theathleticuk
CHICAGO WNBA All-Star Weekend returned to Chicago for the first time since 2022, and the event was almost unrecognizable only four years later.
The leagues growth manifests most clearly in the size and scope of its midseason showcase.
In 2022, the skills competitions were played in an empty convention center; in 2026, the All-Star Game set an attendance record with 19,783 fans, packing an NBA arena instead of the Chicago Skys usual home of Wintrust Arena.
Advertisement It seems to top itself year after year, Nneka Ogwumike said after playing in her 11th All-Star Game.
The weekend is an exhibition of what the league does best: bringing its community together and showing off the WNBAs increasingly talented stars.
But some shined brighter than others.
Heres a look back at the 2026 All-Star Weekend, and who made out best during the leagues midseason break.
Winner: City of Chicago The atmosphere in Chicago could not have been more perfect for the 2026 All-Star weekend.
The weather was beautiful, and the city showed out for the events, itching for an opportunity to participate in a meaningful way.
In addition to filling out the United Center, fans lined up for hours to meet with the stars at WNBA Live and activations throughout the week.
In 2025, anxiety permeated Indianapolis as the All-Star Weekend kicked off a contentious period of CBA negotiations.
Chicago was all joy and sunshine.
The setting also provided an opportunity for the All-Stars to practice at the Obama Presidential Center and meet the former president, a deeply personal moment for players and coaches.
In what has been a turbulent WNBA season, it was a purely celebratory day that added extra meaning to earning the All-Star nod.
Loser: The Chicago Sky While their city put on a memorable showcase, Chicagos home team faded into the background during the festivities.
There were no Sky participants in the Friday skills competitions or the All-Star Game.
To twist the knife, several former Chicago players showed out: Elena Delle Donne won the Shooting Stars challenge for Team Washington, Marina Mabrey earned her first All-Star nod as a member of the Toronto Tempo, and Kahleah Copper, Courtney Williams and Angel Reese all made appearances representing different franchises.
All-Star Weekend was also supposed to be the Skys chance to show off their new practice facility, much like the Phoenix Mercury did in 2024.
It proved a powerful free-agency recruiting tool for the Mercury.
Instead, construction delays and evolving plans delayed the opening to 2027, and the WNBAs finest got to enjoy the Obama Presidential Center rather than associate the weekend directly with Chicagos franchise.
Advertisement Winner: Azzi Fudd The No.
1 draft pick may not have been voted an All-Star the first time in five years that hasnt happened for the top pick but the Dallas Wings guard still made her mark on the weekend.
Fudd has shown off a deep bag of skills in her first WNBA season; shes fifth in the league in steals and routinely guards the opposing teams best perimeter player.
But her jump shot, which has been blessed by the NBA 3-point king Stephen Curry himself, is what captured the national imagination.
With the entire WNBA communitys eyes on Fudd in the 3-point contest, the rookie showed out.
Fudd won the contest and tied for the second-highest score (30) in league history, becoming the first rookie to win the crown.
Winner: Marina Mabrey Even though Mabrey didnt take home any hardware, her Q rating keeps going up.
Shes becoming famous for her flurries of 3-pointers: first at Unrivaled, then when she scored 53 against the Los Angeles Sparks, and now with five 3s in a quarter in her first All-Star Game.
Nothing gets a crowd going quite like a shooter on a heater, and Mabrey keeps doing that on increasingly bigger stages.
The Tempo have given her a platform to be their leader and earn an entirely new fanbase in Canada, and shes proving to be a star.
The Crash Out Queen hasnt had to go to her jar all too frequently; instead, shes becoming the elite guard worthy of her Notre Dame pedigree.
Loser: Shooting Stars challenge The WNBA revamped its Friday night programming in 2026, swapping out the skills challenge for the Shooting Stars competition.
It had mixed reviews, as it relied heavily on the passing and shooting of some out-of-practice legends.
It featured too many jump shots (and far too many misses), and the fans were already waiting for the 3-point contest.
Delle Donnes win as a Chicago alumna, combined with an electric performance from high school player Jezelle GG Banks, gave the event some life.
The idea of involving three generations to represent the leagues past, present and future was a nice touch in the WNBAs 30th season.
But the WNBA might consider updating its event schedule again in 2027, especially if the All-Star Game is in a city not concurrently hosting Nike Nationals and without a large pool of elite high school talent.
Advertisement Winner: Dominique Malonga No one knew what to expect from the 2026 All-Star game, but everyone was collectively hoping for one thing: A Dominique Malonga dunk.
The 6-foot-6 Seattle Storm center said Friday, Im going to warm up for it, so Im gonna be ready for sure.
It took a little more than a quarter to get Malonga the appropriate runway.
During the second period, Sonia Citron delivered an outlet to Angel Reese.
As Caitlin Clark tried to steal the ball from Reese, Malonga came running down the paint.
Reese hit her in stride, and the Storm sophomore threw it down.
It was the highlight of the game, headlining a 12-point, 13-rebound effort that made Malonga the youngest player to record an All-Star double-double.
It also happened to be on the same side of the court the entire Seattle brass was sitting on, giving them a perfect angle for the nights best play and a glimpse of the Storms future.
Loser: Lob passes Becky Hammon was already scheming a way to get Malonga a dunk when she spoke to the media Friday, saying it might have to come on an after-timeout or out-of-bounds play.
She was true to her word, starting the second quarter with a set that had Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams (Malongas French national and former Storm teammate) throwing a lob to the center.
It didnt work, and there were a few more lob attempts to Malonga including one from Williams off the backboard that Malonga didnt even realize was for her that went unfinished.
For all the skills of this field of All-Stars and it is an exceptionally talented group lob passes dont appear to be atop that list.
Winner: Las Vegas Aces During her pregame address, commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced that the league ended its investigation into the Aces that began in 2024 regarding $100,000 sponsorships from the Las Vegas tourism authority.
Advertisement The WNBA has determined that there is insufficient evidence at this time to establish a salary cap circumvention violation, Engelbert said.
No discipline will be recommended or imposed.
The league reprimanded the Aces for impermissible player benefits in 2023, docking Las Vegas a 2025 first-round draft pick, so stripping more draft capital as a punishment would not have been unprecedented.
However, the Aces have been cleared and now get to keep their entire war chest.
It does beg the question what creative sponsorships other teams will try now that Las Vegas has been exonerated.
Bonus winner: Aja Wilson Wilson never exerts herself too strenuously during the All-Star festivities, but the Las Vegas superstar put on a nice show in her press conferences.
When asked pregame about her rapport with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert following the conclusion of the collective bargaining agreement negotiations, Wilson said the only relationship she has with the commissioner is when Engelbert presents her with awards.
I love to see her, Wilson said.