WNBA Brings 2026 All-Star Game to 23,000-Seat United Center on July 25

Q: With a massive $70,000 prize on the line tonight, who will crack under pressure in the WNBA's revamped 3-point shootout?

Azzi Fudd did not crack under pressure — she won the revamped WNBA 3-point shootout and the $70,000 top prize. The player who most visibly fell short in the decisive moment was Bridget Carleton. After reaching the final, Carleton needed 30 points to force a playoff and 31 to win, but managed only 19 in the championship round. That made her the clearest example of someone unable to match the stakes late. Fudd, by contrast, handled the pressure best. The rookie scored 30 out of a possible 40 in the final round, missing just six of 27 shots. She later said she was nervous, but her performance suggested the moment did not overwhelm her. Her shooting profile made her a legitimate contender entering the event: she was already among the league leaders in 3-pointers made per game, and analysts had identified her and Marina Mabrey as the favorites. If there was a broader pressure point before the final, it was on the experienced shooters. Mabrey entered as the league leader in made 3s, and Rhyne Howard was close behind, with both seen as strong bets because of production and prior contest experience. Yet neither ended up winning, even with the new payout structure making this the richest 3-point contest in WNBA All-Star history. So the answer is Carleton cracked in the final round, while Fudd thrived under the biggest spotlight.

Q: As Clark and Bueckers face off tomorrow after a historic coin flip, which superstar will steal the $20,000 MVP crown?

A’ja Wilson looks like the strongest pick to take the $20,000 All-Star MVP. The best case for Wilson is simple: she is the league’s most dominant player entering the break and the clear regular-season MVP favorite. Multiple reports in the lead-up to All-Star Weekend have her leading the WNBA in scoring at roughly 25-plus points per game while also anchoring games with rebounds, blocks and defensive presence. In an exhibition setting, that kind of all-around production often translates quickly, especially if minutes are spread and efficiency matters more than volume. Clark and Bueckers are the marquee storyline after the coin flip, and either could absolutely seize the moment. Clark’s appeal is obvious: she can pile up points and assists fast, and her star power makes her a natural MVP narrative candidate if she controls tempo and hits a few deep threes. Bueckers has a similarly strong case because of her efficiency, shot-making and rising profile on a surging Dallas team. Betting markets cited ahead of the game put Wilson, Bueckers and Olivia Miles among the shortest MVP odds, with Clark and Breanna Stewart close behind. Still, if the question is who is most likely to “steal” it, Wilson stands out over the field because she does not need a hot shooting streak alone to win. She can dominate with scoring, rebounding and defense in the same game. Clark may draw the spotlight, and Bueckers may deliver the headline duel, but Wilson remains the safest MVP call.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 24

Chicago hosts the WNBA All-Star Game on July 25, returning after a three-year gap and moving to the United Center for the first time.
23,000-plus seats make the Bulls and Blackhawks arena more than twice the size of Wintrust Arena, where Chicago staged the 2022 game and where Friday's Skills Night will be held.
Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon drafted the teams after top vote-getters Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers were split by coin flip; stars including Angel Reese, Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson are set to play.
$15,000 goes to each All-Star under the new CBA, with the MVP earning another $20,000; 3-point and skills events also carry boosted payouts backed in part by Aflac.
The 30th-anniversary weekend also includes WNBA Live at McCormick Place, practices and media events at the Obama Presidential Center, and national broadcasts on ABC and Disney+.