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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndianapolis played host to the WNBA All-Star Game this past weekend, and organizations around the city joined in the fun, resulting in a dayslong party that coincided with the Indiana Black Expo’s annual Summer Celebration.
After nearly a year of preparation, Indianapolis is hosting the WNBA All-Star Game, Skills Challenge and 3-Point Contest this weekend. But that’s not all: Organizations around the city are getting in on the fun, resulting in a dayslong party that will coincide with another major event: the Indiana Black Expo’s annual Summer Celebration.
Local groups host executives, event planners in All-Star Game suites
9:45 p.m., July 19
Local organizations focused on promoting business and bringing events in the city of Indianapolis are hosting dozens of meeting planners, corporate executives, media and sports industry officials at the WNBA All-Star Game.
Indy Chamber, Indiana Sports Corp. and Visit Indy collaborated to welcome the guests into each of their suites at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Chris Gahl, executive vice president of Visit Indy, said while the event marks one of the first times such a concerted effort has occurred during an event, there’s often discussion between the groups in the run-up to major sporting events to fine-tune the city’s marketing game plan.
Because there’s “so much camaraderie and synergy and strategy behind” each of the groups, he said, it made sense to encourage leaders to consider “floating between their itineraries and greeting each other’s guests.”
Visit Indy’s suite includes about 18 guests, including a mix of existing and prospective events, as well as a few journalists from companies like USA Today and Fast Company.
“It’s all about making sure that each and every one of these visitors to the city feel the love and see the validity in setting up shop here or holding an event for major sporting, sporting event here,” he said.
—Mickey Shuey
Fever Fest draws 3,000 attendees for music, comedy
8:10 p.m., July 19
The first Fever Fest, a concert that combined performances by musicians and comedians in a single setting, attracted about 3,000 attendees at the 6,000-capacity Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park.
On the comedic side, Aida Rodriguez and Fever Fest host Deon Cole both mentioned this week’s scandal featuring Astronomer CEO Andy Byron at a Coldplay concert.
“We’re going to have a ‘kiss cam’ in here tonight,” Cole said. “If you’re not with your partner, you should leave right now.”
Rodriguez simply asked, “Did anybody bring their mistress to the concert tonight?”
At the show’s outset, Indiana Fever guard Sydney Colson made her stand-up comedy debut with a five-minute set focused on the pros and cons of having a stalker.
Former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Leslie Jones joked about the concept of soul mates being as realistic as Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy.
Cedric the Entertainer closed out the comedy portion of the show by complimenting Indianapolis when the city hosts major events such as the WNBA All-Star Game, NBA All-Star Game andSuper Bowl.
The St. Louis native took a good-natured swipe when describing Indianapolis at other times, saying our downtown resembles the desolation seen in Will Smith film “I Am Legend.”
—Dave Lindquist
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Rapper 803Fresh kicks off Fever Fest
803Fresh got church fans clacking during a rendition of summer hit “Boots on the Ground” to open the Fever Fest concert at Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park.
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No AMP needed: BRAVE Drumline rocks the house at 16 Tech
7:02 p.m., July 19
Energy and enthusiasm amped up quickly Saturday afternoon at the AMP at 16 Tech thanks to a rousing performance by the BRAVE Drumline at the GANGGANG All-Star Pregame + Watch Party.
About a dozen middle- and high-school-age youths put on a rousing percussion performance ahead of the WNBA All-Star Game and soon were off to perform at the Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration.
An Indianapolis-based nonprofit group, BRAVE stands for Bypass Restrictions and Victoriously Excel. The organization offers young people opportunities to learn various performance arts including drum corps, music lessons, digital media, dance and videography.
Founder Briah A. Golder said the idea is to provide opportunities and elevate young people. Approximately 85 young people attended BRAVE’s recent summer arts camp, which offered opportunities to learn keyboard and piano skills.
“That is our standard that we try to cultivate so that they are able to uplift themselves and have an outlet for creativity and just to be themselves and create,” she said.
The BRAVE Drumline practices about four hours a week over two meetings.
“It catches everybody’s attention,” Golder, who also plays drums, said of the performance. “I’ve always loved marching bands. Eventually I want them to be able to take the skills they learned at BRAVE and apply for scholarships and go on to college.”
– Daniel Lee
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Outdoor WNBA activities restart after rain, wind
5:15 p.m., July 19
It didn’t take long for fans to return to Monument Circle and start shooting hoops again.
Get more details about the weather delay here.
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WNBA Live offers hoops, autographs and a Legends Game
The game, organized by Indianapolis summer basketball program The City League, consisted of former Miss Indiana Basketball honorees and other top-tier athletes that played high school ball within the state. Among the most recognizable names was Maya Makalusky, a rising freshman forward for Indiana University who won the 2025 Miss Basketball award.
All around the center court are activations by brands that sponsor the WNBA. Read more about WNBA Live and the Legends Game here.
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Local hip-hop festival offers kids activities
3:30 p.m., July 19
Before the rain temporarily washed out activities, Chreece, a hip-hop festival founded in 2015 by rapper and songwriter Oreo Jones, hosted a pop-up event on Monument Circle where passers-by could receive sneaker customizations, face gems and airbrush tattoos.
Marketing Director Vanessa Soto said the pop-up served as a way to introduce people to Chreece, which will host its annual festival on Aug. 23 at seven locations in Fountain Square.
“We just want to bring people out to the festival and give people a little bit of a little bit of a taste of what the community in Indianapolis offers,” Soto said. “I think it’s really important that people understand that there’s so much more that’s going on in the city.”
– Daniel Bradley
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Nike pop-up, youth clinic caters to local youth
2:05 p.m., July. 19
Jessica Williams sat in the bright orange stands at Nike’s flashy pop-up at the corner of Pennsylvania and Maryland streets, watching her daughter KataLeya work on her skills. The brand partnered with Providence Cristo Rey High School and Complete Sports Management to put on a free two-day youth clinic.
KataLeya, who attends Global Preparatory Academy at Riverside, shot hoops with about two dozen other middle school girls. Each athlete was outfitted with exclusive free jerseys celebrating the event and complimentary basketball shoes—also orange—from Nike.
The two-day camp is coached by women from Butler University’s basketball program, Jessica Williams told IBJ. She became aware of it through Global Prep and jumped at the opportunity for her daughter.
The court across from Gainbridge Fieldhouse also hosted Nike’s inaugural NX3, a first-of-its-kind 3×3 youth basketball tournament, on Friday. The brand also sells merchandise and does custom spray-painted shirts on site.
– Taylor Wooten
Rain, wind possible Saturday afternoon
1:20 p.m., July 19
Volunteers at WNBA All-Star entertainment sites started handing out free ponchos on Saturday as the chance of rain increased.
Jason Puma with the National Weather Service told IBJ that meteorologists are tracking a line of showers and storms in western Indiana that are expected to move through the Indianapolis area between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Click here for more information about the weather.
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1 p.m., July 19
About 2,500 kids, families dribble through downtown
Ansley Hall was determined to make it through the finish line at the end of the half-mile All-Star Bounce, which began at American Legion Mall and ended on Monument Circle. Momentum moved the ball ahead of her, but she kept control with ease.
Moments later, her brother, Lance, appeared to be having less fun. He trudged across the line, ball in hand, as his parents cheered him on.
The Halls were one of many families who got up early Saturday morning to be part of the giant dribbling extravaganza. Parents Alexanda and LaMarcus said the family lives on Indy’s northwest side and came out to soak up the activities during WNBA All-Star Weekend.
Steven Edwards, the creator of an epilepsy support group called “Epilepsy Enlightenment,” said his interest in sports came from never being able to participate in them growing up due to his seizures. He said he’s trying to give his sons, Steven, 11, and CJ, 10, the opportunities he never had.
The Edwards family drove down from their Noblesville home to take part in the All-Star Bounce. Later, the elder Steven hopes they can secure tickets to the game itself.
Ansley Hall, whose family lives on the northwest side of Indianapolis, participated in the All-Star Bounce on Saturday downtown. (IBJ photo/Taylor Wooten)
About 2,500 participated in the All-Star Bounce on Saturday downtown. (IBJ photo/Taylor Wooten)
About 2,500 participated in the All-Star Bounce on Saturday downtown. (IBJ photo/Taylor Wooten)
About 2,500 participated in the All-Star Bounce on Saturday downtown. (IBJ photo/Taylor Wooten)
About 2,500 participated in the All-Star Bounce on Saturday downtown. (IBJ photo/Taylor Wooten)
Indianapolis Colts mascot Blue and other mascots joined the All-Star Bounce on Saturday downtown. (IBJ photo/Taylor Wooten)
About 2,500 participated in the All-Star Bounce on Saturday downtown. (IBJ photo/Taylor Wooten)
– Taylor Wooten
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Bicentennial Plaza home to hoops, selfies and more
9:05 p.m., July 18
Though the WNBA’s 3-point contest and skills challenge didn’t begin until Friday evening at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, plenty of ticket-holders showed up hours early for a host of basketball-themed activities at adjacent Morris Bicentennial Plaza.
Hundreds of couples, families and friend groups were at the plaza to shoot some hoops at the outdoor basketball court, buy some Fever merch, take pictures at selfie stations and listen to music from a live DJ.
Among the fans was Michelle Dusky of Troy, Illinois, which is about 3.5 hours from Indianapolis and is part of the St. Louis metro area.
Dusky said she and her party had tickets for both Friday’s event and the All-Star game on Saturday. She said they’re Fever fans and are on a wait list to get season tickets for next season.
Because Dusky lives relatively close, she said she’s been here numerous times and has always had a good experience, citing the Indianapolis Zoo and the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis as favorite attractions. “We’ve loved every time we come here.”
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—Susan Orr
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Inoescu wins 3-point contest; Hull knocked out in first round
9:03 p.m., July 18
Fever sharp shooter Lexie Hull failed to qualify for the final round of the WNBA 3-Point contest after taking injured Caitlin Clark’s position in the competition.
In the Skills Competition, former Indiana high school basketball star Skylar Diggins participated in the WNBA Skills Challenge at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday night but was ousted in the initial round. Former Indiana Fever player Erica Wheeler made the final but lost to New York Liberty’s Natasha Cloud, who just squeaked under Wheeler’s time.
Your 2025 Kia Skills Challenge participants are ready to go 🌟
Tune in to ESPN NOW! pic.twitter.com/kmlGowPotQ
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 19, 2025
See a full story and photos by clicking here.
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Georgia Street offers fans a place to hang out
Georgia Street between Meridian and Illinois streets is serving as an WNBA fan hang-out spot this weekend, with comfortable seating areas, a DJ, basketball-themed photo-op stations and vendors.
The area is free and open to the public—no ticket required.
In a vendor tent Friday afternoon, Dana Voll of Kicasso Sneaker Art Bar was demonstrating her sneaker painting skills.
Voll is a manager at the Broad Ripple-based business, which offers classes in sneaker painting.
Voll and her Kicasso colleagues said traffic at their booth had fluctuated Friday afternoon, and the crowd seemed to have more out-of-town guests than locals.
“We’ve had lots of people take pictures of our shoes,” Voll said.
Kicasso will be back on Georgia Street from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
— Susan Orr
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Angel Reese meets fans, signs autograph while promoting Reebok shoe collab
5:30 p.m. July 18
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese posted an address, a time, and “BE THERE,” along with a tag for shoe brand Reebok on X, just an hour and a half before appearing outside the InterContinental Hotel at the intersection of Market and Illinois streets.
At 4 p.m. Friday, her team handed out t-shirts to fans standing near three large mobile billboards for the Angel Reese 1, a shoe from Reebok that the brand says is coming soon.
Reese herself emerged to chants of “Angel, Angel” and moved down a line of excited fans behind a barricade, signing shirts, basketballs and trading cards and taking selfies.
— Taylor Wooten
Indiana musicians provide soundtrack for WNBA All-Star Weekend
4 p.m. July 18
Dozens of female musicians are performing today and Saturday in public spaces downtown
The free performances, organized by Musical Family Tree and Big Car Collective, are scheduled on Monument Circle, outside the Conrad Indianapolis, 50 W. Washington St., and outside a Starbucks, 30 S. Meridian St.
The IBJ caught afternoon sets by Brittany Brumfield of ska band the Operators and singer-songwriter Jamie Nichole.
— Dave Lindquist
Jamie Nichole performs outside a South Meridian Street Starbucks as part of free @WNBA All-Star music planned today and Saturday by Musical Family Tree. #AllStarAccess @IBJnews pic.twitter.com/e9gmxbNhdn
— Dave Lindquist (@317lindquist) July 18, 2025
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Quartet of creative ‘W’ sculptures installed downtown
3:20 p.m. July 18
The WNBA All-Star 2025 Host Committee and Indy Arts Council didn’t neglect selfie opportunities this weekend.
Four “W” sculptures are available as photo backdrops, including one painted by Kwazar Martin on Meridian Street south of Monument Circle. Martin, known for his murals of Caitlin Clark and Tyrese Haliburton in the Riverside neighborhood, chose graffiti-influenced imagery for his sculpture, which was fabricated by Indianapolis-based Expo Arts.
— Dave Lindquist
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Gainbridge Fieldhouse going green for All-Star Weekend
3 p.m. July 18
While the WNBA’s brightest stars will shine on the court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse this weekend in the WNBA All-Star Game, a team of volunteers will have some renewable energy of their own on the concourse.
For the first time, Gainbridge is partnering with Protect Where We Play to bring reusable cups to the fieldhouse. Once the cups are used at Gainbridge, they will be washed and sent on to another venue.
“Being able to replace, over the course of a weekend, 25,000 single use plastic cups with reusable cups is engaging every fan in this fieldhouse,” Maddie Plank, sustainability project coordinator for Pacers Sports and Entertainment, said in an interview with Inside INdiana Business. “That’s really incredible and hopefully having an influence not just on the organization, but on the city and on the sports industry.”
Read more from Inside INdiana Business’ Michelle Kaufman here.
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Caitlin Clark promotes Wilson basketball collab
2:45 p.m. July 18
Indiana Fever star guard Caitlin Clark may not be playing in this year’s WNBA All-Star game due to an injury, but that doesn’t mean she’s not popping up around downtown to take part in the festivities.
Clark was at a Wilson Sporting Goods pop-up promoting her line of basketballs on Friday afternoon on the eastern block of Georgia Street, near Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Over a 30-minute period, she helped staff bag and distribute the balls as they were purchased by fans. She also took selfies and chatted with fans as their orders were processed.
Wilson is one of several companies with Clark endorsement deals that has special pop-ups, or activations, throughout downtown this week. Nike and Gatorade are also part of the action with a presence at the WNBA Live event at the Indiana Convention Center.
— Mickey Shuey
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National Women’s Law Center, WNBA players union talk courage, equality
2:45 p.m. July 18
Leaders with the National Women’s Law Center and the Women’s National Basketball Player Association, or WNBPA, gathered in downtown Indianapolis on Friday to discuss how to continue to fight for equality in and outside of the sport.
In the midst of the All-Star break and as the union negotiates for better pay and improved working conditions, Friday’s panel centered on a common theme shared among the panelists: “courage is contagious.”
Each of the panelists emphasized the need to be courageous in a culture where they face constant obstacles against diversity, equality and inclusion. WNPBA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson sang praises for WNBA players who continue to give it their all, whether on the basketball court or in the fight against injustice.
“They come to it with their whole selves,” she said.
Read more from The Indiana Lawyer’s Maura Johnson here.
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WISE/R brings hundreds of sports execs together in Indy
1:30 p.m. July 18
More than 400 women within the North American sports industry are gathering at the Indianapolis Downtown Marriott on Friday for a day of panels, speeches and workshops.
The WISE/R symposium, an event from the nonprofit organization Women in Sports and Entertainment, is headlined by an on-stage conversation with Candace Parker, a longtime broadcaster and former WNBA star. The symposium also features a panel discussion featuring numerous executives of WNBA franchises, including Indiana Fever President of Basketball and Business Operations Kelly Krauskopf.
This year’s event is the second symposium to be held in conjunction with a WNBA All-Star event, following a similar event in Phoenix last year. Participants at this year’s event are from areas like Chicago, Dallas, Tampa and Toronto.
Sarah Myer is chief of staff for the Indiana Sports Corp., which helped organize the event as part of the host committee for All-Star Weekend. She said hosting this event helps propel the city’s goal of becoming a women’s sports capital by 2050.
“If we’re going to call ourselves the women’s sports capital, I think while it’s great for us to believe that, but we have to get other people to believe that too,” she said.
— Mickey Shuey
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Podcast: Does Indy’s All-Star moment shine without Clark?
1:11 p.m. July 18
Indiana Fever star Caitlin 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 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend would be remembered: either as a breakout moment, or a missed opportunity.
Now, with Clark sidelined, what does the weekend mean for the city of Indianapolis?
Listen to IBJ’s Beyond Clarkonomics podcast, which examines how Clark’s arrival has changed the game for the Fever and the city, at ibj.com/beyond-clarkonomics or on your favorite podcast app.
— Holly Hays
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Resale ticket prices steadily dropping for sold-out All-Star Game
1 p.m. July 18
With the Indiana Fever’s star guard Caitlin Clark sidelined by another muscle strain and just hours to go before the WNBA All-Star Weekend officially tips off, tickets for the previously sold-out game are becoming increasingly easy to come by.
As of Monday, verified resale tickets via Ticketmaster for upper-bowl seats at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the Saturday night showcase were sitting around $138. As of Friday morning, dozens of tickets in the same level were listed in the $90-range. On third-party resale sites like StubHub, upper-bowl tickets are going for as low as $85.
Read more about ticket prices for this weekend’s events, including ancillary events that are quickly selling out, here.
— Holly Hays
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Comedian Aida Rodriguez offers stand-up advice to Sydney Colson
11:30 a.m. July 18
Saturday’s Fever Fest concert at Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park will offer a mix of music and stand-up comedy.
The roster of comedians includes Aida Rodriguez, who made a 30-minute special for Netflix in 2019 and a 60-minute special for HBO Max in 2022.
Rodriguez, a California resident and a fan of the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, told IBJ she’s preparing material for her next special.
“I don’t know why, but it feels like I’m an athlete and I want another ring,” she said. “So I’m going for that Amazon special now, or one on Peacock or whatever’s next.”
At Fever Fest, Rodriguez will share a bill with host Deon Cole and fellow comedians Cedric the Entertainer and Leslie Jones.
A recent addition to the lineup is Indiana Fever guard Sydney Colson, who will make her stand-up debut.
Rodriguez said her advice for Colson is, “Be yourself.”
“When people start comedy, they forget about their individuality and being their most authentic self,” Rodriguez said. “New comics like to go out and do their greatest impression of their favorite comedian. That is always an epic fail. Just go as you, Sydney, and the jokes will come.”
The music lineup of Fever Fest includes The Kid Laroi, G-Eazy and Bia. The 5:30 p.m. event will begin with 803Fresh leading line-dancing on the venue’s grounds to accompany his summer hit single “Boots on the Ground.”
For more information, visit ticketmaster.com.
— Dave Lindquist
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Entertainment area on Monument Circle opens for fans
11:20 a.m., July 18
“Indy’s Home Court” is a designation the WNBA All-Star Host Committee has given to a large swatch of entertainment areas throughout downtown.
The south side of Monument Circle and part of Meridian Street have been filled with basketball goals of all sizes—from regulation goals for adults to blow-up options for little ones. A DJ is playing music, giant screens are offering information about the art on display and tents are offering swag. Here’s a look from Friday morning.
Indy's Home Court entertainment on Monument Circle on Friday. (IBJ photo/Lesley Weidenbener)
Indy's Home Court entertainment on Monument Circle on Friday. (IBJ photo/Lesley Weidenbener)
Indy's Home Court entertainment on Monument Circle on Friday. (IBJ photo/Lesley Weidenbener)
Indy's Home Court entertainment on Monument Circle on Friday. (IBJ photo/Lesley Weidenbener)
Indy's Home Court entertainment on Monument Circle on Friday. (IBJ photo/Lesley Weidenbener)
Indy's Home Court entertainment on Monument Circle on Friday. (IBJ photo/Lesley Weidenbener)
Indy's Home Court entertainment on Monument Circle on Friday. (IBJ photo/Lesley Weidenbener)
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Caitlin Clark and fellow Fever highlight ‘Good Morning America’ telecast
9:40 a.m. July 18
Although Caitlin Clark is sidelined by injury, she made her first WNBA All-Star Weekend public appearance early Friday morning as part of “Good Morning America,” which broadcast its 7-9 a.m. hours from Morris Bicentennial Plaza.
Clark told “GMA” host Robin Roberts the weekend’s festivities are the result of “so many people that put in so much time and effort.”
Roberts asked Clark, who exited Tuesday’s Indiana Fever win against the Connecticut Sun with a right groin injury, for a health update.
“I’m feeling good,” Clark said. “Obviously, a lot of this cheers me up. It’s good to see everybody out here having a really good time.”
Four Fever players—Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, Sydney Colson and Clark—chatted with Roberts during the telecast billed as an “All-Star Pep Rally.”
Boston and Mitchell were selected for Saturday’s All-Star Game, and Colson plans to perform stand-up comedy during Saturday’s Fever Fest concert at Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park.
— Dave Lindquist
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Fever guard Lexie Hull to participate in 3-Point Contest
8:20 a.m. July 18
Lexie Hull, a fourth-year guard with the Indiana Fever, will take Caitlin Clark’s place in Friday night’s 3-Point Contest, part of the opening evening of All-Star Weekend activities.
On Thursday, Clark announced she would not play during All-Star Weekend after suffering a right groin strain during this week’s matchup against the Connecticut Sun. In a written statement posted to the team’s social media pages, Clark said, “I have to rest my body.”
Hull currently holds the fourth-highest three-point percentage in the league, according to the Fever. Last year, she was 0.3% off the league’s three-point leader.
Other competitors in the 3-Point Contest are: the Washington Mystics’ Sonia Citron; the Atlanta Dream’s Allisha Gray; the New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu; and the LA Sparks’ Kelsey Plum (the only non-All-Star participant).
— Holly Hays
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A first look at WNBA Live fan experience
5:10 p.m. July 17
As the WNBA grows in popularity, so has brand interest and investment in WNBA Live, the league’s fan experience that coincides with WNBA All-Star Weekend.
WNBA Chief Growth Officer Colie Edison told IBJ that 25 brands created multi-million-dollar activations for this year’s event, which opens to the public at 10 a.m. on Friday. Planning for those activations begins over a year out.
Edison said the fan festival has grown exponentially year over year.
“I think it just shows how important the WNBA really is,” Edison said. “Brands are seeing a return on investment through their partnership with the W, and so they want to go bigger and better every year.”
Set up for WNBA Live at the Indiana Convention Center was still happening on Thursday. (IBJ photo/Taylor Wooten)
Brand activations are a big part of WNBA Live at the Indiana Convention Center. (IBJ photo/Taylor Wooten)
Set up for WNBA Live at the Indiana Convention Center was still happening on Thursday. (IBJ photo/Taylor Wooten)
A Mielle salon is one of the WNBA Live activations at the Indiana Convention Center. (IBJ photo/Taylor Wooten)
Set up for WNBA Live at the Indiana Convention Center was still happening on Thursday. (IBJ photo/Taylor Wooten)
Eye-catching booths include a salon setup for organic haircare brand Mielle and a shoeshine station from DoorDash. Panini, the Italian trading card company and a title sponsor of the WNBA Live space, has a photo station that allows visitors to make themselves into a trading card.
As a self-described shopaholic, Edison said she has a sweet spot for the activation from Coach, the WNBA’s newest brand partner. The designer brand known for its handbags is providing free customization and artist painting sessions at its pop-up shop, meaning visitors can leave with a one-of-a-kind piece.
The space will also host 50 WNBA player appearances, in-depth panels and the WNBA Orange Carpet.
The ticketed fan experience is open to visitors from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Tickets cost $28.40 and are available on Ticketmaster. Kids 12 and under are free, but are required to have a ticket.
— Taylor Wooten
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How WNBA All-Star Weekend is navigating Indy’s construction
4:45 p.m. July 17
There are some big differences between the NBA and WNBA All-Star Weekends. Among the most obvious: the weather.
The WNBA event—being in the summer rather than winter or early spring—is landing at a time when torn-up roads and detours around Indianapolis are being compounded by work on multiple private developments in the city’s core.
Read more from IBJ’s Taylor Wooten about how downtown construction, from development to roadwork, is affecting the WNBA All-Star experience for fans here.
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Caitlin Clark will not play during WNBA All-Star Weekend
1:36 p.m. July 17
After days of speculation following another injury, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark announced she will not play in All-Star Weekend activities, including Friday’s 3-Point Contest and Saturday’s All-Star Game.
“I have to rest my body,” she said in a statement posted to the Fever’s social media pages.
Read more here and see the full statement below.
a message from Caitlin Clark ❤️ pic.twitter.com/zRGZEpqF5R
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) July 17, 2025
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IMS welcomes volunteers for WNBA Changemaker Day
1:30 p.m. July 17
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway played host to the WNBA’s Changemaker Day, in which 800 volunteers met at the iconic track to pack 25,000 “period packs” of hygiene products to be distributed to Hoosiers in need across central Indiana.
The initiative benefits Project Period Indy and Indy Hygiene Hub. It’s estimated that the period packs will provide around a year’s worth of menstrual health products to the communities they serve.
— Holly Hays
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700+ volunteers bring WNBA All-Star Weekend to life
Noon July 17
As the WNBA’s All-Star weekend arrives in Indianapolis, some 750 volunteers are being deployed throughout the city to help pull off the event. But their work started long ago.
For some, it began in January with host committee duties, while others have hosted events to create excitement and awareness in the city and around the state about the weekend’s meaning and festivities.
IBJ spoke with some of the volunteers about their duties and the love they have for volunteering, especially during big sports events in the Circle City. Read more here.
— Sam Stall
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All-Star set-up begins on Monument Circle
11 a.m. July 17
Workers from Indianapolis-based Expo Arts and Indianapolis-based Shiel Sexton were busy on Meridian Street and Monument Circle on Thursday morning setting up an entertainment space for WNBA fans in the city for All-Star Weekend.
Organizers have labeled the Monument Circle spot and another entertainment district on Georgia Avenue “Indy’s Home Court.”
At Monument Circle, multiple basketball hoops will be available, along with sponsor activations and an entertainment stage. The spaces will be open Friday and Saturday for fans.
— Lesley Weidenbener
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Glorilla, Bia added to WNBA All-Star Game lineup
10 a.m. July 17
Rappers Glorilla and Bia will perform Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse as part of the WNBA All-Star Game. Glorilla, a Memphis-based artist who headlined a concert at the arena last month, will perform during halftime. Bia, a Boston-based artist who’s scheduled to appear Saturday afternoon during the Fever Fest concert at Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park, will perform before tip-off. Both performances will be featured during ABC’s telecast, which begins at 8:30 p.m. Read more on what fans can expect at Fever Fest here.
— Dave Lindquist
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Natasha Howard will report from Indy for EssentiallySports
Indiana Fever forward Natasha Howard has signed on to serve as an athlete correspondent for EssentiallySports, offering a behind-the-scenes look at All-Star Weekend, the platform announced this week. The three-time WNBA champion will be contributing to EssentiallySports’ website and newsletter, as well as appearing at a Friday night event in which she’ll participate in a fireside chat about her journey and the future of the league.
See a list of All-Star related events here.
— Holly Hays
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Indianapolis public safety plans
Indianapolis public safety officials are planning to use technology and elevated staffing levels to maintain peace during the WNBA All-Star Weekend, in which thousands of basketball fans are expected to descend upon the city’s downtown.
The event comes as more than a dozen people, many of them teens, have been killed or wounded by gun violence in the city’s central business district over the past three weeks.
Read more from IBJ’s Taylor Wooten here.
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Get public safety alerts in Indianapolis
Text ALLSTAR25 to 67283 to receive public safety updates throughout the weekend.
The See Say app is another tool visitors and fans can use to report non-emergency safety or cleanliness concerns by sending photos, videos and written reports to Downtown Indy Inc. The free app is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play.
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Indianapolis weather this weekend
Forecasts indicate rain is possible every day from Thursday through Sunday. Thursday evening has a 60% chance of rain with lows in the high 60s. Storms enter the forecast on Friday and will linger through Sunday. Highs are in the high 80s, with overnight lows in the low 70s.
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Read some of IBJ’s previous All-Star Game coverage
- WNBA All-Star, Indiana Black Expo organizers view big weekend as chance to team up
- Multiple events have downtown Indy hotels ‘jam-packed’ for All-Star Weekend
- Performances, watch parties and public art among highlights of WNBA All-Star events
- Indy Hoops Pass gives fans chance to earn merch, win signed gear, Fever suite tickets
- Dozens of downtown businesses to offer WNBA-themed specials during All-Star Weekend
- Indy’s WNBA All-Star Host Committee invests $1M in youth empowerment programs, projects
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Interesting to see so much diversity. This is a perfect example of how an industry that thrives on diversity, the WNBA, is incredibly lucrative and successful. Remove the diversity, the success, financial gains and Indiana’s big win in tourism dollars gained from this entire weekend goes away. SMH