W.N.B.A.’s All-Star Weekend Is Still Buzzing, Even Without Caitlin Clark
The temperature had crept past 80 degrees, but on Friday afternoon, on a basketball court in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, Ava Shampo, 5, was feeling good.“I made it!” she said, smiling, after heaving an orange-and-white basketball toward a hoop that towered over her.The line of nets on Monument Circle, the traffic roundabout at the city’s center, was one of more than a dozen public events held in connection with the W.N.B.A. All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Saturday night. The game was expected to feature fan favorites like Aliyah Boston of the Indiana Fever and A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces — even if the biggest name, the Fever’s Caitlin Clark, was sidelined by a right groin injury she sustained earlier in the week.The turnout for All-Star Weekend — a fervent crowd seemingly undiminished by Ms. Clark’s injury — reflected both the explosion of interest in the W.N.B.A. and the excitement around the sport in Indianapolis.Fans descended on Indianapolis for more than a dozen public events held around the city in connection with the W.N.B.A. All-Star Game.Lee Klafczynski for The New York TimesA young fan decorated her sneakers.Lee Klafczynski for The New York TimesDonna Motley of Chicago made her own outfit for the weekend.Lee Klafczynski for The New York TimesWe are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More
