The WNBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis was must-see TV. The two-day event, held from July 17 to 19, featured the biggest names in the league in a sold-out Gainbridge Fieldhouse with former players, celebrities and fans in attendance.
There was a lot of action during All-Star Weekend, including a dazzling orange carpet to kick off the weekend, players advocating for themselves with “Pay us what you owe us” shirts and viral moments such as Stud Bubz.
This was Indianapolis’ first time hosting All-Star Weekend, and the weekend didn’t disappoint. Here is a recap of what happened.
Orange Carpet
Kicking off the weekend, the All-Stars walked the orange carpet to showcase their fashion sense on July 17. They arrived in style at the Indianapolis Convention Center, and social media went into a frenzy over the diverse outfits.
Some standouts included Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky, who made a statement in a leopard print ankle-length trench coat, sunglasses and a high bun. A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces wore a Di Petsa-designed maroon sleeveless gown with gold Saint Laurent earrings. Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings sported a Marni outfit paired with Prada shoes.
Skills Challenge & 3-Point Contest
Friday night was dominated by the New York Liberty as Natasha Cloud won the skills challenge and Sabrina Ionescu secured the 3-point challenge. The Liberty became the second franchise to win both competitions. Last year, Allisha Gray of the Atlanta Dream made history by winning both events in the same night, becoming the first player to achieve this.
Natasha Cloud showcased her talent against a field that included Allisha Gray, Courtney Williams, Erica Wheeler and Skylar Diggins. She completed the obstacle course in 34.1 seconds during the first round to advance to the final. In the championship round, Cloud posted a time of 36.4 seconds, narrowly beating Erica Wheeler’s 37.5 seconds to secure her first win in the event.
Sabrina Ionescu competed against Allisha Gray, Lexie Hull, who filled in for Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Plum and Sonia Citron. She scored 25 points in the first round to advance to the final, where she finished with 30 points and secured the win, while Gray scored 22. Ionescu is the first player to record multiple 30-point performances in the final round. She is also the second player in league history to win the event more than once, joining Allie Quigley, who won four times.
The New York Liberty had a night to remember and put on an excellent show.
All-Star Game
There was no stopping Team Collier as they dominated with a final score of 151-131 against Team Clark.
Team captain Napheesa Collier not only helped reach a record score of 151 but also broke the record for most points scored in the All-Star Game with her 36-point performance, earning All-Star MVP. Additionally, Seattle Storm guard Skylar Diggins recorded the first triple-double in All-Star Game history and set the assist record with 15.
It was unfortunate that Caitlin Clark, Satou Sabally and Rhyne Howard were all sidelined during the weekend, but the game still drew 2.19 million viewers, making it the second-most-watched in league history, behind the record 3.44 million for the 2024 All-Star game.
Overall, this was a highly successful weekend, demonstrating the growing interest in the WNBA.
