Chicago is hosting WNBA All-Star weekend again, and this time the event is much bigger than the league’s last visit to the city in 2022.
The centerpiece is Saturday’s All-Star Game at the United Center, tipping off at 7:30 p.m., with teams led by coaches Teresa Weatherspoon and Cynthia Cooper.
Team Coop includes Paige Bueckers, Breanna Stewart and Angel Reese, while Team Spoon features Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson and Olivia Miles. The 3-point contest and Shooting Stars competition happen Friday night at Wintrust Arena, though the league hasn’t yet named the participants.
Fan Fest and Community Events
WNBA Live, the league’s fan festival at McCormick Place, runs Thursday evening through Saturday, giving fans a chance to meet players, shop merchandise and play interactive games.
Thursday morning kicks things off with a free Community Health Walk at Jackson Park starting at 9 a.m., paired with skin cancer screenings and wellness activities put on with Evernorth Health Services and GirlTREK.
Friday brings a full slate of programming, including a free youth skills camp at The Sport House hosted by Clubhouse Buckets and Off the Dribble, a live taping of the “Unsupervised with Syd and TP” podcast at the TOGETHXR House pop-up in Fulton Market, and an all-day coffee event from Unrivaled at Drip Collective featuring player appearances and giveaways.
Women’s sports bar Level Sporting Club will host back-to-back live podcast recordings from Cari Champion, Jemele Hill and Sarah Spain.
Bars, Panels and Late-Night Parties
Saturday’s lineup includes a morning community run led by Peloton instructors, a panel on the future of women’s basketball investment featuring Dawn Staley, Diana Taurasi and Raven Johnson, and a retro celebration honoring the old ABL and WBL leagues at Babe’s Sports Bar.
Just Women’s Sports will throw a pregame gathering near the United Center with player meet-and-greets, and once the game wraps, watch parties and after-parties take over spots like Origin, Blind Barber and Whispers at Oak Street Beach, with cover charges ranging from about $20 to $40.
The weekend winds down Sunday with a brunch finale at Level Sporting Club featuring bottomless mimosas and a live podcast taping, plus a laid-back recovery event at Babe’s Sports Bar with breakfast sandwiches for anyone nursing an All-Star weekend hangover.
With brand pop-ups, panels, live music and dozens of free and ticketed events stretched across four days, this year’s celebration reflects just how much attention and investment the WNBA has attracted since Chicago’s last All-Star weekend four years ago.