A certain King, striking bells for liberty in Philly, may have stolen the show this weekend, but even after LBJ put FA on hold, the rest of the rotating world of Wilson showed that basketball really never truly stops.
Here in this writers’ home of Japan, New Balance brought an NBA 3X event for young girl and boy ballers to Tokyo, Japan. Bringing your very own Denver Nuggets superstar Jamal Murray to the proceedings, Canada, serving as a very special guest.
But even that wasn’t the biggest event headlining the hoops weekend in this late July scorcher of a Saturday and Sunday.
Don’t forget the orange carpet was again rolled out for the W and its 2026 All-star weekend to commemorate the 30-year anniversary of the Women’s National Basketball Association.
To mark three decades of great expectations and HERstory, we’ve already had new jerseys for these rebels, anniversary games, and more broken records than another season in the book of James. Yet this two-day epic event of court coronation is where the orange refreshes you like a cold glass of juice in July.
Chicago served up some deep dishes on the turn of a dime, assist to amazing play after play, as it hosted the annual league showcase once again.
Hall of Fame bound hometown hero Elena Delle Donne rejuvenated the revamped Shooting Stars challenge with a win for Team Washington. Past, present and future were all represented on this 30th anniversary shooting spectacle, as high school phenom Jezelle “GG” Banks made sure her last name was open. Rebekkah Brunson and amazing Aussie Lauren Jackson were also in legendary attendance for this new two-round, 70-second timed contest.
But we all know the real pre-game contest for any All-star weekend, N or WNBA, is found downtown in the city’s holdings. From a three-point contest here in NBA 3X Tokyo, which even Jamal Murray tried his arrow hand at, to the one in the Windy City that let it fly.
A symphony of string music.
Hot Wings rookie Azzi Fudd continued to make it her ROY race as she won the three-point contest with 30 points to tie the second-best score in W L history. And it’s no wonder. With a shot blessed by NBA 3-point King Steph Curry himself, she could go for Sabrina Ionescu’s record next year. Just like the New York Liberty star attempted to do in a shootout with the Chef after holding the all-time mark in both leagues.
Not bad for a rook who was the first in five years not to be named to the actual All-star game. Why? The amazing Azzi is fifth in the association in steals. So how about making her a bigger star of the show? She soon will be. Just some Fudd for thought.
Besides, Azzi is now acclaimed as the first ever rookie in the WNBA to win the three-point contest.
As for the ASG itself, it looked as good as the orange and Chicago Sky baby blue jerseys on court display in Chi-city.
In a close and compelling court contest, Team Spoon beat Team Coop, 129-122, behind 22 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists from Jonquel Jones. The Bahamian-Bosnian, New York Liberty star who you shouldn’t sleep on, striking between Stewie and Sabrina on the double-double. These nice numbers gave Jonquel the 2026 NBA All-star game MVP trophy.
All in all, the 2026 All-star gave us a great game. Toronto Tempo “Crash Out Queen”, and 53-point record sharer, Marina ‘Money’ Mabrey again set it with five made threes in one quarter alone.
The face of the league, Caitlin Clark, was also dropping logo bombs early. Serving looks to A’ja Wilson. The best player in the association that always does that herself. Complete with choice comments for the commissioner.
And take a look at this, legend Lisa Leslie. After Madame President Nneka Ogwumike eclipsed the league icon’s Sparks scoring record last week, Seattle Storm center Dominique Malonga put down a dunk this weekend. Not to mention, a 12-point, 13-rebound performance that makes her the youngest player to record a double-double in a WNBA All-star game.
Former Chicago Sky star Angel Reese, in Bayou Barbie pink hair, just had to leap into her arms with joy. The mutual feeling was palpable to all attendees in the arena and the millions watching on all sorts of screens worldwide.
The first WNBA All-star game in Chi-town since 2022, a season after the Sky hit a championship high, set an attendance record of 19,783 people watching women’s sports like everybody else does. Bypassing the Sky’s Wintrust Arena to play in the Chicago Bulls’ United Center stadium.
If you look up above in this amazing arena you can see boundless banners and numbers like 33, and an even bigger one in 23. Soon, there will be even more WNBA record breaking, banner worthy moments that will rewrite basketball history.
Not merely in this arena though…because there really is no ceiling to all this.
