Tonight is the tip off for the WNBA All-Star weekend in Indianapolis, but basketball star Caitlin Clark will be noticeably absent from the court after suffering a groin injury.

Indianapolis

Caitlin Clark, star player for the Indiana Fever and reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year, will not take part in the WNBA All-Star Game or the 3-point contest due to a recent groin injury. Clark expressed disappointment at missing the event, which is being held in her home city, but emphasized the need to rest and recover after multiple injuries this season.

The All-Star Game will feature new experimental rules, including a four-point shot and the removal of free throws, aimed at increasing excitement. The league is also facing ongoing scrutiny over officiating consistency and is in the midst of collective bargaining negotiations, with players seeking improved pay and conditions.

Caitlin Clark to miss WNBA All-Star Game, 3-point contest after injury

All right, tonight is the tip-off for the WNBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, Indiana, which is home court for reigning Rookie of the Year Kaitlyn Clarke and her team the Indiana Fever. But the superstar will be sitting out this weekend after a groin injury earlier this week. Clarke released a statement through the team saying she was sad to miss out on the game, but quote, I have to rest my body. Let's bring in Ben Pickman now. Ben is a staff writer for The Athletic and host on The Athletic's women's basketball podcast, No Off-Season. Look, Ben, I gotta rest my body too, but I'm not anywhere near Kaitlyn Clarke's level. How exactly might her absence impact the game this weekend? Yeah, I think it's pretty unfortunate that Kaitlyn Clarke is missing this weekend's All-Star game. There's signs all over with Kaitlyn Clarke and other players in downtown Indianapolis by the arena, and she was basically the event's de facto host as kind of the most popular player on the host city's team. But it's hard to argue with the decision that she has made. She suffered four different injuries this year, leg injuries, left groin, quad injuries, and now this right groin injury. And so it makes sense that after suffering the injury on Tuesday that she's going to miss this weekend's All-Star game festivities, at least the encore portion. Now in our last minute, can you explain tomorrow night's four-point shot? Because we'll finally see that rule in action. How will that work? Yeah, it's basically just spots on the floor that the players will have the opportunity to shoot from. The league is just experimenting with different things to try and make the game a little bit more exciting. There are no free throws, also, is another big rule, a rule change that the league has put in that should make the game a little bit better, a sort of shot clock, too. So all to try and increase the action of the All-Star game. We all want to see that. Can you also explain some of this controversy in the league over officiating? Some coaches and players want more consistency in how games are called. What's the problem? Yeah, and this is definitely something that we see a ton of coaches and players calling out for. Historically, there's been a lot of turnover in WNBA officiating. But what I will say is that these complaints are nothing new. We've seen for a number of years now, a lot of coaches and players complain about refs. I think the big difference now, a lot more eyeballs gravitating towards the league, gravitating towards the space, kind of monitoring the officiating, calling things out publicly in a way like people never did before. You know, several players, including Clark, met with union reps and league officials about contract negotiations. You've got this collective bargaining agreement expiring at the end of October. Could we see finally a boost in the pay for women this time around? I mean, that is certainly what the players are hoping for. The meeting on Thursday was really a step in that it was a in-person meeting. The players, the literal actual players had not met with the league in person since December and were very frustrated after a recent WNBA counter proposal to the players association. So unclear how much tangible progress was made after Thursday's meeting. But there is another meeting that is scheduled. And so in that regard, you know, they are back on the track to negotiate a contract. Interesting stuff all around. Dan Pickman.

At least three deputies were killed after an explosion at a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department training facility, officials said. Attorney General Pam Bondi said federal agents were at the scene.

Los Angeles

Three killed in explosion at L.A. County Sheriff's Department facility

The UK's Labour Party has passed a landmark electoral reform, aligning with Scotland and Wales in lowering the voting age from 18 to 16. The change fulfills a key promise by the ruling party but garnered criticism from the Conservative Party.

London

UK lowers voting age from 18 to 16 in historic electoral reform

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a rescissions package to slash $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting funding, sending the bill to President Donald Trump's desk.

Washington

U.S. House passes $9 billion cut to foreign aid, public broadcasting

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday night ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to help facilitate the release of grand jury transcripts related to Jeffrey Epstein as the administration faces pressure to share more materials on the case.

Trump orders release of Epstein-related grand jury transcripts

The European Union has agreed to impose a new round of sanctions against Russia, targeting the country's energy and financial sectors in a bid to tighten the screws on the Kremlin's war machine and force a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine.

Moscow

Ukraine Invasion

EU imposes new sanctions on Russia's oil and banks

U.S. President Donald Trump denies writing a letter signed 'Donald' beneath a nude sketch in Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday album, details of which were published by the Wall Street Journal. The letter is now under review by the U.S. Justice Department.

Trump denies writing crude letter to Jeffrey Epstein

Following a call with President Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a rare apology, saying the only Catholic church in Gaza was hit by stray ammunition. The blast killed three civilians. Ramy Inocencio reports.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Netanyahu apologizes for deadly strike on Catholic church in Gaza

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has suggested that TSA may soon end its restrictions on liquids in carry-on bags.

TSA may eliminate liquid restrictions on planes

A Tennessee judge on Thursday set Kilmar Abrego Garcia's criminal trial date for January 27, 2026. Abrego Garcia is facing human smuggling charges. CBS News justice correspondent Scott MacFarlane reports.

Tennessee

Judge sets Kilmar Abrego Garcia's criminal trial date for January 2026

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that President Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency.

Trump diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency

Black-box recording indicates that the flight's captain switched off fuel flow to both engines of the recently crashed Air India airplane, according to media reports on Wednesday, citing preliminary U.S. assessment of evidence.

Ahmedabad

Flight captain switched off fuel flow to engines in Air India crash

The Department of Justice has fired Maurene Comey, a federal prosecutor and the daughter of ex-FBI director James Comey. This comes as the White House tries to mitigate demands for the Jeffrey Epstein files to be released.

DOJ fires Maurene Comey, who helped prosecute Jeffrey Epstein

The Senate approved a $9.4 billion rescissions request, sending it back to the House of Representatives for approval.

Senate approves spending cuts to foreign aid, public broadcasting

Israel has faced international condemnation over its three days of airstrikes in Syria. The European Union and the United Nations have called for a return to calm, while Iran has urged countries in the region to respond against Israel.

Damascus

World reacts to Israeli attacks on Syria’s Damascus

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz makes his first state visit to the United Kingdom to sign a historic defence cooperation treaty—the first of its kind between Germany and Britain since the Second World War. The agreement includes plans for joint defence efforts, boosting economic collaboration, and tackling illegal migration.

Germany and UK seal historic defence pact

Donald Trump says American-made weapons bought by NATO are being shipped to Ukraine. Trump's also threatening sanctions, saying his aim is to force Putin to negotiate an end to the war. But with Ukraine under nightly attack, there’s scepticism over whether he'll achieve anything.

Kyiv

U.S. ships NATO purchased Patriot missiles to Ukraine

Syria condemns Israel for fatal strikes on several government buildings in Damascus. The escalation threatens to disrupt new U.S.-brokered security talks between Israel and Syria, with both sides expressing concerns over stability in the region.

Israeli airstrikes on Syria threaten security talks

U.S. President Donald Trump is still dealing with fallout from his own supporters over his administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. CBS News Department of Justice reporter Jake Rosen has more.

Trump says Epstein conspiracy theory is hoax started by Democrats

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that she spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and that the two had agreed to strengthen trade collaboration, particularly in light of the tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump set to go in effect on August 1.

Mexico City

Global Tariffs

Mexico plans to strengthen trade with Canada

Former President Barack Obama joined his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, on her latest podcast episode with her brother Craig Robinson to address divorce rumors.

Obamas address divorce rumors on Michelle’s podcast

Israel struck Syrian military targets as well as central Damascus on Wednesday (July 16) as it continued its campaign to protect Druze minority communities in southern Syria.

Israel strikes Damascus as fighting rages in southern Syria

U.S. ambassador Mike Huckabee's appearance at Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial follows President Trump's call for Israel to throw out the case or pardon the Israeli prime minister.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

U.S. ambassador attends Netanyahu trial to show support from Trump

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the U.S. would impose a 19% tariff on goods from Indonesia under a new agreement with the Southeast Asian country and more deals were in the works as he continued to press for what he views as better terms with trading partners.

Trump eyes more trade deals soon as EU readies retaliation

At least 20 Palestinians were killed on Wednesday (July 16) at an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, in what the U.S.-backed group said was a crowd surge instigated by armed agitators. This video contains graphic images.

Crush at Gaza aid site kills at least 20, GHF blames agitators

Police in Los Angeles have arrested a 22-year-old suspect in the double homicide of American Idol executive Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas Deluca. The couple, both 70 years old, was found shot to death in their home earlier this week.

Encino

Police make arrest in murders of American Idol executive, husband

Streaming shows dominated nominations for the 2025 Emmy Awards. "Severance" earned the most series nominations with 27. Meanwhile, "The Studio" earned the most-ever nominations for a debut comedy series with 23.

Hollywood

'Severance' and 'The Studio' earn top Emmy nominations

The United Torah Judaism party has decided to quit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition over its failure to secure military service exemptions. Members of the ultra-orthodox community have been exempted from enlisting in the army since 1948.

Major cracks in Netanyahu coalition as ultra-Orthodox party quits

New information about the Jeffrey Epstein case may soon be made public after a reversal from U.S. President Donald Trump and weeks of criticism — the loudest of which has come from within the MAGA movement.

Epstein files may be released after Trump reversal

Russia's Vladimir Putin has rejected President Trump's ultimatum for Moscow to sign a ceasefire deal with Ukraine in the next 50 days. Trump has threatened to issue a 100% tariff on any country that does business with Russia if no ceasefire deal is reached.

Russia rejects Trump's ultimatum for ceasefire in Ukraine

Fighting has erupted in the southern Syrian city of As Suwayda just six hours after a ceasefire was announced. Earlier on Tuesday, Syrian government forces withdrew heavy vehicles from the city, hoping to ease tensions.

Breakdown