The WNBA All-Star Game rolled into Indianapolis for the first time ever, and honestly, it felt like the perfect fit. Gainbridge Fieldhouse was buzzing, packed wall to wall with fans who showed up ready to be entertained — and they weren’t disappointed. Between the flashy 4-point shots, nonstop scoring, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting, Team Collier dropped a casual 151 points and turned the night into a track meet.

But while the highlight plays lit up social media, something deeper was happening beneath the surface. The shirts worn during warmups said it all: “Pay Us What You Owe Us.” This wasn’t just an All-Star Game — it was a stage. A sold-out, nationally televised stage where the players took the opportunity to speak up.

Collier’s Crew Goes Crazy

Napheesa Collier showed up to Indianapolis wearing the captain’s patch and left with a brand-new All-Star Game record and a shiny new nickname — MVPhee. Her 36-point performance broke the record for most points scored in a WNBA All-Star Game.

What made it even better was how casually dominant she was. No forced shots, no chasing stats — just smart, efficient basketball from one of the league’s most well-rounded stars. She played like someone who wanted to win but also knew how to put on a show, and that balance is hard to pull off.

Then there was Skylar Diggins-Smith, who made her own history with the first triple-double in WNBA All-Star Game history: 11 points, 11 boards, and 15 dimes. And while that stat line looks clean on paper, it felt even more impactful in real time. Her passing was sharp, her leadership was clear, and it genuinely looked like she was having fun out there.

Allisha Gray chipped in 18, and both Kelsey Plum and Nneka Ogwumike added 16 apiece. Ogwumike also passed Maya Moore for the most made field goals in All-Star history, which might’ve flown under the radar if you weren’t paying close attention — but it’s a pretty incredible accomplishment considering the names she now sits ahead of.

By the time the final buzzer sounded, Team Collier had put up 151 points — the most ever in a WNBA All-Star Game — and did it with style, balance, and a whole lot of swagger.

Rule Tweaks Became Cheat Codes

The WNBA brought back a handful of All-Star specific rule changes this year, and honestly, they made the game way more fun. We got live substitutions like in hockey, a shortened 20-second shot clock to keep the pace fast, and, most notably, the return of the AT&T 4-point shot.

Those 4-point circles were set 28 feet from the hoop, and once Paige Bueckers knocked down the first one early in the game, it was open season from deep. Team Collier, in particular, caught fire from long range, going 10-for-23 on those shots. Team Clark? Not so much — just 4-for-24. That right there swung the game before halftime.

It felt like watching a mix of NBA Jam and your Saturday morning pickup run at the local gym — only these were the best players in the world doing it. Coaches were mostly there to clap and sub players in and out; the game moved so fast that even the officials looked like they were just trying to keep up. It kept the crowd involved and gave players the freedom to show off, which is exactly what an All-Star Game should be.

What Team Clark Got Right (and Wrong)

Kelsey Mitchell didn’t waste her moment on the home court. The Indiana Fever guard gave the Indianapolis crowd a reason to stay loud, putting up 20 points with her usual quick-twitch burst to the rim and smooth jumper. It was a cool moment for a local star who’s been grinding in this league for years, and she showed exactly why she belonged on that All-Star stage.

Brittney Sykes and Gabby Williams both added 16 points, doing their part to keep Team Clark afloat during stretches where the offense got bogged down. But let’s be honest — the biggest absence was the one everyone in the building noticed: Caitlin Clark wasn’t suited up. The league's biggest star was out with a groin injury, so instead of letting it fly from 30 feet, she was coaching from the sidelines next to Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello. She got into it, calling out plays, cracking jokes, and even barking at a ref or two. It was fun to see her in that role — but it also meant Team Clark was missing a major weapon.

Clark told the media afterward that the game is meant to be fun and not taken too seriously, and she’s right. That’s what the All-Star Game is supposed to be. Still, there’s no denying her absence changed the dynamic.

Late in the game, you could see Team Clark trying to claw their way back, but they just couldn’t buy a bucket from deep. They missed nine of their last ten 4-point attempts while Collier’s squad cruised to the finish line. It was a fun effort, but without Clark on the floor, it always felt like they were a piece short.

The Loudest Shot Wasn’t From 28 Feet

When both teams took the floor for warmups, it wasn’t just their sneakers squeaking that caught everyone’s attention — it was the matching black shirts with a loud, all-caps message: PAY US WHAT YOU OWE US. No sponsor logos, no distractions, just a bold statement worn by every single player. It was one of the most unified player-led moments we’ve seen in the WNBA, and it hit hard because it came at the perfect time.

This wasn’t just a fashion statement — it was a reflection of years of frustration boiling over into a league-wide demand for change. The timing made it even more impactful. With fans tuned in nationally and a packed Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the players knew they had the platform, and they made sure their message was front and center.

But change takes more than just one bold moment. Before the game, nearly 40 players met with league officials for an in-person CBA discussion. According to Breanna Stewart, it didn’t go well. She called it a “wasted opportunity.” Not exactly encouraging.

The CBA is set to expire on October 31, and things are starting to heat up. There’s talk of walkouts and a growing sense that players aren’t willing to settle for crumbs anymore.

Where the Money Actually Lives

Right now, WNBA players are working under a revenue-sharing model that gives them about 9.3% of league revenue. That’s staggeringly low compared to their NBA counterparts, who are sitting at roughly 50%. And look, when the WNBA was consistently operating at a loss — losing close to $40 million a year as recently as last season — it’s understandable, even if disappointing, that ownership couldn’t justify major salary jumps.

But the equation is changing.

With the new TV rights deal kicking in for 2026 — reportedly worth over $2.2 billion over 11 years, or about $200 million annually — the league is about to experience a financial boost like never before. That doesn’t even include the $500 million brought in through expansion fees from Golden State and Toronto. Combine those with a growing fan base and more eyeballs on the product than ever, and suddenly, the WNBA isn’t a “developmental” or “emerging” league anymore — it’s a product with leverage.

Reports have projected that once the TV money starts rolling in, the WNBA will become "comfortably profitable." Some estimates even project profits north of $100 million per year starting in 2026. That changes the conversation. Because if you're pulling nine figures in profits and still only allocating less than 10% of revenue to the athletes driving the product, it's a bad look — and the players know it.

Now, does that mean the league will jump from 9% to 50% overnight? Probably not. That kind of leap is unrealistic in any CBA negotiation. But what does seem reasonable — and fair — is a significant jump in revenue share. Even if the league agreed to bump the players’ share to 45% of revenue, they’d still be operating in the black thanks to those new TV deals.

The Ball’s In Our Court

Saturday night made one thing really clear: the WNBA is a great product, and the players are more than ready to be paid like it. Collier’s 36-point performance and Diggins’ triple-double were just part of the story — the lasting image might be the whole roster standing together in shirts asking for what they’re owed.

There’s no question these players deserve better pay. But up until now, the league hasn’t had the kind of profit to support major salary jumps — and most of these women don’t have high-paying overseas gigs to fall back on.

That’s where we come in. Because it’s not just about what the league is willing to do — it’s about what kind of support we’re willing to give. When fans consistently show up, watch the games, and engage with the league, that revenue grows. And when the revenue grows, so does the money available for the players. We can’t keep saying we want the WNBA to thrive without actually helping it do so. So next time there’s a game on, stream it. Buy the ticket. Grab the merch. That stuff adds up — and it’s how we help turn well-deserved raises from a debate into a reality.