Napheesa Collier scored a WNBA All-Star document 36 factors to assist Crew Collier roll to a straightforward 151-131 victory over Crew Clark on Saturday night time at Indianapolis.
The Minnesota Lynx star was 13-of-16 taking pictures and picked up 9 rebounds whereas claiming MVP honors.
“I’ve superb teammates,” Collier mentioned. “You guys see who’s right here. Could not do with out them so all of the credit score to them.”
Allisha Grey of the Atlanta Dream added 18 factors and Kelsey Plum of the Los Angeles Sparks and Nneka Ogwumike of the Seattle Storm added 16 for Crew Collier, which led by as many as 27 factors.
Skylar Diggins of the Storm registered an All-Star document 15 assists to go along with 11 factors and 11 rebounds for Crew Collier.
“We got here out right here to have enjoyable. We put ourselves on the market and I wished to go away right here with one thing,” Diggins mentioned of the primary triple-double in WNBA All-Star Sport historical past. “We’ve such a gifted group, I knew I used to be going to have to seek out my area of interest elsewhere, so I began racking up the assists.”
Kelsey Mitchell of the Indiana Fever scored 20 factors for Crew Clark. Kiki Iriafen of Washington had 17 factors and her Mystics teammate Brittney Sykes added 16. Gabby Williams of the Storm additionally had 16 factors and Kayla Thornton of the Golden State Valkyries had 15 factors and 11 rebounds.
Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever sat out the sport resulting from a proper groin harm.
The sport featured a 4-point shot from circles situated 28 or extra ft from the ring.
Crew Collier made 12 of 28 4-point photographs, whereas Crew Clark was simply 8 of 37. Collier made 4 of 5 4-point makes an attempt.
The rising pressure between the league and gamers hung heavy in the course of the contest.
The gamers wore “Pay Us What You Owe Us” T-shirts throughout warm-ups and whereas sitting on the benches. A gathering between the 2 sides on Thursday led to many gamers being essential of the shortage of progress towards a brand new Collective Bargaining Settlement.
“After we say the ‘W’ we’re on the forefront of lots of various things,” A’ja Wilson, a three-time league MVP suited up for Crew Clark, mentioned of the shirts worn by gamers. “There are issues we deserve and we’re demanding. Proper now, throughout this transformative time that we’re in, we have to begin capitalizing on that. We have to get what we’re effectively overdue for and it exhibits how highly effective our league is and the way highly effective our voices are on our platform.”
Mitchell mentioned the assertion on the T-shirt spoke for itself.
“It was vital for our assertion to stay clear,” Mitchell mentioned. “We simply need the respect we deserve on the finish of the day.”
Crew Clark trailed by 22 factors on the break, however Grey hit a 4-pointer and a trey inside a 37-second span to present Crew Collier a 97-70 benefit with 6:25 left within the third quarter.
Crew Clark scored the subsequent eight factors earlier than Collier buried a 4-pointer and Grey made a 3-pointer to present Crew Collier a 104-78 lead with 4:50 left.
Crew Collier led 119-95 getting into the unsuspenseful remaining stanza.
However with 5:30 remaining, Collier buried a 4-pointer off a go from Diggins, giving Collier the factors document and Diggins the assists mark.
Arike Ogunbowale of the Dallas Wings set the factors document of 34 final yr.
Crew Collier got here out quick with Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings making a 4-pointer for the sport’s first factors. A 4-pointer by Kayla McBride of the Minnesota Lynx made it 45-32 later within the interval earlier than Crew Collier led 49-36 getting into the second quarter.
The margin was 9 within the second quarter earlier than Collier scored 10 straight factors. She knocked down back-to-back 4-pointers and added a layup to present her squad a 63-44 lead with 5:57 left within the half.
Crew Collier led 82-60 on the break. Collier had 18 factors on 7-of-8 taking pictures.
–Subject Degree Media/Reuters
