Arike Ogunbowale sets WNBA All-Star scoring record, wins second MVP

Notre Dame legend arike ogunbowale didn’t think she had a shot at making Team USA for the 2024 Olympics. She saved herself the frustration by withdrawing from the pool of potential players early. But when she represented Team WNBA against the same U.S. Olympic team in the WNBA All-Star Game in Phoenix, she proved she should be going to Paris.

After being held scoreless in the first half, Ogunbowale set a WNBA All-Star record with 34 points, all in the second half, to lead Team WNBA to a 117-109 victory. She scored 24 of those points on eight 3-pointers.

Ogunbowale’s reward was her second WNBA All-Star MVP Award, her first coming in 2021 when the league All-Stars last faced an Olympic team. She’s the fourth player to win the award more than once. It marked the third time in four years a former Notre Dame player won All-Star MVP.

Jewell Loyd, the 2023 All-Star MVP, failed to score on three field-goal attempts. Her U.S. teammate, Jackie Young, made a single field goal on five attempts. Kayla McBride, the fourth former Irish player in the game, made her only shot attempt for Team WNBA, which came from 3-point range.

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