The 2026 WNBA All-Star Weekend arrives tonight in Chicago with two of women’s basketball’s biggest attractions positioned on opposite sides of the floor.
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers led all players with 1,045,051 fan votes, while Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark finished second with 1,023,321. A pre-draft coin flip awarded Bueckers to Cynthia Cooper’s Team Coop and placed Clark with Teresa Weatherspoon’s Team Spoon, creating the weekend’s most anticipated individual storyline before the game even begins.
The two headline guards are surrounded by a loaded collection of established champions, MVPs, rising stars, first-time All-Stars, and young players helping shape the WNBA’s next era. A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, Olivia Miles, Gabby Williams, Nneka Ogwumike, Angel Reese, Jackie Young, and Kahleah Copper are among the featured names coming to Chicago.
The action begins Friday, July 24, with the Kia WNBA Shooting Stars competition and State Farm WNBA 3-Point Contest at Wintrust Arena. The main event follows Saturday night when Team Spoon faces Team Coop at the United Center.
2026 WNBA All-Star Weekend Schedule
Friday, July 24
Kia WNBA Shooting Stars
- Start time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
- Location: Wintrust Arena in Chicago
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: Disney+ and the ESPN App
State Farm WNBA 3-Point Contest
- Scheduled start: Approximately 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT
- Location: Wintrust Arena
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: Disney+ and the ESPN App
Saturday, July 25
2026 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game
- Matchup: Team Spoon vs. Team Coop
- Start time: 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT
- Location: United Center in Chicago
- TV: ABC
- Streaming: Disney+ and the ESPN App
- Pregame: WNBA Countdown at 8 p.m. ET on ABC
- Halftime performer: Tyla
- Postgame coverage: 10:30 p.m. ET on ABC
The WNBA’s official All-Star page will carry additional weekend coverage, video, schedules, and updates.
Team Coop: Complete 2026 WNBA All-Star Roster
WNBA legend Cynthia Cooper constructed Team Coop around Paige Bueckers, Breanna Stewart, Kelsey Mitchell, Natasha Howard, and Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams.
Starters
- Paige Bueckers — Dallas Wings
- Kelsey Mitchell — Indiana Fever
- Breanna Stewart — New York Liberty
- Natasha Howard — Minnesota Lynx
- Gabby Williams — Golden State Valkyries
Reserves
- Sonia Citron — Washington Mystics
- Kahleah Copper — Phoenix Mercury
- Marina Mabrey — Toronto Tempo
- Dominique Malonga — Seattle Storm
- Angel Reese — Atlanta Dream
- Jackie Young — Las Vegas Aces
Head coach: Becky Hammon, Las Vegas Aces
Kahleah Copper joined Team Coop as an injury replacement for Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert officially selected Copper after Plum was ruled unavailable with a lower-leg injury.
Plum had been selected for her fifth All-Star appearance and was averaging a career-high 23.9 points and 6.4 assists at the time the reserves were announced. Copper now brings her scoring ability, transition attack, and championship experience to a Team Coop roster already filled with perimeter threats.
The WNBA confirmed Copper’s replacement selection on July 22.
Team Spoon: Complete 2026 WNBA All-Star Roster
Teresa Weatherspoon’s Team Spoon is led by Caitlin Clark and four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson. The starting group also includes Aliyah Boston, Olivia Miles, and Jessica Shepard.
Starters
- Caitlin Clark — Indiana Fever
- Olivia Miles — Minnesota Lynx
- Aliyah Boston — Indiana Fever
- Jessica Shepard — Dallas Wings
- A’ja Wilson — Las Vegas Aces
Reserves
- Allisha Gray — Atlanta Dream
- Rhyne Howard — Atlanta Dream
- Kiki Iriafen — Washington Mystics
- Jonquel Jones — New York Liberty
- Nneka Ogwumike — Los Angeles Sparks
- Courtney Williams — Minnesota Lynx
Head coach: Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota Lynx
The Team Spoon lineup gives fans another chance to watch Clark and Boston work together, this time alongside Wilson and Miles. Clark’s passing range could create several memorable connections with some of the league’s most dangerous finishers.
The complete teams were selected during the WNBA All-Star Draft after Cooper and Weatherspoon were assigned Bueckers and Clark. The official WNBA roster announcement includes the full draft order and voting totals.
Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark Lead Opposing Teams
Bueckers and Clark entering the game on opposite teams gives the WNBA a natural centerpiece for its 30th-season All-Star celebration.
Bueckers, the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year, earned the highest fan-vote total in the league. Her combination of control, efficiency, shot creation, and late-game confidence has quickly made her one of the WNBA’s defining young players.
Clark remains one of the most recognizable athletes in American sports. Her deep shooting range, pace, and ability to generate highlight assists make her especially dangerous in an All-Star environment with elite scorers surrounding her.
This is not a one-on-one exhibition, but every Bueckers-Clark possession will carry extra energy. Their matchup represents more than a weekend attraction. It reflects the expanding audience following the WNBA’s new generation of stars.
Golden State Valkyries Make Their Presence Felt
The Golden State Valkyries will have two major representatives during the weekend.
Gabby Williams was voted an All-Star starter and selected by Cynthia Cooper for Team Coop. Williams gives Cooper a versatile defender, transition playmaker, and athletic wing capable of affecting the game without needing every possession designed for her.
Her starting selection also reflects Golden State’s rapid rise. The Valkyries entered the All-Star break near the top of the league standings, establishing themselves as far more than a typical expansion project.
Janelle Salaün will represent Golden State in Friday’s State Farm WNBA 3-Point Contest. Salaün entered play on July 21 ranked fifth in the WNBA with 67 made 3-pointers.
2026 WNBA 3-Point Contest Participants
Six players will compete in the State Farm WNBA 3-Point Contest:
- Bridget Carleton — Portland Fire
- Azzi Fudd — Dallas Wings
- Natisha Hiedeman — Seattle Storm
- Rhyne Howard — Atlanta Dream
- Marina Mabrey — Toronto Tempo
- Janelle Salaün — Golden State Valkyries
Mabrey entered the contest leading the WNBA with 82 made 3-pointers, followed by Howard with 79. Salaün, Carleton, Hiedeman, and Fudd were also ranked among the league’s most productive perimeter shooters when the field was announced.
Each competitor will shoot from five traditional racks positioned around the arc. Players will select one location for an all-money-ball rack, with each successful money ball worth two points.
Two deeper “From the Logo” shots will also be available. Those attempts are worth three points each. The two highest-scoring players from the opening round will advance to the championship round.
The complete format and field are available through the WNBA’s official 3-Point Contest announcement.
2026 Kia WNBA Shooting Stars Teams
The Shooting Stars competition returns with four teams featuring a WNBA legend, a current player, and a Nike EYBL standout.
Team Minnesota
- Rebekkah Brunson
- Courtney Williams
- Nike EYBL player
Team Seattle
- Lauren Jackson
- Flau’jae Johnson
- Nike EYBL player
Team Washington
- Elena Delle Donne
- Shakira Austin
- Nike EYBL player
Team Dallas/Detroit
- Deanna “Tweety” Nolan
- Jessica Shepard
- Nike EYBL player
The Dallas/Detroit team recognizes the franchise lineage connecting the Detroit Shock, Tulsa Shock, and today’s Dallas Wings.
Each team receives 70 seconds to score from seven locations ranging from a layup to a long-distance 3-pointer. The two teams with the highest opening-round scores advance to the final.
Nike EYBL participants Jezelle “GG” Banks, Ryan Carter, Tatianna Griffin, and Morghan Reckley will be assigned across the four teams. Cooper and Weatherspoon will serve as designated passers.
The format and announced players were confirmed in the official WNBA Shooting Stars release.
Biggest Players and Storylines to Watch
A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart on Opposite Sides
Wilson and Stewart remain two of the most accomplished players of their generation. Both earned their eighth All-Star selections in 2026, the highest total among this year’s starters.
Wilson anchors Team Spoon, while Stewart gives Team Coop another high-level scorer and facilitator next to Bueckers.
Olivia Miles’ Breakthrough
Miles was voted into the starting lineup during her rookie season with Minnesota. Playing alongside Clark, Boston, Shepard, and Wilson gives her a massive stage to showcase the vision and composure that made her one of the league’s immediate young standouts.
Jessica Shepard’s All-Star Rise
Shepard enters her first All-Star Game as a starter after emerging as one of the season’s most productive and versatile frontcourt players. Her rebounding and playmaking make her an ideal connector in an exhibition filled with elite scorers.
Kahleah Copper Returns to Chicago
Copper won the 2021 WNBA championship and Finals MVP award with the Chicago Sky. Her late addition gives her an opportunity to return to a city where she created some of the defining moments of her career.
Marina Mabrey’s Big Weekend
Mabrey is making her first All-Star Game appearance and will also compete in the 3-Point Contest. She entered the break as one of the WNBA’s leading scorers and had already tied the league’s single-game scoring record with a 53-point performance for Toronto.
Tyla Headlines the All-Star Game Halftime Show
Grammy-winning South African artist Tyla will perform during Saturday night’s halftime show at the United Center.
The performance adds another international culture moment to a weekend designed to reach beyond basketball. Tyla’s presence gives the WNBA a globally recognized headliner at the center of its nationally televised showcase.
The basketball schedule is only one part of the WNBA All-Star experience.
Players opened the weekend with the Orange Carpet presented by Bumble, bringing the league’s close relationship with fashion and personal style into focus. The carpet was hosted by Ari Chambers and Jordan Robinson.
WNBA Live presented by AWS runs from July 23 through July 25 at McCormick Place. The expanded three-day fan festival combines basketball, music, technology, art, fashion, merchandise, player appearances, and interactive experiences.
Thirty-four league partners and licensees are participating. Confirmed activations include experiences from Ally, American Express, Bumble, Coach, DoorDash, Kia, La Crema, State Farm, Tissot, Xfinity, Round21, and other WNBA partners.
Fans can shop official All-Star merchandise, customize apparel and accessories, participate in basketball challenges, attend panels, meet players and legends, and explore Chicago-themed installations. More information is available through the official WNBA Live guide.
Chicago provides a fitting setting for the league’s 30th-season celebration. The city’s basketball history, music, streetwear, food, public art, and women’s sports community will remain part of the story throughout the weekend.
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