Indianapolis Prepares for Historic WNBA All-Star Game, Showcasing Women's Basketball Brilliance

Indianapolis is gearing up for a historic sports moment as it prepares to host the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, marking the first time the event will take place in the city. Scheduled for July 19 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the festivities will kick off with the 3-point contest and skills challenge the day before. This announcement highlights Indianapolis' growing reputation as a premier destination for major sporting events, having previously hosted the NBA All-Star Game earlier this year along with multiple NCAA Final Fours and the annual NFL Draft Combine. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert expressed her excitement about the event, stating, "We are excited to bring AT&T WNBA All-Star to Indiana for the first time. The city of Indianapolis and the entire state of Indiana have such an incredible and enduring passion for the game of basketball, making the region the perfect host to celebrate the WNBA and the game's greatest stars." The timing of this announcement is particularly opportune, coinciding with a remarkable surge of interest in the Indiana Fever. With the addition of top draft picks Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston, the Fever has captured the attention of fans, currently leading the WNBA in attendance for both home and away games. The franchise reported an impressive 265 percent increase in attendance compared to last season, reflecting a revitalized enthusiasm for women's basketball in the region. The Fever's success is echoed in various other metrics. The team has set single-game sales records at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse Team Store multiple times this season, with a staggering rise of over 1,000 percent in net sales. Additionally, the Fever's social media presence has soared, adding 1.3 million followers since mid-April. Video content produced by the team has garnered over 800 million views, trailing only the soccer phenomenon Miami FC in terms of viewership among major U.S. sports franchises during that timeframe. Notably, viewership for Fever broadcasts has reached new heights, with the June 23 game against the Chicago Sky drawing an average of 2.3 million viewers—the highest for a WNBA game in 23 years. The increased demand is even evident in the popularity of the team's mascot, Freddy Fever, whose appearance requests have surged by 150 percent. Mel Raines, CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, described this moment as a pivotal point for women's basketball, emphasizing Indiana's role in the future of the sport. "This is a historic moment, an inflection point for women's basketball, and there's nothing more fitting than Indiana being at the center of it all," Raines said. "Over several seasons, we have built a young, talented roster that fans are excited to support, and this is momentum that we will build off for years to come." Despite a challenging start to the season, with the Fever losing nine out of their first 11 games, the team has shown significant improvement as chemistry among players like Clark, Boston, two-time All-Star Kelsey Mitchell, and 2022 No. 2 pick NaLyssa Smith has developed. As the second half of the season kicks off, Clark leads the league in assists and ranks among the top players in several categories, underscoring her impact on the court. With a current record of 11-15 and sitting in seventh place, the Fever will look to continue their ascent when they take on the Phoenix Mercury this Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET. As excitement builds for the upcoming All-Star Game, the city of Indianapolis is poised to spotlight women's basketball on a grand stage, celebrating the talent and tenacity of the WNBA's brightest stars.