Kaitlyn Clark, who was left out of the Olympic team, may have a chance to make a statement — with Angel Reyes by her side.
Clark is the second-most vote-getter for the WNBA All-Star Game behind A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces, meaning the No. 1 pick will almost certainly be part of a WNBA team.
Her rising rival is Angel Reyes, who WNBA date set Thursday as the first rookie to record seven straight double-doubles, finishing seventh with 118,490 votes from fans.
The top 10 vote-getters in the All-Star voting will be the WNBA team, which will face Team USA in an exhibition game before heading to Paris.
Both Reese and Clark, who were left off the Olympic roster, will likely team up for the All-Star team, providing them with a chance to prove themselves to USA Basketball.
The two rookie phenoms teaming up? Who would have imagined?
Clark, who has led the Fever on a three-game winning streak, ranks 16th in the league in scoring with 16.3 points per game, and is third in assists at 6.2 per game.
The hugely popular Clark was controversially left out of the star-studded Olympic team, which is led by Wilson, a five-time All-Star, two-time WNBA MVP and two-time WNBA champion.
The midfielder, who received 217,773 votes, leads the league in scoring with 27.9 points per game and rebounding with 11.3 per game this season.
She will make her second Olympic appearance with Team USA in Paris this summer, and will be joined by WNBA stars: Brittney Griner, Brianna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Sabrina Ionescu, Jackie Young, Alyssa Thomas, Kelsey Bloom, Jewel Lloyd, Naphesa Collier, Kahlia. Copper, Chelsea Gray.
Some familiar faces that will likely make a WNBA team alongside Clark and Reese are Aliyah Boston, Ariki Ogunbowale and Derica Hamby.
In the Fever’s 88-81 win over the Mystics at home, Clark finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, helping her team go on a three-game winning streak.
“I think everyone likes instant gratification in our world,” said Clark, who also recorded six assists and four steals. “No one came here and said we were going to be WNBA champions starting on day one in our locker room. That was never our goal. Our goal was to get back to the playoffs and we fight for that every night.
Rosters for the 2024 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game are scheduled to be revealed on July 2.
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