2026 WNBA All-Star Game Marks League’s 30th Anniversary

The 2026 WNBA All-Star Game took place on July 25 at Chicago’s United Center, airing live at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on ABC. The event celebrated the league’s 30th season and featured two teams assembled by former stars Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon, the first honorary general managers in league history.

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The All-Star format kept the fan-player-media voting system for the ten starters, with head coaches selecting reserves. The two players receiving the most fan votes—Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark—served as ceremonial captains; a coin flip placed Bueckers on Team Coop and Clark on Team Spoon. The “legendary GM” concept honored Cooper and Weatherspoon, who faced each other in the inaugural WNBA Finals in 1997.

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Team Coop (Cynthia Cooper’s side) – coached by Becky Hammon

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• Starters: Paige Bueckers (Guard, Dallas Wings), Breanna Stewart (Forward, Liberty), Kelsey Mitchell (Guard, Indiana Fever), Natasha Howard (Forward, Lynx), Gabby Williams (Forward, Valkyries)

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• Reserves: Angel Reese, Marina Mabrey, Dominique Malonga, Kahleah Copper (replaced injured Kelsey Plum on July 22), Jackie Young.

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Team Spoon (Teresa Weatherspoon’s side) – coached by Cheryl Reave

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• Starters: Caitlin Clark (Guard, Indiana Fever), Aliyah Boston (Center, Fever), A’ja Wilson (Center, Aces), Olivia Miles (Guard, Lynx), Jessica Shepard (Forward, Sparks)

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• Reserves: Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, Jonquel Jones, Courtney Williams, Kiki Iriafen, Nneka Ogwumike.

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Team Coop leans on perimeter shooting; Team Spoon has a size advantage with three elite bigs—Boston, Jones, and Wilson.

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• Caitlin Clark entered as a starter and leading vote-getter for Team Spoon with 1,023,321 fan votes.

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• Clark’s season averages are reported as either 21.0 ppg, 7.9 apg, 3.8 rpg or 20.7 ppg, 7.8 apg.

Hawk Central

• A’ja Wilson leads the league with 26.1 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 3.0 apg.

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• The broadcast reached a national audience via ABC, with streaming on ESPN platforms.

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• Cathy Engelbert, WNBA Commissioner, announced Copper’s addition after Plum’s injury.

Hawk Central

• Coaches Becky Hammon and Cheryl Reave emphasized shooting versatility for Team Coop and interior dominance for Team Spoon.

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• Former President Barack Obama met with Clark at the Obama Presidential Center before the game, offering personal encouragement.

The Sporting News

• Season-average statistics for Clark vary between sources (21.0 ppg vs. 20.7 ppg); the discrepancy remains unresolved.

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• No official confirmation exists regarding disciplinary action for Clark’s seventh technical foul of the season.

USA Today

The All-Star Game highlights the league’s evolution, showcasing emerging talent such as Bueckers alongside established stars like Wilson. The contrast between a shooting-oriented lineup and a physically imposing roster underscores strategic diversity, while the involvement of historic figures as honorary general managers reinforces the league’s legacy.

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The All-Star weekend concluded with the exhibition game on July 25. No further league-wide events tied to the All-Star format have been announced.

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