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A 4-Point Shot? Yep, It’s Happening This Weekend
July 17: All-Star Game rules get a shakeup, CBA talks heat up in Indy, and three women’s hoops stars take home ESPYS.
April Abeyta & Kim Nunley
July 17, 2025
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Hello and Happy Thursday! 👋
We’re Kim and April—former basketball players, longtime hoops fans, and the duo behind 30 Second Timeout. We built this newsletter because we love women’s basketball and wanted a quick, accessible way to keep up with the game.
Starting today, you’ll notice a few small updates:
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Thanks for being here and being part of this community. Now onto the news of the day!
What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today
1. WNBA Announces Special All-Star Game Rules 📜
The WNBA dropped special game rules for this weekend’s All-Star Game, and they’re designed to speed up the pace and amp up the action. Here’s what’s new:
Four 4-point shot zones (28 feet from the rim)
A 20-second shot clock
Live substitutions allowed on offense
No free throws outside the final 2 minutes or OT
WHY IT MATTERS: The All-Star Game is all about delivering a fun, fan-centric experience, and these tweaks are meant to deliver both. By encouraging deeper threes, faster play, and live subs, the game will let the players lean into their creativity and skill. These rules aren’t totally new—all have been used at least once in past All-Star Games.
2. CBA Talks Continue in Indy—and They’re a Big Deal 😬
Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations between the WNBA and players’ union (WNBPA) have been slow-moving, but key in-person meetings are happening today in Indianapolis. League reps, union officials (including president Nneka Ogwumike), and several players—like Caitlin Clark—will be at the table. (Bleacher Report)
WHY IT MATTERS: The current CBA expires this October, and players are pushing for a deal that reflects how much the league has grown. That means higher salaries, a better revenue-sharing model, and a softer salary cap.
According to New York Post reporter Madeline Kenney, players are even preparing for the possibility of a work stoppage if progress stalls. No one wants a lockout, but players are making it clear: it’s time for a CBA that reflects their value to the league.
3. Taurasi, Clark, and JuJu Take Home ESPYS 🏆
The 2025 ESPY Awards were held last night, and several women’s basketball stars walked away with some hardware. The winners:
Icon Award: Diana Taurasi
Best WNBA Player: Caitlin Clark
Best College Athlete, Women's Sports: JuJu Watkins
WHY IT MATTERS: The ESPYS are an annual award show hosted by ESPN, recognizing athletic excellence across all competitive sports while also raising funds and awareness for the V Foundation for Cancer Research.
This year’s winners marked a symbolic moment for women’s basketball—honoring a retiring icon, a current face of the WNBA, and a rising college star who’s just getting started.
OVERTIME ⏱️
This week in 1999, Whitney Houston sang the national anthem at the inaugural WNBA All-Star Game in a packed Madison Square Garden. A beautiful performance for groundbreaking moment.
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