Candace Parker Calls Out WNBA All-Stars for “Wasting Big Moment”

Candace Parker did not sugarcoat her feelings about this year’s WNBA All-Star Game, saying the players missed a golden opportunity to prove their worth on one of the league’s biggest stages.

“Y’all cannot come out there, with those shirts of “Pay us what you owe us” and then do that at the All-Star game,” Parker said.

Candace Parker Strait cooked for almost 3 minutes pic.twitter.com/cGUnTWd5Xu

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Players wore shirts calling for higher pay, but Parker felt the product on the floor did not match the message.

WNBA all stars wearing a “Pay us what you owe us” shirt in warmups pic.twitter.com/jIj2W6N6kw

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Instead of showing fans and critics alike why they deserved a bigger paycheck, the game turned into a lopsided blowout with very little defense and a record number of long-range attempts.

“It wasn’t the fact that you’re doing something to prove why you have to be paid,” Parker said. “I think it was just an opportunity, to me, on one of the biggest stages, with those shirts being worn, everyone always talks about how the NBA does not play in All-Star games…I think the narrative on Monday would’ve been “How come the guys don’t play in the All-Star Game? How come these ladies go out there and hoop, and they understand responsibility?” I just think that it would have maximized the moment of wearing the shirt along with giving the product.”

New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu offered a different perspective, pointing to the brutal schedule players face around the event.

“I think it probably would have been more competitive if teams didn’t play in such a short amount of days,” Ionescu said. “And I think that’s something as we’re talking obviously, into our CBA and understanding that All-Stars don’t really have a break. We finish, we get on a flight the next day, we’re here, jampacked weekend, wanting to pour into the fans, show up to events, do 3-point contests, skills contests and then play in a game and fly right back to practice and play in three days.”