On Saturday night, Kelsey Plum was part of Team Collier’s 151-131 win over Team Clark in the WNBA All-Star Game, scoring 16 points, grabbing five rebounds and dishing out three assists.
Following the game, the Los Angeles Sparks star was asked about WNBA All-Stars wearing shirts before the game that read, “Pay Us What You Owe Us.”
Specifically, Plum was asked about how that idea came together.
“The T-shirt — just a united front,” she said. “That was determined this morning, that we had a meeting for. Not to tattletale, but zero members of Team Clark were very present for that.”
Plum said it with a chuckle. However, she was sitting next to New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu, who rolled her eyes and said, “Didn’t really need to be mentioned” before laughing.
It was awkward, especially because Caitlin Clark, as well as all of the members of Team Clark, wore the shirts. If Clark didn’t wear the shirt, you could understand some backlash. But she did.
It should also be noted that Team Collier featured the president of the WNBA Players Association, Nneka Ogwumike, as well as the first vice president, Plum, and two vice presidents, Napheesa Collier and Brenna Stewart. It makes sense if they took on greater leadership roles in a statement like this against the league.
Whether Plum likes it or not, the reason the WNBA has any sort of leverage heading into these negotiations with the league is Clark.
She would do well to remember that the next time she wants to take an unnecessary shot at Clark, who is responsible for the greatest surge in fan attention the WNBA has ever seen.
