Kaitlyn from Girls Forward recently attended the WNBA’s 2025 All Star in Indianapolis, Indiana this past weekend. 

Here are her takeaways from the weekend:

I feel incredibly fortunate to have attended WNBA All Star for the past three years (Las Vegas in 2023 and Phoenix in 2024). This year felt like it had the most events available- and with strong marketing and promotion, it was easy to discover them ahead of time. I love that. 

It would have been difficult for anyone to attend everything. The event scene this year felt more competitive, with fans needing to pick and choose based on topics, interest, or which companies/brands were hosting. From what I discovered, about 80% of the events were free, which is fantastic from an accessibility standpoint.

As someone who loves spending All Star weekend running around the city hopping from one event to the next all day long, there were plenty of options. The variety of events has grown so much, there was truly something for almost everyone: panels and summits, live podcast recordings, walking tours, kid-friendly activations, beauty/skincare-focused events, and even community-driven basketball court revitalizations. 

On Friday, I attended an Unrivaled event with photo-op moments, merch, and player appearances. Sue Bird’s podcast Bird’s Eye View had a live recording featuring Valkyries’ Kayla Thornton. I had been to a taping before, and once again, it was seamlessly run. These well-produced, fan-first experiences are exactly the kind that keep me coming back. The fact that my affordably priced ticket got me into such a quality event? I’m more than happy to keep supporting them. 

On Saturday, I checked out Nike’s activation. It was hosted outdoors in a fully branded space they completely took over- and OWNED. It felt like a small Nike world: customizable t-shirts, a basketball court, four massive WNBA-themed billboards, and other fun interactive elements. I was already familiar with their customizable shirt experience from last year, and it continues to be one of the most consistent and thoughtfully executed activations. I can’t wait to see what they dream up for WNBA All Star 2026.

I also checked out one of The Female Quotient’s panels, which featured WNBA team presidents and general managers. They had panels and opportunities to network hosted throughout the day. 

wnba branding, billboards, art:

The WNBA’s presence in Indianapolis was impossible to miss. The downtown core was full of All Star signage, and they even temporarily renamed street signs after teams like “Seattle St.” and “Las Vegas Ave.”

There was also a strong art presence and countless WNBA-related billboards- another thing they absolutely nailed. It was amazing to see art used as an example of how intersectional sport can be. The nods to Indy’s auto-racing heritage were great, for example, with their merch, though I think there’s still untapped potential there. A themed event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway or one spotlighting women in motorsport would be such a unique crossover moment. The opportunity for sports to align with other industries is something I’d love to see explored more. 

THE ALL STAR GAME:

When I first attended the All Star game in Las Vegas, it became one of the main reasons I fell in love with the entire All Star weekend. To me, WNBA players- and women athletes in general- are celebrities. It’s a starstruck moment to see them in person, and even more so to watch a whole group of them together. Watching their camaraderie up close- catching up, laughing, having fun- is special. It’s a moment where they can temporarily pause being fierce competitors. It almost feels like a brief breaking of the fourth wall.

I also loved seeing the WNBA players on the jumbotron during the halftime music performance, dancing along, including a player practically keeping up with the choreography, just enjoying the moment. These athletes are so likeable, and it’s such a joy to watch them not only compete, but also have their personalities shown and celebrated. 

looking ahead to wnba all star 2026:

As a huge fan of All Star weekends, I’m hopeful for continued growth in both the quantity and variety of events. As demand rises and we have numbers as baselines for planning, I hope we see increased venue capacity, strategic planning, and well-organized experiences from all the brands involved. When brands design for fans first- like Nike’s activations or the Bird’s Eye View podcast recording have done- it earns real loyalty and helps shape how I decide which experiences to prioritize in future All Star cities. 

Here are a few dream events I’d love to see in 2026: 

• A fan-accessible WNBA orange carpet experience, like a movie premiere where fans can interact in person or spectate. 
• More intersections between food culture and the WNBA. I’d plan my entire eating schedule around this for food spots that lean into All Star branding with colours, names of their dishes, etc.
• Events that celebrate the history and nostalgia of the WNBA- this kind of event would instantly become a top priority for me. 
• A second-hand WNBA merch marketplace or swap. I would be laser-focused on finding vintage pieces and be in a very impulsive shopper mindset.
• A women’s basketball or sports documentary screening. As someone who loves film and all things cinematic, this would be an incredible way to celebrate women’s sports storytelling, from archival footage to new productions that deserve the spotlight.