2026 WNBA All-Star Game starts fast as Team Spoon jumps ahead
Team Spoon led Team Coop early in Chicago as WNBA stars, MVPs and rookies took over the United Center, according to ESPN.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
2 min read
The 2026 WNBA All-Star Game opened with Team Spoon in front of Team Coop, 29-17, with 2:57 left in the first quarter Saturday night at Chicago’s United Center, according to ESPN’s live scoreboard.
The exhibition aired on ABC and Disney+, ESPN reported, with two WNBA greats shaping the rosters from the front office seats. Cynthia Cooper served as general manager for Team Coop, while Teresa Weatherspoon handled the same role for Team Spoon.
ESPN said the game featured a loaded player pool, including three former MVPs and eight former WNBA champions. That gave the Chicago showcase plenty of star wattage before the first quarter had even cooled down.
Who is playing in the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game?
According to ESPN, Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers, the top vote-getter in All-Star balloting, was assigned to Team Coop. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, who received the second-most votes, was assigned to Team Spoon.
The game also included Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson and New York Liberty standouts Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones, ESPN reported. The three have combined to win the past six WNBA regular-season MVP awards.
Olivia Miles, described by ESPN as the front-runner for WNBA Rookie of the Year, was also listed among the players taking part. Her appearance added another young headliner to a game already built around established champions and award winners.
The WNBA All-Star Game is the league’s midseason showcase, bringing selected players together for a one-night exhibition rather than a regular league matchup. This year’s format used teams tied to Cooper and Weatherspoon instead of standard conference squads, according to ESPN’s coverage.
Azzi Fudd enters All-Star night with a trophy
All-Star Weekend had already delivered one major rookie moment before Saturday’s game. ESPN reported that Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd won Friday’s 3-point shooting contest.
In a video headline on ESPN, Fudd was credited with scoring 30 and becoming the first rookie to win the 3-point contest. ESPN’s weekend coverage also pointed readers to post-event grades for every player involved in the All-Star festivities.
Saturday’s main event then shifted the spotlight back to the full All-Star roster in Chicago. With Team Spoon racing out to an early double-digit lead on ESPN’s scoreboard, the night started with offense in a hurry and plenty of big names still waiting to leave their mark.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.