Chicago became the center of women’s basketball on Friday, July 24, 2026, as the WNBA staged a full day of All-Star events across several major venues. The schedule combined elite competition, fan experiences, youth development, business programming, and community activities, giving the weekend a broader purpose than a single exhibition game.
Friday’s headline attractions were the State Farm WNBA 3-Point Contest and the new Kia WNBA Shooting Stars competition at Wintrust Arena. Both events were presented to a national audience through ESPN platforms, giving fans across the country an opportunity to watch some of the league’s leading players demonstrate their shooting ability.
The six-player 3-Point Contest field represented several stages of a professional basketball career. Four-time All-Star Rhyne Howard and first-time All-Star Marina Mabrey were joined by 2026 No. 1 draft pick Azzi Fudd, Bridget Carleton, Natisha Hiedeman, and Janelle Salaün.
Entering the event, the competitors were among the WNBA’s most productive long-range shooters. Mabrey led the group with 82 made three-pointers, while Howard followed with 79. The contest featured two timed rounds and included deeper “From the Logo” shots worth three points, adding an extra challenge for the players and excitement for viewers.
The long-distance attempts were also connected to an educational cause. A donation was planned for Girls Who Code for every successful “From the Logo” basket. The initiative placed an organization supporting girls in technology within one of the weekend’s most visible events.
That partnership demonstrated how women’s empowerment can cross multiple fields. Athletic success was connected with education, technology, career development, and access to future opportunities. It also showed how professional sports organizations can use major events to support programs that benefit girls beyond the basketball court.
The Shooting Stars competition was designed around a different idea. It highlighted the continuity of women’s basketball across generations. Each of the four teams included a retired WNBA legend, a current professional player, and a standout high school athlete from Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League.
Hall of Famers Lauren Jackson and Elena Delle Donne headlined the competition alongside five-time WNBA champion Rebekkah Brunson and three-time champion Deanna “Tweety” Nolan. Current players Courtney Williams, Flau’jae Johnson, Shakira Austin, and Jessica Shepard joined them, while four high school players completed the teams.
The intergenerational format carried special significance during the WNBA’s 30th season. Younger fans were able to see current stars sharing the court with women whose careers helped establish and grow the league. High school athletes also received the rare opportunity to compete alongside professionals and retired champions they may have watched throughout their childhoods.
Instead of presenting league history through a separate ceremony, Shooting Stars incorporated that history directly into the competition. The format showed how experienced athletes, active professionals, and emerging talent all contribute to the continued development of women’s basketball.
Friday’s program extended well beyond Wintrust Arena. WNBA Live, the league’s official fan festival, operated at McCormick Place and featured player appearances, panel discussions, basketball activities, merchandise, and exhibits connecting sports with music, style, technology, and culture.
The festival included participation from dozens of league partners and licensees. A Jr. WNBA clinic was also organized for girls ages nine and older. Accessibility services included trained volunteers and a mobile sensory room for visitors with sensory needs or non-visible disabilities.
The Obama Presidential Center served as another important location during the day. It hosted WNBA All-Star Media Day and practice, the league’s third annual Changemaker Day, and Jr. WNBA programming.
Activities for girls included basketball instruction, leadership discussions, a vision-board workshop, and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programming. Many of the sessions took place in Home Court, the center’s 60,000-square-foot athletic building, which includes a WNBA-regulation basketball court and multipurpose spaces for community and youth programs.
The events offered practical lessons for attendees and viewers. Families were encouraged to review venue requirements, schedules, ticket information, and transportation plans because activities were spread across McCormick Place, Wintrust Arena, the Obama Presidential Center, and the United Center.
For Women’s Insider readers, the day’s biggest takeaway was that a major women’s sporting event can also function as a platform for mentorship, education, leadership, business, and personal expression.
Competition remained at the heart of the celebration, but the surrounding programs demonstrated how a professional league can create opportunities for girls, recognize the women who shaped its history, and introduce fans to conversations about careers and community impact.
Friday’s activities led into the WNBA All-Star Game at the United Center on Saturday, July 25. However, July 24 stood on its own as a major celebration of women’s achievement, athletic excellence, and the growing cultural influence of women’s basketball in the United States.
Women’s Insider Contributor
Natalie J. Brooks
Natalie J. Brooks covers small business, branding, and digital culture. She brings a practical, accessible voice to topics that matter most to today’s women.
This article features partner, contributor, or branded content from a third party. Members of the Women’s Insider editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content. All views and opinions are those of the contributor alone.
