Home / Sports / Rookie Bueckers Shines, Collier Breaks Record in WNBA All-Star Blowout
Rookie Bueckers Shines, Collier Breaks Record in WNBA All-Star Blowout
20 Jul
Summary
- Paige Bueckers, WNBA rookie, launched a 4-point shot to start the game
- Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx forward, set an All-Star Game record with 36 points
- WNBA players wore shirts demanding higher salaries during the CBA negotiations
The WNBA All-Star Game held in Indianapolis on Saturday was a showcase of talent and a platform for the league's players to demand better pay. Rookie Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings set the tone early, launching a 4-point shot to start the game. Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier then took center stage, scoring a record-breaking 36 points to lead Team Collier to a 151-131 victory over Team Clark.
The players' message about wanting higher salaries was also prominent, as they wore black T-shirts with the slogan "Pay Us What You Owe Us!" during warmups. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert's trophy presentation for Collier was drowned out by chants of "PAY THEM! PAY THEM!" from the crowd, reflecting the ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations between the league and the WNBA Players Association.
The game also saw historic performances, with Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike becoming the second all-time leading scorer in WNBA All-Star Game history, and Indiana native Skylar Diggins recording the first triple-double in All-Star Game history.
