![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Black-Expo.Tamika-mural.52.jpg\")
Community mural featuring WNBA legend Tamika Catchings Credit: Visit Indy<\/p>\nCommunity mural featuring WNBA legend Tamika Catchings Credit: Visit Indy<\/p>\n
INDIANAPOLIS \u2013 The Indiana Convention Center was listed under \u201cHot Spot Specifics\u201d on the WNBA All-Star listing of events. During the five-day span, the building housed both WNBA LIVE and the Indiana Black Expo (IBE) Summer Celebration.<\/p>\n
While there was a general admission cost to attend WNBA-related activities, the Expo, which began July 10, was mainly free and featured a film festival, business and education conferences, a health fair, a music festival, a gospel explosion, a Cultural Arts Pavilion, and a health and wellness basketball clinic for fathers and daughters.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Erin Brunson Credit: Charles Hallman<\/p>\n
Was it coincidental that both events were planned for the same time, with the two-day scheduled WNBA event connected with the All-Star Game threatening to overshadow the Black-themed Expo?<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t believe it\u2019s a coincidence,\u201d said Erin Brunson of Kroger, one of the many local vendors that had a booth at IBE. The Expo \u201cis nothing new. It\u2019s been established over 50 years,\u201d he pointed out.<\/p>\n
The IBE website says it was established in 1970 as \u201can effective voice & vehicle for the social and economic advancement of African-American youth and families.\u201d The Summer Celebration is among several events that it sponsors during the year.<\/p>\n
Pacers Sports & Entertainment manages the NBA\u2019s Pacers and the WNBA\u2019s Fever and the downtown arena they play in, along with a nonprofit organization that supports youth and community initiatives in Indiana. A spokesperson told the MSR that they often work with the Black community: They sponsored last Friday\u2019s IBE corporate luncheon that honored broadcaster and retired WNBA player Chiney Ogwumike, actors Wendell Pierce and Alfre Woodard, and singer Deniece Williams.<\/p>\n
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Cheryl Reeve Credit: Charles Hallman<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s for real,\u201d surmised Brunson on Pacers Sports and other city-based organizations involving the Black community in such large events as last weekend\u2019s All-Star Game. \u201cI think they do a good job reaching out.\u201d<\/p>\n
All-Star takeaways\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The MSR once again was the only Minnesota media in attendance covering the annual WNBA mid-season classic. \u201cCharles, you have been holding up for a number of years,\u201d said Minnesota Lynx and All-Star HC Cheryl Reeve. \u201cFor you to come to these tentpole events, you are doing what the local media should be doing. They should be here. Thank you for making the investment to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n The WNBA\u2019s second half of the season began Tuesday \u2014 Minnesota is 20-4 and leading the league. \u201cThe grade for the first half was an A-minus,\u201d guard Kayla McBride told me last week. \u201cWe have a lot of work to do. We had a tough stretch of games to finish out the first half of the season. I\u2019m excited for the second half.\u201d<\/p>\n An estimated 40 players met last week with league officials over the CBA negotiations.\u00a0 Reportedly it didn\u2019t go well.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will continue to push for everything that we earned,\u201d New York\u2019s Natasha Cloud told reporters, including the MSR, last Friday when a reporter asked about the meeting. \u201cThe word \u2018earned\u2019 should be something highlighted. Sometimes I think our intelligence is insulted in a lot of ways.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe are more than just basketball players,\u201d Cloud stressed. \u201cWe understand economics and business models. We understand exactly where this league is heading. There has to be a common ground, but what\u2019s been presented is a slap in the face.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a very pivotal moment,\u201d concluded the veteran player. \u201cI think we have a huge, huge responsibility to make a transformational CBA not only for our generation now but the next generation that will come into this league.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Black-Expo.Mcbride.52-scaled-e1753472489920-771x824.jpg\")
\u00a0Kayla McBride Credit: Charles Hallman<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Black-Expo.Cloud_.52.jpg\")
Natasha Cloud Credit: Charles Hallman<\/p>\n