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CHICAGO — The WNBA All-Star Game didn’t disappoint.
There was loads of scoring, a plethora of highlights and simply plain enjoyable as Team Spoon defeated Team Coop 129-122 in entrance of a record-breaking viewers of 19,783 on the United Center on Saturday, July 25.
“These fans pay a lot of money to get in the building, let’s not just walk around,” Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark mentioned. “We don’t need to play 100% but let’s pick it up and have some fun for them.”
Los Angeles Sparks ahead Nneka Ogwumike set a file and Seattle Storm heart Dominique Malonga dunked. Both are included in our winners.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who was booed as she was launched handy out the postgame {hardware}, is among the many losers.
Here’s a have a look at USA TODAY Sports’ WNBA All-Star winners and losers:
WINNERS
Los Angles Sparks ahead Nneka Ogwumike
Ogwumike is accumulating accolades like infinity stones. Ogwumike tied Diana Taurasi for the second-most All-Star appearances in WNBA historical past along with her eleventh profession nod. And she moved into first place all-time in WNBA All-Star scoring historical past with 11 factors and 9 rebounds on Saturday, July 25.
Ogwumike now has 127 factors and handed Maya Moore who had 119 factors in her All-Star profession. Moore, who performed in six All-Star Games in eight seasons with the Minnesota Lynx, averaged 19.8 factors.
“It’s an honor being on the court with, obviously, the superstars here,” Ogwumike mentioned.
Seattle Storm heart Dominique Malonga
Malonga informed reporters following Friday’s All-Star follow on the Obama Presidential Center that her Storm teammate Flau’jae Johnson mentioned she’d by no means speak to her once more if she did not dunk in Saturday’s recreation.Malonga, a 6-foot-6 heart from France, did not disappoint, throwing it down with 6:24 remaining within the first half.
At 20 years previous, Malonga is now a part of an elite group. Here are all of the gamers who’ve dunked in a WNBA All-Star Game:
- Lisa Leslie (2005)
- Sylvia Fowles (2009, 2022)
- Jonquel Jones (2017)
- Brittney Griner (two in 2019 for first multi-dunk efficiency in WNBA All-Star recreation historical past; three dunks in 2023)
- Dominique Malonga (2026)
New York Liberty heart Jonquel Jones
Jones has now gained an MVP at each attainable degree within the WNBA: common season, Commissioner’s Cup, the WNBA Finals and the All-Star Game. That sort of degree of manufacturing is unprecedented and a real testomony to Jones’ relentless pursuit of greatness. Her newest feat, an All-Star MVP trophy, is one she’ll possible bear in mind for some time. Jones captured it whereas enjoying with a heavy coronary heart, lacking a member of the family’s memorial service to play within the recreation. Jones devoted the sport to her late aunt.
The WNBA
After what’s been a tumultuous month or so for the league, the All-Star Game and occasions round it went off with little controversy. Eneglbert didn’t make any egregious missteps in her state-of-the-league press convention, the All-Star Game noticed a record-high attendance, the sport was aggressive in spurts and gamers acquired to hang around with former President Barack Obama. All-Star Weekend felt like an actual celebration for the league in its thirtieth season. After a contentious and prolonged CBA negotiation and all of the noise round varied incidents the league has confronted this season, All-Star Weekend was a win.
LOSERS
The Chicago Sky
Chicago hosted the WNBA All-Star Game for the second time in 5 seasons, however zero gamers from the host metropolis’s staff, the Sky, have been on the roster. Former Sky ahead Angel Reese — now with the Atlanta Dream — acquired a heat welcome from the followers earlier than tallying 5 rebounds and 4 assists in 9 minutes. The recreation additionally featured a handful of different former Sky gamers, together with Kahleah Copper, Marina Mabrey and Gabby Williams. The Sky are 9-18 this season and the All-Star Game was simply one other reminder of how far the group has fallen.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert
When it was time handy out the All-Star MVP Trophy, Engelbert was met by a refrain of boos from the record-breaking crowd on the United Center. Engelbert has confronted criticism from each gamers and followers for the league’s dealing with of on-line abuse, officiating and participant relations. Engelbert didn’t do herself any favors throughout her annual All-Star recreation information convention, the place she dodged questions on her job stability and league transparency.
Fans of Angel Reese and Aliyah Boston
Fans of Atlanta Dream ahead Angel Reese and Indiana Fever heart Aliyah Boston possible needed to see extra of their favorites. Boston was the league chief after the second return of fan votes, receiving 683,996. She solely performed 5 minutes for Team Spoon. Reese, who’s so beloved that her Barbie has already offered out in Target, acquired 9 minutes on the courtroom. Both went scoreless.
It’s attainable that fatigue or precaution might have performed a task. WNBA All-Star isn’t a lot of a break for gamers, who have been swamped with off-the-court obligations for sponsors and different organizations in the course of the weekend. And then it’s again to the regular-season grind. Boston and the Fever, for instance, are again in motion towards the Seattle Storm on Tuesday, July 28.
Tyla’s halftime efficiency
The vibes have been excessive driving into the Tyla’s halftime efficiency. She began her set popping out of one of many tunnels on the United Center and walked down the steps, serenading the viewers. She then jumped proper right into a efficiency of her worldwide hit music, “Water.” It was nice – for about two minutes. Then, it went downhill quick. The visuals have been good, however one thing concerning the subsequent music choices didn’t fairly match the sector and the ambiance. It’s laborious to pinpoint, but it surely felt just like the relaxed nature of the songs took the power down.
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you’ll be able to go to the hyperlink bellow:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/wnba/allstar/2026/07/26/wnba-all-star-winners-and-losers-dominique-malonga-cathy-engelbert/91053389007/
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