Overview:
The WNBA celebrated its 30th anniversary in Chicago with a record-breaking All-Star Weekend featuring a sellout crowd at the United Center. Key highlights included Azzi Fudd winning the 3-Point Contest and Jonquel Jones earning All-Star Game MVP. Additionally, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced the league's expansion to 73 million unique viewers and the implementation of a new centralized Replay Center starting in 2027.
CHICAGO — The WNBA celebrated its 30th anniversary with one of the biggest All-Star Weekends in league history.
A record-setting weekend in Chicago showcased how much the league has grown over three decades, with memorable moments unfolding on and off the court before a sellout crowd at the United Center.
Dallas Wings Represented in Every On-Court Event
Dallas had a player in every major on-court event of the weekend. Fudd won the 3-Point Contest, Bueckers and Shepard started the All-Star Game, and Shepard competed in the Kia WNBA Shooting Stars competition.
Team Spoon honorary general manager Teresa Weatherspoon spoke about Shepard on Saturday.
“Jessica… she just does her part,” Weatherspoon said. “Knowing that you’re playing with Paige Bueckers, who can go off at any moment, but she plays the game the right way, she makes everybody else around her so much better.”
“It’s beautiful to watch.”
Bueckers was asked about Shepard after the game.
“Jess is very deserving of this opportunity. What she means for our team in Dallas, but how great she’s been her entire career,” Bueckers said.
“She just means so much to our basketball team. She’s a better human being than she is a basketball player, and she’s already great at that.”
Azzi Fudd Wins the 3-Point Contest
Before the contest, Wings forward Jessica Shepard was asked who would win it.
“There’s only one answer,” Shepard said. “Azzi Fudd.”
Fudd defeated Bridget Carleton in the championship round Friday night to become the first rookie in WNBA history to win the State Farm WNBA 3-Point Contest. She is also the first Wings player to win the event.
“It was shock,” Fudd said. “That’s crazy. To be the first is definitely an honor.”
The victory was another shooting competition title for Fudd, who has won 3-point contests throughout her career, including one at Stephen Curry’s SC30 Select Camp while wearing a walking boot during her recovery from knee surgery.
When asked if it felt good to win the contest without the walking boot this time, Fudd smiled.
“It feels great. It was a lot lighter without the boot,” Fudd said.
Barack Obama Surprises Players at the Obama Presidential Center
The weekend opened at the Obama Presidential Center, where Obama appeared during WNBA Changemaker Day.
Obama met with current players, legends and nearly 100 young girls taking part in the league’s community programming. He spoke about leadership and finding joy through basketball.
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers discussed the meeting later that day.
“I’ve looked up to him. He’s very inspiring. Just the work that he does, what he stands for, the human being that he is,” Bueckers said.
She added, “Him just showing support and wishing me the best and saying congratulations. I was just grateful to be in his presence.”
Cathy Engelbert Announces Replay Center, Highlights League Growth
During her annual State of the League address, Engelbert said the league has reached more than 73 million unique viewers this season and surpassed 2.2 million fans in attendance before the All-Star break. She also announced the WNBA will launch a centralized Replay Center beginning in 2027 to improve officiating consistency.
“It’s been amazing to see how much this week has grown over the years,” Engelbert said. “This week’s All-Star is our largest, most immersive and successful All-Star experience ever.”
Record Crowd at the United Center
Hours after Engelbert detailed the league’s continued growth, one of its youngest stars added another historic moment.
The sellout crowd of 19,783 set a WNBA All-Star Game attendance record.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark spoke about the atmosphere afterward.
“It’s a great celebration of the WNBA in 30 years and what we’ve been able to accomplish,” Clark said. “The crowd tonight was obviously incredible.”
New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones said the atmosphere reflected the momentum surrounding the league.
“To have 19,000 people and the highest attendance ever at the All-Star Game just really shows that our league is growing,” she said. “People want to be around us and want to be a part of this and understand how special it is.”
Jonquel Jones Turns Grief Into an MVP Performance
Days before arriving in Chicago, Jones lost her aunt. After speaking with relatives, she decided to play, knowing she would still be able to attend the ceremony to spread her aunt’s ashes at a later date.
“Basketball has just always been a way for me to escape,” Jones said. “Whatever is going on in my life has always been the thing that I run to when things get tough. It’s always been the thing that gives me comfort.”
Jones finished with 22 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists to earn All-Star Game MVP honors, becoming the first player in WNBA history to win league MVP, WNBA Finals MVP, Commissioner’s Cup MVP and All-Star Game MVP.
Jones won league MVP with the Connecticut Sun in 2021 and Finals MVP with the New York Liberty in 2024.
“It means a lot to win the MVP at the All-Star Game,” Jones said. “There have been so many great players that have come before that have done it.”
“We as players have to leave the league better than we met it,” she said.
Jones said she hopes the league never loses its sense of community.
“We go out there, we compete really hard, but we genuinely care for one another,” Jones said. “As our league continues to grow, we have to continue to foster that feeling of community, togetherness and love.”
Players Reflect on the Meaning of All-Star Weekend
Nneka Ogwumike, the WNBPA president, was asked how All-Star Weekend has evolved since her first appearance.
“Each time I’ve been named, it feels like the first time,” Ogwumike said. “It’s amazing to see the many iterations of All-Star. It seems to top itself year after year.”
Clark shared a similar appreciation for the opportunity.
“It’s always an honor to put this jersey on and play and compete and be around the best players in the world,” she said. “I don’t take that lightly.”
Following the All-Star break, the WNBA regular season resumes Tuesday with a full slate of games as teams begin the push toward the postseason.
The Wings return to action July 29 when they host the Atlanta Dream at College Park Center.
