Napheesa Collier's record-breaking performance leads her team to victory in WNBA All-Star Game

Boston Globe

6 days ago

Collier 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.'
Worcester's Aliyah Boston from the Indiana Fever, as well as the rest of the WNBA's All-Stars, made a statement with their warmup tees before last night's game in Indianapolis.
Michael Conroy/Associated Press
Captain Caitlin Clark was unable to play for her team because of a groin injury she suffered Tuesday in
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.
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Both teams took advantage of the deep shot en route to the record-setting offensive night.
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.
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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.
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 or play in the game as Gabby Williams took her spot as a starter. Young injured her hip in Las Vegas' last game before All-Star weekend.
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 shot were by Skylar Diggins with 1:01 left in the game. She made both.
All four rules had been used at some point during previous All-Star Games, but not all in the same one.
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.
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