WNBA All-Star Game: Records, MVPs and History of Mid-Season Matchup Between Women Basketball Stars
The WNBA’s popularity is breaking all the records with every season, and the league is looking for expansion with three new teams already announced. The excitement and entertainment value of the league is at its peak, with the mid-season games and events also gaining some traction. In the month of July, there will be two mega events in the WNBA with the Commissioner’s Cup and the WNBA All-Star games for the fans. While the Commissioner’s Cup is once again a tournament that will crown a champion, the WNBA All-Star Game is one for the fans, with superstars from each team playing together, forming a unique super-team for the game. In this article, we will look into the WNBA All-Star games’ history, records and past winners.
History of the WNBA All-Star Games
The NBA already had an All-Star game concept in their schedule, making it an easier and obvious transition into the women’s basketball league. The WNBA held its first All‑Star Game on July 14, 1999, at Madison Square Garden in New York. With a crowd of 18,649, the Western Conference defeated the East 79–61, and Lisa Leslie was named MVP after recording 13 points and 5 rebounds. The event symbolized the league’s rising star power and set the stage for an annual mid-season showcase.
The early years were dominated by stars like Lisa Leslie, who claimed MVP honors three times (1999, 2001, 2002), and Swin Cash, who took home MVP in 2009 and 2011. The East vs. West format remained the standard, highlighting regional pride and early league rivalries. A notable moment came in 2002, when a record attendance of 19,487 packed into the MCI Center—a testament to the event’s growing appeal.
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New Formats in WNBA All-Star Games
The All‑Star Game was skipped in Olympic years—2004, 2008, 2012, 2016—replaced by exhibitions pitting Team USA vs. WNBA All‑Stars. The game also paused in 2010 (similar exhibition setup) and 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the WNBA revived this format as a prelude to the Tokyo Olympics—Team WNBA defeating Team USA 93–85, with MVP honors going to Arike Ogunbowale. In 2024, the same format continued, culminating in a 117–109 win for Team WNBA. Ogunbowale won her second All‑Star MVP by pouring in 34 points—all in the second half—a record for a single game.
Also, since 2018, the league has added a Skills Challenge and Three‑Point Contest, including historic moments like Allisha Grey sweeping both titles in 2024—the first player to win both in the same weekend. These events foster greater fan interaction and showcase players’ full skill sets
WNBA All-Star Games: Evolution of Selection & Format
Originally, teams were assembled via fan ballots, supplemented by coaches and media picks. In 2018, the WNBA adopted a more structured, weighted approach: 40% fan voting, 20% players, 20% coaches, 20% media, with the top two vote-getters serving as captains who drafted teams regardless of conference.
Lea también: WNBA Commissioner’s Cup: Winners, Prize, History, Rules and Selection Process for Elite Women’s Basketball Competition.
WNBA All-Star Games Records
While the All-Star games are seen as the ‘fun period’ for the fans with no ‘franchise’ claiming the clear winner in the game, it’s one of the prestigious tournaments for the players who showcase their abilities and performances to be ‘best among the best’. The players awarded the WNBA All-Star MVP award symbolizes the dominance of the winner against top opponents. Check out a few WNBA All-Star Game records below,
Most WNBA All-Star MVP Winner: 3 : Lisa Leslie (1999, 2001, 2002) and Maya Moore (2015, 2017, 2018)
Most Individual Score in WNBA All-Star Game: 34 : Arike Ogunbowale (2024)
Highest Team Score in WNBA All-Star Game: East 125–124 (2014) in overtime.
First Triple-double in WNBA All-Star Game: Sheryl Swoopes achieved a 14-15-10 (19990.
Highest Attendance in WNBA All-Star Game:19,487 in 2002
Most Appearances in WNBA All‑Star Game: 13 : Sue Bird
The WNBA All‑Star Game has matured from a mid-season exhibition into a cultural milestone, spotlighting star power, athleticism, and competitive flair. It’s a celebration of league progress—from legendary MVPs like Leslie, Moore, and Cash, to emergent icons like Clark, Collier, Reese, and Ogunbowale.
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