The WNBA's 2026 All-Star Weekend opened Friday night in Chicago with some notable absences in the 3-point contest field. Sabrina Ionescu, Caitlin Clark, and Kayla McBride were all left out of the six-shooter lineup. According to CBS Sports, Ionescu said she never officially received an invitation, while McBride claimed she got a "half-ass invite."
The weekend is also a celebration of the league's 30th anniversary, and it marks the debut of the Shooting Stars competition as a WNBA event. That competition replaces the usual Skills Challenge and features four teams built from three generations of women's basketball: retired WNBA legends, current players, and top high school players from Nike EYBL. The Shooting Stars format has been part of NBA All-Star Weekend before, but Friday marked its first appearance at the WNBA's version.
The 3-point contest itself takes place at Wintrust Arena, with tip-off at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. The six competitors are Azzi Fudd of the Wings, Marina Mabrey of the Toronto Tempo, Janelle Salaun of the Valkyries, Bridget Carleton of the Fire, Rhyne Howard of the Dream, and Natisha Hiedeman of the Storm.
Fudd enters as the favorite at +210 on DraftKings, followed by Mabrey at +300. Fudd is this year's No. 1 overall pick. Mabrey leads the league in 3-point shooting this season and is a first-time All-Star after being selected in the expansion draft by Toronto.
Expert opinion is split between the two. CBS Sports analyst Lindsay Gibbs picked Mabrey, noting her breakout season and her history with Chicago. Gibbs pointed out that Mabrey spent several seasons with the Sky before moving to Toronto, which she said would give Mabrey extra motivation to perform well in front of the Chicago crowd.
Isabel Gonzalez went with Fudd. She acknowledged that no rookie and no former UConn player has ever won the contest, but said Fudd's shooting form and quick release could give her an edge if she settles in early.
Jack Maloney also backed Mabrey, citing her previous 3-point contest experience as a meaningful factor. He noted she is one of only two competitors in the field who has been through the format before, which he said matters because it gives a shooter a sense of the rhythm of the event.
Hiedeman enters as the longest shot at +900.
