Bright young stars hit the court in tonight’s Wings vs Fever clash, as No. 5 Indiana hosts No. 7 Dallas with just 1.5 games separating the pair in the WNBA standings.
Both teams returned to form this week, with Indiana compiling a two-game winning streak capped by Tuesday’s 106-92 victory over No. 6 New York — despite coach Stephanie White catching some heat as the media storm surrounding the team continues to rage.
“I hated that our fans booed her,” guard Caitlin Clark said. “That made me a little sick, to be honest.”
Wings enter tonight’s matchup fresh off taking down No. 13 Toronto 94-88, snapping a three-game skid despite an increasingly shorthanded roster.
Dallas will be without rookie Azzi Fudd (knee) for a fourth straight game tonight, as she joins Jessica Shepard and Aziaha James on the injured list.
“Right now we’re in a return-to-play protocol,” coach José Fernández said of Fudd’s recovery. “The most important thing is her health and her return to play and her longevity.”
Indiana hosts Dallas tonight at 7:30 PM ET (ION).
Azzi Fudd made a splash last night, as the No. 1 overall draft pick won the WNBA’s 3-Point Contest to become the All-Star event’s first-ever rookie champion.
The Dallas guard opened with a 24-point showing, besting Atlanta’s Rhyne Howard (20), Golden State’s Janelle Salaün (19), Toronto’s Marina Mabrey (18), and Seattle’s Natisha Hiedeman (17) to meet Portland’s Bridget Carleton (27) in the final.
The UConn product then caught fire, draining all five first-rack balls before knocking down 20 of 26 shots for a 30-point finish — far eclipsing Carleton’s 19-point effort.
All participants pocketed $10,000, while Fudd picked up an extra $20,000 for plus $40,000 from Aflac, Carleton took home an additional $30,000, and Howard walked with $15,000.
“This is what you do every single day as a basketball player,” Fudd told ESPN. “I just want to see the ball go in.”
Team Washington Wins WNBA All-Star Weekend’s Shooting Stars Challenge
Team Washington — Mystics center Shakira Austin, franchise legend Elena Delle Donne, and high school prospect Jezelle “GG” Banks — outshone Team Seattle 31-24 to lift Friday’s inaugural Shooting Stars trophy.
The winners split Aflac’s $85,000 check alongside $22,500 each, while all current and former pros received $7,500 apiece.
“I loved it,” Delle Donne said. “To be able to lead the next generation and see our next superstars rising, it’s really cool.”
The 2026 WNBA All-Star Game kicks off this weekend, but before players show up on the court, the league's biggest names showed off their fashion game.
Thursday's WNBA orange carpet event at United Center in Chicago saw players like A'ja Wilson, Paige Bueckers, Olivia Miles, and Azzi Fudd put their personal style on display.
Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, Take Over WNBA All-Star Orange Carpet
Wilson set the stage early. The Las Vegas Aces star wore a black beaded look with a fitted bodice that cascaded into an elaborate skirt, finishing the outfit with long gloves and dark miniature sunglasses. Her one-word review? "Timeless."
Fudd, meanwhile, brought effortless edge to her first All-Star appearance. The Dallas Wings rookie layered a patterned blazer over raw-hemmed denim and tied the whole fit together with all-black extras including a leather handbag, top, belt, and pointed pumps.
Fudd's teammate, Bueckers, went the opposite direction. The Wings guard chose a minimal white top and wide-leg trousers, then added a designer necktie and classic white sneakers for a relaxed, tailored vibe.
Elsewhere on the WNBA All-Star Game orange carpet, Rhyne Howard commanded attention in a sculptural purple piece that served as a nod to lupus awareness. And Miles kept it sharp in a roomy black two-piece suit with silver accents for her All-Star debut.
Where to Watch the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game This Weekend
The WNBA All-Star Game tips off Saturday, July 25th at 8:30 PM ET on ABC. Before that, the WNBA Shooting Stars and 3-Point Contest air tonight at 8 PM ET on ESPN.
Friday’s 3-Point Contest lineup is locked, as the WNBA dropped its six-player roster yesterday — with No. 1 draft pick Azzi Fudd representing the lone rookie.
Bridget Carleton (Portland), Natisha Hiedeman (Seattle), Rhyne Howard (Atlanta), Janelle Salaün (Golden State), and Marina Mabrey (Toronto) round out the list.
Dallas’s Fudd ranks 10th with 50 made threes this season, while veteran Mabrey tops the league with 82 threes on a 3.3-per-game average, and Howard sits second with 79 triples at a 3.2-per-game clip.
2026 WNBA All-Star Weekend Releases 3-Point Contest Rules
The two-round competition positions five racks around the arc, with four holding four one-point game balls and one two-point money ball, while the fifth rack holds only two-point balls and two additional three-point balls sit deep.
The two players with the highest first-round scores advance to the winner-takes-all final round.
Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu Left off 3-Point Lineup
Some fans pushed back on Tuesday, speculating as to why statistical standouts like Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell (71 threes) and Sophie Cunningham (43.7% 3-point shooting), Minnesota’s Kayla McBride (71 threes), and New York’s Marine Johannes (57 threes) didn’t make the cut.
Per multiple reports, McBride along with Indiana’s Caitlin Clark and New York’s Sabrina Ionescu declined invitations. However, two-time winner Ionescu refuted the claims by commenting “Lies" on a since-deleted B/R W Sports Instagram post.
Paige Bueckers posted 22 points and 11 assists Sunday as Dallas beat Chicago 96-91 at American Airlines Center's final Sky vs Wings showdown. The win completed the home team's season sweep against the Sky, extending their winning streak to five games.
Dallas managed Chicago on both sides of the court as Jessica Shepard added a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Meanwhile, guards Arike Ogunbowale and Azzi Fudd chipped in 17 and 16 points, respectively.
A crowd of over 13,000 fans watched Dallas improve to 16-8, a far cry from last season's 10-win tally.
Dallas Wings Scores as Chicago Sky Continues to Struggle
That context is what makes this latest Sky vs. Wings matchup so revealing. Both teams bottomed out together in 2025, then overhauled their rosters. But the Dallas Wings have climbed into playoff contention behind Bueckers' playmaking, while the Chicago Sky remain stuck near the bottom of the standings despite adding veterans around Kamilla Cardoso.
After the final buzzer, Bueckers shared a courtside moment with Chicago's DiJonai Carrington, her former Dallas teammate who is still recovering from offseason foot surgery. The scene captured the gap between these two franchises as one ascends while the other still searches for answers.
Where to Watch Chicago Sky and Dallas Wings Games This Week
The Sky will keep looking in their next game against the Seattle Storm on Wednesday at 12 PM ET on WNBA League Pass.
The Wings, meanwhile, hope to keep their streak alive against the New York Liberty on Thursday at 9 PM ET on Prime.
Paige Bueckers matched a 23-year-old WNBA record on Sunday, leading the Dallas Wings to an 89-76 win over the Toronto Tempo. The second-year guard finished with 22 points, 7 assists, and 3 rebounds on 9-of-16 shooting.
That efficiency is the real story in the Paige Bueckers stat line. She has now scored at least 20 points while shooting 50% or better in five straight games. The streak ties Katie Smith's 2003 mark for the longest by a guard in league history, per ESPN.
Still, Bueckers didn't carry the Wings' dominant performance alone.
Azzi Fudd, Jessica Shephard Boost Dallas vs. Tempo Scoreline
Azzi Fudd knocked down five 3-pointers on her way to 17 points, marking the second time this season she has hit at least five from deep. Fudd also crossed 20 career blocks in just 20 games, the fastest any guard has done so in WNBA history.
Meanwhile, Jessica Shepard posted her 12th double-double of the season with 14 points and 15 rebounds as five Dallas Wings players reached double figures against the Tempo's defense.
Dallas moves to 13-8 with the win. They'll next head to New York, taking on the Liberty on Tuesday at 8 PM ET on ESPN.
It’s never been easy to make the WNBA All-Star Game. And in recent years, it’s only grown more difficult.
Of course, there are a handful of generational players at the top of the league who will inevitably fill up most of the available spots. And there even are more first-timers making serious cases. The league is overflowing with talent, and that’s led to some incredibly crowded ballots.
But there’s always room for new names, and right now, these are the WNBA players with the best odds to make their first-ever appearances at 2026 All-Star Weekend.
Marina Mabrey: 53 Reasons (Toronto Tempo)
2026 WNBA Stats: 21.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.6 APG, 45.9% FG, 40.3% 3PT
The 3-point shooting from Marina Mabrey this season has been pretty close to evocative.
That was true even before she tied the single-game scoring record, but her magnum opus further illustrates the point. Mabrey was pulling up from Ottawa against the Sparks, and it made no difference. It’s been the same story all year. From a standstill, off movement, off the dribble — none of that’s mattered. In 2026, the rule is easy to remember: If the ball leaves Marina Mabrey’s hands, it’s more than likely going in. A trip to Chicago is more than warranted.
Confidence: 9/10
Jessica Shepard: Completely Full Stat Sheets (Dallas Wings)
2026 WNBA Stats: 14.3 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 5.4 APG, 58.8% FG, 0.0% 3PT
Generally speaking, racking up triple-doubles at a higher rate than anyone in the league is enough to earn a trip to the WNBA All-Star Weekend. And Jessica Shepard’s done precisely that — in addition to maintaining stunning efficiency.
She’s been a skeleton key for the Wings' transition offense. A forward who can grab tough rebounds and immediately generate easy opportunities for Dallas with her vision, and her game in the half-court has been just as valuable. Shepard’s equal parts elite connector and cost-effective offensive hub, and any player who can be described as both of those things is too good to be watching the festivities from home.
Confidence: 9/10
Olivia Miles: Historic Rookie Season (Minnesota Lynx)
2026 WNBA Stats: 18.7 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 5.7 APG, 51.9% FG, 32.8% 3PT
It almost feels like cheating to include her, but barring some kind of supernatural event, Olivia Miles will make her first WNBA All-Star appearance in July. The obvious nature of that statement may kill the excitement, but that doesn’t make it any less true.
Miles has picked defenses apart with constant rim pressure as well as the vision to take advantage of any defensive misstep. And even if she wasn’t in the midst of one of the best rookie seasons in league history, her live-dribble creativity alone would make her a worthy addition to the weekend. Her skillset is simply designed for this kind of stage.
Confidence: 10/10
Carla Leite: Playmaker Appreciation (Portland Fire)
2026 WNBA Stats: 15.1 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 5.7 APG, 43.5% FG, 41.0% 3PT
There’s something about watching Carla Leite run a pick and roll that just puts you at ease. It’s a pervasive comfort that’s difficult to explain.
Portland’s left-handed floor general has an acute understanding of two of the most important and underrated aspects of the point guard position: angles and pace. Leite knows when to slow down and when to suddenly speed up, and she immediately capitalizes on any opening she creates by manipulating her tempo, whether it’s a driving lane or a passing window.
Put that all together and it looks like a chess grandmaster stoically rearranging the board.
Confidence: 6/10
Veronica Burton: Winning Matters (Golden State Valkyries)
2026 WNBA Stats: 12.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 5.4 APG, 38.2% FG, 33.8% 3PT
Last season Veronica Burton finished Top 10 in the MVP voting but missed the 2025 WNBA All-Star game. And while there aren’t precise stats to capture the novelty of that, it feels safe to assume it hasn’t happened often.
Beyond righting a past wrong, Burton’s foundational contributions to the Valkyries more than justify an All-Star selection this season. Her smothering defense and elite ball control have been critical to Golden State’s more methodical approach. And whenever they’ve needed tough buckets in big moments, she’s been there to generate them. Any player who contributes that significantly to winning basketball games deserves to be an All-Star.
Confidence: 7/10
Azzi Fudd: Midseason Momentum (Dallas Wings)
2026 WNBA Stats: 13.6 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 1.6 APG, 48.5% FG, 38.4% 3PT
It isn’t easy to make the WNBA All-Star Game as a rookie. And when Dallas was easing her into her professional career, it didn’t look like Azzi Fudd was going to get the volume of opportunities required to pull it off. However, that’s changed as of late.
Over the past few weeks, Fudd has put up multiple eye-popping stat lines, and she’s done it without making the usual rookie mistakes. She’s a two-way weapon that’s naturally fit into the Wings attack. And if she keeps producing like this, it’s difficult to imagine a world where she isn’t in the Windy City on July 25th.
Confidence: 7/10
Dominique Malonga: Sheer Talent (Seattle Storm)
2026 WNBA Stats: 17.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 1.3 APG, 50.9% FG, 40.9% 3PT
There are two things working against Dominique Malonga. The first is the Storm being near the bottom of the WNBA standings. While team performance doesn’t directly affect anyone’s eligibility, it can limit visibility. And the time she missed early in the season with a concussion won't help either.
Nevertheless, when Malonga’s been on the floor, she’s looked like a harrowing vision of the future game. The 20-year-old has the fluidity, skill, and athleticism of an elite center, and if she does make the game, she’ll look right at home.
Confidence: 6/10
Jordin Canada: Nonstop Flawless Passing (Atlanta Dream)
2026 WNBA Stats: 11.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 7.0 APG, 46.6% FG, 34.0% 3PT
This year's All-Star ballot will be overloaded with guards who’ve put up wild numbers, and Jordin Canada won’t exactly be able to stand toe-to-toe with them in scoring. But as a pure point guard, there aren’t many players sharper than Canada.
Atlanta’s show-runner is the personification of possession control. She picks more pockets than anyone outside of her backcourt partner, finds her teammates at an elite rate, and her assist to turnover ratio is the best in the league among starters. While her resume might not be eye-catching enough to get the nod, but she’s earned it regardless.
Confidence: 5/10
Written in coordination with Half Past Noon.
Dallas guard Paige Bueckers scored her 1,000th career point in an overtime in Monday's Wings vs Storm win. The basket put Dallas ahead with just under 30 seconds to go, capping off a hard-fought 112-110 victory at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.
Paige Bueckers Scores Final Wings Points to Force Overtime
However, that milestone performance almost didn't happen, as Dallas trailed 94-88 with over a minute left in regulation before Bueckers took over. She scored the Wings' final eight points of the period, including back-to-back 3-pointers, to force the extra time.
By the time the game ended, the 2025 Rookie of the Year had 17 of Dallas's last 24 points. With those stats, Bueckers now ties Elena Delle Donne for the fourth-fastest player to reach 1,000 points in WNBA history.
But she wasn't the only name on the Wings roster to net a record-breaking night.
Career-High Azzi Fudd Performance Helps Wings Make History
Bueckers's former UConn teammate Azzi Fudd answered with a career-high 26 points, capped by the go-ahead basket in the final seconds of overtime. The Wings additionally set a new WNBA record for made field goals with 48, despite a quiet four-point night for star forward Arike Ogunbowale.
Without Ogunbowale's playmaking, Seattle managed to stage a late-game psuh. The Storm rallied in the fourth quarter and tied the game before the buzzer. However, Dallas held firm in overtime as Aziah James closed things out with clutch free-throw to win it.
Where to Watch WNBA Games This Week
The Wings face another tough road test on Thursday against the Las Vegas Aces at 10 PM ET, live on NBA TV.
The Storm, meanwhile, look to regroup against the New York Liberty in their own Thursday night matchup, live on WNBA League Pass.
A recent Las Vegas Aces vs. Dallas Wings on-court clash spilled over onto social media this weekend.
Aces guard Chennedy Carter clapped back at critics on Threads after Las Vegas lost to the Wings on the road, 87-95. The training camp signee defended her performance while sparking a new rivalry with Wings rookie, Azzi Fudd.
The physical matchup on the court set the stage for the online drama.
Fudd led all scorers with 22 points, shooting an efficient 9-of-15 from the field to power the Wings to victory. The game also marked her first start of the 2026 WNBA season.
Meanwhile, Carter provided a solid 14 points for the Las Vegas Aces off the bench. Still, fans quickly began comparing the two guards online — and the social media chatter soon caught WNBA veteran's attention.
Rook got them shook? Chennedy complaining she’s on a leash? Aces locker room drama already?😭 pic.twitter.com/lSMVfH5L0o
— Meli 🏹 (@LiMeli0) May 29, 2026
Carter Responds to Azzi Fudd Comparisons on Threads
Carter used her platform to defend her performance and highlight her perceived edge.
She pointed out a specific play where she crossed up Fudd, claiming she "made her ankle touch the ground." Carter also referenced her limited minutes, telling followers to watch out when her "leash is off."
Statistically, Carter has excelled during her brief stint in Vegas, averaging 19.1 points per game off the bench this season.
While she's been at the center of locker room controversies before, the former Chicago Sky star has stayed relatively quiet since returning to the league. She's become a valuable asset for coach Becky Hammon, who praised her ability to "cook" opponents on the court.
But Fudd, who has yet to address Carter's comments, is finding her rhythm too.
The guard just logged consecutive 20-point games for Dallas, placing her firmly back into the Rookie of the Year conversation.
Of course, this week's online activity has made the next Aces vs. Wings matchup on June 15th a must-watch.
The Wings continue to climb the WNBA standings, taking down the 2025 champion Aces 95-87 last night in Dallas’s most complete win of the season so far.
Wings center Jessica Shepard notched her second triple-double of the year with 22 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists, backed up by 42 combined points from backcourt duo Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd — with Fudd earning her first career start.
“Probably nobody believed that we’d have five wins right now," said Dallas head coach Jose Fernandez. “But I think everybody in that locker room and that staff believed it.”
Las Vegas appeared adrift after a hot start, suffering a second straight loss behind a relatively quiet night on both sides of the ball.
“I think our defense sucked,” Aces head coach Becky Hammon said postgame. “And then we stopped moving the ball offensively, so it compounds.”
“It’s frustrating because we know what we are capable of on the defensive end,” four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson said after leading her team with 21 points.
“We can’t rely solely on outscoring teams. We have to get stops, and tonight we just didn’t bring that necessary edge.”
The Aces will next look to bounce back against Golden State on Sunday at 3:30 PM ET (NBC), while Dallas hosts Seattle on Monday at 8 PM ET (USA).