Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese become team-mates! Rookie rivals named on WNBA All-Star roster… and will face off against the Olympics team they missed out on

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese will put aside their growing rivalry to team up for the WNBA All-Star Team later this month, it has been announced.

The two superstars were selected for the WNBA’s 20th All-Star Game on Tuesday. In Phoenix, they will face the Olympic team, both of which were absent last month.

Clark, perhaps unsurprisingly, was the biggest fan vote-getter, with 700,735 votes — with her Indiana teammate Aliyah Boston coming in second, 72,000 votes behind her. Reese came in fifth with 381,518 votes. Wilson and Stewart came in third and fourth, with Wilson receiving 607,300 votes and Stewart having 424,135.

Clark and Reese have been a boon to the WNBA in ratings, merchandise sales and attendance. They’ve also played well on the court, with Clark third in assists at 6.9 and Reese leading the WNBA in rebounds at 11.4.

It is only the eighth time that the team has had two rookies, the last being Shoni Schimmel and Chiney Ogwumike in 2014.

Clark (pictured Tuesday night) received the most votes of any player on the All-Star Team

Also in attendance were the WNBA rookies: Connecticut’s DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones, Atlanta’s Allisha Gray, Los Angeles’ Dearica Hamby, New York’s Jonquel Jones, Minnesota’s Kayla McBride, Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell, Seattle’s Nneka Ogwumike and Dallas’ Arike Ogunbowale.

Ogunbowale was the MVP of the 2021 All-Star game, which had the same format as the U.S. team playing against a league All-Star team. The WNBA team won that game.

The U.S. Olympic team, which will be seeking an eighth consecutive gold medal later this month in Paris, also includes Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi. The two Phoenix players will get a chance to play in front of their home crowd in the exhibition match. Taurasi will be vying for a record six Olympic gold medals.

Reese, who impressed again on Tuesday night, will join her rival Clark in Phoenix

The rookie superstars play against players like Brittney Griner and the Olympic selection

Three of Wilson’s Las Vegas teammates — Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young — are on the U.S. team. Gray was on the Tokyo Olympic team, while Plum and Young helped the Americans win the first 3-on-3 gold medal.

Other returning competitors from the Tokyo Games include Napheesa Collier and Jewell Loyd. Several debuting Olympians join the team in Alyssa Thomas, Sabrina Ionescu and Kahleah Copper. All three played on the U.S. team that won the 2022 World Cup in Australia.

Any player selected to the U.S. national team or WNBA roster is considered an All-Star, making this Taurasi’s 11th appearance in the game. She now ranks second only to Sue Bird for the most all-time. Bird was an All-Star 13 times.

The league hosts a 3-point contest and a skills competition the night before the All-Star game.