WNBA All-Star Weekend 2026: Team Spoon Triumphs Behind MVP Jonquel Jones; Azzi Fudd and Dominique Malonga Make History
The WNBA's 2026 All-Star Weekend in Chicago, Illinois, concluded with a high-scoring showcase at the United Center on Saturday, July 25, 2026, as Team Spoon defeated Team Coop 129-122 in front of a record crowd of 19,783 fans. The weekend highlighted the league's massive growth, featuring historic on-court milestones from veteran stars and rookies alike, even as off-court controversies regarding league leadership and franchise representation lingered.
New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones took home All-Star MVP honors after a dominant performance off the bench, scoring 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists. With this trophy, Jones became the first player in WNBA history to win MVP (2021), Commissioner's Cup MVP (2023), Finals MVP (2024), and All-Star MVP (2026).
"This is everything I dreamed about, that I wanted as a little kid. I told my parents when I was five years old that I was gonna be a professional athlete. The plan never changed, even when it looked murky..." — Jonquel Jones, CBS Sports
Key On-Court Milestones
- Azzi Fudd's 3-Point Masterclass: Dallas Wings rookie and No. 1 overall draft pick Azzi Fudd won the 3-Point Contest in spectacular fashion.1 After scoring 24 points in the opening round, Fudd poured in 30 points in the championship round to defeat Bridget Carleton. Her 30-point performance is tied for the second-highest score in 3-Point Contest history, making her the first rookie to ever win the event.
- Dominique Malonga's Historic Dunk: At just 20 years old, Seattle Storm sophomore center Dominique Malonga became the youngest player to ever dunk in a WNBA All-Star Game. In the second quarter, Malonga caught a fastbreak pass from Angel Reese and executed an effortless slam, becoming only the seventh player in league history to dunk in an All-Star Game.
- Caitlin Clark's Return: After missing the previous year's event due to injury, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark made a splashy return, dropping 17 points and 5 assists for Team Spoon, including three signature long-range 3-pointers in the first quarter.
Off-Field Business and Host City Controversies
Despite the massive success of the event, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert faced intense scrutiny. Reports from ESPN ahead of the weekend cited team sources expecting that 2026 would be Engelbert's final season as commissioner due to strained relationships with players. During her pre-game press conference, Engelbert was highly evasive when asked directly if she expected to remain in charge in 2027, and she was later greeted by deafening boos from fans at the United Center during the trophy presentation.2
Additionally, the host Chicago Sky made disappointing history by becoming the first host franchise to have zero player representatives participate in any All-Star Weekend event. The Sky currently sit in 13th place with a 9-18 record, and their highly anticipated new practice facility, which was supposed to host several All-Star events, remains unfinished.
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An instance of Rookie celebrity eclipses championship tenure in dictating a sports league's commercial frontier. — A rookie setting near-records to win the 3-point contest demonstrates how the league's newest generation is instantly capturing the spotlight and driving commercial interest. ↩︎
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An instance of A professional sport's rapid commercial boom converts competitive rivalries into volatile culture wars. — Despite record-breaking crowds and massive financial growth, the league faces deep internal administrative strain and public backlash against its leadership. ↩︎