INDIANAPOLIS (AP) \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
This record offensive effort came a year after the league\u2019s annual exhibition game was a competitive contest that pitted the U.S Olympic team against WNBA All-Stars.<\/p>\n
The game capped off a weekend where negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement<\/a> took center stage. Players wore T-shirts while warming up<\/a> before the game that said \u201cPay us what you owe us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe players are taking this seriously, I think it sends a really strong message that we\u2019re standing really firm in certain areas that we feel really strong that we need to improve on. I think we got the message across,\u201d said Collier, who was named the game\u2019s MVP.<\/p>\n As she waited to get her trophy the crowd chanted \u201cPay them more\u201d and All-Star Brittney Sykes held up a sign saying \u201cPay the Players.\u201d<\/p>\n Captain Caitlin Clark was unable to play for her team because of a groin injury<\/a> she suffered earlier this week. She still served as ambassador<\/a> for the weekend.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n The 151 points scored by Team Collier broke the mark put up by Team Stewart of 143 in 2023<\/a> for the most in an All-Star Game. Collier\u2019s point total broke Arike Ogunbowale\u2019s previous record of 34 points scored last year.<\/p>\n The combined total of 282 also surpassed the previous high total of 270 set in 2023.<\/p>\n 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\u2019t.<\/p>\n The game also featured<\/a> 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\u2019s team.<\/p>\n The replacements<\/p>\n