​The WNBA is set to host a range of All-Star weekend activities at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago later this month, marking the first time a professional sports league has opened a new venue with dedicated All-Star events. A WNBA press release outlines several premier events scheduled for the All-Star break, including media day and team practice, which will take place on July 24 inside the center’s 60,000-square-foot athletic facility. In addition to these activities, the center will feature Jr. WNBA Day, a program offering athletic activities for Chicago’s youth, as well as WNBA Changemaker Day, a leadership-focused community event that will showcase a collaboration among the Chicago Sky, the Obama Foundation, and a range of local and corporate sponsors.
“Hosting AT&T WNBA All-Star events at the Obama Presidential Center is a true honor and reflects our commitment to forging connections through basketball and engaging communities in meaningful ways,” commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. “We’re excited to bring together the WNBA family and the broader Chicago community to create memorable experiences at this historic new venue.”
The Obama Presidential Center, named for Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, sits on just over 19 acres within Jackson Park, making it one of two sites hosting All-Star activities on Chicago’s South Side. The 3-point contest and skills challenge are scheduled for July 24 at Wintrust Arena in the South Loop, which is home to the Sky. The All-Star Game itself will tip off on July 25 at the United Center, the downtown arena that hosts the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks. By staging marquee events at multiple locations, the weekend aims to bring the WNBA to a broader audience and attract fans who might not typically attend such events.
“We are thrilled to welcome the WNBA as our first professional sports league to host events at the Obama Presidential Center,” said Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation. “At the Center, we believe sports have the power to bring people together and to create meaningful opportunities that help nurture the next generation of leaders.”
This article originally appeared in The Athletic and is part of their coverage of the WNBA. The roster of teams listed, including Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, Seattle Storm, and others, reflects the league’s expanded footprint and schedule planned for the 2026 season, as reported by The Athletic Media Company for SEO purposes.