Latest news with #2025WNBAAll-StarGame
21-07-2025
- Sport
What to know about the viral equal pay shirts worn during WNBA All-Star Game
The players at the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game delivered a very public, black and white message on the court Saturday: "Pay Us What You Owe Us." After the national anthem, all the players from both teams revealed they were sporting black T-shirts for the pre-game warmups with white script that stated their collective message. WNBA players put equal pay in the spotlight at 2025 All-Star Game Fans inside the sold-out Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis chanted in support of the equal pay messaging throughout the evening. Some of the loudest calls from the crowd to "pay them" that echoed through the arena came when WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert awarded Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier the MVP trophy. "The fans making that chant, that gave me chills," Collier told ESPN. The now-viral shirt, which has a Women's National Basketball Player's Association logo underneath the text for the players' union, is officially available through a link on the WNBAPA's Instagram. Under the backdrop of the All-Star Game and its concurrent festivities, 40 players attended meetings with the league and the players association to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement, ESPN first reported. Per ESPN, "The players didn't think the meeting produced enough progress with a late October deadline looming." With more than 4 million viewers watching the All-Star Game nationwide, according to The Athletic, the players were able to shine a bright spotlight on their off-court efforts to try to earn higher salaries with more revenue entitlements. Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum told ESPN the crowd's support "was a powerful moment." "As players, we didn't know that was going to happen. So it was a genuine surprise. Those chants tonight, those signs, it just shows that as players, we are united, but the fans are united in believing what we're seeking," Plum said. The WNBA stars are not the first female athletes to fight for fair wages. Tennis legend Billie Jean King, a trailblazer for equal rights in women's sports, told"Good Morning America" previously that when she and the "original nine" made history in 1970, signing $1 contracts at the Houston Racquet Club, the moment was for female leadership for years to come. "We fought for equality," she said. "Women's tennis is the leader in women's sports on and off the court. And players today have to realize it came from that moment when we were willing to give up our careers." Progress has been made in the year's since, with now-retired soccer stars Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe leading the U.S. Women's National Team to a landmark equal pay agreement in 2022, following a three-year legal battle over gender discrimination.
The Herald Scotland
20-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
2025 WNBA All-Star Game: How to watch Team Clark vs. Collier
"I will still be at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for all the action and I'm looking forward to helping Sandy (Liberty coach Brondello) coach our team to a win," Clark announced on Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell, who Clark drafted to her All-Star team alongside Fever center Aliyah Boston, said, "Caitlin is going to be Caitlin guys, trust me." Mitchel added, "She is going to be coaching. You will definitely see the competitive nature. But her body deserves what it deserves, from a break standpoint." 2025 WNBA ALL-STAR FRIDAY RESULTS: Sabrina Ionescu wins 3-point contest; Liberty sweep Get ready for the game to be faster and flashier. Four special rules will be in play for "added entertainment and an enhanced pace of play," including a 4-point shot deep from the logo and live-play substitutions similar to hockey. Here's everything you need to know about the 2025 WNBA All-Star game: When is the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game? The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game between Team Clark and Team Collier tips off at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and will be broadcast nationally on ABC. How to watch 2025 WNBA All-Star Game All-Star weekend concludes Saturday with the marquee event, a showdown between Team Clark and Team Collier. Date: Saturday, July 19 Saturday, July 19 Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis) Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis) Time : 8:30 p.m. ET : 8:30 p.m. ET TV: ABC ABC Streaming: ESPN+, Disney+, Fubo, Sling Caitlin Clark: WNBA All-Star break needs to be longer WNBA All-Star team captains Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier are both prioritizing fun in the 2025 WNBA All-Star game, which caps off the first-ever All-Star weekend in Indianapolis on Saturday. The second half of the season promptly starts on Tuesday, offering All-Stars little to no time to regroup and recover from the festivities. "We joke about winning but at the end of the day, it's not that serious. We're going to have a fun time," coach Clark said ahead of the game. Collier added, "I wasn't telling (my team) anything about preparing for the game. We were preparing to be on 'StudBudz'... This is supposed to be our break. We all play Tuesday." Last year, WNBA teams got nearly a month off after the 2024 All-Star game between Team WNBA and the U.S. women's national basketball team to accommodate for the 2024 Paris Olympics. With no Olympics on the schedule for this year, the All-Star 'break' is less than a week. The Indiana Fever, for example, played their last game on Wednesday and will open the second half of the season against the New York Liberty on Tuesday. "We would appreciate a longer break," Clark added. Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier were asked about getting their teams ready after everyone has been seen out late more than usual. "What makes you think we don't do that normally" - Caitlin ???? — No Cap Space WBB (@NoCapSpaceWBB) July 19, 2025 Caitlin Clark is in the building. Clark, who is set to captain her All-Star team alongside New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello, arrived to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday wearing a black blazer over a Prada shirt. She paired the look with a pair of black shorts and pumps. Arrivals started pouring in ahead of game time. USA TODAY Sports is tracking every fashionable entrance here. No. Clark will not participate in the All-Star Game due to a right groin injury. She also sat out of the 3-point contest on Friday. "I am incredibly sad and disappointed to say I can't participate in the 3-Point contest or the All-Star Game. I have to rest my body." Clark said. "I will still be at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for all the action and I'm looking forward to helping Sandy (Liberty coach Brondello) coach our team to a win." The 2025 WNBA All-Star game features six players making their All-Star debut: Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (Team Collier) Seattle Storm forward Gabby Williams (Team Clark) Golden State Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton (Team Clark) Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes (Team Clark) Washington Mystics forward Kiki Iriafen (Team Clark) Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron (Team Clark) Clark didn't appear to have much of a strategy heading into the WNBA All-Star draft, saying, "I'm going on vibes. I'm picking whatever comes to mind. We're just having fun. My team is going to be fun. You get to be in front of the home crowd in Indianapolis." However, Clark had a game plan to select her teammates. She'll now help coach her team after being ruled out (right groin). Starters Aliyah Boston, Center, Indiana Fever Sabrina Ionescu, Guard, New York Liberty A'ja Wilson, Forward, Las Vegas Aces * Kelsey Mitchell, Guard, Indiana Fever * Jackie Young, guard, Las Vegas Aces *Selected to replace Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally in the starting lineup Reserves Brionna Jones, Forward, Atlanta Dream Brittney Sykes, Guard, Washington Mystics Gabby Williams, forward, Seattle Storm Sonia Citron, Guard, Washington Mystics Kiki Iriafen, Forward, Washington Mystics Kayla Thornton, Forward, Golden State Valkyries Napheesa Collier had a clear cut strategy heading into the draft -- shoot for current and former teammates. "I feel like got to try to get some of my (Unrivaled) Owls girls on here and got to try to get some of my (UConn) Huskies girls on here, so I've got an agenda," Collier said during the 2025 WNBA All-Star draft show. Starters Napheesa Collier, Forward, Minnesota Lynx Breanna Stewart, Forward, New York Liberty Allisha Gray, Guard, Atlanta Dream Nneka Ogwumike, Forward Seattle Storm Paige Bueckers, Guard, Dallas Wings Reserves Courtney Williams, guard, Minnesota Lynx Skylar Diggins, Guard, Seattle Storm Angel Reese, forward, Chicago Sky Alyssa Thomas, Forward, Phoenix Mercury Kelsey Plum, guard, Los Angeles Sparks Kayla McBride, guard, Minnesota Lynx Replaced Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard On Wednesday, the WNBA announced four special rules will be in play at the All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to provide "added entertainment and an enhanced pace of play" for one night only on Saturday. The changes include a four-point shot deep from the logo and live-play substitutions similar to hockey. AT&T 4-Point shot: Each player will have the opportunity to score four points by shooting at a designated "AT&T 4-Point Shot" area on the court, made up of four circles placed 28-feet from the rim, six feet further than the 3-point line. Each player will have the opportunity to score four points by shooting at a designated "AT&T 4-Point Shot" area on the court, made up of four circles placed 28-feet from the rim, six feet further than the 3-point line. Live-play substitutions: Team's will be allowed to make hockey-like player substitutions while the ball is in play, but only under certain conditions. The team on offense is the only one permitted to make a live-play substitution and only one player is allowed per possession. Team's will be allowed to make hockey-like player substitutions while the ball is in play, but only under certain conditions. The team on offense is the only one permitted to make a live-play substitution and only one player is allowed per possession. 20-second shot clock: The shot clock will be shortened from 24 to 20 seconds. Following an offensive rebound, the shot clock will be reset to 14 seconds. The shot clock will be shortened from 24 to 20 seconds. Following an offensive rebound, the shot clock will be reset to 14 seconds. No free throws: Anytime a player is required to shoot a free throw, they will "automatically be credited with the maximum available point(s) given the situation," the league explained. Free throws will only be in play in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter and in overtime. New York Liberty superstar Sabrina Ionescu remains the queen of the WNBA All-Star 3-point contest. Ionescu, who holds the 3-point competition record in both the WNBA or NBA after scoring 37 of 40 points in 2023, took down defending champion Allisha Gray of the Atlanta Dream Friday night in the 3-point contest final with a score of 30 points. Ionescu became just the second WNBA player to win the 3-point contest multiple times, joining four-time winner Allie Quigley. "It means everything. The last time I was here in (Indianapolis) against Steph (Curry), I lost, so I feel like I had to come back and redeem myself," Ionescu said, referring to the first-ever NBA vs. WNBA 3-point challenge during the 2024 NBA All-Star weekend in Indianapolis, where she went head-to-head with Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry. "I feel like we put on a great show." The 2025 WNBA Skills Challenge came down to the final second ... literally. New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud finished the obstacle course with 1.1 seconds to spare, narrowly defeating Seattle Storm guard Erica Wheeler for the title. Cloud becomes the second Liberty player to win the skills challenge, following Sabrina Ionescu's win in 2022. Cloud said she's going to use her $55K prize money from Aflac to put a down payment on a house with her girlfriend, Liberty teammate Isabelle Harrison. "(Harrison) told me to go win this money for a home and that's what it's going down too," Cloud said after her win. "I'm really grateful for where our journey's have brought us and our career have brought us. This is just the next step. It's going be money well spent." The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news -- fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
USA Today
20-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
WNBA fans jeer commissioner with 'Pay them!' chants during All-Star Game ceremony
During Saturday night's 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, basketball fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse decided to show their support for the players amid their ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the league. With the current WNBA CBA set to expire in October, WNBA players wore "Pay Us What You Owe Us" shirts during All-Star Game warmups to send a message to the league about improving the WNBA pay scale. The WNBA met with more than 40 players on Thursday in Indianapolis but seemingly made little, if any, progress on finding compromises for a new CBA, as the WNBA players association issued a critical statement after the meeting concluded. The players understandably want their salaries to increase as more and more revenue pours into the WNBA, and any compromise will almost assuredly feature a higher salary cap for the league's teams so that the athletes' average pay scale can increase. Plenty of fans let the league know whose side they were on during the All-Star Game postgame ceremony, where loud chats of "Pay them!" broke out as league commissioner Cathy Engelbert spoke. Fans also held up "Pay the players" signs in the stands. Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes also held up one of the "Pay the players" signs while ESPN's Holly Rowe interviewed All-Star Game MVP Napheesa Collier. While we're sure the CBA negotiations still have a ways to go, the WNBA had to hear the message from the players and the fans loud and clear during one of the biggest nights on the league's calendar. "Pay the players" will be one of the biggest takeaways from WNBA All-Star weekend, whether the league wants it to be or not. We'll see if this momentum breaks the ice any as negotiations continue.
USA Today
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
5 funny Caitlin Clark moments from the All-Star Game, including her booing her own team
Indiana Fever superstar guard Caitlin Clark didn't play in Saturday night's 2025 WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, but she was still at the center of the universe. Clark brought plenty of energy and laughter to the marquee WNBA event, even from the sideline as one of the coaches for her Team Clark All-Star team. Yes, the WNBA knows you're not happy with the referees this season Clark's delightfully unserious personality was on full display during the All-Star Game, and we've rounded up a few of our favorite Clark moments from the evening's festivities in Indianapolis. Q&A: Aari McDonald talks 'prankster' Caitlin Clark, Commissioner's Cup win Hopefully, these hysterical Clark highlights underscore how much she means to the WNBA from a purely comical perspective. She really is one of the funniest people in the entire league. Clark booed her own team when a play she drew up went awry A mic'd-up Clark on the bench was just gold Her Team Clark halftime plans made us chuckle Clark wanted as many 4-point baskets as possible Clark promised to cuss out the refs, of course Clark was clearly having a grand time, even if she wasn't on the court.
USA Today
20-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
WNBA All-Star Game live updates: Caitlin Clark, 4-point shots and highlights
The 2025 WBA All-Star Game will pit the league's best players against each other in Indianapolis on Saturday night to see whose All-Star team can come out on top. Team Caitlin Clark and Team Napheesa Collier will square off against each other at 8:30 p.m. ET in the Indiana Fever's Gainbridge Fieldhouse for what's sure to be a crowded house. 2025 WNBA midseason report: Answering all the biggest questions at the halfway point While Clark won't play in the game because of an injury, she will be present on the sideline helping Team Clark coach Sandy Brondello of the New York Liberty. Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve will coach Team Collier. We will keep you up to date during the game with all the big highlights and best moments featuring all of your favorite WNBA players. Who is playing in this year's WNBA All-Star Game? Check out Team Clark and Team Collier's rosters and the game starters. Substitutions for Clark, Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally and Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard include Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes, Dream forward Brionna Jones and Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride, respectively. Where can I watch the game? Fans can watch the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game on live on ESPN and ESPN+ at 8:30 p.m. ET. Who won the 2025 Skills Competition and the 3-point contest? New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud won the Skills Competition, while Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu won the 3-point contest.
