Recapping the WNBA's biggest All-Star Weekend yet

This year’s WNBA All-Star Weekend was one for the record books.

For the first time in history, the WNBA’s All-Star Game outdrew the NBA’s in attendance, 19,783 to 15,973. The United Center was sold-out, and all across Chicago you could feel the W’s presence.

We had more than 3,000 fans RSVP for our live event heading into the weekend. And the line quite literally stretched around the block.

Just Women’s Sports has been activating at WNBA All-Star Weekend for years. Earlier this year, we announced our official partnership with the league, while planning our biggest All-Star Weekend yet.

At the JWS Spot, fans got to hang out with Lexie Hull, Allie Quigley, Stef Dolson, Aneesah Morrow, NaLyssa Smith, and our very own Ros Gold-Onwude and Angel McCoughtry. We had 90s-themed merch and activity stations, while DoorDash provided attendees with an abundance of snacks.

Getting to celebrate with fans in person was the highlight of a packed weekend.

Before the weekend, we partnered with State Farm and Kamilla Cardoso for a tour of the city. We also brought back Between the Lines with Chase Freedom for a live show featuring Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker, two WNBA icons and former teammates. Lisa Leslie also appeared with No. 1 draft pick and 3-point contest winner Azzi Fudd at Coach’s Story sessions, amplified in partnership with JWS.

These events gave fans a chance to partake in the energy of All-Star Weekend while hearing from and meeting some of their favorite players.

I personally had the chance to catch up with so many players, agents, and executives, all of whom were buzzing about the state of the W. From a panel for The Female Quotient, to stopping by Good Morning Chicago, everywhere I went, the vibes were sky-high.

Lost in all that hooplah might have been the most important stat of the weekend: this season is already the WNBA’s most-watched yet, with 73 million total viewers – vs 63 million for all of last year.

On top of that, 29 games have already broken the 1 million viewer mark, up from 11 for all of last year.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: women’s sports are no longer “breaking through.” They’ve arrived. And the next wave of growth isn’t going to be defined by one-off viewership records, but by how many fans make women’s sports a part of their daily lives. 

The numbers are massive and the excitement is real. This past weekend in Chicago was a 72-hour reminder that we’re building a new status quo. 

— Haley