Sky, local officials welcome WNBA All-Star Game to Chicago in July

As Dwyane Wade landed in Chicago at 5 a.m. Friday, he reflected on growing up on the South Side, watching the Bulls and dreaming about playing at that level.

Wade, a basketball Hall of Famer and part owner of the Chicago Sky, said the WNBA’s choice to host the 2026 All-Star Game in Chicago will amplify that feeling of hope for young girls in the city.

“Those teams allowed me to dream. They made basketball feel bigger than the game. They made it feel possible,” Wade said during a luncheon in the West Loop hosted by the Sky to celebrate the All-Star Game coming to Chicago.

“What we come here to do is not about the game of basketball necessarily,” Wade said. “It’s about what this game of basketball and what this opportunity can really bring to the city, to those kids that were like myself.”

The WNBA announced in October that Chicago would host the 2026 All-Star Game on July 25 at the United Center — if the season proceeds without interruption.

The WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association have not agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement after the Jan. 9 deadline for a deal has passed. Among other enhanced protections and benefits, the player’s association is hoping for a larger share of the league’s revenue and a higher maximum player salary than the league’s proposed $1 million maximum.

At Friday’s event, Sky co-owner Nadia Rawlinson highlighted the WNBA’s record-breaking growth in viewership and revenue over the last two years.

Sky leadership called on the dozens of business leaders, sports team owners and politicians in the room to consider sponsoring the team. They handed out a paper outlining sponsorship opportunities ranging from $50,000 to $1 million.

Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson boasted about Chicago, saying the All-Star weekend would create jobs and bring economic opportunity across the city.

“We can inspire the next generation of athletes, especially our young women to reach new heights. Let’s not understate the significance that this holds for women’s sports. I think we can all agree it’s about damn time,” Pritzker said. “While professional female athletes continue to fight for equality, they are showcasing to the world that being fierce, elite and competitive isn’t reserved for male athletes. Chicago needs to be an important part of that story.”

Johnson echoed those feelings and the excitement around Chicago welcoming tens of thousands of basketball fans from around the country.

“I’m always looking for more opportunities to engage our city’s young people in the neighborhoods to experience the greatness of our city,” Johnson said. “I’m thrilled that the All-Star weekend will do just that, ensure that young girls can participate in the festivities and most of all see themselves not just as WNBA players, but as executives, as leaders, as owners.”

The All-Star weekend, July 23-25, will also include a fan festival, an innovation summit highlighting the Sky’s business initiatives and community partnerships, and other activities. The WNBA has also partnered with the Chicago Park District to paint the WNBA three-point line on all of the city’s basketball courts.

Chicago last hosted the WNBA All-Star Game in 2022 at Wintrust Arena.