Sights and sounds from 2025 WNBA All-Star Game

Many players complimented how well the city hosted this year’s event: from Pennsylvania Street all the way to Capitol Avenue, the WNBA’s presence, and it’s signature orange, was everywhere. Georgia Street was also loaded with events, sights, music, food, and so much more.

Before reaching Gainbridge Fieldhouse for All-Star Saturday night, The Next walked through Indy to see it all. At the Indiana Convention Center, the league hosted WNBA Live, which was full of sponsored activations where fans could meet players, take part in basketball clinics, buy merchandise, and learn more about the W in general.

A quick stroll down Georgia Street toward Gainbridge Fieldhouse revealed even more fanfare, with enough decor to spend about an hour observing and taking it in. Rain dampened — literally — the fun for parts of Saturday, but attendees still stuck around. Meanwhile, a musician playing a piano that rolled around on wheels frequently popped in as well.

Outside of the stadium, along with several other major areas of interest throughout the city, was decked out in WNBA signage to bring the scene to life. Signs featuring Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu, A’ja Wilson, Paige Bueckers, and more were visible on the block of Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

There was also fun promotional signage in the newly built plaza outside the arena.

Inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday night

As the All-Star Game should have, there was an endless sea of sights for those that were there. Not even 50 feet from the downstairs entrance where media arrived for the action was space that mimicked the tunnel for players to walk in and be photographed. There, more than 50 photographers waited for them, with Liberty mascot Ellie The Elephant and the StudBudz stealing the show.

Leading up to the game, the arena was buzzing, and while last year’s 2024 WNBA All-Star Game was competitive and exciting, many wondered whether this year’s event would be similar. A fan was overheard mentioning how they were most excited for the players’ introductions, while another was eager to see how the new rules — including a four-point shooting zone and there being no free throws allowed until late in the game — would shift the action.

Before players were introduced, artist BIA performed a short pre-game concert for a crowd of fans in the bowl. Then, Troy Pepper, a Public Address announcer for the Indiana Fever and Indiana Pacers, called out each player and coach one-by-one.

Afterwards, Fever star Kelsey Mitchell grabbed a microphone to address the attending fans and thank them for their support soon after. “What’s up, hey everybody how y’all doing? On behalf of the city of Indianapolis, on behalf of the Fever… we wouldn’t be here without you guys,” she said to a roaring crowd.

During warmups, every player wore black shirts with the words, PAY US WHAT YOU OWE US, in white lettering. The moment voiced the players’ concerns after the WNBPA and the WNBA met on Thursday to “discuss their ongoing negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).”

After wamrups, it was then time for Team Clark and Team Collier to compete.

Wilson won the tip and got Team Clark the first possession, but it was Team Collier that struck first thanks to the four-point circle after Bueckers launched, and drilled, a shot to start the game.

The first two shots of the game were four-point attempts. Aliyah Boston got Team Clark on the scoreboard when she scored her team’s first five points. The first live substitutions, which is another new rule implemented for this year’s game that permitted hockey-like substitutions, came with 6:25 to go in the first. That, combined with the volume of three-point shots and overall scoring that came so easily, both teams combined for a whopping 85 points in the first quarter alone, set the tone— which wasn’t a serious —from the start. When Team Collier’s Kelsey Plum fouled Wilson near the sideline, the two of them stayed glued to each other as Wilson just kept dribbling up the court out of bounds. The both of them were grinning, ear to ear, the whole interaction.

After that first, many Fever legends and former All-Stars that were in attendance were presented to the crowd, including Rita Williams, Tammy Sutton-Brown, Shavonte Zellous, Briann January, Tamika Whitmore, Anna DeForge, Candice Dupree, and Tamika Catchings. The crowd loved the moment, which was a nice touch from Pacers Sports & Entertainment.

During the second quarter, fans chuckled as Collier chopped her feet quickly while dribbling in place, pretending she was about to make a move past her defender. In reality, she hardly advanced in any direction. As for the use of the four-point circle, some players were given four points for shots taken with the feet on or outside of the edge of said circle. The sound of AT&T’s commercials could be heard playing after every made four-point jumper, too.

With Team Collier up, 82-60, at halftime, Team Clark went back to their locker room while Team Collier stayed on the court to watch the GloRilla, who was introduced by ESPN’s Elle Duncan, Chiney Ogwumike, and Andraya Carter, perform during the break.

The Grammy-nominated artist performed the league’s anthem, “Let Her Cook” as Team Clark returned to the court to watch the rest of the concert. Nearly every player was standing and enjoying the performance, especially Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes, who even knew some of the choreography. Meanwhile, Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas was spotted sitting on bench for parts of the performance.

While she couldn’t play, Clark spent some time during halftime signing autographs for fans sitting behind her team’s bench. She used her role as coach to interact with attendees as often as she could, including on the way off the floor after the game.

While the first half started with Bueckers using a newer rule for four-points, the second half started with Collier getting fouled on a shot and being awarded two points for it without foul shots, which was another new rule. That kicked off a strong half for Collier, who knocked down shot after shot and dominated the game.

In the middle of the third quarter, things got a little more intense with the referees. Mitchell argued with the refs, and later, Team Clark head coach Sandy Brondello signaled for an uncalled travel, too. Both teams wound up challenging a foul call in the fourth quarter, but it was Team Collier that was successful.

At the end of the third, Orissa Kelly, an acrobat and foot archery performer displayed a high-flying stunt that caught the players’ attention. At that point, the game had pretty much been decided, and with 1:25 left to go, Ionescu used time during a stoppage to toss shirts to fans in the crowd. Not long after, the first actual free throw attempt in the game came with 1:01 to go as Skylar Diggins, who was fouled by Kayla Thornton, knocked down a pair. Every other foul shot in the box score was either automatically awarded points or a free throw granted to a player to make their three-point shot worth four points.

It was Diggins who became a key figure late in the game. With 46 seconds left to go, Diggins, who was just one rebound away from securing the first-ever triple-double in WNBA All-Star history, grabbed it. The crowd loved every minute of the play, as Diggins finished with 11 points, 11 rebounds, and 15 assists for Team Collier, who won the game, 151-131. Celebrities sitting courtside for the game included Common, Robin Roberts, Jennifer Hudson, Lisa Leslie, Leslie Jones, G Eazy, Dawn Staley, Plies, Bam Adebayo, Pau Gasol, Bennedict Mathurin and more.

Collier was the MVP with 36 points, an All-Star Game record, and nine rebounds.

Quotes from throughout the night:

Cathy Engelbert: “Obviously, the growth of All-Star has been part of our strategy [which] is to really put on an elite, top-notch sports media and entertainment weekend. I think we’ve really gotten close this year with all cylinders. Again, thanks to the Indiana Fever, the Pacers organization for putting on such an outstanding weekend. So, I’m really proud. Look no further than tonight, last night, and WNBA Live to give you that.”

Caitlin Clark: “I think the weekend has been absolutely incredible. I hope every player in this league, whether you’re participating in the game tonight… or you’re just here, I hope you felt the same.”

Napheesa Collier: “People are learning to score in such a multitude of new ways. We have people coming into the league expanding the three-point line. Post players who can shoot threes or are versatile. So I think the individual player is just growing so much.”

Nneka Ogwumike: “We see the growth of the league and, as it stands, the current salary system is not really paying us what we owe. We want to be able to have that fair share moving forward, especially as we see, you know, all of the investment going in. And we want to be able to have our salaries reflected in a structure that makes sense for us.”

Photos of things you probably missed:

As players were entering the arena for the game, Las Vegas Aces stars in Wilson and Jackie Young teamed up. Meanwhile, Ellie captured everyone’s attention.

Wilson and Young were also together for a great shot during pre-game team photos.

Players seemed to have really enjoyed the performance by GloRilla.

While many would be thrilled to get a picture with Boston, she was ended up being the photographer as her parents took a picture with rapper Plies.

With All-Star weekend officially over, WNBA action resumes tonight, starting with Sparks vs Mystics at 7:30PM ET.

Monumental Sports and Entertainment, the group that owns the Washington Mystics, holds a minority stake in The Next. The Next’s editorial operations are entirely independent of Monumental and all other business partners.