Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson’s “Dynamic Duo” Might Not be Enough for Team USA in Olympics, Fans Worry After Loss in WNBA All Star Game

It’s a win for Team WNBA! Before the All-Star Game against Team WNBA, Team USA head coach Cheryl Reeve predicted that her roster might face adversity in the game at the Footprint Center in Phoenix. And she predicted right! Team WNBA handed the skilled roster of the opponent team a 117-109 loss in front of a sold-out arena. While fans were overjoyed with the talent on display, many were left disappointed as the team that is expected to win Gold at the Olympics in a few weeks, courtesy of superstars such as A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, was made to look beatable.

The game was closely contested in the first half, but then Arike Ogunbowale broke all records to pass with flying colors. She recorded 34 points to clinch the historic feat of hitting the most points in a WNBA All-Star game. Meanwhile, Team USA tried hard to make a comeback that never happened despite the presence of the dynamic duo. “So only A’ja and Stewie gonna show up huh… they better take a nap chileee it’s gone be a heavy lift for the 2 of them going forward “ penned an X user.

Much before the anticipated showdown, both Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson were expected to be tough to beat on the USA’s roster. And they individually were, adding 31 and 22 points respectively, more than anyone on Team WNBA except Ogunbowale. But the highlight here is that just the contributions of these two may not suffice for the ultimate goal in Paris.

Notably, Team USA has won gold in every Olympics since Atlanta 1996. If they win at Bercy Arena on August 11, it would be their eighth-straight Olympic gold. But as of now, nothing of the sort seems likely. This year, Team USA had many potential candidates before a final 12-player selection. In the process, many experienced players were given preference over fan favorites, leading to fans storming the comment sections.

Fans question Team USA’s depth

While most spectators were mesmerized by Breanna Stewart’s amazing performance, some questioned other players on Team USA’s roster. “OFFENSIVE MVP STEWIE IS BACK?” wrote an X user. Back in 2018, Stewart elevated her play to another level. As she was voted into her second All-Star game, she became the sixth player in WNBA history to accomplish both league and Finals MVP in the same year. But she did not stop there. In 2020, she made a comeback after a year out due to injury and earned another WNBA Finals MVP.

Now, as she once again gives an impressive performance, fans are wondering if the old Stewart is back. Meanwhile, some spectators were ecstatic to catch a glimpse of the Stewart-Wilson duo. “A’ja & Stewie are my fave dynamic duo. They complement each other so well,” wrote a fan. Both Liberty’s standout and the Aces star are known for their impressive stats. While A’ja Wilson is leading the league with 27.0 points per game, Stewart stands next to her with an impressive 19.3 points and 9 rebounds per game.

Moving on, some Twitter users also appreciated Arike Ogunbowale for her record-breaking performance. “Arike is frying these people!! But I didn’t realize Stewie also had a 30-piece!!” wrote a user, highlighting Ogunbowale’s on-court shots that kept viewers hooked. Notably, Ogunbowale accumulated 34 points in today’s game to become MVP for the second time. But the question remains, “So outside of Stewie and A’ja, who else is going to step up?”

Despite potential candidates on the roster including Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Gray, Team USA is standing with only two standouts. And now, with only a few days left before the Olympics, will the current roster be able to add a win to USA’s winning streak at the Olympics?