INDIANAPOLIS -- The 2025 WNBA All-Star game is history.
It was a party atmosphere in Indianapolis and the game was a lot more relaxed on defense as expected for an exhibition game. Team Collier defeated Team Clark in an offensively-charged contest, 151-131.
Partly why the score was so high? They implemented a four-point shot among other rule changes that were applied in 2022 and 2023's all-star game editions. The hockey-like substitutions were added for this season.
Tweaks to the WNBA All-Star game Saturday in Indy:
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) July 16, 2025
- addition of four AT&T four-point circles (two at each end) from 28ft
- 20-second shot clock
- hockey-like live play subs
- No FTs until final 2mins of the 4th pic.twitter.com/LAyfkxBURf
Team Collier made 16 shots from the four-point circles compared to Team Clark's eight, which gave Collier's squad a +32 advantage. Not only did Collier set a record for most points in an all-star game but her all-star (and Lunar Owls) teammate Skylar Diggins set a record for most assists in an all-star game with 15. Diggins also recorded a triple-double (11-11-15) which was a first for a WNBA all-star game.
More importantly, all the players came out wearing shirts that said "Pay Us What You Owe Us" as they continue with their negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement that expires on October.
WNBA all stars wearing a "Pay us what you owe us" shirt in warmups pic.twitter.com/jIj2W6N6kw
— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) July 20, 2025
The crowd was clearly chanting "Pay them!" during the postgame ceremony.
It’s the crowd at the end of the WNBA All Star Game chanting “Pay Them” in regards to the players! pic.twitter.com/s0BaXEskyo
— Queer Latifah 🥂 (@TheAfrocentricI) July 20, 2025
Brittney Sykes from the Mystics photobombed with a sign while Collier was receiving the MVP award.
Brittney Sykes with the “Pay the players” sign loud and clear on national TV. Players are not going to back down. pic.twitter.com/lIXAo5ZOCz
— Roberta F. Rodrigues (@robertawbb) July 20, 2025
Sparks guard Kelsey Plum, who serves as First Vice-President of the Player's Association, knew it was a big moment for the players.
"That was a very powerful moment," Plum said, referring to the chants by the fans. "We didn't... at least as players, we didn't know that that was going to happen.
"We wanted to do something that was just united and collective," Plum continued. "I thought that was a very powerful moment and got the point across. And sometimes, you don't have to say anything."
The players really did look united. Not only did they show unity through those shirts but most of them partied together as witnessed on the Studbudz livestream, which was hosted by Lynx players Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman. It showed most of them as rivals on the court but friends off of it. It showed how together the players are and they're hoping that the fans' support and players standing as one can help them get the CBA done sooner than later.
As for the game that involved the Sparks and the Aces, Plum scored 16 points for Team Collier while the Aces didn't particpate as much. A'ja Wilson, nursing a sore wrist, only played 12 minutes and scored four points while Jackie Young only played the first minute as she has a hip ailment.
It's back to work for the players as the season resumes on Tuesday. The Sparks go to Washington for an immediate rematch with the Mystics while the Aces play the Atlanta Dream at home.