Napheesa Collier’s record-breaking performance leads her team to WNBA All-Star Game win
By DOUG FEINBERG
The Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS — Napheesa Collier made a statement with her record play on the court and the players made one with warmup shirts for the WNBA All-Star Game.
Collier scored a record 36 points to help her team beat Team Clark 151-131 in the WNBA All-Star Game that was devoid of defense but full of 4-point shots.
This record offensive effort came a year after the league’s annual exhibition game was a competitive contest that pitted the U.S Olympic team against WNBA All-Stars.
Kayla Thornton, who was making history as the first All-Star Game participant for the expansion Golden State Valkyries, had 15 points, a game-high 11 rebounds, five assists and a steal for Team Clark. She also attempted a game-high 11 3-pointers, making three. Thornton, a 10-year veteran making her first All-Star Game appearance, played a game-high 25 minutes for coach Sandy Brondello, her former coach with the New York Liberty.
The game capped off a weekend where negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement took center stage. Players wore T-shirts while warming up before the game that said “Pay us what you owe us.”
“The players are taking this seriously, I think it sends a really strong message that we’re standing really firm in certain areas that we feel really strong that we need to improve on. I think we got the message across,” said Collier, who was named the game’s MVP.
As she waited to get her trophy the crowd chanted “Pay them more” and All-Star Brittney Sykes held up a sign saying “Pay the Players.”
Captain Caitlin Clark was unable to play for her team because of a groin injury she suffered earlier this week. She still served as ambassador for the weekend.
Known for her deep logo 3-pointers, Clark would have loved a chance at the 4-point shot that was added to this game which was 28-feet from the basket.
Both teams took advantage of the deep shot en route to the record-setting offensive night. They combined to hit 20 of the shots on 65 attempts.
The 151 points scored by Team Collier broke the mark put up by Team Stewart of 143 in 2023 for the most in an All-Star Game. Collier’s point total broke Arike Ogunbowale’s previous record of 34 points scored last year.
The combined total of 282 also surpassed the previous high total of 270 set in 2023.
While there was little defense played, both teams challenged plays in the fourth quarter with the game not in doubt. One was successful and one wasn’t.
The game also featured rookies Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen making up the largest rookie contingent at the game since 2011. Citron and Iriafen were on Team Clark, and Bueckers was a starter for Napheesa Collier’s team.
The replacements
Kelsey Mitchell of the Indiana Fever and Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces were announced earlier in the day as starters for Team Clark replacing Clark and Satou Sabally of Phoenix. Mitchell received a loud ovation from the fans who were happy to have another one of their players in the starting lineup. Young didn’t actually start as Gabby Williams took her spot as a starter. Young injured her hip in Las Vegas’ last game before All-Star weekend.
New rules
Besides the 4-point shot, the game also included a 20-second shot clock instead of the normal 24 and the ability for teams to substitute during live play. There also were no free throws shot — not that there usually are many in an All-Star Game — until the final two minutes of the game. Instead players were automatically awarded the points. The only free throws were shot was by Skylar Diggins with 1:01 left in the game. She made both. Diggins also had the first triple-double in All-Star history.
All four rules had been used at some point during previous All-Star Games, but not all in the same one.
Stars put on show for celebrities
The All-Star Game brought the stars out in Indianapolis. Rapper GloRilla performed at halftime while musicians Common and Jennifer Hudson sat courtside near WNBA legends Lisa Leslie and Tamika Catchings. Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton sat in a suite and got the loudest ovation from the crowd when he was shown on the videoboard.