NBA have exciting Caitlin Clark plan as WNBA star surges in popularity | Other | Sport

The NBA are set to capitalise on the current surge in fame of female basketball star Caitlin Clark by including the Indiana Fever player in its annual All-Star weekend. The format of the occasion is back in the spotlight following a one-sided 2024 affair, which saw the Eastern Conference beat their Western counterparts 211-186 in Indianapolis.

The ‘East vs West’ concept was reintroduced this year, going back to the initial team names used back in the inaugural game in 1951.

From 2018 to 2023, two team captains would hold a draft to choose their team, regardless of conference, with LeBron James winning five out of six contests as skipper.

But the 2025 version is set to incorporate the female game. According to ESPN, the league is in advanced talks to introduce a new tournament format to the All-Star event, as well as bringing back the NBA vs WNBA three-point shootout.

The latter was used last year, with Stephen Curry taking on Sabrina Ionescu. The contest proved popular with fans, and helped secure the biggest increase in year-on-year viewership of any All-Star event.

And there are now reports that the 2025 version, which will take place at the Chase Centre, home of the Golden State Warriors, is set to have Clark as the WNBA representative. She will take on Golden State icon Klay Thompson, now of the Dallas Mavericks.

Furthermore, there are proposals for four All-Star teams to play in a quick-fire tournament with the two semi-final winners then contesting a final, rather than the usual standalone All-Star Game.

But it’s the inclusion of Clark that is likely to harbour the most attention. The point guard has risen to superstardom in 2024, having broken multiple records in her debut season.

Her numbers in assists and point scoring inevitably saw her crowned the Rookie of the Year. And she was also named in the prestigious WNBA All-Star team by league organisers.

The involvement of the 22-year-old would also raise publicity ahead of the NBA’s new television deal coming into play. As of 2026, the All-Star game will move networks from TNT to NBC.

Clark is currently also weighing up a lucrative offer from the new Unrivaled 3v3 league, which gets underway in January. The game’s newest phenomenon has thus far been coy over her intentions, but organisers have confirmed a deal is on the table for the Iowa College graduate.