Chicago is preparing to take center stage in women’s basketball as the city welcomes AT&T WNBA All-Star 2026, a weeklong celebration that will bring together the league’s biggest stars, business leaders, entrepreneurs and thousands of fans while highlighting the city’s growing influence in sports, culture and innovation.
Running July 20-25, the Chicago All-Star 2026 Host Committee has planned a series of events that extend far beyond the All-Star Game itself. Many of the week’s signature events will be anchored at the newly opened Obama Presidential Center, underscoring organizers’ commitment to creating a lasting legacy through youth development, business growth and community engagement.
The host committee unveiled a lineup that includes leadership summits, youth basketball clinics, networking events, entrepreneurship programs and charitable initiatives designed to leave an impact long after the final buzzer sounds.
“Chicago has always delivered when the spotlight is brightest, and AT&T WNBA All-Star gives us an incredible opportunity to showcase the energy, innovation, and community that define this city,” said Nadia Rawlinson, co-chair of the Chicago All-Star 2026 Host Committee and co-owner of the Chicago Sky.
“We’re especially honored to host our signature events at the Obama Presidential Center, an institution that embodies leadership, possibility, and the power to inspire future generations.”
Valerie Jarrett, chief executive officer of The Obama Foundation, said hosting several of the week’s marquee events aligns with the foundation’s mission of inspiring future leaders.
“We look forward to welcoming leaders from across sports, business, and culture to the Obama Presidential Center during this landmark week for Chicago,” Jarrett said. “At the Center, we believe in the importance of sports, mentorship, and connection to create positive change. We are proud to partner with the Chicago WNBA All-Star Host Committee and the Chicago Sky to showcase the best of this city to visitors from around the world.”
The festivities begin Monday, July 20, with the Chicago All-Star 2026 Host Committee Golf Classic at Harborside International. The event will bring together current and former WNBA players, sponsors, partners and invited guests while raising funds to support the Chicago Sky Foundation.
Community engagement takes center stage Tuesday, July 21, when more than 100 young people will participate in the Line ‘Em Up Community Activation at Foster Park on Chicago’s South Side. Conducted in partnership with the Mayor’s Office, Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Transit Authority and the Chicago Sky Foundation, the event will feature basketball instruction, mentorship and leadership development. Mayor Brandon Johnson is expected to make what organizers described as a major announcement during the event.
The Line ‘Em Up initiative seeks to increase opportunities for girls and women in basketball by installing official WNBA three-point lines on neighborhood courts while expanding youth participation in the sport.
Later that evening, invited guests will gather at the Obama Presidential Center for a VIP reception recognizing the sponsors, partners and organizations that helped bring the WNBA All-Star Game back to Chicago for a second time.
One of the week’s signature events will take place Thursday, July 23, when the Obama Presidential Center hosts the invitation-only All-Star Media & Innovation Summit.
Built around the theme “From Participation to Power,” the summit will examine the explosive growth of women’s sports through discussions on media, technology, business investment, athlete ownership, sports science and artificial intelligence.
Featured panel discussions include Game-Changing Growth: Innovation Across Women’s Sports and Media; Safe, Seen, and Supported: Online Safety for Girls and Female Athletes; Smart Play: AI, Innovation, and the Future of Women’s Sports; The Science of Her Game: Power,
Performance, and Partnership; and The Next Ownership Wave: How Athletes Are Rewriting Who Gets to Own the Game.
The summit’s speaker lineup includes WNBA Hall of Famer Candace Parker, broadcast journalist Cari Champion, Sarah Spain of iHeart Women’s Sports, Illinois State Representatives Kam Buckner and Kim du Buclet, along with executives from PepsiCo, Pinterest, Gatorade, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee,
the WNBA, the Kraft Analytics Group and other leaders in sports, technology and business.
Another youth-focused event is scheduled for Friday, July 24, when the Line ‘Em Up x Women’s Sports Foundation Community Activation comes to Robichaux Park. More than 100 young participants will receive basketball instruction, mentorship and career guidance from Host Committee ambassadors and Women’s Sports Foundation athlete ambassadors. The event is being held in partnership with the Women’s Sports Foundation, Delta, Gatorade, the Chicago Sky Foundation and several city agencies.
The host committee’s programming concludes Saturday, July 25, with the Women’s Small Business Cohort Pitch Competition presented by Lendistry. Twelve women entrepreneurs from throughout the Chicago area have completed a four-week business development program focused on financial planning, marketing, customer acquisition and operational growth. Four finalists will each receive $20,000 to help expand their businesses.
Organizers say the extensive lineup reflects a broader vision for WNBA All-Star Weekend—one that celebrates elite basketball while investing in the next generation of athletes, entrepreneurs and community leaders.
“The Chicago WNBA All-Star 2026 Host Committee is not only showcasing Chicago as a global destination for professional sports—we’re creating meaningful connections and opportunities that will leave a lasting impact long after the final buzzer,” Rawlinson said.
For the Chicago Crusader’s readership, the week also represents another opportunity for Chicago to demonstrate why it continues to attract the nation’s premier sporting events while spotlighting neighborhoods, institutions and organizations that are helping shape the future of women’s sports.
Fans can purchase tickets for AT&T WNBA All-Star events scheduled for July 24 and 25 through the league’s official All-Star website. Additional information about Host Committee programming and community events is available through the Chicago All-Star 2026 Host Committee.
