2026 WNBA All-Star Game Sets Attendance Record in Chicago

The 2026 WNBA All-Star Game set a new attendance record on Saturday, July 25, as 19,783 fans packed Chicago’s United Center, underscoring the league's surging popularity during its 30th anniversary season. The event, which returned to Chicago for the first time since 2022, showcased a transformed midseason showcase marked by unprecedented fan engagement and significant economic impact.

Ticket demand reached historic levels, with sales on the secondary market reported to be 32 percent higher than the previous record and nearly eight times greater than the 2022 event in Chicago. Data indicated that 63 percent of ticket buyers traveled from outside Illinois, representing more than 40 states, while nearly 80 percent of those purchasers had never before attended a Chicago sporting event. The weekend, which ran from July 23 to July 25, extended beyond the game itself with WNBA Live, a large fan festival at McCormick Place featuring activities, music, and player interactions supported by dozens of corporate partners.

On the court, Team Spoon, captained by Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark and coached by Minnesota’s Cheryl Reeve, faced Team Coop, led by Las Vegas Aces center Aja Wilson...