Grateful to be out there, Caitlin Clark savors her first true WNBA All-Star Game
After missing last year’s game in Indianapolis and facing Team USA in 2024, Clark finally experienced a traditional WNBA All-Star Game — scoring 17 points, launching from deep and appreciating every m
CHICAGO — Caitlin Clark opened the WNBA All-Star game with a 3-point attempt after A’ja Wilson won the tip. She missed, but just 14 seconds later, Clark intercepted a pass and took it the other way for a wide-open layup.
Then she made a 3-pointer. And another. And another.
Just 2:32 in the game, Clark had scored 11 of Team Weatherspoon’s first 13 points — and outscored Team Cooper on her own, 11-9.
Suffice to say, she had eagerly anticipated what was to come from the 2026 WNBA All-Star game.
During warmups, she made that clear to a teammate. Clark was captured in a mic’d-up segment saying. “I’m going to be launching bombs.”
Clark is a basketball player, but she also understands better than anyone that she’s also an entertainer. And a sellout crowd of 19,783 inside the United Center, plus millions more at home watching on ABC, wanted to be treated to show.
All-Star Weekend is nothing new to Clark. She was the top vote-getter in each of her first two seasons, and last year’s game was held in Indianapolis. But she was unable to participate in the game and 3-point contest — which she planned to enter for the first time as a professional — due to an injury suffered four days earlier against the Connecticut Sun.
Still, she showed up to practice and completed her media obligations.
“Last year really stunk with it being in our home city,” Clark acknowledged. “You never want to miss that. You never want to miss that for the fans. So I love to show up and get to compete and play.
“Anytime you get to put on your uniform and play in an All-Star game is really special. And it was kind of a unique experience for myself because I really haven’t played in a true All-Star game.”
Her first appearance was unique because 2024 was an Olympic year. Clark was left off Team USA so she played for the WNBA All-Stars, who defeated the Olympic Team in a thrilling game that set a new standard for the event.
That was in Phoenix.
Now two years later in Chicago, rookie Olivia Miles was nervous and asked Clark what to expect. But Clark didn’t have an answer.
“I’m like, ‘To be honest, I’m kind of in the same boat as you.’ Like I didn’t play last year and then obviously, year before was way different,” Clark added.
“I think it was just really fun. Obviously, it was a great celebration of the WNBA and 30 years and what we’ve been able to accomplish. And this crowd tonight was obviously incredible and able to set an attendance record. And anytime you get to play in the United Center, that’s really fun too.”
And two years after being snubbed from Team USA, Clark was coached by Cheryl Reeve.
Clark had Fever teammate Aliyah Boston on her squad, too, though Boston only played one segment — just five minutes — so she could be rested and ready for the second half of the season.
Meanwhile, Kelsey Mitchell was on Team Cooper.
