Candace Parker didn’t sugarcoat her emotions about this yr’s WNBA All-Star Recreation, saying the gamers missed a golden alternative to show their value on one of many league’s largest phases.
“Y’all can’t come on the market, with these shirts of “Pay us what you owe us” after which do this on the All-Star recreation,” Parker mentioned.
Candace Parker Strait cooked for nearly 3 minutes pic.twitter.com/cGUnTWd5Xu
— Krysta (@Krysta____) July 30, 2025
Gamers wore shirts calling for greater pay, however Parker felt the product on the ground didn’t match the message.
WNBA all stars carrying a “Pay us what you owe us” shirt in warmups pic.twitter.com/jIj2W6N6kw
— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) July 20, 2025
As an alternative of exhibiting followers and critics alike why they deserved an even bigger paycheck, the sport was a lopsided blowout with little or no protection and a report variety of long-range makes an attempt.
“It wasn’t the truth that you’re doing one thing to show why you must be paid,” Parker mentioned. “I feel it was simply a chance, to me, on one of many largest phases, with these shirts being worn, everybody at all times talks about how the NBA doesn’t play in All-Star video games…I feel the narrative on Monday would’ve been “How come the fellows don’t play within the All-Star Recreation? How come these girls go on the market and hoop, they usually perceive duty?” I simply assume that it will have maximized the second of carrying the shirt together with giving the product.”
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu supplied a unique perspective, pointing to the brutal schedule gamers face across the occasion.
“I feel it in all probability would have been extra aggressive if groups didn’t play in such a brief quantity of days,” Ionescu mentioned. “And I feel that’s one thing as we’re speaking clearly, into our CBA and understanding that All-Stars don’t actually have a break. We end, we get on a flight the following day, we’re right here, jampacked weekend, eager to pour into the followers, present as much as occasions, do 3-point contests, abilities contests after which play in a recreation and fly proper again to follow and play in three days.”
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