The WNBA will become the first professional sports league to host major events at the Obama Presidential Center as part of the 2026 WNBA All-Star festivities later this month.
The events will take place at the center’s campus on Friday, July 24, and will bring a collection of players, fans, and community members together to not only engage in basketball activities, but also promote women leadership and community engagement.
“Hosting AT&T WNBA All-Star events at the Obama Center is a true honor and reflects our commitment to creating connection through basketball and engaging communities in meaningful ways,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. “We’re excited to bring together the WNBA family and the greater Chicago community to create memorable experiences at this historic new venue.”
The newly opened Obama Center, 6001 S Stony Island Ave., will serve as a featured venue throughout All-Star Weekend. Valerie Jarrett, CEO of The Obama Foundation, said the partnership aligns with the center’s mission of using sports as a vehicle for leadership and community building.
“We are thrilled to welcome the WNBA as our first professional sports league hosted at the Obama Presidential Center,” Jarrett said. “At the Center, we believe sports have the power to bring people together and create meaningful opportunities to build the next generation of leaders.”
The center also will host the third annual WNBA Changemaker Day, where several of the league’s sponsorship partners will be collaborating with the Chicago Sky, Chicago Public Schools and the Girls Opportunity Alliance.
An event called Jr. WNBA Day will also be hosted at the center, featuring basketball clinics, leadership panels, STEM activities, vision-board workshops and other programming designed to inspire girls throughout the city through sports and education.
The majority of the activities will take place inside Home Court, the center’s 60,000-square-foot athletic facility, featuring regulation-sized basketball courts and multipurpose rooms.
Other activities that are confirmed include the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game scheduled for July 25 at the United Center, in addition to the WNBA 3-Point Contest and WNBA Shooting Stars competition both being held on July 24 at Wintrust Arena.
The July 24th events will bring a collection of players, fans, and community members together to not only engage in basketball activities, but also promote women leadership and community engagement.
The July 24th events will bring a collection of players, fans, and community members together to not only engage in basketball activities, but also promote women leadership and community engagement.
