Latest news with #All-StarWeekend
5 hours ago
- Sport
WNBA stars demand higher share of revenue
ABC News' Christiane Cordero reports WNBA players are pushing for better pay as the league soars to new heights, delivering their message in a unique way during All-Star Weekend warmups.
Black America Web
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
WNBA All-Star Host Cities (2000–2025)
Source: Icon Sportswire / Getty For the first time in league history, the WNBA All-Star Game has landed in the heart of the Midwest — Indianapolis, Indiana. Known for its deep basketball roots and championship energy, Indy is now the epicenter of women's hoops, hosting the 2025 All-Star Weekend at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of the Indiana Fever. From Tamika Catchings to Caitlin Clark, Indiana has always had a front-row seat to greatness. Now, the city gets to show the world how it celebrates the game, the culture, and the women pushing it forward. Over the years, the WNBA All-Star Game has made stops in iconic cities like New York, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Chicago — each bringing their own flavor. But Indy's moment feels different. It's not just a game — it's a full-circle celebration of legacy, leadership, and the future of women's basketball. Whether you're a day-one fan or just catching the wave, this All-Star Weekend is a reminder that the W is bigger than basketball — and Indy is ready to show up, show out, and make history. RELATED: Baller Babes: 50 of the Most Beautiful Women in the WNBA WNBA All-Star Host Cities (2000–2025) was originally published on
Indianapolis Star
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
Doyel: WNBA All-Star was like other All-Star games, but with demands — from players and fans
INDIANAPOLIS – The drama, the fire, happened 20 minutes before tipoff of the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game. There would be no drama, no fire, during the game of course. We're talking about practice, I mean an All-Star Game, know what I'm saying? And the 21st All-Star Game in WNBA history bore no resemblance to drama, to fire — it bore little resemblance to basketball, frankly — which means it looked a lot like every NBA All-Star game you ever saw. Kind of a bummer, really. Honesty is OK, right? Treating WNBA players like the entrepreneurs, the social influencers, the budding business moguls they are — that's what they want, right? To be treated equally to the men? Let's do that here, and while we're doing that — way up high in the story, before you get bored and start looking for that Kiss Cam video of the Astronomer CEO — let's note the most glaring problem with what we saw Saturday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. And it wasn't the basketball played by the WNBA All-Stars. It was the shirt the WNBA All-Stars wore during warmups. Well, hang on. That's not exactly right. The shirt wasn't the problem. Nor was the message. Now, some folks on social media — other influencers, the dumb kind, with their dumb followers — were attacking WNBA players for the message, even if the message provided the only drama, the only fire, of the night. Here's the message, written in bright white letters on black shirts provided by the WNBA Players Association and worn by every player on each team: Pay us what you owe us As far as messages go, that's a strong one. Score one for WNBA players under the leadership of WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike, an All-Star representing the Seattle Storm. Ogwumike and other players have used this All-Star Weekend, the most hyped All-Star Weekend in league history, to plant seeds for the coming labor fight with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who seems outflanked at every turn but has been getting away with it because, let's be honest — that's OK here, remember? — people weren't paying that much attention to the WNBA before, oh, last season. That was Caitlin Clark's rookie season with the Indiana Fever. The world is watching the games now, and the world isn't watching to see how Cathy Engelbert's league will get outflanked next — that's just a bonus. The world is watching because WNBA players have a bigger profile, a bigger following, a bigger impact than ever before. Pay them what you owe them. This weekend has been fabulous for Indianapolis, and instructive for the WNBA. Fabulous for Indianapolis? Check this tweet from Chicago Sky All-Star Angel Reese, who shook the social media world with an eight-word tweet your kids can translate for you: we in indy but it feel like miami LMFAOOO Put that on a billboard, Visit Indy. Or run a clip of Caitlin Clark at a news conference Saturday night, less than two hours before tipoff, when she spoke about the way our city nailed this WNBA event. 'The weekend has been absolutely incredible,' Clark was saying, 'and I hope every player in this league, whether you're participating in the game tonight or were in the 3-point competition or skills competition or were just here to enjoy All-Star Weekend — I hope they felt the same and felt the love from the city. Pacers Sports and Entertainment poured in so much time and money and effort to really make this best WNBA All-Star (weekend) there's been in this league. And I'm pretty positive it's been that.' Here in humble lil' Indianapolis, players had a blast partying. Well, it sure looked that way to anyone following Studbudz on Twitch. Do those last three words — Studbudz on Twitch — make no sense to you? Ask your kids. Or maybe their kids. But believe this: Players were blown away by the turnout Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, which was almost completely full for an event that had no musical concert, no dunk contest, no game action, no Caitlin Clark, no real reason for fans to show up. But they showed up, just to watch a skills competition and 3-point shooting contest. And then, 70 minutes later, they were asked to leave. You don't have to go home, WNBA folks were telling the crowd, but you can't stay here. And boy did Cathy Engelbert hear about that from fans later. 'After the hour and 10 minutes (Friday) night,' Engelbert was saying during a pregame news conference Saturday, 'I was thinking, 'These fans want more.'' Was she really thinking it, or did the realization hit her later, when WNBA fans kept approaching her to deliver a message after the 70-minute event? 'We want more W,' fans kept telling her. Pay them what they're owed, Commish. So, about this game. A single foul in the first quarter tells you all you need to know. A'ja Wilson of Team Napheesa Collier was dribbling up the court when she was met by Kelsey Plum of Team Caitlin Clark. Plum playfully puts her left shoulder into Wilson and starts pushing until Wilson is dribbling out of bounds, near the spot where Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin is sitting courtside. Now a whistle is blowing and everyone's laughing. So what's so special about that single foul in the first quarter? Only this: It was the only foul of the first quarter. This game had defense like the NBA All-Star game — most depressingly, the 2024 NBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis — which is to say, it had no defense. None. The only people on the court I saw wiping sweat from their face with those Official WNBA Towels were the three game officials, and that's because they felt they had to run up and down the court. (They didn't, not really. One foul was called in the first quarter, remember?) The players didn't bother with all that running. On one possession, as Team Clark was heading up the court on offense, power forward Kiki Iriafen spotted one of those little red Nerf-like balls — a giveaway ball for fans — rolling onto the court. She stopped in the backcourt, picked up the ball and trotted it over to a fan in the first row. No, not to Bennedict Mathurin! It's not like Team Clark missed her. While Iriafen was cleaning up the court, Gabby Williams was chucking a 34-footer. This was a game like the NBA All-Star Game is a game. Meaning, it was a branding opportunity for the league and players. The league put four four-point spots on the court, well beyond the 3-point arc, with this fine little twist: The spots were marked by the AT&T logo. Every time a player made a 4-pointer, the AT&T jingle sounded on the scoreboard. Yeah. Angel Reese, meanwhile, used the game to debut her signature shoe, a pink pair of Reebok Angel 1 'Mebounds.' It's called 'Mebounds' because Reese leads the league in rebounds in no small part because she leads the league in offensive rebounds — in no small part because she keeps grabbing her misses until she scores. Unveiling a shoe? That's great. That's also business, which is what WNBA players used this weekend to promote. They happily discussed with media the coming labor discussions with a league that has seen TV ratings and apparel revenue skyrocket in the past two years — that's since Caitlin Clark turned pro; there are no coincidences — but a league that has never shared much of its winnings with the players. Put it like this: NBA players get 50% of the revenue generated in their league. WNBA players? They get half that — 25% — and that's only if the league hits its 'cumulative revenue target' for the season. The super-max WNBA salary is $250,000, which is how much Shai-Gilgeous Alexander will earn for about 18 minutes of each game over the course of his super-max contract extension of four years and $272.4 million. Do WNBA players generate the same type of revenue as NBA players? No. While the WNBA recently landed an 11-year, $2.2 billion media rights deal, more than triple its previous contract, the NBA will soon begin its gaudy 11-year deal worth, um, $76 billion. Nobody's suggesting Sabrina Ionescu get the $829,000 per game Shai-Gilgeous Alexander will earn. But how about $829,000 per season? That too much to ask? After this game — we were going to talk about the game, remember? — the fans who stayed for the whole thing at Gainbridge Fieldhouse began chanting in unison, a message for perennially outflanked WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert: Pay them Pay them Pay them 'It was a very powerful moment,' Napheesa Collier said of those impromptu chants. 'I got chills,' said Kelsey Plum. Well, they know this strange truth: WNBA players often earn more from their side deals than they earn for their life's vocation. Before the game, a reporter asked Clark how much more she earned from sponsorships — like her deal with State Farm — than her WNBA salary. Clark is way too polished to go there. But she went here instead: "Honestly, I feel like that's where we're really fortunate — is that we have those other deals,' Clark said. 'And I think that's one of the things we're in the room fighting for. Like (Collier) said, we should be paid more, and hopefully that's the case moving forward as the league continues to grow.' Growth is good, but can be painful. This All-Star Game, for example. It looked awfully familiar, emphasis on awful — Team Collier won 151-131, if you care, which you don't — with the teams combining for 120 attempts from 3-point range, compared to 91 inside the arc, even as players were making 75.8% of their undefended shots inside the arc. What's the big deal? Well, NBA fans are growing tired of the apathetic NBA All-Star Game, same as NFL fans grew so tired of the apathetic Pro Bowl that the league scrapped it for some flag football nonsense, same as hockey fans grew so tired of the apathetic NHL All-Star Game that the league scrapped it for an international event. The WNBA can't afford for its fans to get tired of the WNBA All-Star Game, you dig? The league doesn't have enough history, hasn't built up enough goodwill, to turn its midseason showcase into a joke. Unless the league is growing so large that it can survive just fine with an All-Star Game where players stop competing until fans stop watching. And if the league is growing that large, well, it's like the T-shirts said. Pay us what you owe us And it's like the crowd here in Indianapolis said. Pay them Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Threads, or on BlueSky and Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar, or at Subscribe to the free weekly Doyel on Demand newsletter.
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
What is Stud Budz? All About the Twitch Stream Taking Over WNBA All-Star Weekend
One surprisingly hot talking point at 2025 WNBA All-Star weekend isn't about the players, per se. It's a Twitch stream. "Studbudz" is the name of a popular Twitch streaming channel that has been taking WNBA All-Star weekend by storm. Run by Minnesota Lynx players and close friends Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman, the stream has nearly 60,000 followers and has arguably grown in popularity during its planned 72-hour All-Star weekend live stream. "Studbudz's" Twitch bio reads: "Just two Stud Budz who hoop and live our best life." The stream has given WNBA fans a rare glimpse into players' off-court lives, capturing moments that traditional news outlets wouldn't normally have access to-for example, the behind-the-scenes happenings going on during All-Star parties in Indy this weekend. So, if you hear ESPN mention the "Studbudz" stream during the All-Star game on Saturday night, know that it's run by players and created for fans. Enjoy! More WNBA on Sports Illustrated This article was originally published on as What is Stud Budz? All About the Twitch Stream Taking Over WNBA All-Star Weekend. Copyright ABG-SI LLC. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Business Insider
a day ago
- Sport
- Business Insider
How to watch the WNBA All-Star Game online in 2025
All-Star Weekend is underway, and dozens of top WNBA players have descended on Indianapolis to celebrate and showcase the league. We've compiled everything you need to know about how to watch the WNBA All-Star Game online in 2025, including some of the best live streaming services for those without cable. Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx and Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever captain the two All-Star teams, although Clark will just serve as support this year instead of playing due to a groin injury. Team Clark includes Aliyah Boston, Sabrina Ionescu, and A'ja Wilson, among others, under New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello. Team Collier, under Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, features players like Paige Bueckers, Skylar Diggins, and Breanna Stewart. The 2025 All-Star Game, held at the Indiana Fever's Gainbridge Fieldhouse, will bring back the 4-point shot in select areas on the court located 28 feet from the rim (about six feet further than the standard 3-point line). Additionally, GloRilla is scheduled to headline the halftime show, so it's shaping up to be an action-packed event. Below, you can find everything you need to know about catching tonight's game, including tip-off time, rosters, and streaming options. If you're not interested in reading any further: one of the cheapest ways to live stream the All-Star Game in the US is via ESPN Plus. What channel is the WNBA All-Star Game on? The WNBA All-Star Game tips off on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC. The network's WNBA Countdown coverage begins at 8 p.m. ABC has the game scheduled until 10:30 p.m., at which point the network will switch to a half-hour of WNBA All-Star Postgame coverage. How to watch the WNBA All-Star Game in the US If you don't have access to cable or an antenna, there are a few different live streaming services that will be able to help you out. Our top recommendation is ESPN Plus, which costs $12 a month. ESPN Plus unlocks live streaming for select sporting events, including some WNBA games, in addition to certain NFL, NBA, and NHL match-ups. This year, coverage will also be available on Disney Plus. You can combine ESPN Plus, Disney Plus, and Hulu for a discounted price in one of the Disney Plus bundles. You can also live stream ABC through a live TV streaming channel package, such as Sling TV, DirecTV, or Fubo — three of the best services we've tested. DirecTV's MySports carries ESPN and ABC (in select regions), in addition to about 20 other popular sports channels, in its lineup. The genre pack also includes access to ESPN Plus, which is how you can watch the game if ABC isn't available on DirecTV in your region. Subscriptions cost $70 a month, but there's a five-day free trial for new customers. With Sling, you'll want to opt for Sling Blue, which carries ABC and 40+ other live channels in its lineup, including the NFL Network, FS1, and CNN. Subscriptions cost $46 a month, but new users can get 50% off their first month of service. Local channels like ABC vary in availability from region to region on Sling, so we recommend looking up your ZIP code before subscribing to ensure you have access. ESPN, ABC, and 150+ other live channels are available through Fubo 's base Pro plan. This tier costs $85 a month, making it the most expensive option today, but new users can get their first month for $65 after a seven-day free trial. How to watch the WNBA All-Star Game from anywhere WNBA fans traveling outside the US can still access their usual streaming services with the help of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are cybersecurity tools that let people change the virtual locations on their devices. This way, their usual websites and apps work from anywhere in the world, just like they would back home. The services we've recommended require US payment methods, so this option is best for Americans who are just traveling abroad at the moment. NordVPN is our go-to recommendation. It's a user-friendly VPN, even for beginners, and comes with a wide selection of security features. Plus, it has a hassle-free 30-day money-back guarantee. You can read more about the app in our NordVPN review. Team Collier roster Napheesa Collier (Captain), Minnesota Lynx Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings Skylar Diggins, Seattle Storm Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx (replacing Rhyne Howard) Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm Kelsey Plum, Los Angeles Sparks Angel Reese, Chicago Sky Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury Courtney Williams, Minnesota Lynx Team Clark roster Caitlin Clark (Captain), Indiana Fever Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever Sonia Citron, Washington Mystics Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty Kiki Iriafen, Washington Mystics Brionna Jones, Atlanta Dream (replacing Satou Sabally) Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever Brittney Sykes, Washington Mystics (replacing Caitlin Clark) Kayla Thornton, Golden State Valkyries Gabby Williams, Seattle Storm A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.
