Pop Base's favorite moments of WNBA All-Star weekend 2026

This year’s All-Star events were the best-attended of all time, nestled right in the center of the most-watched season of all time. 

Cathy Engelbert cites increased offensive ratings as one reason views are up—the play is better, higher quality, more exciting, faster. That may be true. But All-Star games aren’t known for their tight defense or cerebral play-making—they’re good fun. 

In no particular order… Pop Base is rounding up our favorite moments of this year’s All-Star weekend.

THE ‘FITS 

From the orange carpet to the tunnel, the league stunned. Just take a look: 

Angel celebrates the release of her Barbie in an all-pink ensemble: 

AZZI FUDD’S HISTORIC 3-POINT CONTEST WIN 

The future of the league is bright. Azzi Fudd won this year’s 3-point contest with 30 points against Bridget Carlson in the final. She’s now the holder of the second highest WNBA 3-point contest score, behind Sabrina Ionescu’s 37-point performance in 2023, and tied with Sabrina’s 2025 and Allie Quigley’s 2022 showing. She also made history—becoming the first rookie to ever win it. 

Following her win, she suggested that it’s time for her and Steph Curry to figure out a “time and place” for a rematch of the 3-point contest they played when Azzi attended his camp. Last time, Steph beat her 20-16, but she was only a high-schooler. We’d love to see her take him on again today. 

This year’s 3-point contest had higher stakes than usual, since the league increased the prize amounts. The women’s contest now makes more than the men’s. Azzi walked away $70k richer. 

UNRIVALED COFFEE CLUB 

Tons of events sprung up all around the host city of Chicago, from the Togethxr House to events at women’s sports bars like Babe’s, to a Coach pop-up on Navy Pier. 

Our favorite was the Unrivaled Coffee Club, a ticketed event run by the 3-on-3 league where fans were served coffee by their favorite players. For nearly 12 hours, players traded off barista shifts, some on their own, some in couples like Marine and Gabby, and some teammates, like Olivia and Phee. 

It was a super fun way to bring the players to the fans. And the coffee was good, too. 

“LIFE IN THE W”

ESPN used All-Star weekend to premiere its new docuseries Life in the W, which focuses on the careers of Napheesa Collier, A’ja Wilson, and Dewanna Bonner throughout last season. Viewers can re-live Phee’s injury and the 2025 MVP race all over again, from the inside. 

Plus, get a look at Phee’s relationship with her darling daughter Mila, how AT and DB play and live together, and other intimate revelations like this one: 

DOMINIQUE MALONGA’S ALL STAR DUNK 

Only in her second season, Seattle Storm player Dom Malonga drove to the basket during the second quarter to hit this insane dunk. 

aaaaand the crowd goes wild. 

REPLAY SYSTEM INCOMING! 

Commissioner Cathy Engelbert used her podium before the game to speak on a few topics like online harassment of players and her tenure as commissioner. 

And she announced a few things that made our ears perk up. 

One is a replay system, like the NBA’s, that, in Cathy’s words, will “bring consistency to officiating.” After a season of more (and more hotly debated) foul calls, I’m sure this is a relief to players, coaches, and officials alike. 

The Comish also teased an international presence for the league, saying they’re looking into playing a few games overseas. That could start in the next 3-5 years.

OBAMA 

This year’s All-Star weekend was held in Chicago, which became home to the new Obama Presidential Center just months ago. Several events, including team practices, were held at the Center’s ‘Home Court,’ a community center with basketball courts. 

A very special guest visited (and showed off his ball knowledge). 

STREAM HIGHLIGHTS 

Natisha Heideman and Courtney Williams ran it back this year, streaming for 72 hours straight, with matching hair, all weekend. They gave us some great moments, like Courtney coaching O. Miles through meeting Keke Palmer, declaring A’ja and Bam’s future kids tall as hell, talking to Becky Hammon about her legendary in-game fall, and asking Mrs. Mabrey to take a shot. 

And Olivia Miles not believing any of it. 

It was exhausting.

In the All-Star game itself, Team Spoon took the victory over Team Coop, but in the end it’s not about the score… it’s just about having fun. 

— Jules Yaeger

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