WNBA-Obama Center Partnership
WNBA All-Star Weekend 2026 to Host Historic Events at Obama Presidential Center in Chicago
Key Points
The Obama Presidential Center's Home Court will house a regulation-size WNBA court within a 60,000-square-foot athletic complex, enabling official practices and on-site All-Star events.
In addition to on-site programming, the All-Star weekend includes Live presented by AWS — a dedicated, interactive fan festival at McCormick Place running July 24-25.
The All-Star Game starters for the Chicago weekend have been announced, featuring Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Olivia Miles, Natasha Howard, Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, Jessica Shepard, and Gabby Williams.
Changemaker Day is described as the third annual edition, with sponsorship partners collaborating with the Chicago Sky, Chicago Public Schools, and the Girls Opportunity Alliance.
The WNBA will make history in 2026 by becoming the first professional sports league to host events at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, according to Reuters. All-Star Media Day, Changemaker Day, and Jr. WNBA Day will all take place at the new campus in Jackson Park during All-Star Weekend.
The All-Star Game is set for July 25 at the United Center, with tip-off broadcast on ABC. The weekend also includes a fan festival at McCormick Place and skills competitions at Wintrust Arena, making it one of the most spread-out All-Star weekends in league history.
Obama Center Becomes WNBA's Newest Home Court
The Obama Presidential Center features a 60,000-square-foot athletic complex with a full regulation-size WNBA court, called the Home Court. Reuters reported that the facility will host Media Day and Practice, Changemaker Day, and Jr. WNBA Day, all scheduled for July 24. No professional sports league has held All-Star events at the Center before.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and Obama Foundation executive Valerie Jarrett both stressed that the partnership is about more than basketball. The two organizations want to use the weekend to highlight leadership, community work, and opportunities for young players. The Center's campus is seen as the perfect backdrop for that message.
Chicago Sky's Unfinished Facility Shaped the Weekend's Logistics
The Chicago Sky's training facility in Bedford Park is still unfinished, according to Reuters. That gap forced organizers to look elsewhere for practice and event space. The Obama Center stepped in to fill that role, turning a logistical problem into a high-profile partnership opportunity.
The unfinished facility is a notable complication for the host team. Most All-Star host cities rely on the local team's practice space for league events. Chicago had to build a new plan from scratch, and the Obama Center ended up at the center of it.
Star-Studded Game Lineup Headlines the United Center Showcase
The All-Star Game starters have already been announced. The roster features Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Olivia Miles, Natasha Howard, Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, Jessica Shepard, and Gabby Williams. The game tips off July 25 and airs on ABC, giving the league one of its biggest national stages of the year.
The State Farm WNBA 3-Point Contest and Kia WNBA Shooting Stars will be held at Wintrust Arena. Meanwhile, a fan festival called All-Star Live presented by AWS runs July 24-25 at McCormick Place. The spread of venues across Chicago gives fans multiple ways to take part in the weekend.
Changemaker Day Brings Education and Community to Center Stage
Changemaker Day returns for its third straight year as part of All-Star Weekend. The event brings together the Chicago Sky, Chicago Public Schools, and the Girls Opportunity Alliance. Sponsors also play a role, helping fund programs aimed at young women and girls in the city.
Jr. WNBA Day gives young players a chance to train and learn at the Obama Center's Home Court. The programming is designed to show kids a direct link between sports and leadership. League officials say events like these are core to the WNBA's mission of growing the game beyond the professional level.
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