Napheesa Collier delivered a strong statement both on and off the basketball court in the WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday (19 July) in Indianapolis.
Collier scored a record 36 points as her team defeated Team Clark 151-131, with superstar Caitlin Clark missing the game due to a groin injury she suffered earlier in the week.
But the main talking point of the weekend was the players wearing T-shirts before the game that read ‘Pay us what you owe us’, as negotiations continue over a new collective bargaining agreement.
After the game, the crowd chanted ‘Pay them more’, while Brittney Sykes held up a sign that read ‘Pay the Players’.
Collier, who was named the game’s Most Valuable Player, said afterwards: “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.”
With the players taking advantage of the new 4-point shot in a free-scoring affair, the combined total of 282 points surpassed the previous best of 270, in 2023.