WNBA CBA talks overshadow All-Star Recreation

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Crew Napheesa Collier dominated Crew Caitlin Clark from begin to end and picked up a 151-131 win within the WNBA All-Star got here on Saturday night time behind a record-setting night time from the Minnesota Lynx star.

Collier completed with 36 factors within the recreation. She broke the scoring report that was set by Dallas Wings star Arike Ogunbowale within the 2024 recreation.

Collier is a five-time All-Star and is averaging 23.2 factors and seven.6 rebounds per recreation as she’s helped the Lynx again to the highest of the WNBA standings on the break with a 20-4 report.

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Minnesota Lynx's Napheesa Collier (24) celebrates a 4-pointer Saturday, July 19, 2025, in the course of the WNBA All-Star Recreation at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK through Imagn Photographs)

She was named the WNBA All-Star Recreation MVP.

Seattle Storm star Skylar Diggins, of Crew Collier, set a report for many assists in an All-Star Recreation and have become the primary participant to report a triple-double within the occasion. She had 11 factors, 11 rebounds and 15 assists

Indiana Fever star Kelsey Mitchell led Crew Clark with 20 factors.

Nonetheless, the discuss of the sport was concerning the gamers’ message a few pay improve amid tense collective bargaining settlement (CBA) negotiations in the course of the break.

Every WNBA All-Star wore a shirt that learn, "Pay Us What You Owe Us," throughout warm-ups earlier than the sport. Followers have been heard chanting "Pay them," in the course of the award presentation.

Jul 19, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Crew Collier ahead Napheesa Collier (24) appears to be like on earlier than the 2025 WNBA All Star Recreation at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Photographs)

"The group is saying it for us," Collier mentioned when requested to share her message.

WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike praised the gamers for utilizing their platform.

WNBA STARS SEND MESSAGE TO LEAGUE BEFORE ALL-STAR GAME AMID CONTENTIOUS CBA NEGOTIATIONS

"I’m simply so impressed by the quantity of gamers that confirmed up, the engagement that was there," she mentioned. "That’s actually what it’s all about. As a result of the extra that occurs, the extra that we’re going to have the ability to get issues executed. I feel immediately we’re going to have the ability to use this dialog to begin rolling the ball on issues."

Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson, proper, talks with Golden State Valkyries' Kayla Thornton in the course of the first half of a WNBA All-Star basketball recreation in opposition to Crew Collier, Saturday, July 19, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photograph/Michael Conroy)

Regardless of the competition, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert mentioned Saturday night time that she was optimistic a deal would get executed.

"I am nonetheless actually optimistic that we’ll get one thing executed that will be transformational," she mentioned. "And that, subsequent yr at All-Star, we’ll be speaking about how nice every thing is. Clearly there’s plenty of onerous work to be executed on each side to get there."

The gamers met with league officers Thursday, and the perimeters didn't attain a deal. Chicago Sky star Angel Reese was certainly one of many WNBA gamers who've expressed criticism of the league's dealing with of negotiations.

"It was an eye-opener for me. Like, listening to the issues and listening to the language of issues and never issues that I used to be blissful to listen to. It was disrespectful the issues that we have been despatched again, the proposal that we have been despatched again," she mentioned Friday.

"It is necessary to have the ability to be vocal. If I sit again, it appears to be like like I do not care."

Indiana Fever's Aliyah Boston (7) warms up Saturday, July 19, 2025, forward of the WNBA All-Star Recreation at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK through Imagn Photographs)

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New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu mentioned the gamers weren't going to accept "the minimal" in negotiations, whereas Phoenix Mercury participant Satou Sabally known as the league's newest CBA supply a "slap within the face."