Caitlin Clark will have home-court advantage if she plays in the WNBA All-Star Game in 2025. Indianapolis, where Clark’s Fever play their home games, and Gainbridge Fieldhouse will be the site of the league’s mid-season celebration. According to ESPN:.
The city has never hosted an All-Star Game before, but is scheduled to host the NBA All-Star Game in 2024.
Clarke appeared in the 2024 All-Star Game in Phoenix last month, scoring four points and recording 10 assists to help the WNBA defeat Team USA and win their eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal. Her assist total fell just one shy of Sue Bird’s All-Star Game record.
“I feel so blessed to be a part of this weekend,” Clark said. He told SportsCenter “I thought Phoenix did a great job this weekend. The fans were great. Obviously the game was really good and it doesn’t hurt to get the win,” he said in the post-match segment.
Clark may also get a chance to take part in the league’s 3-point contest in front of his home fans after missing out this year.
Indianapolis and Gainbridge Fieldhouse are also worthy hosts for the All-Star Game: The city and arena are a microcosm of the sport’s rapid growth, with data showing the Fever’s attendance is up 264.6% and jersey sales up 1,193%. The team’s public relations staff made the announcement on Tuesday..
Before the team’s home opener in May, a giant Gatorade banner hung on the side of a downtown hotel and the arena was filled with Clark’s jerseys (which he wore both with the Fever and at Iowa, where he played in college).
But heading into the All-Star break, Clarke’s individual play created plenty of opportunities for other Fever players, with Aaliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell also getting minutes for Phoenix.
After a month-long Olympic break, the WNBA season resumes on Thursday with the Fever playing their final game at home against the Mercury on Friday.
They’re currently in seventh place and clinging onto one of the last playoff spots, but Clark, Boston, Mitchell and Smith have helped them turn around a dismal 3-10 start to the season.
Following a 17-point loss to the Sun on June 10, Indiana went on an 8-5 run before the season was suspended, giving them a chance to clinch their first postseason berth since 2016.
