The Hoosier State is in high demand. Just a year after playing host to the NBA All-Star game, Indianapolis will take center stage again and host the 2025 WNBA All-Star game, according to an ESPN report.
The Indiana Fever, led by back-to-back No. 1 overall picks Caitlin Clark, who is the Rookie of the year frontrunner from the University of Iowa and Aliyah Boston, who won the award a year ago, out of the University of South Carolina, are the overwhelming fan favorites in the WNBA, selling out arenas everywhere they go and smashing TV viewership records.
In the 25-year history of the WNBA All-Star game, Indianapolis is one of four cities with a WNBA franchise attached to it that has never had the honor of hosting All-Star weekend, joining Atlanta (Dream), Dallas (Wings), and Los Angeles (Sparks). Recent WNBA All-Star Games have been in Phoenix (2024), Las Vegas (2023, 2021, 2019) and Chicago (2022).
ESPN says an official announcement is expected in the coming days. A Fever spokesperson declined to confirm the report, but telling the IndyStar, “Indianapolis has a great history of hosting events.”
“Obviously, Indiana is known as a big basketball state, and Hoosier state, so I think having the All-Star Game here for the NBA is awesome,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said back in February. “I’ve been experiencing Indiana, and other than the snow yesterday, it’s amazing. The city, from when you land at the airport, the branding when you drive here from the airport, when you arrive at your hotel, the branding I think has been impeccable. Certainly, in my four years at the league, it’s amazing.”
The Fever had three All-Stars this season, Clark, Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, and sit in seventh place in the WNBA standings, hoping to snap a 7-year playoff drought.
Embed from Getty ImagesAt the Olympic break, which comes to an end on Thursday after a month, the Fever were the league’s most-viewed team with 10 broadcasts that broke viewership records. The Fever saw a substantial hike in ticket sells, 264.6%, (year over year). Indiana is the top WNBA team in total home and away attendance.
The WNBA All-Star game is yet another major sporting event and platform for the city’s booming downtown area, following the NBA All-Star game and U.S. Olympic swim trials. Add it to the Big Ten Championship game staying through 2028, Big Ten men’s and women’s basketball tournaments returning and future men’s (2026) at Lucas Oil Stadium and women’s (2028) Final Fours at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The 2024 NBA All-Star Game generated $290 million in economic revenue and $112 million in media exposure for Indianapolis and Central Indiana, according to a report released by Pacers Sports & Entertainment.
The Fever are back in action Friday at home against Brittney Griner and the Phoenix Mercury.
