Rough Notes: Local's Guide to the 2026 WNBA All-Star Weekend

• If you didn’t already know: I lived in Chicago for 13 years, and I’ve been back all month long. So I’m extremely excited about women’s basketball fandom converging right here, right now, for All-Star Weekend.

• I also know it can be quite corporate and expensive! That is not my vibe. So I wanted to give you tips on how I’m hoping to do this weekend. And if you’re around, please let me know: I’d love to connect!

• Below you’ll find a few sections: Top 2026 WNBA All-Star Tips, My Day-by-Day All-Star Schedule & a Local’s Guide to Chicago for WNBA Fans. Even if you’re not in town this weekend, feel free to share with friends!

• Don’t bother taking a cab or Lyft/Uber. You can get downtown easily by taking the Orange Line from Midway and the Blue Line from O’Hare and it’s often faster than dealing with highway traffic.

• Maybe you’re like, “I live in Chicago but All-Star Weekend is way too expensive!” Well actually… a lot of it is free (see my schedule below) and if you love the WNBA, you should join.

• If you’re not from Chicago, know this: the weather is looking ideal this weekend, you’re coming to one of the best summer cities in the country (yes, it’s likely beach-ier than where you live) and I’ve made a whole map of the city, beyond All-Star happenings, with curated recs for WNBA fans (keep scrolling down for a full description.)

• Take a 5 or 10 minute Lyft/Uber, bike ride, or bus/train (the #21 Cermak bus is your friend) from Wintrust Arena or the #50 Damen bus from United Center & you’ll find delicious food in Chinatown, Pilsen & Ukrainian Village. Again, see map :)

• There’s soooo much to do, and you can’t make it to everything. But remember: you’ll have fun just existing around other WNBA fans. Soak it in. Strike up conversations. Feel the vibes. As Natalie Nakase says, “Be where your feet are.”

• I know this is, like, the most Rough Notes thing I could say. But I feel really passionately that while All-Star Weekend is getting very trendy these days, it’s primarily about sharing women’s basketball community with people who have loved this game long before it was ever thought of as cool.

Instead of overwhelming you with a list of everything (not that I even can track down every single event!) I wanted to share a curated list of what I’m planning to attend this weekend — beyond the official All-Star Game & 3-Point Comp/Skills Contest. I am mostly attending FREE events, with one exception that I think is hella worth it. Ok, here’s the rundown…

• 1pm: Fireside Chat ft. Andraya Carter & Jordan Robinson

  Word on the street is that there’s a free fireside chat taking place on Thursday afternoon at my favorite women’s sports bar in Chicago, Babe’s (3017 W. Armitage.) You know I’ll be there.
  

• 6pm: UNPLG x Black Sports Professionals Presents: WNBA All-Star Chicago Mixer + “Ladies First” Film Screening

  A new Chicago Hustle documentary?! At a free mixer? Featuring Liz Galloway-McQuitter?! Count me in. Looks like they are taking waitlist RSVP’s now, sign up here.
  

• 8pm: Sam Jay’s Starting Lineup featuring Sam Jay, Zainab Johnson, Punkie Johnson, Just Nesh, Syd Colson & TP

  I’m thrilled that we live in a world in which Syd & TP are performing live standup at Thalia Hall (1807 S. Allport) in Chicago with other hilarious local comedians. I think this is worth the $55 ticket price, get yours here. Also: did you know Syd & TP are starring in a new show written by Abbott Elementary’s Brittani Nichols?! Check out the sneak peek.
  

• P.S. Babe’s is open from 4-11pm on Thursday for Local’s Night, which looks hella cute/is free, too.

• 12pm: Courtside Crossover (& more) at Togxther House

  The Togxther House is free & open from 12-5pm on Friday (113 N. Elizabeth St.) with sooooo many offerings & featured brands & activations. I’m particularly excited about Courtside Crossover, which promises that fans can “stop by to customize their own fanny pack.” I’ll def be using that the rest of the weekend.
  

• 2pm: Marketplace (& more) at Full Court Beauty Salon

  I’m so excited to check out the Full Court Salon at Sweet Tea’s Beauty Supply (1857 W. 16th), also free & featuring activations throughout the day, including a Marketplace with womxn-owned brands & designers that opens at 2pm. This is all produced by League of Their Own Chicago, so I’m expecting a big local presence (yay.)
  

• 4pm: Unrivaled Coffee Club

  By this time, I’m expecting to need a coffee - so I’ll head over to Unrivaled Coffee Club at Drip Collective (172 N Racine Ave) and hope that Olivia Miles will make it for me. Yes, the guest baristas look incredible. Looks like sign-ups to this free but hotly-attended event are full, but you can sign up for the waitlist now.

• 12-4pm: Party Like It’s 1996
  I’m only doing one thing on Saturday other than the All-Star game (& trying to stop by a dear friend’s housewarming, pray for me): helping to a host the Party Like It’s 1996 day-long event at Babe’s with legends of women’s basketball from before WNBA even began. I can’t fully express how excited I am about this party, celebrating the ABL & WBL & featuring: a DJ, very cool & affordable merch you can customize with your own ABL + WBL logos, giveaways (including vintage ABL prizes!), counter-cultural/non-corporate vibes & soooo many former players, including host + Illinois women’s basketball icon Cathy Boswell, as well as Ethel “Poco” White, Liz Galloway-McQuitter, Adrienne Goodson (!), Anna Johnson (Oakland, represent!) and more. Yep, yep, yep. It’s the place to be. (Plus I’ll have a bunch of free Rough Notes stickers & would love to connect with you if you’re in town.)

• It’s not a Rough Notes Guide without a map! This Local’s Guide to Chicago for WNBA Fans has all the best stuff happening close to Wintrust Arena & United Center (where the official Friday & Saturday events are taking place) plus curated recommendations for food, drink, art, activism, activities, queer spaces & bookstores across Chicago.

Local's Guide to Chicago for WNBA Fans

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