INDIANAPOLIS — Napheesa Collier made a press release together with her file play on the courtroom, and the gamers made one with warmup shirts for the WNBA All-Star Game.
Collier scored a file 36 factors to assist her crew beat Workforce Clark 151-131 within the WNBA All-Star Game that was devoid of protection however stuffed with 4-point pictures.
This file offensive effort got here a yr after the league’s annual exhibition recreation was a aggressive contest that pitted the U.S. Olympic crew towards WNBA All-Stars.
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The sport capped a weekend when negotiations for a brand new collective bargaining settlement took middle stage. Gamers wore T-shirts whereas warming up earlier than the sport that stated, “Pay Us What You Owe Us.”
“The gamers are taking this severely, I believe it sends a very robust message that we’re standing actually agency in sure areas that we really feel actually robust that we have to enhance on. I believe we bought the message throughout,” stated Collier, who was named the sport’s MVP.
As she waited to get her trophy, the gang chanted “Pay them extra” and All-Star Brittney Sykes held up an indication saying “Pay the Gamers.”
Captain Caitlin Clark was unable to play for her crew due to a groin harm she suffered earlier this week. She nonetheless served as ambassador for the weekend.
Recognized for her deep emblem 3-pointers, Clark would have liked an opportunity on the 4-point shot — which was 28-feet from the basket — that was added to this recreation.
Each groups took benefit of the deep shot en path to the record-setting offensive evening. They mixed to hit 20 of the pictures on 65 makes an attempt.
The 151 factors scored by Workforce Collier broke the mark put up by Workforce Stewart of 143 in 2023 for probably the most in an All-Star Game. Collier’s level complete broke Arike Ogunbowale’s earlier file of 34 factors scored final yr.
The mixed complete of 282 additionally surpassed the earlier excessive complete of 270 set in 2023.
Whereas there was little protection performed, each groups challenged performs within the fourth quarter with the sport not doubtful. One was profitable and one wasn’t.
The sport additionally featured rookies Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen making up the biggest rookie contingent on the recreation since 2011. Citron and Iriafen have been on Workforce Clark, and Bueckers was a starter for Napheesa Collier’s crew.
The replacements
Kelsey Mitchell of the Indiana Fever and Jackie Younger of the Las Vegas Aces have been introduced earlier within the day as starters for Workforce Clark changing Clark and Satou Sabally of Phoenix. Mitchell obtained a loud ovation from the followers, who have been completely satisfied to have one other one in every of their gamers within the beginning lineup. Younger did not really begin as Gabby Williams took her spot as a starter. Younger injured her hip in Las Vegas’ final recreation earlier than All-Star Weekend.
New guidelines
Moreover the 4-point shot, the sport additionally included a 20-second shot clock as a substitute of the conventional 24, and the flexibility for groups to substitute throughout reside play. There additionally have been no free throws shot — not that there normally are many in an All-Star Game — till the ultimate two minutes of the sport. As an alternative gamers have been robotically awarded the factors. The one free throws have been shot was by Skylar Diggins with 1:01 left within the recreation. She made each. Diggins additionally had the primary triple-double in All-Star historical past.
All 4 guidelines had been used sooner or later throughout earlier All-Star Games however not all in the identical one.
The Related Press contributed to this story.