Wings guard Paige Bueckers, Mystics guard Sonia Citron react to arriving in Indianapolis for first career WNBA All-Star Game nod

But what really won over fans, and Lobo, was what Ionescu did after the contest. True to a promise she made while sitting on the bench, Ionescu pledged to give half her prize money to rookie Sonia Citron, 21, who bravely competed in the contest as the youngest participant.

Sonia Citron will get a generous gesture from a league vet after the 3-point contest, Kiki Iriafen learned an early lessons after a play involving Sophie Cunningham, and Paige Bueckers looked back on her career.

The WNBA’s midseason showcase is officially over after Indianapolis took center stage. The festivities were capped by Team Collier’s 151-131 victory over Team Clark.

Washington Mystics rookie All-Star Kiki Iriafen sent a message to the rest of the WNBA ahead of the second half of the season.

Citron and Iriafen, picked third and fourth in April’s draft, are the first rookie teammates to make a WNBA all-star team since 1999.

Despite Caitlin Clark's absence, the 2025 WNBA All-Star game on Saturday night has potential to be a memorable one on Saturday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Clark, who is out with a groin injury,

Ionescu also passed on the event last season. While she did not take part in the WNBA's 3-point contest, she did participate in a 3-point competition against Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry during the 2024 NBA All-Star weekend. Curry defeated Ionescu by just three points in an event that was well-received by fans.