Amid various shifts in North American professional sports, All-Star games have experienced mixed reception this year. While MLB’s recent home run swing-off was a clear hit and the <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/hockey/nhl/”>NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off received praise in February, other leagues have faced challenges. The <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/football/nfl/”>NFL discontinued its Pro Bowl due to diminishing relevance, and the <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/basketball/nba/”>NBA’s All-Star Game continues to be criticized for low effort and engagement.

WNBA All-Star Game Struggles Amid Challenges

The WNBA held its All-Star Game roughly two weeks ago, but the event yielded disappointing television ratings. Contributing factors included standout player Caitlin Clark sitting out due to injury. The league nevertheless attracted attention for players wearing

“Pay Us What You Owe Us”

warmup shirts during the game, supporting upcoming collective bargaining negotiations, and for the innovative StudBudz Livestream experience.

On the court, the game mirrored frustrations commonly seen in NBA All-Star contests, with minimal defensive play resulting in a record-high 151-131 final score.

Candace Parker’s Criticism of Player Performance

WNBA star Candace Parker expressed strong disapproval of the players’ effort during the game on her Post Moves podcast with Aliyah Boston:

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.

—Candace Parker, WNBA Player and Analyst

Kelsey Plum Proposes a Million-Dollar Incentive to Boost Competition

In a conversation on the All the Smoke podcast, Kelsey Plum addressed the lack of intensity seen in All-Star games and suggested a high-stakes financial reward as a solution. She proposed a million-dollar prize pool to incentivize players to bring higher competition levels, particularly if sponsored by Netflix.

Podcast host Matt Barnes agreed, highlighting Netflix’s financial strength:

Y’all got a ton of money, right? I ain’t counting nobody’s pockets but Netflix is not doing bad these days.

—Matt Barnes, Podcast Host and Former NBA Player

Encouraged by this, Plum increased her suggestion to a $5 million prize, to be divided among the 12 players on the winning team, promising it would elevate the game’s competitiveness to full-court intensity.

I know, I went small with a million-dollar pot. Maybe we should do a $5 million pot, split it 12 ways for the winning roster, and I guarantee people are picking up full-court.

—Kelsey Plum, WNBA Player

The Appeal of Larger Rewards for WNBA Players

WNBA athletes earn considerably less than their NBA counterparts, so a substantial single-night payout would dramatically raise the stakes and motivation for players. Plum’s proposal highlights how financial incentives could directly impact the energy and seriousness of the All-Star Game. Meanwhile, Barnes emphasized Netflix’s capacity to support such an innovation, given the company’s expanding role in sports media.

Netflix’s Growing Investment in Sports Content

Netflix has increasingly prioritized live sports and sports-related programming recently. It is entering its second year of a three-season agreement to broadcast NFL content and has acquired the rights to the upcoming two FIFA Women’s World Cups. The platform also began airing WWE’s Monday Night Raw starting in January, while producing hit sports documentaries like the Untold series, Formula 1: Drive to Survive, Full Swing, Quarterback, and Starting 5.

Kelsey Plum’s Ties to Netflix Offer Potential for Collaboration

Plum’s recent cameo in Netflix’s new film Happy Gilmore 2, combined with Netflix’s growing sports focus, suggests her proposal could gain traction with decision-makers at the streaming giant. With Netflix’s financial resources and influence, Plum’s idea to inject major prize money into the All-Star Game could represent a meaningful opportunity to revitalize a flagging event and enhance the players’ engagement.