The WNBA is wrapping up the first half of the season this week before heading into the Indiana All-Star break, spotlighting rising star Kate Rinklerk. The Indiana Fever will have three players in the All-Star game on Saturday—Clark, Aliya Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell—with one of the captains, Clark, selecting her Indiana teammates for the matchup.
Leading up to Saturday, Fever had a packed schedule with back-to-back games, first against Connecticut in Boston and then against New York. Currently just above .500, Indiana is aiming to build momentum as they approach the break.
Minnesota, whose All-Star captain is Napheesa Collier, holds the league’s best record at 19-4. The Lynx went 2-2 in a hectic stretch of four games over six days and have a crucial game against second-place Phoenix on Wednesday before pausing for the break.
Rhyne Howard of Atlanta is sidelined for the rest of the month due to a left knee injury sustained against Indiana. Howard, who earned her third All-Star selection earlier this month and was drafted by Team Collier, will be replaced by a nominee appointed by Commissioner Kathy Engelbert. The expectation is for Howard to make a full recovery, with a timeline to be announced later.
ABC recorded the most-watched WNBA game ever on Saturday, with 2.1 million viewers tuning in to watch Paige Bueckers and Dallas take on Clark and Indiana. The Fever were overwhelmed in the first professional matchup between the two star guards.
Nazhirmon set an Atlanta franchise record by playing in his 128th consecutive game, surpassing Isian Castro Marquez’s 127-game mark. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s Natisha Hydeman holds the longest current streak at 199 games, while Dawn Staley holds the league record at 263.
In the Power Voting Rankings, Phoenix overtook Minnesota after beating the Lynx last week, moving to first place—a spot they haven’t held since 2018. Minnesota dropped to second, New York sits third, and Atlanta, Indiana, and Seattle continue to hold steady. Washington climbed two spots to seventh, with Golden State and Las Vegas advancing as well. The rankings are rounded out by Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Connecticut.
Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas was named this week’s top player, averaging 23 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds to lead Mercury to victories in both games last week. Shakira Austin of Washington and Angel Reese of Chicago were also nominated.
The upcoming All-Star Game, Team Clark vs. Team Collier, is set for Saturday in Indianapolis, where Clark aims to put on a memorable show for her hometown fans.
Fan Take: This All-Star break is crucial for the WNBA as it showcases exceptional young talent like Kate Rinklerk and highlights intense rivalries that fuel the league’s growing popularity. These narratives not only excite current fans but also help attract new audiences, pushing the sport toward greater visibility and respect.
