RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 3 sourcesCHICAGO — Nneka Ogwumike said Saturday night that players would like to see a WNBA All-Star Game in Golden State, and that players learn where the game will be held at the same time the public does.
The league has not announced a host city for 2027.
"That's a great question. I'm with you — I don't really know what the process is," Ogwumike said at the postgame press conference. "We usually find out at the same time you all do, so maybe that's something that could change."
"From what I've heard from players, a lot of them would love to see an All-Star Game in Golden State. I think that would be a great location," Ogwumike said. "With all of these expansion teams entering the league, it gives new cities an opportunity to host the event as well."
Ogwumike is the president of the WNBPA and was re-elected to a fourth term in June.
"As these franchises continue to grow and their valuations increase, maybe the bidding process for hosting All-Star Weekend can become more competitive," Ogwumike said.
Annie Costabile reported for Front Office Sports in November that the Sky were the only franchise to bid for the 2026 game, citing multiple league sources. A league spokesperson told the outlet that all teams were able to take part in the process. New York and Los Angeles did not bid. A Sparks spokesperson said the team had prioritized other projects, including a $150 million practice facility due to open in El Segundo in 2027, and the Liberty declined to comment.
The league had to approach Indianapolis about hosting in 2025, according to the same report. Phoenix won the 2024 bid over three other interested parties, and Mercury president Vince Kozar said the franchise spent 200 times what it did the last time it hosted, in 2014.
Saturday was the second All-Star Game held in Chicago in five seasons. The 2022 game was played at Wintrust Arena, which seats just over 10,000. This one moved to the United Center and drew 19,783, a sellout and the largest crowd in the event's history.
Mohegan Sun Arena has hosted four times. Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Madison Square Garden have each hosted three times.
Golden State entered the league in 2025 and sold out all 22 home games in its first season. The Valkyries set league records that year for average attendance at 18,064 and total attendance at 397,408. They drew their 36th consecutive sellout on June 28, and they have sold out every regular-season game in franchise history.
Chase Center seats 18,064 for basketball, roughly 1,700 fewer than the United Center held Saturday.
Golden State has never hosted an All-Star Game. Neither have Atlanta or Dallas. Four franchises without shared NBA ownership have hosted: Connecticut, Las Vegas, Seattle, and Chicago. The Valkyries share Chase Center with the NBA's Warriors, and Kozar told Front Office Sports that Phoenix could not have staged its weekend at that scale without its NBA organization behind it.
The Valkyries sold out season tickets for 2026 with more than 12,000 season ticket holders. Sportico valued the franchise at $850 million in May, the most of any WNBA team for the second straight year.
Golden State is 19-8 and second in the standings, 2.5 games behind Minnesota. The Valkyries are 11-4 at home and 9-1 over their last 10 games.
Toronto and Portland began play this season, and the league has announced future franchises in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia.
Saturday was Ogwumike's 11th All-Star selection, tying Diana Taurasi for the second-most in league history. She scored 11 points and added 9 rebounds and 3 assists for Team Spoon, and she passed Maya Moore for the most career points in All-Star Game history.
Twelve of the league's 15 teams had at least one All-Star this year. Atlanta, Indiana, and Minnesota each had three. Four players made their first All-Star team: Olivia Miles, Jessica Shepard, Dominique Malonga, and Marina Mabrey.
Chicago hosted without a guaranteed representative of its own. The Sky are 9-18 and last among Eastern teams in the standings, and Rickea Jackson is out for the season with a torn ACL. Angel Reese, who played for the Sky before an offseason trade to Atlanta, played in Saturday's game.
Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon drafted the two rosters, and the teams played on behalf of Chicago organizations that keep girls in sports. Tyla performed at halftime.
Los Angeles is 10-16 and has lost five straight. The Sparks host New York on Tuesday.
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