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It’s one of the biggest stages the WNBA has ever had. But as the clock ticked toward tip-off, uncertainty hung over Indianapolis: Would she play?
As it has been with most of the league’s big moments since early 2024, the spotlight is once again is squarely on the Indiana Fever‘s star guard Caitlin Clark.
After a late-fourth-quarter injury during the Fever’s July 15 match-up against the Connecticut Sun, fans held their breath to see whether the superstar would appear in the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game—set to play out on her team’s home court.
Local tourism leaders were leaning into the chance to attract movers and shakers to the city, and the WNBA was looking forward to showcasing talent from across the league in front of what could be one of its biggest All-Star audiences ever.
Clark’s participation in the weekend’s events, expected to draw thousands of basketball fans to the Circle City, was looked at by some to be a determining factor in how the weekend would be remembered: either as a breakout moment for the league, or a missed opportunity.
Now, with Caitlin Clark sidelined, what does the All-Star Game mean to Indianapolis?
IBJ’s Beyond Clarkonomics podcast unpacks how the Fever have soared since Caitlin Clark’s arrival, and how that transformation is shaping downtown revitalization, civic planning and the city’s long-term sports strategy.
Episode 4 includes interviews with Colie Edison, the WNBA’s chief growth officer; sports marketing veteran Ken Ungar; USA Today sports columnist Christine Brennan; Chris Gahl, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Visit Indy; Sarah Myer, chief of strategy at Indiana Sports Corp.; and Mel Raines, president and CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment.
Listen at ibj.com/beyond-clarkonomics or on your favorite podcast app.
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