^{July 12, 2025 | Edition #110}

👋 Hey, Hoophead!

The All-Star Weekend is almost here. While the last few games before the break are keeping us plenty entertained, we won’t lie - we’re counting down the days. Because we're going to Indiana for you! Alongside all the All-Star festivities, you’ll also be getting something extra: our special She Got Game coverage. Tailored for you and brought to life by voices who have lived the game from the inside.

Why Indiana Deserves All-Star - and How Our Mission Starts There

In just one week, we’re heading to Indianapolis, and whether you’re joining us in person or virtually, we’re taking you with us. Yes, the All-Star Weekend is all about “It’s Her moment,” but for us, the mission has always been about making it yours, too. And while we’re all buzzing to be in that city, let’s take a second to ask: why Indiana?

Well, simple answer: Indiana is Basketball Hollywood right now.

There’s no other market with the kind of momentum Indiana has - from Indiana University to Notre Dame, from the Pacers to the Fever - this state is wired for basketball at every level. But it’s not just hoops. Indianapolis has hosted an unmatched lineup of major sporting events this past year. Just take a look.

WNBA All-Star comes to Indy a year after the city hosted the NBA All-Star Game. So, how come the W wouldn’t? After all, the Fever have been at the forefront of it. Powered by the one who made this city the epicentre, Caitlin Clark, they’re selling out arenas, shattering viewership records, and bringing in fans across generations.

Even so, is this all that makes Indy the perfect home for the very first time in 25 years? Not really. One of the biggest reasons has to be the way this city has embraced women’s sports and shown up to support. Which brings us to why we’re going. Because this moment aligns perfectly with everything She Got Game - presented by EssentiallySports - stands for.

At our core, we stand for women in sports. Along the way, we’ve been telling stories from your perspective. The fans’ perspective. So, being in a city that’s all-in on that same mission, it couldn’t be a better fit.

We’re bringing something special. A weekend of stories and coverage that speaks directly to you. And helping us do that is a fantastic crew - some of the faces you already know and love.

Smooth Moves, Off the Court

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It’s a low-lift way to upgrade your daily routine… or gift someone else a smoother one! Grab the offer now while it lasts.

She Got Game’s All-Star Roster

The game loves its stars, and so do we. But She Got Game is also about the ones who’ve felt the weight of the grind. The ones who know what it means to fight for space in a world that doesn’t hand it out easily.

That’s exactly what Natasha Howard is all about.

Announced recently as our Athlete Correspondent for the All-Star Weekend, Howard will bring the truth along with the coverage. Born just outside Indianapolis in Toledo, Natasha got drafted by the Fever in 2014, but her breakthrough came in Seattle.

After 2 All-Star appearances and 3 WNBA championships, she returned to Indy this year. Despite a star-studded roster, she showed us she’s still that force, becoming the Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game MVP. If you still have any questions about her quality, these clips will clear them.

It’s this kind of grit and refusal to give up that defines what it means to be a woman in sports. That’s exactly why she’s with us now. Not because she needed this platform, but because this platform needed her.

“As their Athlete Correspondent, I'll be sharing my perspective, stories, and experiences in a way that helps fans feel even more connected to the game and the players they love,” she said. Check out her full quotes and more here!

Joining Natasha on the ground will be Chloe Mitchell: former athlete, founder, and digital voice for a new generation. Together, they represent two sides of the same mission: build space, own the story, and bring the game closer to those who’ve lived it and those still learning what it takes.

Number Twins! When More Than Half the All-Star Roster Shares the Same Digits- Find Out Who

The Bounce Backs That Spoke Volumes

In the final quarter of Indiana vs. Atlanta on Friday, something rare happened. The stoic, mostly quiet Kelsey Mitchell turned to the crowd, arms waving, voice raised, getting everyone on their feet. That alone tells you how badly Indiana needed this 99-82 win over the Dream.

They had lost two straight games to teams they should’ve beaten. But this time, a fully healthy Fever roster showed up. Mitchell led the way with 25 points, Caitlin Clark dropped 12, Aliyah Boston added a powerful 19, and Natasha Howard contributed 9 points and 7 rebounds. However, it was Sophie Cunningham who provided the spark.

Off the bench, she made all the difference, shooting 5-of-9 for 16 points, along with 10 rebounds. Look at some of her best buckets of the night!

Atlanta led by as many as seven in the third, but Indiana responded with one of their best offensive halves this season to close out their fourth and final regular-season meeting with the Dream.

Meanwhile, speaking of bounce backs… the Lynx didn’t just bounce. They blasted off. For nearly four magical minutes in the first quarter, it looked like an upset was brewing. The Sparks had the Lynx on edge, and a stunner against the WNBA’s best team actually felt possible.

But then, Minnesota did what Minnesota does to clinch a historic win. Why it holds so much weight? See for yourself. They went into halftime up by 10 and blew it wide open with a 27-point lead in the third. Sure, the Sparks had a 17-0 run bridging the third and fourth, but the Lynx stayed composed and won 91-82.

Natisha Hiedeman led with 18 points, matching her season high, while Napheesa Collier added 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Most Engaged Sports Franchise? This W-Team Outranks All of Men’s Sports- And It's Not Indiana

✨ She Got Glam! ✨

Skylar Diggins had a slow start last year and missed the All-Star cut. It seems like she took that personally, dropping double digits almost every night and earning her spot back. But it came with what might’ve been Seattle’s biggest letdown: a loss to a struggling Sun team. So in the rematch, she came with all the smoke: scoring, talking, and getting so fired up she had to be held back. Check out Diggins almost coming to blows.

Sun & Aces’ Fourth Quarter Fadeouts

“The physicality is out of control. It’s not basketball, it’s rugby.” That’s what Becky Hammon said before tip-off against the Mystics. And well - ironically enough - it was her own team sending DC players flying. It was this moment when Brittney Sykes got bulldozed and hit the floor hard. The rest of the game was anything but highlight-worthy for the Aces.

With 3:45 left in the fourth, Vegas led 66-58. But then Washington went on a 12-2 run to close out the game 70-68. The Aces shot just 12% from three (3-25), had more turnovers (13) than assists (12), and were without A’ja Wilson.

Then, same theme, different coast. Seattle vs. Connecticut, round two. After a shocking loss to the Sun last time out, the Storm wanted revenge. At least, Skylar Diggins did. Seattle went into halftime down by two. By the end of the third, the Storm started creating some separation, fueled by Gabby Williams’ ice-cold shot at the buzzer.

Seattle slammed the door shut with a massive 19-5 run in the final quarter to win it 79-65. While the Sun lost, they didn’t leave empty-handed. Tina Charles officially joined the exclusive Diana Taurasi club, becoming just the second player in WNBA history to hit 8,000 career points.

So with the All-Star Weekend fast approaching, the fire’s only getting hotter. Of course, we’re excited to watch it all go down, but we’re even more hyped to bring you something special live from Indy. If you’re wondering what all we’ve got planned for you, stay tuned for our next edition!

“It’s Softer?” Tina Charles Totally Dismisses Becky Hammon’s Claim

📝 More Stories to Check Out

1. “Weird!” Ex-Chicago Star Shreds WNBA for Paying Caitlin Clark Just $78K - Full Story

2. Rhyne Howard’s Injury Sparks Fear After Fiery Run-In With Old Rival Lexie Hull- Here’s the History - Full Story

3. WNBA Teams Are Using Sandy Brondello’s Playbook to Shut Down Caitlin Clark - Full Story

4. Sonia Citron Misses Her All-Star Moment Because of Commissioner Cathy’s Blunder? - Full Story

5. "Tell Me My Fine!" Becky Hammon Puts Refs on Blast After Jackie Young’s No-Call Ends Aces’ Night - 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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