Collier breaks WNBA All-Star scoring record in win over Team Clark
Jul 19, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Team Collier forward Napheesa Collier (24) shoots against Team Clark forward Gabby Williams (5) in the first quarter during the 2025 WNBA All Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
INDIANAPOLIS - Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier eclipsed the WNBA All-Star scoring record with 36 points to lead her team past Team Clark 151-131 on Saturday, capping a two-day showcase of the league's top talent at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Collier bested the previous scoring record of 34 points set by Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale last year and added nine rebounds, marking another high point in a fantastic 2025 campaign for the league's leading scorer in Indianapolis.
Veteran guard Skylar Diggins brought more luster to the night for Team Collier, becoming the first player to record a triple-double in a WNBA All-Star Game with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 15 assists. The team's 151 points also marked an All-Star all-time high.
"We set a lot of records," said Collier, who was named the All-Star Game MVP. "It's just so fun."
Team Clark, which played without its injured namesake captain Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever, never found its rhythm on offense despite the urgings of the sell-out crowd.
The All-Star Game a year ago pitted the 2024 U.S. Olympic team against All-Stars, a marketing masterstroke that put pride on the line for players who were snubbed from the Team USA roster.
The mood was far lighter this time around, as players joked playfully on the court and took advantage of the novelty "4-point shot" at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the hometown hero Clark sat sidelined with an injury.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung
Singapore HSA extends hotline hours, launches new platform to report vaping offences
Singapore Tampines regional centre set to get more homes, offices and public amenities
Multimedia How to make the most out of small homes in Singapore
Life US tech CEO Andy Byron resigns after viral Coldplay 'kiss cam' video
Asia From toy to threat: 'Killer kites' bring chaos to Indonesian airspace
Opinion I thought I was a 'chill' parent. Then came P1 registration
Singapore 'God and government are the only things beyond our control,' says Trip.com Group CEO
The Dallas Wings' first overall draft pick Paige Bueckers opened up the scoring as she drained a shot from the 4-point range for Team Collier and the side was up 22 points at the half to create an unassailable lead.
Players warmed up wearing T-shirts that read "Pay Us What You Owe Us," putting the spotlight on intensifying labor talks between the WNBA and its players' union over a new collective bargaining agreement.
The talks have hung over a two-day celebration of the league's rapid growth, with TV viewership and attendance soaring, and fans began cheering "Pay them!" after the final buzzer.
"The mission was accomplished because we built an incredible amount of awareness this weekend," said the Los Angeles Sparks' Kelsey Plum, who added 16 points for Team Collier. "The fans are united in what they believe we're seeking." REUTERS
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Straits Times
Shi, Wang triumph in all-Chinese China Open finals
Shi Yuqi and Wang Zhiyi lifted the men's and women's titles at the China Open on Sunday, prevailing in the all-Chinese finals to cap a golden week in Changzhou. It was another strong showing for world number three Shi following his Japan Open title last week. The 29-year-old came back from a game down to beat Wang Zhengxing 14-21 21-14 21-15 in little more than an hour. Wang had a narrow 7-5 lead early in the second game, but Shi took over from there, dominating the rallies and never trailing again. It was Shi's third Super 1000 title of the year after winning the Malaysia Open and the All England Open. In the women's final, defending champion Wang Zhiyi secured a dominant 21-8 21-13 win over Han Yue, who had advanced after South Korea's reigning Olympic champion An Se-young retired injured in the semi-finals. The 24-year-old world number two ended a frustrating run of three straight Super 1000 final defeats this year, all to world number one An. It was Wang's second title of the year, adding to her Malaysia Masters win, where she also beat Han in the final. Wang surged to a 13-4 lead in the opener and though Han tried to claw back in the second game, narrowing the gap to 17-13, Wang's sharp movement and relentless aggression helped her close out the match in just over half an hour. China's supremacy on home soil could not be questioned as foreign players fell at the semi-final stage in all formats except for the men's doubles, which was won by Indonesians Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri. The pair beat Malaysian second seeded duo Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi-Yik 21-15 21-14 and performed the viral "aura farming" Indonesian boat race dance in front of the Chinese crowd, much to their delight. It was the first time in a decade that an unseeded men's pair has won the China Open. In women's doubles, top seeds Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning overcame Zhang Shuxian and Jia Yifan 24-22 17-21 21-14. Top seeds Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping defeated second-seeded Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin 23-21 21-17 to clinch the mixed doubles title. REUTERS

Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
Shi, Wang set up all-Chinese final at China Open, An retires with injury
Find out what's new on ST website and app. FILE PHOTO: Asian Games - Hangzhou 2022 - Badminton - Binjiang Gymnasium, Hangzhou, China - October 7, 2023 China's Shi Yuqi in action during his Men's Singles final against China's Li Shigeng REUTERS/Weixiang Lim/File Photo Chinese men's third seed Shi Yuqi defeated Taiwanese sixth seed Chou Tien-chen in the China Open semi-finals in Changzhou on Saturday, while South Korean women's world number one An Se-Young retired due to injury. Shi sealed a 21-13 22-20 win over Chou and will face Wang Zhengxing in an all-Chinese final. Wang delivered an upset in his semi-final, defeating Denmark's second seed Anders Antonsen 21-18 21-15. In the women's singles, Chinese fourth seed Han Yue advanced after An, the 2023 world champion and 2024 Paris Olympic gold medallist, retired midway through their match. An lost the first set 21-19 and appeared to struggle in the second, withdrawing after Han established an 11-6 lead. Following An's exit, the women's singles final will also feature an all-Chinese matchup, as Han prepares to face defending champion and second seed Wang Zhiyi. Wang cruised into the final after defeating Japan's former world champion and third seed Akane Yamaguchi 22-20 21-11. REUTERS Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Woman taken to hospital after car falls into sinkhole on Tanjong Katong Road Singapore Students hide vapes in underwear, toilet roll holders: S'pore schools grapple with vaping scourge Singapore 'I've tried everything': Mum helpless as son's Kpod addiction spirals out of control Singapore NDP 2025: How Benjamin Kheng is whisked from Marina Bay to Padang in 10 minutes by boat, buggy Singapore Almost half of planned 30,000 HDB flats in Tengah to be completed by end-2025: Chee Hong Tat Singapore From libraries to living rooms: How reading habits take root in underserved S'pore children Asia Thai-Cambodia clashes spread along frontier as death toll rises Asia Thousands rally in downtown Kuala Lumpur for resignation of PM Anwar

Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Messi and Alba suspended for one match for missing MLS All-Star
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Jul 19, 2025; Harrison, New Jersey, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) in action against the New York Red Bulls during the second half at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images NEW YORK - Lionel Messi has been suspended for one game after sitting out the MLS All-Star Game without prior approval, the league said on Friday. The Inter Miami forward and his teammate, Jordi Alba, did not compete on Wednesday despite not being injured, even though they were included in the All-Star roster. "Per league rules, any player who does not participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval from the league is ineligible to compete in their club's next match," MLS said in a statement. The suspension will see Messi, the league's main attraction, miss Inter Miami's match against the visiting FC Cincinnati on Saturday. Cincinnati lead the Eastern Conference standings. Messi has scored 18 goals so far this season. "I know Lionel Messi loves this league. I don't think there's a player - or anyone - who has done more for Major League Soccer than Messi. I fully understand, respect, and admire his commitment to Inter Miami, and I respect his decision," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement. "Unfortunately, we have a long-standing policy regarding participation in the All-Star Game, and we had to enforce it. It was a very difficult decision." Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Cambodia calls for ceasefire with Thailand after deadly clashes Asia 'Nothing like this has happened before': At least 16 dead as Thai-Cambodian conflict continues Multimedia Lights dimmed at South-east Asia's scam hub but 'pig butchering' continues Business Banking and finance jobs will change but won't disappear as AI becomes the new normal: Accenture Sport Mikkel Lee gets back up to speed as Singapore swimmers eye 2028 Olympics spots Business How parents can prevent disputes over their properties Asia Hottest 'ticket' in Jakarta? Young Indonesians compete for a slot at this novel club Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly All-Star competitions are a mainstay of North American sports, where the men's "Big Four" leagues use the exhibitions to boost their players' profiles, but a rarity in professional soccer. "We're going to take a hard look at the policy moving forward. I'm committed to working with our players to determine how the rule should evolve," said Garber. Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas described both players as "consummate professionals" who were "extremely upset" about the suspensions. He explained that the club made the decision for the players to miss the All-Star game to prioritize their rest and health during a demanding stretch of matches. Mas strongly criticized the rule, calling it "draconian." "The ones that get penalized are the club, the fans, sponsors, Apple TV, and so on," Mas told reporters during a conference call on Friday. "I expressed our disagreement with the league's decision, and I had conversations with the commissioner both this morning and late last night," he said. "But notwithstanding that, the decision is what it is." Mas added that there was no appeals process available. REUTERS