^{July 19, 2025 | Edition #113}

👋 Hey, Hoophead!

The first night of the All-Star weekend clearly belonged to the New York Liberty. The defending champs came in with a mission and dominated both the Skills Challenge and the 3-Point Contest. But while all eyes were on the court, we had our biggest night right here in Indiana, soaking it all in with none other than Natasha Howard. There’s a whole lot we can’t wait to share.

She Got Game x Natasha: The Moment Finally Hit

It’s been a week of teasing, hasn’t it? Trust us, it will be totally worth it because the moment finally came through. We were in Indy, right in the middle of all those All-Star vibes. And just as things were kicking off, guess who made the trip instantly better? Yes, everyone’s favorite, Caitlin Clark.

That was just the start of a star-studded day. Along the way, we also caught up with Azzi Fudd, Joshua Cunningham, and a few more of your faves. But the highlight of the day was when we finally got to sit down for that long-awaited exclusive conversation with Natasha Howard.

The vibe was super chill. Natasha, in a laid-back Nike hoodie, joined Chloe Mitchell on a bench, and the two shared a few laughs as they dove into it all: The past, the present, and even the future.

SGG in Indy: Check out some of the snaps from the day.

Tash opened up about her WNBA journey, return to the Fever, and the changes she’s witnessed over the years. Is that all, though? Well, the vet also revealed those retirement plans. So when we say that the Fever star held nothing back, we mean it. The full video will drop soon!

Also, heads-up: we’ve got a special All-Star Game edition of our newsletter coming your way tomorrow. So keep an eye on your inbox. We’re beyond excited to share this one with you. It means a lot to us, and we believe it’ll mean a lot to you, too.

Hydration That Holds Up

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Sabrina Ionescu Gets Her Indy Moment

Remember when Sabrina Ionescu went head-to-head with Steph Curry in a 3-point shootout during the NBA All-Star Weekend in Indy? That didn’t exactly go her way. And she did not forget either. So this time, when the WNBA 3-point contest returned to the same city, she came back with receipts. She wanted to erase that memory.

We’ve seen her stun before. Who forgets the 37-point performance that literally broke the internet in 2023? It’s still the best we’ve seen across both the WNBA and NBA. This time, Ionescu joined a WNBA legend in this exclusive club, locking in two major milestones along the way.

In a lineup that included Lexie Hull, Sonia Citron, and Kelsey Plum, it all came down to a classic showdown - Sabrina and Allisha Gray, the 2023 and 2024 champs, respectively. Gray dropped a solid 22, only for Sab to go full supernova with a 30-point final round to bag her second 3 PT contest trophy. Check out the brilliant final round!

Ionescu walked away with the ultimate flex and, of course, had to show off: FaceTiming Steph Curry right after to show him the trophy. Because, well… why not?

However, the most shocking fact is, you’d think she trained for this moment, right? No. She didn’t practice at all leading up to the contest. The first time she shot off a rack was literally during warmups, just minutes before it started. Star behavior only. Now, she walks away with $62,575. However, she’s not keeping any of it. Not half, not a cent.

For the Greater Good: Sabrina Ionescu’s Heartfelt Reason for Not Keeping the Prize Money

Natasha Cloud Wins Big in Every Way

Can 1.1 seconds really cost you $55,000? Just ask Erica Wheeler. That’s all the time Natasha Cloud needed to snatch the Skills Challenge win, and her very first WNBA All-Star event trophy, right out of Wheeler’s hands. She made it count in every possible way.

After sealing the win, Cloud ran straight to the sidelines and kissed her teammate and girlfriend, Isabelle Harrison. Trophy in one hand, love in the other? THE dream. Check out Cloud’s stunning performance that won her the trophy!

It sure came after a lot of hard work, though. Cloud set the pace early, clocking the fastest time of the first round at 34.1 seconds. She breezed through the passing drills and hit just enough jumpers to make the finals, joining Seattle’s Erica Wheeler.

The others - Allisha Gray, Courtney Williams, and Skylar Diggins - fell just short. This was the second time Williams lost a shot at the bag. Naturally, she had the most hilarious meltdown.

In the final, Wheeler went first and crushed it with 37.8 seconds. It was tight. But Cloud wasn’t backing down. She blazed through the course and edged her by just 1.1 seconds. Then, in true teammate fashion, she stayed on the sidelines hyping up Sabrina Ionescu for her event, celebrating her win just as hard.

First-Year Fire! All-Star Has Been a Rookie Show for Years - Here’s the Proof

✨ She Got Glam! ✨

Napheesa Collier’s All-Star weekend had everything: her big Jordan Heir debut, a killer orange carpet look, some fun on StudBudz Live, and even a push for a new CBA. At what felt like the WNBA’s Met Gala, players were asked who they'd trust with a last-second, life-saving shot. Most went with teammates or besties, but Phee? Her answer came straight from a college heartbreak UConn fans haven’t forgotten. Check it out!

Team Clark vs Team Phee! Who Runs the All-Star Stage?

The All-Star weekend is definitely not what we had originally pictured. The lineups we were hyped for have taken a few unexpected turns thanks to some untimely injuries, with the biggest casualty being Captain Caitlin Clark herself. Not the twist we wanted. But you know, just when the energy dipped, StudBudz (Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman) said, “Let’s fix that.”

Between the pre-party chaos, red carpet slayage, and some behind-the-scenes court fun, the vibes are officially back on. The whole league was going crazy on Friday night! See for yourself!

Now, about Clark’s spot, it’s going to Brittney Sykes. Surprisingly, when Sykes got the All-Star call, she was frustrated. First-time All-Star, and still, it wasn’t just champagne and roses? Only because she was getting ready for a vacation. To add to it, Satou Sabally is out, and Brionna Jones is stepping in.

Even though Clark’s drafting strategy felt a little like “vibes first, structure later,” it kinda worked out. Her squad’s guard core is stacked with smart, fluid ballhandlers - think of a pace-and-space setup with shooters who can also dish. Add in A’ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston patrolling the paint.

But if Team Clark’s going for speed and IQ, Team Phee is built to bully. With Angel Reese, Alyssa Thomas, and Nneka anchoring the paint, they’re going to be a force down low. Throw in Breanna Stewart, Kelsey Plum, and Collier herself, and you’ve got physicality and a whole lineup of scorers.

And yes, while they’ve been partying it up, don’t sleep on the grind. We even got a glimpse of Mama Husky and Baby Husky going 1v1 in a gritty UConn alumni battle.

All in all, looking at the team, Team Clark’s experience, or slight lack of it, might be a factor. Two rookies on the roster means some nerves might kick in. Let’s not forget, though, that it’s an All-Star game. In a game like this, it’s never just about the numbers. It’s about energy, chemistry, and who can show out when the spotlight hits.

The Impact of Caitlin Sitting Out: Massive Drop-off in All-Star Game Ticket Prices

📝 More Stories to Check Out

1. Caitlin Clark Getting Saved By Aliyah Boston on StudBudz Live Stream Has Fans Screaming ‘Real One’ - Full Story

2. Why Sabrina Ionescu Is Still ‘Disappointed’ Even After Setting Two Records - Full Story

3. Wait, That’s Cheryl Reeve? WNBA’s Toughest Coach Goes Viral for Dance Moves - Full Story

4. Family Fury Erupts After Caitlin Clark’s Injury as Analyst Accuses Fever of Bigger Blunder - Full Story

5. Paige Bueckers Blasts WNBA’s CBA Offer as Breanna Stewart Calls Meeting a “Wasted Opportunity” - Full Story

That’s it for today, folks! We’ll look to knock on your inbox soon with more interesting stories!

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