In 2022, the WNBA staged its All-Star festivities in Chicago for the first time in history.
Recently, the W announced its intent to return to the Midwest for the 2026 version of All-Star weekend.
It is well-documented that Chicago is one of the premier basketball cities that there is. It is also well-documented that the WNBA team that calls Chicago home has been much-maligned for questionable front office decisions.
Nevertheless, it is expected that the 2026 All-Star weekend will be an improvement over when the Second City last hosted a few years ago. Here are a few thoughts now that the 2026 host city for All-Star has been determined.
Angel Reese
If anyone remembers how the 2025 season concluded for the Sky, one can see that Angel Reese is not exactly seeing eye to eye with the Sky’s front office as of today.
Regardless, Chi-Town’s Barbie continues to do well for herself away from the court – including her being one of three athletes to participate in the Victoria’s Secret fashion show. Kysre Gondrezick and Suni Lee were the others.
If Reese needed a reason to stay in Chicago for one more season of her three-year rookie contract, the opportunity to be the grand marshal for All-Star 2026 could be that. One way or another, No. 5 is expected to be a major focal point for All-Star weekend.
2022 Miscues
Those that remember when Chicago hosted in 2022 remembers how it felt like everything was thrown together at the last minute.
Only a small section of the area outside of the McCormick Convention Center – the largest convention center in the country – was utilized for WNBA Live. In addition, there was a portion of the convention center that was put together for WNBA All-Star Friday – the 3-Point Contest and Skills Challenge.
The Skills Challenge was won by Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty) and Allie Quigley (Chicago Sky) won her fourth of four 3-Point Contest championships.
Let us also remember the “trophy” that was presented to Kelsey Plum – with the Las Vegas Aces at the time – following her winning All-Star Game MVP after dropping 30 points for Team (A’ja) Wilson defeated Team (Breanna) Stewart by a final score of 134-112.
Hopefully, the WNBA learned from its 2022 mistakes as we draw ever closer to July 2026.
One advantage of the WNBA holding its 2022 midseason festivities in Chicago was how the W incorporated the Nike Nationals – a high-profile AAU event – into its plans. Perhaps something similar could be in the plans for 2026.
United Center
One way that it appears the WNBA has learned from its 2022 mistakes is by holding the All-Star Game itself at United Center – the home court of the NBA’s Chicago Bulls on the Windy City’s west side.
In 2022, Wintrust Arena, the Sky’s home court, hosted the game itself even with All-Star Friday being staged at the McCormick Convention Center.
Wintrust Arena may be a newer venue – but United Center is the larger one. The Sky’s home court has a capacity of 10,000. The Bulls’ home venue seats over 20,000.
BG
One cannot recollect All-Star 2022 without remembering that it was an extremely emotional time within the WNBA.
It was 2022 when the W family had Brittney Griner on its mind as she was unfairly imprisoned in Russia. The Free BG movement was a focal point throughout the WNBA with a Free BG logo being displayed at all 12 home courts. Griner was also named an honorary All-Star that year.
Griner played her first season with the Atlanta Dream this past season. Even though she did not put up the numbers we are used to seeing from BG, one would think the WNBA will find a way to incorporate how she was honored in 2022 in their 2026 plans.
Allie Quigley
There is a movement among WNBA fans to have the 3-Point Contest trophy renamed after Allie Quigley – Chicago’s very own.
Following Quigley calling it a time at the 3-Point Contest – and a career in the W – Ionescu has become the new queen of the 3-Point Contest as she has won two of the last three.
Perhaps, 2026 will finally be the year we get both her and Caitlin Clark in the same 3-Point competition. Regardless, if there was any year where we get an official announcement that the 3-Point contest trophy does get named after Quigley, it would be next year.
All-Star Logo
Hopefully, the WNBA goes back to unique All-Star logos as opposed to the insignia that was utilized for this past year’s All-Star in Indianapolis.
Ironically, the recent trend of the W giving its All-Star logos a bit of uniqueness began with 2022 in Chicago. It continued with the 2023 All-Star weekend which took place in Las Vegas as well as 2024’s which emanated from Phoenix.
The All-Star Logo for 2025 was not exactly giving Indianapolis. Perhaps, the WNBA can get away with utilizing a similar insignia for 2026 given Chicago is known for its six-sided star as opposed to the more traditional five-sided variant.
A more unique logo ala 2022, 2023 or 2024 would be much preferred.
