Napheesa Collier’s record-breaking performance leads her team to WNBA All-Star Game win

By DOUG FEINBERG The Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS Napheesa Collier made a declaration with her record play on the court and the players made one with warmup shirts for the WNBA All-Star Tournament Collier scored a record points to help her unit beat Crew Clark - in the WNBA All-Star Battle that was devoid of defense but full of -point shots This record offensive effort came a year after the league s annual exhibition contest was a competitive contest that pitted the U S Olympic club against WNBA All-Stars Kayla Thornton who was making history as the first All-Star Challenge participant for the expansion Golden State Valkyries had points a game-high rebounds five assists and a steal for Crew Clark She also attempted a game-high -pointers making three Thornton a -year veteran making her first All-Star Challenge appearance played a game-high minutes for coach Sandy Brondello her former coach with the New York Liberty Golden State Valkyries' Kayla Thornton left goes to the basket against Chicago Sky's Angel Reese during the first half of a WNBA All-Star basketball event Saturday July in Indianapolis AP Photo Michael Conroy The championship capped off a weekend where negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement took center stage Players wore T-shirts while warming up before the encounter that mentioned Pay us what you owe us The players are taking this seriously I think it sends a really strong message that we re standing really firm in certain areas that we feel really strong that we need to improve on I think we got the message across reported Collier who was named the challenge s MVP As she waited to get her trophy the crowd chanted Pay them more and All-Star Brittney Sykes held up a sign saying Pay the Players Captain Caitlin Clark was unable to play for her company because of a groin injury she suffered earlier this week She still served as ambassador for the weekend Known for her deep logo -pointers Clark would have loved a chance at the -point shot that was added to this championship which was -feet from the basket Both teams took advantage of the deep shot en highway to the record-setting offensive night They combined to hit of the shots on attempts The points scored by Company Collier broke the mark put up by Unit Stewart of in for the most of in an All-Star Event Collier s point total broke Arike Ogunbowale s previous record of points scored last year The combined total of also surpassed the previous high total of set in While there was little defense played both teams challenged plays in the fourth quarter with the meeting not in doubt One was profitable and one wasn t The championship also featured rookies Paige Bueckers Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen making up the largest rookie contingent at the battle since Citron and Iriafen were on Gang Clark and Bueckers was a starter for Napheesa Collier s group The replacements Kelsey Mitchell of the Indiana Fever and Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces were reported earlier in the day as starters for Gang Clark replacing Clark and Satou Sabally of Phoenix Mitchell received a loud ovation from the fans who were happy to have another one of their players in the starting lineup Young didn t veritably start as Gabby Williams took her spot as a starter Young injured her hip in Las Vegas last challenge before All-Star weekend Related Articles Bay Area s Sabrina Ionescu wins -point contest at WNBA All-Star Friday night How Kayla Thornton became a WNBA All-Star Valkyries best participant Valkyries activate French center Iliana Rupert Golden State Valkyries Takeaways from loss to Seattle Storm Caitlin Clark upset after another injury could miss WNBA All-Star Contest in Indiana New rules Besides the -point shot the contest also included a -second shot clock instead of the normal and the ability for teams to substitute during live play There also were no free throws shot not that there usually are a great number of in an All-Star Event until the final two minutes of the event Instead players were automatically awarded the points The only free throws were shot was by Skylar Diggins with left in the competition She made both Diggins also had the first triple-double in All-Star history All four rules had been used at specific point during previous All-Star Games but not all in the same one Stars put on show for celebrities The All-Star Match brought the stars out in Indianapolis Rapper GloRilla performed at halftime while musicians Common and Jennifer Hudson sat courtside near WNBA legends Lisa Leslie and Tamika Catchings Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton sat in a suite and got the loudest ovation from the crowd when he was shown on the videoboard AP WNBA https apnews com hub wnba-basketball