How to watch WNBA All-Star Game 2026: Start time, streaming, rosters and halftime show

The WNBA All-Star Game is a testament to player talents and fan cultures. It’s also a good measure of this league’s ongoing evolution.

In its first season, the brand-new WNBA didn’t even have an All-Star celebration. A decade after that, both All-Star coaches hailed from franchises soon to be relocated or disbanded. Two decades after inauguration, Maya Moore led the field with around 33,000 fan votes. Now cut to 2026, when both Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark exceeded the 1 million mark.

This year’s All-Star Game shows how much the W has going for it right now. Bueckers, Clark, Olivia Miles, Dominique Malonga and Angel Reese lead the next generation into the spotlight. They’re joined by enduring superstars like A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. Gabby Williams highlights the instant success of the Golden State Valkyries, and Marina Mabrey gets love on behalf of one of this year’s expansion teams, the Toronto Tempo. There are twerking mascots and blue-haired goofballs for those with eyes to see them.

Here’s what to know ahead of the main event. All times listed are ET.

How to watch the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game

Venue: United Center — Chicago

Date: Saturday, July 25

Time: 8:30 p.m.

TV: ABC

Streaming: Fubo (Stream Free Now)

ABC is free over the air. It’s also available with Disney+ and ESPN Unlimited subscriptions.

WNBA All-Star Game broadcast and halftime show

As the league celebrates its 30th season, the All-Star festivities take on special flourishes.

ABC is airing an episode of “WNBA Countdown” at 8 p.m., 30 minutes before the game starts. The show is hosted by Malika Andrews, alongside Andraya Carter, Monica McNutt and Chiney Ogwumike on the desk. “WNBA Postgame” is set to begin at 10:30 p.m. The game itself has Ryan Ruocco (“you bet!“) on the call, with analyst Rebecca Lobo and reporter Holly Rowe in tow.

The halftime show is headlined by Tyla. The South African singer performs one day after the release of her new album, “A*POP.”

Sister network ESPN2 commemorates All-Star Weekend with its release of “Life in the W,” a six-episode documentary series that follows Wilson, Napheesa Collier and DeWanna Bonner. Episodes 1-4 are airing on Saturday, starting at 5 p.m. All six are already available for those with an ESPN Select or Unlimited subscription.

Beyond the broadcast itself, “StudBudz” Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman are reprising last year’s All-Star live stream. Charismatic chaos abounds on their Instagram and Twitch pages.

The 2026 All-Star lineups

Starters were determined by a mix of fan, media and player votes. Reserves were chosen by the league’s head coaches. An All-Star draft was held on July 15 with honorary general managers Teresa Weatherspoon and Cynthia Cooper.

Cooper won a coin toss and received Bueckers, the leader in fan votes. Weatherspoon got Clark, who earned the second-most votes. Those two Hall of Famers then alternated picks — Weatherspoon took the reigning MVP Wilson to start the process, while Cooper chose two-time MVP Breanna Stewart to match up down low.

Becky Hammon and Cheryl Reeve roam the All-Star sidelines. Hammon’s Las Vegas Aces and Reeve’s Minnesota Lynx were tied for the WNBA’s best record through the July 10 cutoff date.

Team Coop (red uniforms)

Starters:

Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings

Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty

Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever

Natasha Howard, Minnesota Lynx

Gabby Williams, Golden State Valkyries

Reserves:

Angel Reese, Atlanta Dream

Marina Mabrey, Toronto Tempo

Dominique Malonga, Seattle Storm

Kahleah Copper*, Phoenix Mercury

Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces

Sonia Citron, Washington Mystics

* injury replacement for Kelsey Plum, Los Angeles Sparks

Coach:

Becky Hammon, Las Vegas Aces

Team Spoon (blue uniforms)

Starters:

Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever

A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Olivia Miles, Minnesota Lynx

Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever

Jessica Shepard, Dallas Wings

Reserves:

Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream

Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream

Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty

Courtney Williams, Minnesota Lynx

Kiki Iriafen, Washington Mystics

Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks

Coach:

Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota Lynx

This year’s showcase adds a new fundraising initiative to benefit two local organizations. Team Coop is playing for Angels Athletics and Team Spoon reps Girls in the Game. Both Chicago-area nonprofits support health and development through girls’ sports. The winning team’s designated organization gets a $70,000 donation, while the losing side receives $30,000.

The odds

Courtesy of The Athletic‘s Katie Richcreek, deputing managing editor of sports betting:

Weatherspoon called her roster “competitive” when the All-Star draft concluded — and the betting odds like her chances of edging out Cooper. Team Spoon is slightly favored to beat Team Coop, with four-time MVP Wilson headlining a starting lineup that also features breakout rookie Miles and superstar Clark.

Team Coop does have shooters up and down its roster, led by another former league MVP in Stewart, so oddsmakers are expecting a higher-scoring game than in 2025. The over/under of 279.5 is more than 20 points higher than the last midsummer classic, though it’s worth noting this total has only been cleared once in the game’s history — last season.

Recent WNBA All-Star Game MVPs

2025 — Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx

2024 — Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas Wings

2023 — Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm

2022 — Kelsey Plum, Las Vegas Aces

2021 — Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas Wings

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This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

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