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Forbes
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
WNBA All-Star Weekend 2025: Black Culture And Fan Power Shape The Game
As Indianapolis hosts the 21st WNBA All-Star Weekend, record-breaking fan engagement, major brand partnerships, and the influence of Black creatives spotlight the league's meteoric rise. INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JUNE 20: A general view of signage with the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game logo on June ... More 20, 2025, at Indianapolis International Airport in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Fans, players, and sponsors are preparing to descend on Indianapolis for the 21st WNBA All-Star weekend. The main event will take place July 19 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and will feature 22 of the league's brightest stars led by opposing team captains, Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier. The league has witnessed explosive growth since 1999, when it hosted its first All-Star exhibition in New York. For example, A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces was the only player to garner more than 90,000 fan votes in 2023. Conversely, the top three fan favorites for this year's matchup—Clark, Collier, and Aliyah Boston—each received more than 1 million votes. In addition to increased fan engagement, the league has also landed new partnerships with a diverse slate of brands, including Coach and Ally Financial. Both companies signed multiyear deals in 2025. With Black women making up more than 60 percent of WNBA players, including some of the league's most beloved, All-Star weekend has become a platform for the culture. Here are three markers that demonstrate how Black founders and creatives are contributing to the league's growth at this year's All-Star experience. Black-founded Brands In The Spotlight While All-Star weekend boasts major sponsors such as AT&T, State Farm, and Kia, this year's festivities will shine a light on Black-founded brands as well, such as the sports apparel brand, Playa Society. Fans will get a peek into founder Esther Wallace's design process and have a chance to snag new merchandise. Wallace, a former pro baller, founded the brand in 2018 with the trademarked 'Female Athlete T-Shirt.' The shirt displays the words 'female athlete' with a line striking through 'female' to counter the notion that women's sports are inferior. Mielle Organics, a haircare brand established by Monique Rodriguez, will also return to WNBA Live for the third time with an activation that highlights the intersection of beauty, sports, and culture. The company became the league's Official Textured Haircare Partner in 2023, the same year it signed Angel Reese as a brand ambassador. In addition to its brand activation, Mielle will also launch a new initiative, the HBCU Event Intern Program. A press release described the project as 'a one-of-a-kind event internship experience that provides career development opportunities in the business of basketball for a select group of HBCU students.' The student interns will include two players from the Lady Pirates, the Hampton University women's basketball team. Mielle established a partnership with the HBCU team in 2024 through a $200,000 gift and a separate endowed scholarship fund for student athletes. The program is a collaboration between Mielle and the WNBA and makes history as the league's first project focused on students at historically Black colleges and universities. Sydney Colson's Stand-up Comedy Debut DALLAS, TEXAS - DECEMBER 06: Sydney Colson and Theresa Plaisance emcee the United States Women's ... More National Team Player's Ball at The Empire Room on December 06, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/USSF/Getty Images for USSF) Fans will have the opportunity to witness Indiana Fever guard Sydney Colson's stand-up comedy debut at Fever Fest. The six-hour watch party will take place July 19 and will feature multiple headliners including Deon Cole, Cedric the Entertainer, and Leslie Jones. It's not uncommon for professional athletes to leverage their popularity on the court or field to launch careers in media and entertainment. From film and television, to the ubiquitous sports podcast, fans can interact with their favorite players now more than ever. Still, few pros (and former pros) have the talent to build a legitimate fanbase beyond their sport. Colson appears to be among the few. Fever Fest offers the two-time WNBA champion a chance to translate the wit she typically shares with her hundreds of thousands of social media followers into a traditional comedy performance. If Colson can effectively repackage the humor that drives her digital content, she may be setting herself up for a new level of visibility off the court. Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration Collaboration As the host team, representatives from the Fever have worked to amplify Indiana Black Expo's annual summer festivities, which will overlap with All-Star weekend. Founded in 1970, the IBE aims to support social and economic development among African American youth and families. Pacers Sports and Entertainment CEO Mel Raines has been working with Alice Watson, president and CEO of IBE, for several months to coordinate schedules in the hopes of encouraging visitors to engage All-Star events as well as IBE's programming. In fact, Pacers Sports and Entertainment is one of the sponsors for IBE's Summer Celebration. In an interview for WRTV Indianapolis, Raines expressed high hopes for the collaboration. 'We wanted to make sure this would be something that both events are better because of,' she said, "and I think we're accomplishing that.'
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Red Panda injured in dramatic fall during halftime at Indiana Fever vs Minnesota Lynx Commissioner's Cup
Red Panda. Image via: Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images A scary moment happened Tuesday night during the WNBA Commissioner's Cup final between the Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx at Minnesota's Target Center. Legendary halftime performer Red Panda, known for her high-flying unicycle and bowl-balancing act, took a sudden fall just seconds into her performance. Medical personnel rushed to her aid as she lay on the court, clutching her wrist. The beloved entertainer was eventually left the court, waving at fans. The arena was silent for a while as concerns about her condition lingered. Halftime icon Red Panda suffers a serious fall during the Indiana Fever vs Minnesota Lynx Commissioner's Cup final Red Panda, whose real name is Rong 'Krystal' Niu, was less than a minute into her routine when she fell from her seven-foot-tall unicycle, a staple in her iconic act. According to The Athletic's Ben Pickman, the fall happened shortly after she released the ladder used to climb onto her unicycle. She appeared shaken and held her left wrist on the ground, needing assistance from medical staff. Per CBS Spoers, she was wheeled away. An arena worker later confirmed she was transported in an ambulance. The 50-year-old acrobat has been a fixture in basketball arenas since 1993. She has earned a devoted following across the NBA, WNBA, and college basketball for her seemingly impossible act of flipping and stacking metal bowls on her head— all while riding a towering unicycle. ESPN and MinnPost reporters described the incident as a 'hard spill' that left her motionless for several moments, clearly in pain. Her journey has included more than just basketball stardom. After her father's battle with esophageal cancer, Niu took a break from performing in 2013. She later told Sports on Earth, 'I couldn't stay away,' explaining her return to the stage in 2015 after helping her mother through illness. This year, she reached new heights in entertainment by advancing to the semifinals of Britain's Got Talent and making a cameo in Netflix's Running Point. She was also featured in Season 8 of America's Got Talent before stepping away for personal reasons. Also Read: Jaren Jackson Jr suffers turf toe injury one day after signing $240M deal with Memphis Grizzlies While her injuries are still being evaluated, basketball fans and fellow performers have taken to social media with an outpouring of support. The sports world is united in hoping that one of its most cherished performers makes a full and speedy recovery. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Forbes
09-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
DKNG Stock At $32: Buy, Sell, Or Hold?
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 20: A view of the DraftKings Sportsbook logo on the boards during the Hockey East ... More semifinal game between the Boston University Terriers and the UConn Huskies on March 20, 2025, at TD Garden in Boston, MA. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) DraftKings, a top digital sports entertainment and gaming company, has seen its stock decline by 14% over the past month, driven by a broader market downturn linked to tariffs imposed by Trump on key trading partners and growing tensions from the U.S.-China trade war. Our take on the market crash risk right now offers more insights into the tariff situation and its effects on the broader economy. We think DraftKings stock, currently trading at $32, represents a solid buying opportunity. Based on our evaluation, the stock's fair valuation reflects only minor concerns, especially considering its strong operational results and solid financial position. We came to this conclusion by comparing DKNG's current market valuation with its recent and historical operating performance and financial standing. The assessment below covers key metrics such as Growth, Profitability, Financial Stability, and Downturn Resilience, all of which point to the company's inherent strength. When comparing valuation in terms of price per dollar of revenue or profit, DKNG stock is currently valued similarly to the overall market. DraftKings' Revenues have experienced strong growth over the past few years. DraftKings' profit margins remain significantly lower than most other companies in the Trefis universe. DraftKings has a healthy balance sheet. DKNG stock has performed slightly better than the S&P 500 during recent downturns. As investors hope for a soft landing in the U.S. economy, it's worth asking—how severe could the impact be if another recession hits? Our dashboard How Low Can Stocks Go During A Market Crash explores how major stocks have performed during and after the last six market crashes. To summarize, DraftKings' performance across various indicators is as follows: Given DraftKings' solid performance on these fronts—which we believe is not fully captured in its current fair valuation—we see the stock as a compelling buying opportunity. In fact, analysts' average price target of $57 for DKNG suggests a strong 75% upside from current levels. While DKNG stock may see higher levels, the Trefis Reinforced Value (RV) Portfolio, has outperformed its all-cap stocks benchmark (combination of the S&P 500, S&P mid-cap, and Russell 2000 benchmark indices) to produce strong returns for investors. Why is that? The quarterly rebalanced mix of large-, mid- and small-cap RV Portfolio stocks provided a responsive way to make the most of upbeat market conditions while limiting losses when markets head south, as detailed in RV Portfolio performance metrics. DKNG Return Compared With Trefis Reinforced Portfolio Invest with Trefis Market Beating Portfolios | Rules-Based Wealth
Forbes
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Trump Administration Reviewing $9 Billion In Government Funding For Harvard
The Trump administration announced Monday it has begun reviewing $9 billion in government contracts and grants provided to Harvard University, one of dozens of universities being investigated over antisemitism allegations linked to their handling of pro-Palestinian protests across college campuses last year. The review was announced Monday. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) The Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services and the General Services Administration said in a joint statement they began reviewing over $255.6 million in contracts and $8.7 billion in grant commitments between Harvard and its affiliates. The statement said the review was being conducted 'to ensure the university is in compliance with federal regulations, including its civil rights responsibilities,' referring to the pro-Palestinain protests that occurred on Harvard's campus last year and resulted in a multi-day encampment standoff between students and the Harvard administration. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon accused Harvard of failing to protect students from antisemitism and 'promoting divisive ideologies over free inquiry.' The statement said Harvard was ordered to submit a list of their contracts with the federal government not included in the Trump administration's initial review, with Sean Keveney, HHS acting general counsel, saying he was 'pleased that Harvard is willing to engage with us on these goals.' Harvard did not immediately respond to Forbes' request for comment. Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We're launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day's headlines. Text 'Alerts' to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here. The review of Harvard's funding is part of a large-scale investigation by the Trump administration into 60 colleges over accusations of antisemitism. Columbia University was the first school that had its funding targeted by the administration. It lost $400 million in federal funding and later complied with a list of demands from the Trump administration in an attempt to recoup the losses. Columbia issued suspensions, expulsions and temporary degree revocations of some students involved in on-campus pro-Palestinian protests last year, hired 36 'special officers' capable of removing people from campus or making arrests and banned the use of face masks during protests if they are not used for religious or medical reasons. Other universities under investigation include Johns Hopkins, Ohio State University, Stanford University, Yale University, Arizona State University, several schools part of the University of California system and many others. The pro-Palestinian protests across college campuses last year centered around objecting to Israel's invasion of Gaza, which was launched after Hamas killed around 1,200 Isralies in a surprise attack on Oct. 7, 2023, though some of the protests were also marred by antisemitic incidents. Some 45,000 people in Gaza have been killed since the war began, according to estimates from the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, with around 90% of Gaza's population displaced, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Some students in the U.S. also protested against their respective universities' funding ties to Israel. In addition to targeting universities at large, the Trump administration has also revoked visas, detained and sought to deport students linked to pro-Palestinain protests last year, accusing some of directly supporting Hamas. Columbia University graduate and pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil is the most high-profile case of the arrests, having been detained by federal agents in early March despite having a valid visa and being a permanent legal resident of the U.S. He remains jailed as of Monday and is still fighting against his deportation. Trump Administration Investigates These 60 Colleges Over Antisemitism Allegations (Forbes) Columbia Agrees To Trump Administration's Demands After Losing $400 Million In Federal Funds (Forbes) Columbia Expels And Pulls Degrees For Some Students Who Occupied Building During Pro-Palestinian Protests (Forbes)
