The tentpole event in women’s sports kicks off this week, with the WNBA All-Star Game and its dozens of surrounding activities and activations taking over Chicago. Not an exaggeration — there are literally dozens, and I have barely a window that’s not at least double-booked.
If you’re looking to fill your dance card, here’s a look at how agencies, brands and properties are showing up for the big event.
(This is a non-exhaustive list because there are more private parties and invite-only events that I have surely missed.)
Thursday
WNBA Live presented by AWS opens at McCormick Place, with 34 sponsors and licensees activating in the space — a record for the event. The showcase runs through Saturday.
The Chicago All-Star 2026 Host Committee has events throughout the week, with some at the recently opened Obama Presidential Center. Those include the All-Star Media & Innovation Summit on the center’s home court, with panel topics including:
- Game-Changing Growth: Innovation Across Women’s Sports and Media
- Smart Play: AI, Innovation, and the Future of Women’s Sports
- The Science of Her Game: Power, Performance, and Partnership
Pinterest, Gatorade and J.P. Morgan Private Bank are all sponsoring discussions. Confirmed panelists speaking throughout the day include Hall of Famer Candace Parker; PepsiCo VP/Sports and Entertainment Carolyn Braff; journalist Cari Champion; Togethxr co-founder and Chief Brand Officer Jessica Robertson; and Parity CEO Leela Srinivasan.
88 Vines and Chrissy Delisle are launching Full Court Press: Legends, a day of events at Avec River North. The event is raising funds for The V Foundation and includes:
- Syd Scott, the daughter of late ESPN anchor Stuart Scott, hosting a “Voices of the Game” panel with analyst Ari Chambers, Netflix anchor Elle Duncan, NBC Sports/Prime analyst LaChina Robinson and content creator Coach Jackie J.
- A live recording of the “Good Game with Sarah Spain” podcast, with Basketball Hall of Famers Ticha Penicheiro and Sheryl Swoopes and former WNBA President Donna Orender as guests.
- Culinary Tip-Off with chefs Stephanie Izard, Tracey Shepos Cenami, Dylan Patel and guest chef Storm’s Alysha Clark.
Chicago-based agency Intersport has set up the Intersport Hoops House, partnering with The Gist to produce the Women’s Sports Leadership Summit. It will include two panel discussions:
- “Building the Business of Today’s Female Athlete” with Des Dickerson, Uncommon Collective; Circe Wallace, The Team; and Penicheiro, Priority Sports
- “Investing in the Next Era of Women’s Sports” with Jason Wright, Ariel Investments; Micky Lawler, commissioner, Unrivaled; and Tara Bakhle, sports & entertainment marketing, JPMorgan Chase
AT&T will open its Pioneer Court on Michigan Avenue for the weekend, with the fan-facing activation offering a chance to play and meet WNBA stars.
VOICEINSPORT will present VIS Studio Live, with mentoring sessions matching WNBA players with young athletes ages 13 to 23. The event, held at Revel Motor Row, will include the Fever’s Monique Billings, Sky’s Maddy Westbeld, Mercury’s Sami Whitcomb and Storm’s Lexie Brown.
Brand Innovators and rEvolution will host a culture and entertainment summit, with a day of programming and panels. Featured speakers include Elyse Slayton, CMO of the Wings; David Picioski, head of marketing for team sports at Wilson Sporting Goods Co.; Andrea Wilson, director of sponsorships and experiential marketing at AT&T; Kay Bradley, CMO of the Chicago Stars; and Amanda Viscelli, senior director of consumer experience and influencer at Coach.
Friday
Unrivaled Coffee Club opens at Drip Collective, with the 3x3 league’s players serving coffee throughout the day to fans who’ve reserved a slot. Attendees have access to novelty memorabilia, activities and event-specific merchandise they can buy as well as VIP packages for the league’s third season.
The WNBA’s third annual Changemaker Day will see the league’s biggest sponsors making a local impact with events at the Obama Presidential Center. The league’s Changemaker Collective of sponsors Ally, AT&T, AWS, CarMax, Deloitte, Google and Nike will work with the host committee on an event for 150 girls from Chicago Public Schools. Programming includes a discussion with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and Chief Growth Officer Colie Edison along with Linnae Harper, a former Sky player and now manager of athletics and sports leadership at the Obama Presidential Center. Later that day, AT&T will sponsor Jr. WNBA Day with a day of basketball development at the center. Tampax will also sponsor Jr. WNBA Clinics and a panel throughout the weekend.
Chase Freedom is bringing back Cashback Courts, with the women-led secondhand market pairing with events and appearances throughout the day. The market is open to fans who RSVP, and the venue at CineCity Studios will host podcast recordings of “Please Explain” with Aces’ A’ja Wilson, as well as the Just Women’s Sports podcast “Between the Lines with Lisa Leslie” with Parker as a guest.
Togethxr will open its own house with brand activations, fan experiences and shows on Friday and Saturday. Among the activations, the Dick’s merch shop which will have limited-edition drops, Pinterest will have a styling studio and Barbie and Reebok will collaborate on The Dream Closet, with a life-size Barbie box fans can pose in.
Parity will host its “Pre-Covery” party, with DNA Vibe sponsoring the event with athlete appearances and networking.
Arena, a networking platform, is hosting “In the Arena” at Centre Court Productions. The curated experience will include leaders from sports, media and entertainment. While spots are limited, the professional matchmaking opportunity allows attendees to share their business and career goals and for Arena’s algorithm to match them with aligned guests.
Vox Media takes over the Intersport Hoop House, with The Lineup offering back-to-back-to-back live podcasts of “Bird’s Eye View” with Sue Bird, “And Mom” with Sky’s Skylar Diggins and Prime Video’s Cassidy Hubbarth and “Megan Rapinoe Live.”
Partnering with Coach, Just Women’s Sports will bring together Basketball Hall of Famer Leslie and the Wings’ Azzi Fudd for a live conversation at Offshore Rooftop.
The WNBA State Farm 3-Point Contest and Kia WNBA Shooting Stars at Wintrust Arena close out the day.
Saturday
PlayMaker and Theory&Practice will get the day started with “Pilates & Partnerships,” an event that includes a full Pilates class, coffee and conversations.
In its second year as a Changemaker, Ally is opening its first standalone Ally House during a WNBA event. Held at the Chicago Illuminating Company, the pop-up fan experience will include discussions and meet and greets with Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier and Sydney Colson and exclusive merch created with Playa Society.
With Aflac sponsoring, Togethxr House will host the “Queens of the Court Panel” for a third consecutive year, with Chambers moderating a discussion with South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, WNBA champion Diana Taurasi and others to be announced later.
Just Women’s Sports will host “Chicago’s Unofficial Pregame,” with the fan event including player meet-and-greets, giveaways and exclusive merch. Held four minutes from the United Center at Bottom Lounge, the event will have DoorDash integrated into the experience and social content.
Deloitte, a WNBA Changemaker, is hosting the Unstoppable Women’s Sports Business Summit for its second year. The invite-only event will include women’s sports executives and team sponsors focusing around the theme of investing in women’s sports at scale.
The Female Quotient will host The FQ Lounge at Roof at theWit, with discussions around sustainable growth in women’s sports. Speakers include Just Women’s Sports CEO Haley Rosen, Sparks President Stacy Johns, Fever President Kelly Krauskopf, Dream co-owner Renee Montgomery, Valkyries president Jess Smith, ESPN SVP Flora Kelly, Delta head of global partnership marketing Emmakate Young and Edison.
The day wraps up with the AT&T WNBA All-Star Game tipping off at the United Center.
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