wilson (607,300), New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (424,135), and Reese (381,518).
Fan voting only accounts for half the total. Another 25% of the votes come from WNBA players, and 25% from the media.
That list, according to ESPN, was released in alphabetical order and consists of: Boston, Clark, Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper, Dearica Hamby, Sabrina Ionescu, Arike Ogunbowale, Stewart, Wilson and Jackie Young.
Oddly enough, Reese dropped off the overall list, a confounding development since the player voting and media voting should presumably have been favorable to her.
RELATED: Caitlin Clark Just Broke a Major Record – Only Half Way Through The Season
Clark, Angel Reese Respond To Making WNBA All-Star Team
Caitlin Clark, as she often does, praised others and wanted to take the focus off her own All-Star selection. She even seemed excited about playing alongside Reese.
“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,” Clark said.
“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, meanwhile, was clearly overcome with emotions after learning she would be on the WNBA All-Star team.
“I’m just so happy. I know the work I put in,” said the Sky rookie sensation.
“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.”
An emotional postgame interview from Angel Reese as she reacts to being named a WNBA All-Star.
— Kendall Duncan (@kendallduncanTV) July 3, 2024
It was another historic night for Reese who racked up her 11th consecutive double-double and a career-high 19 rebounds, helping the Sky beat Atlanta pic.twitter.com/eNb8LkUQNd
The selections of both Clark and Reese, along with the rest of the two teams, are very richly deserved.
Clark, Rookie of the Month for May, and Reese, Rookie of the Month for June, have both been setting records of late. They’re the only two rookies named to the All-Star squad.
It’s going to be a lot of fun watching them play together later this month.
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