The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game sparked major controversy, not for who played, but for what players wore.
During warmups, All-Stars took the court in bold shirts reading “Pay Us What You Owe Us,” a pointed message aimed at league leadership demanding better salaries and revenue sharing.
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But while the shirts made headlines, not everyone in the basketball world felt the players followed through on their message.
WNBA legend Candace Parker, widely regarded as one of the greatest women’s basketball players of all time, expressed disappointment in how the moment was handled. Speaking with Indiana Fever star Aliyah Boston on their new podcast Post Moves, Parker didn’t hold back.
“Y’all cannot come out there with those shirts of ‘Pay Us What You Owe Us’ and then do that in the All-Star game,” Parker said.
MORE:‘Pay Us’ shirts spark fiery message from WNBA All-Stars to league executives
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Boston was quick to defend the players’ approach.
“No, no, no. Here’s the thing—we come out every single night and we show why we deserve the money we deserve,” said Boston.
“An All-Star game—when we have another game in two days—I think that is okay to just go out there and hoop and have some fun because on Tuesday we were back at it and we were playing and were showing once again why we deserve to get paid.”
But Parker doubled down, stressing that the moment was a missed opportunity, especially given who wasn’t playing.
“I think of one of the biggest stages, with people tuned in and in an All-Star setting that was invested in more than any other All-Star game previously—without Caitlin Clark. Right? She was not playing,” Parker said.
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Parker contrasted the WNBA All-Star experience with the NBA’s, pointing out that the attention the league is getting right now is rare and valuable.
“It was an added opportunity. It’s not going to subtract anything, but I think the narrative on Monday would have been: ‘Well, how come the guys don’t play in the All-Star game?’ How come these ladies come out there and they hoop and they understand their responsibility?”
In Parker’s view, the message on the shirts would have resonated far more powerfully if it had been matched with a top-tier performance.
“Wearing the shirt along with giving the product,” she said, implying that fans and viewers didn’t get what they came for.
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Parker even admitted she tried watching the All-Star Game herself, but couldn’t get through it because of the level of play.
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