Last year’s WNBA All-Star Game was a breath of fresh air—ultra-competitive, intense, and stacked with top-tier talent as Team WNBA faced off against Team USA. It was so compelling that I genuinely believed the league had cracked the All-Star Game formula. The NBA hasn’t figured it out. The NFL definitely hasn’t. But the WNBA? I thought they had it on lock.
Well… they don’t. Not this time.
The introduction of the 4-point shot (sponsored by AT&T) might be partly to blame. There were a lot of attempts from that deep circle. And to be fair, it made sense—originally, Caitlin Clark was set to play in this game, and that long-range shot is her signature. Pair her with sharpshooter Sabrina Ionescu, and the league probably expected a barrage of 4-point buckets. That didn’t happen. Instead, we saw a ton of attempts but not many makes.
Still, it wasn’t the missed long-range shots that doomed the game’s competitiveness—it was the lack of defense. And that’s the same thing that plagues the NBA’s All-Star Game. This one was lopsided from start to finish, with Team Collier cruising to a 151–131 win and leading by double digits nearly the entire way.
That said, this weekend? Absolutely top tier. And much of that is thanks to the Stud Budz and their 72-hour live stream, which gave fans something we’ve rarely gotten at this level: a behind-the-scenes look at just how much fun WNBA players have together. And let me tell you—they have a TON of fun.
For fans—especially the newer ones flocking to the league—this weekend helped erase a persistent narrative. Many believe the WNBA has it out for Caitlin Clark. But this weekend? She was dancing with players, hanging out on streams, sharing drinks, and ultimately serving as a coach in the game. She was embraced as “one of the girls,” and it was genuinely heartwarming to see.
Even WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert got in on the fun, hitting the “Knuck If You Buck” dance with the Stud Budz on stream. That’s a wild sight to behold—especially in the middle of tense CBA talks around player compensation. Still, it was clear this weekend was about community, celebration, and vibes.
There were plenty of highlights:
- Allisha Gray returned to defend her three-point crown in a thrilling shootout with Sabrina Ionescu. I had seen Sabrina warming up in Atlanta before the Liberty-Dream game, and it was obvious she’s the purest shooter in the league. But Gray loves the spotlight—and the prize money. It was close, but Sabrina walked away with the win.
- Natasha Cloud claimed the Skills Challenge title, giving the Liberty a clean sweep of the night’s events.
Then came the game itself:
- Napheesa Collier set the All-Star Game scoring record with 36 points on 81% shooting—pure efficiency.
- Skylar Diggins-Smith became the first player in WNBA history to record a triple-double in an All-Star Game with 11 points, 11 rebounds, and 15 assists.
No, this won’t go down as the best game in All-Star history—not by a long shot. But the vibes? The sisterhood? The fan engagement? The viral moments?
This just might go down as the best All-Star Weekend the WNBA has ever had.
