Indianapolis, IN – July 17–19, 2025
During WNBA All-Star Weekend, The Players Company brought a powerful slate of events to Indianapolis, celebrating the intersection of sports, culture, capital, and community. From the Sports, Tech, and Venture Summit—hosted in partnership with Plain Sight, Be Nimble, and Sixty8 Capital—to our flagship event, Hoops & Icons, the weekend was more than just a showcase of women’s basketball. It was a statement about what’s possible when athletes, founders, and visionaries come together to challenge the status quo and reimagine the future.
Women Leading the Charge: Visibility, Investment & Impact
On Friday, July 18th, we kicked off the day with The WarmUp: Founder’s Brunch at Sports,Tech and Venture Summit, where founders and partners connected over mimosas to share their visions, discuss business, and build meaningful relationships. The day’s programming focused on the powerful role women continue to play in leadership across sports, business, and investment.
The panel Visibility for Women in Sports and Business explored how media, branding, and ownership are helping shift the landscape and expand opportunities for women in the industry. In Women Athletes Turned Entrepreneurs and Investors, former athletes shared their personal journeys as they moved beyond sport to build businesses, grow as investors, and define their identities in new ways.
The day closed with Pitchin’ Ain’t Easy, the high-energy pitch competition where top women-led startups vied for a $25,000 cash prize. With passion and innovation on full display, the competition proved that supporting women founders is not just the right thing to do; it is a smart investment. Congratulations to Jori Davis, founder of WEVOLV, whose pitch stood out for its clarity, vision, and impact.
Hoops & Icons Ignites Arsenal Tech
The day transitioned from capital to culture as Hoops & Icons took over Arsenal Tech for a primetime showcase of basketball and excellence. Hosted in front of a buzzing crowd, this star-powered event blended elite-level basketball with real community impact, bringing fans closer to the energy of the game like never before.
From the first whistle to the final shot, Hoops & Icons honored the women who continue to redefine what’s possible, on the court and beyond it. The evening featured a dynamic lineup of athletes and changemakers, including:
- Mariah Linney – content creator and on-court force
- Christina Granville – known as “Ms. Basketball”
- Shalanda Armstrong – Managing Partner at 100KM Ventures
- Shannon Steele – CEO & Founder of Steele Bank
Together, they brought authenticity, energy, and a whole lot of game to the 3-on-3 tournament and fan-favorite Red Bull Run-the-Racks 3-point competition.
Beyond the competition, guests enjoyed curated vendor booths, live music from Red Bull’s DJ, and an atmosphere that turned a sporting event into a full-blown cultural moment. Special thanks to our partners who made it all possible—Red Bull, Moneyball Sportswear, LandJet, and MetaFlex—for helping us take this experience to the next level.
Voices & Visionaries: Podcasts, Tech & Tomorrow
Saturday, July 19th, turned the spotlight to storytelling, innovation, and what comes next. Live podcast tapings featured conversations with leading voices shaping the future, including pitch competition winner Jori Davis, who joined The Players Company’s own “Paychecks and Playbooks” to share her journey as an athlete-led entrepreneur and founder of WEVOLV. Meanwhile, “The Right REED” welcomed WNBA star Sophie Cunningham for a candid discussion on wage equity, branding, and creative ownership. The day wrapped with a lively networking happy hour, bringing together founders, investors, and product leaders working on everything from wearable performance tech to AI-driven fan engagement.
After the Final Buzzer: Celebrating Wins & New Beginnings
At its core, WNBA All-Star Weekend is about more than basketball. It’s about visibility, empowerment, and lasting impact. From young fans meeting their heroes to women building businesses courtside, every moment captured what the WNBA stands for and what we’re building together.
This is what the future of sports looks like.
