The WNBA is trying out a different approach at All-Star Weekend in Chicago by swapping out the Skills Challenge with the NBA-inspired WNBA Shooting Stars. It features four legends, four current WNBA players, and four Nike EYBL prospects, divided into four teams at Wintrust Arena.
The event took place from 2004 to 2015 before its 2026 revival and is now appearing at a WNBA All-Star Weekend for the first time. It's a nod to the league's 30th anniversary, focused on four franchises with strong generational ties.
The field is set 🙌
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 22, 2026
Meet the participants in this year's @Kia WNBA Shooting Stars competition at #WNBAAllStar!
Which team is taking home the hardware? 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Gkb0EgI8q6
How Shooting Stars Works
The Shooting Stars format features two rounds. Each team has 70 seconds to score from seven spots, ranging from a layup to a 3-pointer. Players rotate shooting from various spots as a passer feeds each shot. Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon, who served as honorary All-Star Team general managers, will help with passing duties. The teams with the two highest scores after the first round advance to a final winner-takes-all round.
Who is Participating?
Team Washington looks like the top contender, including recent Hall of Fame inductee Elena Delle Donne and Washington Mystics center Shakira Austin. Delle Donne is the most efficient shooter among the four legends and the first WNBA player to achieve a 50-40-90 season. She can shoot it consistently from any spot on the floor. Meanwhile, Austin's shooting range tends to be best closer to the basket. However, she tends to play with limited shooting range.
Team Seattle has three-time MVP Lauren Jackson and rookie Flau'jae Johnson. Jackson was a versatile scorer from mid-range and near the basket, while Johnson's guard skills make for an intriguing duo.
Team Minnesota features five-time champion Rebekkah Brunson, known for rebounding and screen-setting but not as a shooter. Courtney Williams, who is a lights-out mid-range shooter, could do some heavy lifting for any team.
The Dallas/Detroit team pairs Deanna "Tweety" Nolan with Wings forward Jessica Shepard. The WNBA aimed to honor the franchise's legacy from the Detroit Shock to Tulsa and now the Dallas Wings. Nolan, a key scorer in three Detroit titles, is teamed up with Shepard, who has four triple-doubles this season.
The four Nike EYBL prospects provide an unpredictable element, including Jezelle "GG" Banks, Ryan Carter, Tatianna Griffin, and Morghan Reckley. Those four participants make up the full group, but they haven't been assigned teams by Friday's rollout.
Prediction Time
Delle Donne is a game-changer for Team Washington, and it's hard to predict any other team. Seattle looks like the leading challenger, with Jackson and Johnson. Dallas/Detroit is a modest contender, but Shepard tends to be best in the paint with some short-range shooting touch.
Washington is probably going to win against Seattle in the final, with a strong reliance on Delle Donne. The WNBA format continues to be important, especially as the EYBL class starts to take part.
This year's WNBA Shooting Stars competition will kick off at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
