19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
All-Star Bounce swarms downtown Indy with 2,500 kids ahead of 2025 WNBA All-Star Game
Thousands of kids donned red WNBA All-Star T-shirts and grabbed free orange and white Wilson basketballs outside American Legion Mall, ready for the All-Star Bounce. The July 19 event, a half-mile dribble to the finish line at Monument Circle, sent waves of young athletes through downtown Indianapolis, cheered on by parents, volunteers, and a squad of Indianapolis Colts cheerleaders.
Twelve-year-old Jillian Hawley led the pack, sprinting to the finish line well ahead of the crowd.
'It made sense I came in first,' she said, referencing the weekend dedicated to women's sports. 'And I play basketball.'
Younger sister, Pippa Hawley, 10, was also dribbling her way through the course. The two were already buzzing about their next stop: the WNBA Live fan event at the Indiana Convention Center, where hands-on games, giveaways, and surprise appearances from players awaited the pair.
For Addi Hanshew, 11, the Bounce was a moment to level up. 'My mom gets to take videos of me doing good, to see what I can work on,' she said. Her mom, Kara Jennett, was quick to praise her drive: 'She pushed herself all the way through.'
Corey Wilson, senior vice president of community engagement for Pacers Sports & Entertainment, said he enjoys seeing events take place out in the Indianapolis community.
'It's good to be able to do events beyond what's happening at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and allow the youth in our community to enjoy the game of basketball for WNBA All-Star weekend," Wilson said.
Families funneled into Monument Circle, where the All-Star energy continued. A live DJ spun music, kids raced to shoot baskets at pop-up hoops, and others cooled off with handheld fans and water breaks.
Ella Miller, 13, gasped when she saw an unexpected surprise at the city's center.
'That's Paige! That's Paige!' she and her family shouted, pointing toward Paige Bueckers, the Dallas Wings point guard and All-Star player, as she walked into the InterContinental Hotel.
Ella and her sister, Kylie, 10, were both wearing Bueckers shirts. The two had been in the right place at the right time when they stumbled upon the basketball player walking into the hotel lobby.
'I've been watching her since third grade,' Ella said, nearly in tears. 'I'm so proud of Paige.'
More than just a fan, Ella once did an entire school project on Bueckers. 'She's literally my favorite person, not even just as a player,' she said. Ella plays point guard on her basketball team and proudly calls herself an 'OG fan' of Bueckers.
'Ella introduced me to Paige,' Kylie said. 'I play soccer, but I'm so happy,' she said about the energy around women's sports right now.
As she was walking back to her car, Jaimie Kennedy, 39, reflected on her morning as an All-Star Bounce volunteer.
'I really enjoy giving back,' she said. 'I love seeing those little kids' faces and asking if they had fun. When their faces lit up, it made my day.'
She said it's pure joy.
Kennedy's kids, now 18 and 20, grew up playing sports, and she's a fan herself. For her, Indy was the perfect place to be this weekend.
