WNBA All-Star Game Prediction: Team USA vs. WNBA All-Stars

The WNBA All-Star game will not be like the traditional contest, with the best players from each conference facing off. Instead, the USWNT will take on a roster of WNBA All-Stars in preparation for the Summer Olympics. Early odds have Team USA as the betting favorite at -6.5.

However, this isn’t your typical All-Star game, as both teams are comprised of the best the WNBA has to offer. An argument could be made that the USWNT contains the elite of the WNBA, making it the de facto better team, but several players on Team WNBA would beg to differ. 

Of course, the million-dollar question is how seriously either team will take the game. Players often don’t take it too seriously because they don’t want to risk injury. But since this is a warmup game for the Olympics, there is a solid chance this could be a hard-fought, well-played, entertaining contest.

Team USA vs. WNBA All-Stars History and Betting Odds for Saturday, July 20

Such a matchup has occurred on three occasions, the first in 2004, then again in 2010 and 2021. As expected, Team USA won the first two easily, 99-72 and 75-58.

However, the WNBA was still growing; there weren’t enough elite players to fill two rosters. Since the best of the best were on the USWNT roster, the WNBA All-Star squads were inferior, hence the lopsided losses.

However, with how much the game has grown, the quality of play in the WNBA has skyrocketed. Now, when the USWNT roster gets decided, several worthy players get left off. So, when Team USA and the WNBA All-Stars meet, there is less of a competitive advantage.

So, when Team USA and the WNBA All-Stars met in 2021, it was not shocking that the WNBA All-Stars won.

It was an upset, but it was not shocking.

Here are the betting odds for Team USA vs. WNBA All-Stars with odds from FanDuel Sportsbooks. Place your bets at FanDuel and claim $200 in Bonus Bets.

Check our WNBA Player Props and Best Bets for the All-Star Game for more betting insights.

Team USA vs. WNBA All-Stars Preview

To continue the USWNT's dominance in Olympic competition, a committee selects the best players the WNBA has to offer. The selection process for the WNBA All-Star roster is rather unique.

WNBA All-Star selection is decided by a fan vote (50%), a player vote (25%), and a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters (25%).  The top ten vote-getters are named WNBA All-Stars, but only those not selected to play for the USWNT are placed on the roster for the game.

To fill the remaining slots, the WNBA's 12 head coaches receive a list of the next 36 highest vote-getters, who then vote on the remaining roster slots.

Team USA Prediction

• Roster: Napheesa Collier (Lynx), Kahleah Copper (Mercury), Sabrina Ionescu (Liberty), Breanna Stewart (Liberty), A'ja Wilson (Aces), Jackie Young (Aces), Chelsea Gray (Aces), Britney Griner (Mercury), Jewell Loyd (Storm), Kelsey Plum (Aces), Diana Taurasi (Mercury), & Alyssa Thomas (Sun).

The women's national basketball team is the definition of dominance, with a 70-3 all-time record and seven consecutive gold medals (nine total). To obtain and maintain that level of dominance, the team must have the best women's basketball players in the WNBA.

That is precisely what the roster is. Eight of the ten best scorers, led by A'ja Wilson, are on the team, as are four of the best three-point shooters and three of the top five rebounders.

However, of the 12 players on the roster, only two are inside the league's top five defenders (according to defensive win-share), and nine are inside the top 30.

So, it is clear that Team USA is more concerned with outscoring their opponents rather than stopping them. That's not to say they can't stop teams from scoring. However, this roster was built with offense and scoring in mind.

Bet on Team USA at FanDuel

WNBA All-Stars Prediction

• Roster: Aliyah Boston (Fever), Caitlin Clark (Fever), Dearica Hamby (Sparks),  Arike Ogunbowale (Wings), DeWanna Bonner (Sun), Allisha Gray (Dream), Brionna Jones (Sun), Jonquel Jones (Liberty), Kayla McBride (Lynx), Kelsey Mitchell (Fever), Nneka Ogwumike (Storm), & Angel Reese (Chicago).

Despite having several of the players voted onto the team poached by Team USA, the WNBA All-Stars are not lacking in star power.

Dearica Hamby and Arike Ogunbowale are two of the best scoring threats in the league (No. 8 and No. 3).  Four of the top ten rebounders are on the squad, including Angel Reese (No. 2). Caitlin Clark leads the league in assists. Ogunbowale and Kayla McBride are two of four players averaging a league-leading 3.0 three-pointers made per game.

The team should also be strong on the defensive end of the court, with five players inside the top 15 for defensive win shares. 

Bet on WNBA All-Stars at FanDuel

Team USA vs. WNBA All-Stars Pick

• My Pick: UNDER 200.5 (-110) at FanDuel

A couple of aspects of a game like this make it challenging for bettors to make their picks: (1) It is hard to know how seriously the players will take playing in an exhibition game, and (2) Playing time is impossible to predict.

That being said, while both teams are stacked with shooters, each has several top-notch defenders, as well. We'll see a lot of points scored, but not more than 200.

Bet on Under 200.5 (-110) at FanDuel

How to Watch Team USA vs. WNBA All-Stars

• Location: Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ

• Game Time & Date: 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 20

• Coverage: ABC