The 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis was poised to be a grand celebration of women's basketball, with Indiana Fever's own Caitlin Clark set to be a central figure. However, a groin injury sidelined Clark, forcing her to withdraw from both the All-Star Game and the highly anticipated 3-Point Contest.
In a heartwarming turn of events, Clark's teammate, Lexie Hull, was named as her replacement in the 3-Point Contest. The announcement was met with enthusiastic support from Clark, who took to Instagram to express her excitement, posting a story of Hull being announced as her replacement with a "crisp and elated three-word caption saying, ‘Let's get ittttt’".
Hull's participation is well-deserved, as she boasts an impressive three-point record. Halfway through the season, Hull holds the fourth-highest three-point percentage in the WNBA, successfully making 29 of her 62 attempts, which translates to 46.8 percent.
The Indiana crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse erupted in a frenzy of excitement upon hearing Hull's name announced during the 3-Point Contest introductions. Clark, despite her injury, was present to support her teammate, further fueling the crowd's enthusiasm. Clark's presence and support amplified the excitement, turning what could have been a disappointing situation into a moment of camaraderie and celebration.
Hull joined a field of elite shooters, including Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty), Allisha Gray (Atlanta Dream), Sonia Citron (Washington Mystics), and Kelsey Plum (Los Angeles Sparks). Gray and Ionescu are past champions, having won in 2024 and 2023, respectively. Hull entered the contest as the only non-All-Star participant.
Despite not being able to compete herself, Clark expressed her disappointment and affirmed her support from the sidelines. She stated, "I am incredibly sad and disappointed to say I can't participate in the 3-Point Contest or the All-Star Game. I have to rest my body. I will still be at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for all the action, and I'm looking forward to helping (New York Liberty coach) Sandy (Brondello) coach our team to a win".
Clark's injury has been a recurring issue this season, limiting her to just 13 games out of Indiana's 23. In those games, she has averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, and 5.0 rebounds, but her shooting percentages have been lower than expected, with 36.7% from the field and just under 28% from three-point range.
While Clark's absence from the All-Star Game was a setback, the league ensured that Indiana would still be well-represented. Along with Hull in the 3-Point Contest, Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston joined Clark on the All-Star team. Ultimately, Brittney Sykes and Brionna Jones were named as injury replacements for Clark and Satou Sabally on Team Clark.
The WNBA All-Star weekend promised a blend of excitement, competition, and camaraderie, and despite Clark's injury, the event was still a resounding success. The enthusiastic reaction to Hull's introduction, fueled by Clark's support, showcased the strong team spirit and the unwavering support of the Indiana fans.
