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Indianapolis Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier on CBA negotiations, trash talk and WNBA All-Star Weekend
INDIANAPOLIS — WNBA All-Star team captains Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier met with the media ahead of the WNBA All-Star game Saturday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The press conference covered a range of topics during, most notably the ongoing CBA negotiations and Clark's recovery from a groin injury. Here is what Clark and Collier said. Collier: "The players, obviously, are taking this really seriously. We have the most participation in league history. I think we had close to 40 players in our league meeting. I think it just sends a really strong message that we're standing really firm on certain areas that we feel really strongly that we need to improve on, and I think we got that message across." Clark: Yeah, I think for myself, that was the best part of being in the room. There's over 40 other players in this league and I'm sure a lot more would have loved to be there if they were in Indianapolis. And I think that's the most powerful thing is all the girls from across the league just being in that room together." "That's a good question. Honestly, I feel like that's where we're really fortunate is that we have those other deals. And I think that's one of the things we're in the room fighting for. Like Phee said, we should be paid more and hopefully that's the case moving forward as the league continues to grow. That's probably the most important thing that we're in the room advocating for." Collier: "Oh no, I don't trash talk." Clark: "I'm not good, so the bar is low." Collier: "I'll think of it after, like days after, 'Oh, I should have said this.' I can't think of it fast enough." Clark: Phee's too nice. Even when we were picking our teams I think they would've liked it if we were talking trash a little bit more, but yeah, Phee's too nice. She's a mom." Collier: "We're midwesterners. We're too nice." "The weekend has been absolutely incredible. I hope every player in this league, whether you're participating in the game tonight or were in the three point competition and 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 the best WNBA All-Star (weekend) there's been in this league — and I'm pretty positive it's been that. Obviously, this is my second so obviously I can't speak to the prior ones, but just really fortunate." "For myself, it's still been a lot of fun. Obviously, I'm disappointed that I wasn't able to participate last night and won't be able to participate tonight, but still getting to be around and be a part of everything is really important for myself and for the fans. They've been out in full force, whether they're coming into the game tonight or just enjoying all the festivities that are around our city. "I'm just really happy, not only for Indianapolis and the state of Indiana and our organization, but really just the league overall." "Absolutely. And I think Phee would tell you a lot of the people in that room, probably half of them were — maybe not half, but a good amount of them were either my age or — we even had rookies in the room, too. We all have a good understanding that this is very important for our future, the future of the league, for the future of our careers." "Obviously there's a good amount of older players, too, that have been in this league a really long time and are excited about the future of where it's going to continue to go and they've been fighting for change at the same time. So I think in the room there was a great balance of these young stars, but also these vets who have been advocating for certain things that we're advocating for for quite some time. That was one of the most powerful parts of it, honestly." More coverage: WNBA All-Star Game live score updates tonight: Is Caitlin Clark playing? Rosters, how to watch "When the injury happened, it was pretty frustrating considering I knew what the coming days were going to hold. It was dealing with that, then also trying to look at it in the most positive manner that I can and being part of this, that wasn't going to be taken away from me. Sure, maybe I'm not able to play the games, but I can still be here and participate, and I have a ton of friends and family in town who are having a really good time, so I've been trying to enjoy it the best I can." "It all comes back to having a good perspective on everything. Certainly, there's frustration and a little bit of sadness, but at the same time, I've been able to have a great time too." "Certainly unfortunate and I feel like there've been quite a few injuries over the course of the beginning of the season for quite a few people. So a lot of people are in the same boat as myself — and even my team has dealt with some injuries tonight, so some people will be on just a couple minutes here and there, and we'll make do with what we have, hopefully to beat Phee." "I'm not going to say I've just been getting around-the-clock treatment. I've been still trying to enjoy this weekend and having a balance of that at the same time and soaking all of this in. Once tomorrow comes around, we'll completely shift my focus to getting as healthy as possible —" Collier: "Licking your wounds from the loss." Clark: "Yeah, whatever. But yeah, prioritizing (my recovery), but also having a good time has been important for myself." Clark: "I told my team to have as much fun as possible. At practice, we just shot a little bit and then we shot a half-court shot and we headed out. But that's All-Star weekend. We joke about winning, but at the end of the day, it's not that serious. We're gonna have a fun time. And I feel like, for me, it's a little bit of a unique perspective, because my first All-Star game was vs. Team USA. It was a little more serious to help them prepare for the Olympics. So this one, I would say the actual play is a little more laid back and a little more fun, but it's been cool to see everything that's been going on and how much everybody's enjoying it." Collier: "Exactly the same. I wasn't telling them anything about preparing for the game. We were preparing to be on Stud Budz. (laughs) Like Caitlin said, at the end of the day, we're here for a fun weekend. This is supposed to be our break, even though we play again Tuesday." Clark: "Yeah, we would appreciate a longer break." Collier: "So yeah, just having fun, especially together. It gets so serious, especially online, but we're friends and having a party with 30-40 of your closest people who you play with and against all the time. It's been really, really fun."
Indianapolis Star
15-07-2025
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
'It's been organic': Indy shoots for summer economy bump with WNBA All-Star Game
Streets downtown have been ceremoniously renamed after WNBA teams. Hotels are nearly sold out. Caitlin Clark's shooting form adorns the sky-blue JW Marriott hotel. It's a sign: The WNBA All-Star Game is coming to town — for the first time ever — and Indianapolis leaders, restaurant owners and residents are prepping for what they hope will be a healthy infusion to the local summer economy. On July 18 and 19, all eyes in the sports world will focus on Indianapolis, the city that has arguably catapulted professional women's basketball into the national spotlight and brought a fervor to the sport not seen before in the league's nearly 30-year history. Though the city predicts 70,000 visitors next weekend, the possible economic impact remains a mystery, as no known formal academic studies have analyzed the economic impact of the annual women's All-Star Game, Pacers Sports and Entertainment CEO Mel Raines said. Economic impact, a somewhat vague term used to discuss how certain events drive the economy, looks at direct spending from visiting fans and businesses; indirect revenue, or additional spending in Indianapolis; and the value of viewership, earned media and social media traffic. With such marquee sports events, the host committee typically also sets aside money to invest in local neighborhoods, which can boost the quality of life in Indianapolis. Studies say the NBA All-Star Game brings in hundreds of millions of dollars to host cities. In 2024, Indianapolis saw a $400 million boost to the economy while hosting the festivities, according to experts at Temple University's Sports Industry Research Center. That was the largest economic impact of an NBA All-Star Game recorded to date, even though a winter snowstorm hit the Circle City for most of the weekend. Pacers Sports and Entertainment contracted the same researchers behind the 2024 study to assess how the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game will impact Indianapolis, Raines said. Raines predicts the upcoming All-Star weekend will be bigger than ever before, as Indianapolis flexes its well-oiled tourism muscles and fans rally around women's basketball players like the Fever's Caitlin Clark, captain of one of the All-Star teams, and Aliyah Boston, both of whom have become household names. A 2024 analysis placed Clark's economic value at more than $36 million less than a year after the Fever drafted her. "We often help the host realize how big the event is when Indianapolis hosts events," said Raines, who also leads the weekend's host committee. "It's been organic to get the fans to lean in, and we know there will be some fans coming downtown rooting for Team Clark." Indianapolis landed the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game less than a year ago after scheduling issues with other franchise cities. Indy, just off a successful stint hosting the NBA All-Star Game, seemed like a natural fit. "If we hadn't just hosted the NBA All-Star Game, I might have been a little skeptical," Raines said of the last-minute call-up. At the time, the Fever were regularly selling out home games, with Indianapolis still reaping the rewards of Clark's rise to stardom. Just last week, fans lined the blocks outside Gainbridge Fieldhouse for a Wednesday noon game, an unseen sight until last year. The WNBA All-Star Weekend will have fewer ticketed attractions and a shorter event window than its NBA counterpart, meaning more people will be roaming the city in the span of two days. Downtown bars and restaurants are especially happy about the bump in attendance and foot traffic. The WNBA attracts a high number of families attending games with young daughters. Bryan Hillard, operations manager at The District Tap, said the bar sees women's basketball fans come in a few hours before tip-off for a whole meal compared to NBA fans who stop in for a quick beer right before games. WNBA fans often come in Iowa gear, a tribute to Clark's college days. This week, the bar is offering themed cocktails with nods to Indiana, the Fever and Clark. July is normally a slow month for District Tap, and Hillard predicts the All-Star Game could double the restaurant's sales this Saturday. "We are incredibly excited. I feel like the city in some ways has gotten lucky, but a lot of it has been a great job by the city to get a lot of great attractions," Hillard said. "As a whole with inflation and with a fear of tariffs and other things in the economy, I hear that industry sales are down all over the place, but I feel like we are not seeing that here," he added. On July 10, the 90-degree weather did not stop dozens of kids from playing basketball on a new court unveiled at Al Polin Park at the corner of 29th and Pennsylvania Streets. The court was part of a $1 million investment from the WNBA host committee to uplift communities in the lead up to the 2025 All-Star Game. The Legacy Court initiative included money for new asphalt, custom art, goals, hoops and backboards. With its bright blue color and signature WNBA branding, the court is hard to miss. Indianapolis artist Kierra Ready said she designed the court with fun and girly designs in mind to encourage young girls in the neighborhood to play the sport. "My style is very feminine, and it definitely connects and speaks to girls," Ready said. "I wanted girls to see the court and say 'Hey, I can play, too.'"
Indianapolis Star
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
New WNBA All-Star basketball court unveiled at Al Polin Park in Indianapolis
WNBA D'Angel Perryman, 7, dribbles a basketball during a youth basketball clinic following the unveiling for a new WNBA All-Star Legacy Court on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Al E. Polin Park in Indianapolis. Christine Tannous/IndyStar The new WNBA All-Star Legacy Court is visible on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Al E. Polin Park in Indianapolis. Christine Tannous/IndyStar Mel Raines, CEO of Pacers Sports and Entertainment, speaks during the unveiling for a new WNBA All-Star Legacy Court on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Al E. Polin Park in Indianapolis. Christine Tannous/IndyStar Kids shoot basketballs during a youth basketball clinic following the unveiling for a new WNBA All-Star Legacy Court on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Al E. Polin Park in Indianapolis. Christine Tannous/IndyStar Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett speaks during the unveiling for a new WNBA All-Star Legacy Court on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Al E. Polin Park in Indianapolis. Christine Tannous/IndyStar Richie Smith, the associate director of community engagement for Pacers Sports & Entertainment, leads a group of children in a chant following a youth basketball clinic following the unveiling for a new WNBA All-Star Legacy Court on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Al E. Polin Park in Indianapolis. Christine Tannous/IndyStar Artist Kierra Ready waves as she is introduced during the unveiling for a new WNBA All-Star Legacy Court on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Al E. Polin Park in Indianapolis. Christine Tannous/IndyStar Mel Raines, CEO of Pacers Sports and Entertainment, speaks during the unveiling for a new WNBA All-Star Legacy Court on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Al E. Polin Park in Indianapolis. Christine Tannous/IndyStar City officials and community members cut the ribbon during the unveiling for a new WNBA All-Star Legacy Court on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Al E. Polin Park in Indianapolis. Christine Tannous/IndyStar Nehemiah Talifarro, 11, dribbles a basketball during a youth basketball clinic following the unveiling for a new WNBA All-Star Legacy Court on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Al E. Polin Park in Indianapolis. Christine Tannous/IndyStar Brittany Crone, Interim Director of Indy Parks and Recreation, speaks during the unveiling for a new WNBA All-Star Legacy Court on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Al E. Polin Park in Indianapolis. Christine Tannous/IndyStar The new WNBA All-Star Legacy Court is visible on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Al E. Polin Park in Indianapolis. Christine Tannous/IndyStar Mason Williams, 11, (center) dribbles a basketball during a youth basketball clinic following the unveiling for a new WNBA All-Star Legacy Court on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Al E. Polin Park in Indianapolis. Christine Tannous/IndyStar The new WNBA All-Star Legacy Court is visible on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Al E. Polin Park in Indianapolis. Christine Tannous/IndyStar Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett speaks during the unveiling for a new WNBA All-Star Legacy Court on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Al E. Polin Park in Indianapolis. Christine Tannous/IndyStar
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How the new $78 million Fever practice facility fits into Indianapolis' plans for downtown
In December, Indianapolis announced the demolition of the former Marion County jail known as Jail I, promising to remove what has long been seen as an eyesore on a highly visible downtown block. Just a month later, Pacers Sports and Entertainment announced a gleaming new development to take the place of the jail, which has sat largely vacant since 2022: a $78 million performance facility for the Indiana Fever complete with two regulation basketball courts. For Fever fans and WNBA supporters, the facility represented an overdue commitment to women's sports, with many on social media celebrating a step in the right direction toward gender equity in professional sports. Others, however, lamented the decision to turn one of the few undeveloped city-owned properties downtown into a high-profile sports investment rather than find a public use for the site. City officials say the Fever development, which is not receiving money from the city, plays a key role in the city's South Downtown Connectivity Plan. The 2023 city plan identified a scarcity of retail space in the south downtown neighborhood. After the city completes demolition, scheduled for this summer, the parcel will be split into two equally-sized parcels. The Fever performance center will take up the western portion of the block, leaving open redevelopment for the eastern side. The Fever announcement "makes that site more attractive," Megan Vukusich, the city's Director of Metropolitan Development told IndyStar on Tuesday. A spokesperson for Mayor Joe Hogsett said the city would like to see the remaining land used for one of the four pillars of the mayor's downtown resiliency plan: housing, public space, infrastructure, or economic development. The surrounding area already has some housing projects underway. A short way away, the site of the former Marion County Jail II is undergoing a $120 million transformation into loft-style apartments and retail that will be known as the Cole Motor campus. Nearby, some 500 new units are coming online in the next few years at the City Market redevelopment and the Old City Hall project. The area could see additional public-use projects in the future, said Taylor Schaffer, president of Downtown Indy Inc. "I think we have to view all of these things as not an either or, but really maximizing the cross section of developments that make sense within each specific site," Schaffer told IndyStar. "There is still opportunity for additional development. This isn't going to look like a brick wall." Indianapolis paid $4 million to demolish the jail. Once demolition is complete, the city will give the western portion of the jail parcel to the Capitol Improvement Board, which will own and operate the facility, similar to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Pacers Sports and Entertainment will pay the full $78 million to build the facility and no CIB money will go toward development, a CIB spokesperson said. Though only Fever players and staff will use the practice facility, the team will hold community activities with an interactive lobby and team store, franchise officials said. Downtown officials see that use as a big step up from the jail. The site "has felt like a corridor that is primarily and frequently trafficked by so many out-of- town and local guests, and it hasn't felt welcoming, it hasn't felt inviting, it hasn't felt like the introduction to Indianapolis that you want to have," Schaffer said. "So to me, the idea that there is street level engagement with this planned facility, that there is retail component, that gives people a reason to go explore." Pacers Sports and Entertainment executives saw the empty site as an opportunity to invest in women's sports in Indianapolis, said PS&E CEO Mel Raines. The $78 million facility will "set the standard" in the WNBA, Raines said. Many WNBA teams have to practice in their NBA counterparts' spaces or share community gyms. "Having the best training facility for female professional athletes hopefully in the country, certainly we're hoping in the WNBA, to set the new standard helps with that stated goal," Raines said. Indy unveils big goal: 'Become the women's sports capital of the world' When asked if Pacers Sports and Entertainment had any other plans to expand the sports and entertainment campus in the near future, Raines reiterated the organization's strong support of the area. "Herb Simon (the Pacers owner) remains really bullish on downtown and is really invested in it, and so I would never say that we're done expanding," Raines said. "Herb loves downtown Indianapolis, and he wants to continue to invest and be a good partner of the city and the state." The soon-to-be Fever practice center falls within the bounds of a special tax district the city has proposed to finance a potential Major League Soccer stadium as the city lobbies for a franchise. The facility's taxing mechanism is awaiting approval from the state, but if approved, a portion of the taxes would be redirected to pay for a soccer stadium if Indianapolis succeeds in welcoming an MLS team. Such revenue would include sales taxes from the Fever team store and "other economic activity around that location,", the mayor's office said. The eastern land development is also expected to produce tax revenue. MLS: Simon-affiliated company quietly purchases another property near MLS stadium site Alysa Guffey covers growth and development for IndyStar. Have a business story or tip? Contact her at amguffey@ This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: How the new Fever facility fits into downtown Indianapolis development
