WNBA All-Star Friday night has moved from a schedule listing to a real watch decision. On Wednesday, July 22, the league announced the Kia WNBA Shooting Stars field, giving fans the final piece of the July 24 showcase at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
The event airs Friday, July 24, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, Disney+ and the ESPN App, paired with the State Farm WNBA 3-Point Contest. It comes one night before the AT&T WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday, July 25, at United Center.
The practical question for fans is simple: if you only have one night to watch before the game, Friday is the skills-and-shooting night, not a standard All-Star warmup.
What changed
The Shooting Stars field will bring together WNBA legends, current players and Nike EYBL standouts. Minnesota is represented by Rebekkah Brunson and Courtney Williams. Seattle pairs Lauren Jackson with Flau'jae Johnson. Washington pairs Elena Delle Donne with Shakira Austin. Dallas/Detroit pairs Deanna "Tweety" Nolan with Jessica Shepard, a nod to the Wings' franchise roots in the Detroit Shock.
Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon, the honorary general managers for the All-Star Game, are also part of the setup as designated passers. The WNBA says each team will have 70 seconds to score from seven court locations, with the top two teams from the opening round advancing to the championship round.
The 3-point field
The 3-point contest gives Friday night a second reason to watch. The field includes Rhyne Howard of Atlanta, Marina Mabrey of Toronto, Azzi Fudd of Dallas, Bridget Carleton of Portland, Natisha Hiedeman of Seattle and Janelle Salaun of Golden State.
NBA Communications said that, entering play on July 21, Mabrey led the group with 82 made threes and Howard followed with 79. The format includes five main racks, a player-chosen all-money-ball rack, and two deeper "From the Logo" shots worth three points each.
Why it matters
For casual viewers, Friday night is the easier entry point into All-Star weekend. It puts retired stars, current All-Stars, rookies and younger players into formats that are simpler to follow than a full exhibition game. For league followers, the pairings also tell a short history of the WNBA: Minnesota's title era, Seattle's Lauren Jackson years, Washington's Delle Donne era and the Detroit-to-Dallas franchise line all show up on the same floor.
Chicago's official All-Star site lists the broader weekend as July 23 through July 25, with WNBA Live at McCormick Place, Friday night at Wintrust Arena and the All-Star Game at United Center. That makes the watch plan straightforward: Friday is for skills and shooting, Saturday is for the main game.
What to check before watching
Check the time zone first. The national broadcast is listed for 8 p.m. ET, while the Chicago event listing uses 7 p.m. CT. If you are attending in person, verify the Wintrust Arena ticket and bag details before leaving, because Friday night is a separate event from Saturday's game at United Center.
For viewers at home, the key names to know are Delle Donne, Jackson, Brunson and Nolan in Shooting Stars, plus Howard, Mabrey and Fudd in the 3-point contest. Those names explain why a midweek search spike around WNBA standings is turning into All-Star weekend attention: fans are not just checking who is winning, they are deciding which parts of the league's showcase are worth their time.
