WATCH: Welcome to the All-Star stage, Paige!
Team Collier led wire-to-wire in a 2025 WNBA All-Star Game blowout victory over Team Clark, whose captain and Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark sat out due to a groin injury.
The game got off to a high-scoring start aided by a new 4-point shot marker added on the court specifically for tonight, but Napheesa Collier's squad opened up a big lead in the second quarter and led by 22 at halftime. Collier set a new All-Star Game scoring record with 36 points en route to winning MVP of the game while Skylar Diggins broke Sue Bird's assist record with an 11-point, 11-rebound, 15-assist triple-double off the bench.
In addition to its namesake, Team Clark was also dealing with injuries to A'ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Satou Sabally. Wilson and Young played limited minutes while Sabally sat out along with Clark.
Shortly after tip-off, WNBA Rookie of the Year favorite Paige Bueckers wasted no time scoring her first of likely many career All-Star Game points. Getty Images
Quite a trio right there — A'ja Wilson's boyfriend (and Miami Heat star) Bam Adebayo, Hall of Famer Pau Gasol, and legendary South Carolina coach Dawn Staley all sitting courtside tonight!
I'm still blown away that Whitney Houston performed at the first WNBA All Star Game. She sung the national anthem and it's here if you have never seen it. Imagn Images
The always-competitive Kelsey Plum shows no signs of slowing down, exhibition game or no.
"We want to blow them out," the Team Collier guard says. "We're a lot better than them — I hate to say it."
Courtney Williams, meanwhile, says "I'm getting exactly what I want."
And Angel Reese is just thrilled to see basketball and culture intersect when her friend GloRilla performs the halftime show.
"We have fans outside of basketball, and mixing in rap culture is really important, too," the Sky forward says. Getty Images
Caitlin Clark is clearly relishing her chance to "coach" tonight, even with her team down big.
"You don't realizse how bad four-point shots are going to add up, and they've made quite a few — Phee, McBride. We gotta slow them down. 78 points is a lot."
But when Rebecca Lobo asks when Clark will start preaching defense to her team, the answer is swift.
"NEVER. Come on, Rebecca, you know better than that. Offense is what's going to get us back in it."
Clark also heaps praise on the city of Indianapolis and the fans for providing a great All-Star atmosphere, saying it "certainly" topped last year's festivities in Phoenix.
But will there be a rousing halftime speech with her team down by 22?
"We're gonna listen to (halftime performer) GloRilla, maybe just get a drink — of Gatorade." Getty Images
Caitlin Clark told Ryan Ruocco and Rebecca Lobo during a mic'd up segment that her one coaching strategy was to tell her team to take as many four point shots as possible. There's been value so far for ESPN/ABC with these in-game interview segments because they are getting a lot of time with players so the interviews can go beyond perfunctory. Getty Images
HALFTIME - Team Collier 82, Team Clark 60
The MVPhee party looks like it's going to get started early tonight!
Team Collier has opened up a 22-point lead at the half with its namesake leading all scorers with 18.
A violation for Team Collier as the injured Rhyne Howard steps onto the court to take a corner 3. Shooters shoot, whether they're available or not.
Q2 1:52 - Team Collier 76, Team Clark 58
A funny moment as Kelsey Mitchell steals an inbounds pass from Kelsey Plum — and pumps her fist taking the ball up the court the other way.
A rare silver lining in this first half for Team Clark! Imagn Images
While everyone else lives beyond the 3-point line or seeks out layups in transition, Courtney Williams is playing this game exactly like a regular season contest, getting to her spot on the elbow. Her two midrange jumpers are more than the rest of the All-Stars combined.
Paige Bueckers gave a quick hug to Dawn Staley after she collected an errant ball that landed by the Hall of Fame coach courtside. All love between the two after UConn and South Carolina split two national title games during Bueckers' collegiate tenure. Getty Images
Q2 4:43 - Team Collier 68, Team Clark 46
It's now a 22-point lead for Napheesa Collier's squad. Can Team Clark mount a comeback?
Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton is here tonight to catch some WNBA action. Several Fever stars, including Clark, sat courtside for several games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse during Indiana's run to Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Getty Images
Looks like Caitlin Clark is getting a head start in her coaching career tonight, whiteboard in hand and vocal chords warmed up.
Q2 6:04 - Team Collier 63, Team Clark 44
Napheesa Collier has 18 points already after back-to-back 4-pointers. Looks like the Team Collier or "Team Phee" namesake doesn't want to wait until after the regular season to hoist an MVP trophy... Getty Images
Q2 9:10 - Team Collier 51, Team Clark 41
It's still a double-digit lead early in the second quarter. Can Team Clark claw back? Not if Angel Reese's rebounding and Napheesa Collier's shotmaking have anything to say about it...
There were five 4-pointers in that first quarter, for those keeping track of this All-Star Game rule. Getty Images
One thing that was so great about last year was the competitiveness of the game and the catalyst for that was Team USA vs. the non Team USA All Stars. So far, this game is running into the same issues the NBA has — understandably, nobody wants to get hurt. There's not a solution for this but the WNBA would be wise to keep being creative in terms of picking the teams (such as Team Collier versus Team Clark) because at least that part will always create conversation.
Eight former Fever All-Stars were just acknowledged between quarters in a nice tribute to the team's history. The final player introduced? Tamika Catchings, who played her entire 15-year career with the Fever, making ten All-Star appearances and helped to lead Indy to its only title in 2012.
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