Chicago will host the WNBA All-Star Game for the second time, having previously done the honor in 2022.
Chicago will bear the WNBA’s All-Star duties once again.
The league announced on Thursday that the Windy City, home of the Chicago Sky, will host the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game, with the main event moving to United Center on July 25. Chicago becomes the seventh city to host multiple WNBA All-Star Games, joining Las Vegas, New York, Phoenix, Uncasville, and Washington D.C.
WNBA ALL-STAR IS COMING BACK TO CHI ⭐️@wnba | #skytown pic.twitter.com/JNdbtLiu4J
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) October 16, 2025
“The WNBA is thrilled to bring AT&T WNBA All-Star back to Chicago, which will undoubtedly deliver unforgettable competition and community outreach,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. “Together with the Chicago Sky, we look forward to celebrating the game’s brightest stars, engaging WNBA fans around the world, and showcasing the energy of one of basketball’s most iconic cities.”
The “Madhouse on Madison” is the home of the NBA’s Chicago Bulls and NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks. It seats 20,917 for basketball, more than double than what the Sky’s dwelling of Wintrust Arena hosts.
This will mark the first time in All-Star Game history that the main event is not held at the full-time home of an active WNBA team, not counting “The Game at Radio City” in 2004 which was staged at Radio City Music Hall while the New York Liberty was using it as a temporary home while Madison Square Garden hosted the Republican National Convention. The event pitted WNBA All-Stars against the United States Women’s National team prior to the Athens Olympics. While the “USA vs. WNBA” format has become a staple in Olympic years, the 74-58 victory for Team USA is not officially considered an All-Star Game.
United Center previously hosted the Sky’s two home meetings against the Indiana Fever last season, with 19,601 taking in the showdown on July 27. Wintrust Arena, which previously hosted the 2022 game staged between teams captained and curated by Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson, will still be involved in the action, as it will host the 3-Point Contest and Skills Challenge the day before.
“We can’t wait to build on the success of the previous All-Star game and celebrate the explosive growth of the league by showcasing the WNBA’s biggest stars on a world-class stage,” Sky president and CEO Adam Fox said in the league statement. “We are so excited to welcome fans from around the globe to the WNBA All-Star game in our beautiful city with its storied basketball legacy. We are appreciative of everyone who worked with us to make this event happen.”
With the Sky set to be potentially repped by franchise face Angel Reese, Chicago has had a strong history on All-Star Weekend: team legend Allie Quigley holds the record for most victories in the 3-Point Contest, securing the last of four at the aforementioned festivities in 2022.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags