Collier crushes Clark | New York cleans up | Unrivaled signs JuJu

Shooters gonna shoot.

Team Collier comes up big

Vibes were high and defense was optional at Saturday’s WNBA All-Star Game, as Team Collier routed Team Clark 151-131 behind record-breaking scoring.

• Captain Napheesa Collier’s 36 points set a new single-game WNBA All-Star record, while her team’s 151-point total marked an all-time All-Star Game high.

How it happened: Players made use of the game’s special four-point shots, with Collier hitting four of five attempts while her team went 12 for 28 from far beyond the arc.

• “I’m just all four-point shots, four-point shots. More, more, more,” honorary coach — and injured All-Star captain — Caitlin Clark said at halftime.

Bigger than basketball: While the game itself proved more congenial than competitive, the players didn’t mess around about the current CBA negotiations between the WNBPA and the WNBA.

• All participating All-Stars took the court wearing t-shirts showcasing the slogan “Pay Us What You Owe Us,” visually responding to the weekend’s two union meetings.

• “The players are taking this seriously,” Collier said of the collective action. “We’re standing really firm in certain areas that we feel really strong that we need to improve on.”

Bottom line: All-Star Weekend might be all fun and games, but players will keep putting behind-the-scenes issues at the forefront until a new CBA is reached.

New York cashes in

Liberty fans got their fill this All-Star Weekend, as teammates Sabrina Ionescu and Natasha Cloud executed a New York sweep of Friday’s 3-Point and Skills Contests.

• Cloud took home the Skills Challenge trophy with a winning time of 36.4 seconds — just 1.1 seconds faster than second-place finisher Erica Wheeler of the Seattle Storm.

• Ionescu nabbed her second-career 3-Point Contest title with a score of 30, tying retired Sky guard Allie Quigley for the second-best single-round record in the event’s history.

• “It’s fun — I was so excited for [Cloud],” Ionescu said after the win. “We were talking about it before we even came out here, about being able to participate in it together and cheer each other on.”

Money moves: The hefty prize pool raised the stakes for both players, with a heightened $55,000 going to the Skills Challenge winner while the 3-Point Contest champ picked up $60,000.

• Cloud credited her motivation to securing a property down payment with Liberty teammate and partner Isabelle Harrison, saying “You’re gonna get that house.”

• After making a promise before the event, Ionescu pledged half her earnings to rookie competitor Sonia Citron, with the other half going to charity.

Euros sets the semis

The UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 semis are set, with Italy, England, Spain, and Germany advancing past a fierce quarterfinal round to secure a spot in the final four.

• Spain’s 2-0 victory over Switzerland proved to be the only quarterfinal decided by more than one goal, while Italy’s 90-minute 2-1 thriller against Norway narrowly avoided extra time.

• Both England vs. Sweden and Germany vs. France needed penalty shootouts to determine a winner, with the prevailing nations mounting steep comebacks to punch their semifinal tickets.

• “I really had a sense throughout the game, even when we were down, that it wasn’t our time to go,” England defender Esme Moran said of her team’s poise after falling behind 2-0 early in the match.

PK madness: Penalty kicks have remained a hot topic throughout this year’s tournament, with players converting just 24 of 41 attempts — a well below-average 58.5%.

• England and Sweden combined for nine missed penalties on Thursday, marking the worst conversion rate in Women’s Euro history.

• Germany also made dubious history over the weekend, becoming the first Women’s Euro team on record to register a comeback win after seeing a player sent off, following defender Kathrin Hendrich’s 13th-minute straight red card offense.

Up next: The semifinals kick off tomorrow at 3 PM ET, as England takes on Italy before Germany faces Spain live on Fox Sports.

Unrivaled picks up NCAA stars

Upstart 3×3 league Unrivaled Basketball stole some of the WNBA’s thunder this All-Star Weekend, with the offseason venture signing 13 of the biggest stars in women’s college basketball to NIL deals.

• USC guard JuJu Watkins headlines the group, joined by Azzi Fudd (UConn), Sarah Strong (UConn), Lauren Betts (UCLA), Sienna Betts (UCLA), Kiki Rice (UCLA), Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), MiLaysia Fulwiley (LSU), Ta’Niya Latson (South Carolina), Syla Swords (Michigan), Audi Crooks (Iowa State), Madison Booker (Texas), and Olivia Miles (TCU).

• LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson renewed her NIL partnership with the league, after becoming Unrivaled’s second-ever college signing after former UConn guard Paige Bueckers.

Big picture: While Watkins and Johnson both secured equity in the league, the other NCAA additions weren’t afforded that benefit — nor will they be guaranteed a roster spot once they turn pro.

• Unrivaled is planning to keep their core roster number at 36 next year, though injury replacement players will again be on the table and a two-team expansion is targeted for 2027.

WTA stars come and go

Tennis icon Venus Williams is back in action, returning to the hard court to feature in both the singles and doubles competition at this week’s DC Open.

• Tomorrow’s face-off with fellow US player Peyton Stearns will be the seven-time Grand Slam champion’s first official singles match since exiting the 2024 Miami Open in the first round some 16 months ago.

• “Why not?” Williams said of her DC Open wild card berth. “I love the game. And the hard courts, it’s my favorite surface, what I feel comfortable on.”

On the outs: As one top talent hops back into the spotlight another steps out of it, as two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur announced she’s taking an indefinite leave from professional tennis.

• “Tennis is such a beautiful sport,” said the former world No. 2. “But right now, I feel it's time to take a step back and finally put myself first: to breathe, to heal, and to rediscover the joy of simply living.”

What you had to say

Last Friday, 71.49% of you predicted that Team Collier would win the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game. Nailed it.

• 71.49%: Team Collier

• 28.51%: Team Clark