Photo: Instagram/USA Basketball
The WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) All-Star Game is tonight. Instead of splitting the two teams by leagues as most sports do, they're breaking them up as Team U.S.A. (i.e., all the WNBA players on the U.S. Women's Basketball Team) vs. the rest of the all-stars (aka Team WNBA). The league's coaches selected the non-Team U.S.A all-stars from a pool voted on by fans, media and the players.
For this reason, the 2021 All-Star Game might be more competitive than you'd expect. Typically, such games are a light-hearted celebration of the best players in the league. Players usually do not go all out because they do not want to incur an injury that will end the rest of their season. However, this year, the members of Team U.S.A. are using the game as a chance to prepare for the Olympics, which kick off next week. As Olympian Brittney Griner said, "We're out there with a mission. We're going to use this game to get ready."
There is a lot on the line for Team U.S.A., but what's in it for Team WNBA? All-Star DeWanna Bonner said, "We want to go out and perform and help them get better. Of course, we're rooting them on [in Tokyo]." For others, their motivation may be showing off their talent after being slighted for a spot on the Olympic roster.
Players who were not selected for the Olympic team this year are still making big moves. For example, Chicago Sky and Team WNBA player Candace Parker announced that she would be the first female athlete to appear on the cover of 2K, a video game company that is known for its sports games.
