Public safety officials want attendees to be reassured their safety at the WNBA All-Star game and its events are a top priority despite recent crime.
WNBA All-Star Game festivities start this week, and Mayor Joe Hogsett said the top priority for city leaders is public safety.
"This is a very important weekend because we have both Indiana Black Expo and the WNBA All-Star Game," Mayor Joe Hogsett said. "The chief and public safety officials in Indianapolis are pretty veteran at holding the largest single-day sporting events in all the world."
Different law enforcement agencies from central Indiana and the Indiana State Police will be out throughout downtown, and IMPD has shifted staffing to make sure neighborhoods throughout the city are still being patrolled adequately.
Public safety officials want attendees to be reassured that their safety at the WNBA All-Star Game and its associated events is a top priority despite public concerns after a spate of shootings and homicides in recent weeks.
People can TEXT ALLSTAR25 to 67283 to opt into public safety notifications.
Recent uptick in shootings
Since summer started on June 20, there have been 22 homicides and 70 non-fatal shootings across Indianapolis.
Thirty people were shot from July 4 to 6, 2025. Five people died, two of whom were teens hit during a mass shooting downtown.
IMPD Chief Chris Bailey said he saw fewer kids downtown past curfew this past weekend as he worked the area himself on Friday and Saturday nights. He said he also saw fewer juveniles with firearms, a trend that he said he hopes continues.
"They want what we all want to do, and they should be able to come down here and enjoy themselves, but we want them to do so in the right ways," Bailey said.
"We can't control your behavior," Bailey said. "I'm asking people to come downtown and have a peaceful heart. You don't have to solve your issues with weapons, whether it's a gun or otherwise. We will enforce the law."
Road closures downtown for WNBA All-Star weekend
Monument Circle: Wednesday, July 16, to Sunday, July 20
- The south half of Monument Circle will be closed Wednesday, July 16, at 8 a.m. until Sunday, July 20, at 6 p.m.
- The northeast quad of Monument Circle will be closed from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 19.
Delaware Street: Friday, July 18
For the WNBA STARRY 3-Point Contest and Kia WNBA Skills Challenge event, doors at Gainbridge Fieldhouse will open at 6:30 p.m. The event starts at 8 p.m. Delaware Street will be closed between South Street and Maryland Street from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Delaware Street: Saturday, July 19
For the AT&T WNBA All-Star Game, Gainbridge Fieldhouse doors will open at 7 p.m. with the event starting at 8:30 p.m. Delaware Street will be closed between South Street and Maryland Street from 4-11 p.m.
Closed due to construction
- Illinois Street from South Street to Georgia Street northbound
- Georgia Street westbound from Illinois Street to Capitol Avenue
- Georgia Street eastbound from Capitol Avenue to Illinois Street
All Star Bounce: Saturday, July 19
Registration starts at 7 a.m., with the event starting at 9 a.m. at the American Legion Mall. Meridian south from the American Legion Mall to Monument Circle will be closed between 7 a.m. and noon.
Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at [email protected] and follow her on X, formerly Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: WNBA All-Star 2025: Public safety, traffic alerts & anti-violence
Category: General Sports
