When the Chicago Sky visit the Seattle Storm on Friday night, a pair of newly named WNBA All-Stars will battle in the post.
Seattle’s Nneka Ogwumike earned her ninth All-Star nod, while Chicago’s Angel Reese joins Indiana’s Caitlin Clark as one of two rookies selected to participate. Ogwumike and Reese will be All-Star teammates on July 20 in Phoenix, but first they’ll oppose each other.
Ogwumike and Olympian Jewell Loyd have the Storm (13-6) on a four-game winning streak, with all four coming by double-digit margins. Loyd’s 20.2 points per game leads the team, while Ogwumike is second in points (17.2) and rebounds (7.3).
In their last game, Loyd poured in 26 points and Ogwumike added 14 as Seattle blasted Dallas 95-71 on Monday.
Chicago (7-11) has gained much of its momentum from Reese, who posted her 11th consecutive double-double in the Sky’s 85-77 victory over the host Atlanta Dream on Tuesday. Reese had 12 points and a career-best 19 rebounds, and the team’s top scorer, Chennedy Carter, pumped in 26 points on 11-of-16 shooting.
Reese, who leads the WNBA at 11.8 rebounds per game, said she was delighted to be named an All-Star.
The Storm bested the Sky 77-68 on May 28 in Seattle.
