Grading every player at the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game

CHICAGO -- Jonquel Jones made history. Caitlin Clark made five 3-pointers. And Olivia Miles made sure her Rookie of the Year-worthy campaign got another strong performance.

The trio helped lead Team Spoon to a 129-122 win over Team Coop in Saturday's WNBA All-Star Game in the United Center.

Jones came off the bench to finish two assists shy of a triple-double and was named MVP, capping a trying week as her aunt recently died.

Team Coop had plenty of highlights, too. Dominique Malonga dunked and Kelsey Mitchell scored a game-high 28 points.

Here's a closer look at how every player performed Saturday.

Jump to: Team Spoon | Team Coop | 3-point contest | Shooting Stars

Winners: Team Spoon

Jonquel Jones, F, New York Liberty

Grade: A+

On an emotional weekend for Jones after her aunt's death, she had a great game Saturday and added to her collection of MVP trophies. She is the only player to win MVPs for the regular season (2021), the Commissioner's Cup (2023), the WNBA Finals (2024) and the All-Star Game. Jones finished with 22 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists.

Olivia Miles, G, Minnesota Lynx

Grade: A+

The only rookie in this All-Star Game, Miles played as well Saturday as she has throughout the season so far in leading the Lynx to the best record in the WNBA. Miles had 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting, 12 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals. Her candidacy for Rookie of the Year didn't need to get any stronger than it already was, but this performance was another feather in her cap.

Caitlin Clark, G, Indiana Fever

Grade: A

Clark wasn't able to play in last season's All-Star Game in her home arena in Indianapolis as she was out with an injury. She wasted no time Saturday making an impact, scoring 11 of Team Spoon's first 13 points. Clark finished with 17 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. She took the most 3-pointers in the game, making 5 of 15. And some of those were deep even for Clark. But the nice moment she shared with President Obama on Friday might be what she remembers most from this All-Star weekend.

Allisha Gray, G, Atlanta Dream

Grade: A

Does any player do more with less acclaim than Gray? On Saturday, she had 19 points in 21 minutes, making 7 of 14 shots, including 5-of-9 from 3-point range. She added two rebounds and two assists. Gray, of course, will be pivotal for the Dream in the second half of the season.

Nneka Ogwumike, F, Los Angeles Sparks

Grade: A

Ogwumike had 11 points and 9 rebounds Saturday and now holds the record for most points (127) in WNBA All-Star history. She passed three-time All-Star MVP Maya Moore, who had 119 points. This was Ogwumike's 11th All-Star appearance. The No. 1 draft pick in 2012 is still a star player at age 36, along with all her work as the president of the players' association.

Courtney Williams, G, Minnesota Lynx

Grade: A-

Along with her entertaining StudBudz livestream from All-Star weekend with Seattle's Natisha Hiedeman, Williams had a strong game, finishing with 12 points and 7 assists. Williams has been one of the veteran standouts for the league-leading Lynx this season.

Kiki Iriafen, F, Washington Mystics

Grade: B+

Two seasons, two All-Star appearances for Iriafen, one of the standouts making up the young core of the Mystics. She had 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting and 6 rebounds Saturday. Last year, she had 17 points and 10 rebounds as a rookie All-Star.

A'ja Wilson, C, Las Vegas Aces

Grade: B+

After a quiet All-Star Game last season (4 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists in 12 minutes), Wilson didn't play that much more this year but made the most of it. In 14 minutes, she finished with 12 points, 3 rebounds and 1 block (although she said she actually didn't mean to block the shot). She also joked about beating her Aces coach Becky Hammon and teammate Jackie Young of Team Coop.

Jessica Shepard, F, Dallas Wings

Grade: B

Shepard is having her best season as a WNBA player, finding what she has called a great fit with the Wings. In her first All-Star appearance at age 29 in her sixth WNBA season, Shepard had 7 points on 3-of-3 shooting, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Shepard has four triple-doubles this season, the most recent coming in Wednesday's win over Portland (18 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists).

Rhyne Howard, G, Atlanta Dream

Grade:C+

Howard had 8 points, 3 assists and 3 rebounds. A solid night, but she went 2-of-11 from 3-point range. For the season, though, she ranks second in the WNBA in 3-pointers with 79.

Aliyah Boston, F/C, Indiana Fever

Grade: no grade

Boston played just 5 minutes and took one shot, finishing the game with no points and one rebound. But while it was a quiet All-Star Game for her, she's having another strong season, averaging 17.3 points and 8.5 rebounds as the anchor inside for the Fever.

Losers: Team Coop

Kelsey Mitchell, G, Indiana Fever

Grade: A+

The Fever's sharpshooter would have been the MVP had Team Coop pulled out the victory. As it was, she still earns the best-possible grade after scoring a game-high 28 points on 11-of-19 shooting, including 5-of-11 from behind the arc. Mitchell also had 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 5 steals. For the season, she is averaging 23.3 points and shooting 49.8% overall and 42.5% from 3-point range.

Dominique Malonga, C, Seattle Storm

Grade: A+

Just 20 years old and a first-time WNBA All-Star, Malonga became the youngest ever to get a double-double in the All-Star Game. She had 12 points and 13 rebounds in 16 minutes. But her biggest moment was a second-quarter dunk. She is also the youngest player to dunk in a WNBA All-Star Game. The 2025 No. 2 draft pick is going to be a blast to watch as she continues her career.

Marina Mabrey, G, Toronto Tempo

Grade: A

A first-time All-Star at age 29, Mabrey has become the face of the expansion Tempo, tying the WNBA single-game scoring record with 53 points earlier this season. One of five players in this All-Star Game who attended Notre Dame, Mabrey played well not far away from the South Bend, Indiana, campus. She had 23 points on 9-of-21 shooting, making five 3-pointers, along with 3 rebounds and 2 assists.

Gabby Williams, F, Golden State Valkyries

Grade: A

In her first season at Golden State, Williams has fit in perfectly as one of the league's top defenders. Her offense has been impressive, too, and she showed that Saturday with 18 points and 6 assists to go along with 5 rebounds.

Paige Bueckers, G, Dallas Wings

Grade: B+

Bueckers was clearly having fun in this game, including one well-placed, between-the-legs pass back to Breanna Stewart (who unfortunately didn't hit the shot to make it an assist). Bueckers finished with 12 points of 5-of-11 shooting with 7 assists. Last season, Bueckers had 6 points and 8 assists as a rookie All-Star.

Sonia Citron, G, Washington Mystics

Grade: B

Like Bueckers and Kiki Iriafen, Citron was a rookie All-Star last season. Saturday, she played just 11 minutes but made a lot of her time on court with 8 points on 3-of-3 shooting with 2 assists. Like Iriafen, Citron is a key part of the Mystics' young core. In last year's All-Star Game, she had 11 points, 2 assists and 2 rebounds.

Breanna Stewart, F, New York Liberty

Grade: B

Stewart's 13 rebounds and 7 assists were impressive, even if she was limited to just 6 points on 3 of 7 shooting. Stewart and New York teammate Jonquel Jones of Team Spoon combined had 26 rebounds Saturday. The Liberty love it when they're doing that boardwork for the same team.

Natasha Howard, F, Minnesota Lynx

Grade:C+

Howard had eight points and 4 rebounds but was 3-of-10 from the field. She has been a rock inside for the Lynx this season as they awaited the return ofNapheesa Collier, who played her first game June 22 after recovering from ankle surgery. While Howard's numbers might go down with Collier's return, she remains very important to the Lynx.

Kahleah Copper, G/F, Phoenix Mercury

Grade: C

Copper was named a replacement player forKelsey Plum, who has been out injured since June 21. Copper did OK with her 11 minutes of court time Saturday, finishing with 4 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. She is averaging 20.5 points for the Mercury, who are hoping to have a better second half of the season.

Angel Reese, F, Atlanta Dream

Grade: C

Reese, who played the first two seasons of her career in Chicago, got lots of applause from the United Center fans when she was introduced Saturday. Traded to Atlanta before this season, she's averaging a double-double for the Dream (15.4 points, 11.5 rebounds). In the All-Star Game, she took just one shot and didn't score. But she had 5 rebounds and 4 assists in 9 minutes.

Jackie Young, G, Las Vegas Aces

Grade: C

It was a quiet night for Young, another of the former Fighting Irish players who were in this All-Star Game. She had 3 points and 3 assists in 10 minutes. Her impact for the Aces, though, is enormous. She is averaging 16.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists for Las Vegas, with whom she has won three WNBA titles.

Friday's events

Youth took center stage Friday at the WNBA's All-Star 3-point and Shooting Stars competitions at Wintrust Arena.Dallas Wings guard and No. 1 draft pick Azzi Fudd became the first rookie to take the 3-point trophy, and prep player Jezelle "GG" Banks led the way for Team Washington in Shooting Stars.

"She carried. She carried," Washington Mystics center Shakira Austin said of Shooting Stars teammate Banks. "You could just tell her energy as soon as we started."

Fudd, who has made 53 of 137 3-pointers this season (38.7%) for the Wings, said winning Friday is something she can carry over to the stretch run for Dallas.

"A 3-point competition isn't like shooting 3s in a game, but it does feel good," Fudd said. "It is a little extra boost going into the second half [of the season]."

Here are the grades for Friday's competitions.

3-point contest

Azzi Fudd, Dallas Wings

Grade: A+

Fudd was at her best on the first rack and from the top of the key in the opening round, hitting four shots from both positions on the way to a score of 24.

By going first in the final, Fudd said she capitalized on getting her nerves out of the way. She was in a groove from the start, swishing all five on the first rack and setting the tone: This was going to be her night. She kept up the momentum from the top of the key, making four again there. She also made four from the last rack. She finished that round with a score of 30.

Fudd's shot, which she said is identical to her mom's, is a signature of her game. And now it has earned her a big accolade in her first WNBA season. Fudd said she would come back next year to the 3-point shooting contest if she is invited. Safe to say that invitation should already be extended.

Bridget Carleton, Portland Fire

Grade: A

Carleton was the hottest shooter in the first round, finishing with a score of 27 that included a perfect final rack. Carleton, who previously played for the Minnesota Lynx, has been one of the top players this season for the expansion Fire, making 67 of 179 3-pointers thus far (37.4%). She wasn't as sharp in her final round, finishing with 19, but Fudd was a tough act to follow.

Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream

Grade: B

Howard made at least 80 3-pointers in each of her first four seasons in the WNBA, and she is already nearly there halfway through this season (79 of 223, 35.4%). The 2022 No. 1 draft pick, Howard hit either three or two shots on each of the racks Friday. She was consistent but just needed a couple more shots to drop, finishing with a score of 20.

Janelle Salaun, Golden State Valkyries

Grade: B

She had a strong finish, making four shots each from the fourth and fifth racks to finish with a score of 19. But the top of the key was a rough spot for Salaun; she made just one shot there. After starting last season as a rookie, Salaun has come off the bench this season for the Valkyries and is their top 3-point shooter (67 of 170, 39.4%). She was also their best from beyond the arc last season (63 of 172, 36.6%).

Marina Mabrey, Toronto Tempo

Grade: C

Mabrey leads the WNBA in 3-pointers this season with 82, ahead of Howard's 79. From that perspective, the first-time All-Star might have been considered the favorite Friday. But she got off to a slow start, making just one shot on the first rack. She wasn't far off -- her first three shots rolled around the rim -- but that set the tone, and she couldn't make up enough ground the rest of the way. She finished with a score of 18, but considering that Mabrey has six games this season with at least five 3-pointers -- she has made nine in a game twice -- you can be sure that Friday's competition won't dent her confidence.

Natisha Hiedeman, Seattle Storm

Grade: C-

Hiedeman didn't hit a shot on the first rack. While that is not always the kiss of death in these competitions, in this case it was. Her best spot Friday was the top of the key, where she made four shots and seemed to gain some momentum. She finished with a score of 17, the first in the group to compete and to be eliminated. Though Friday wasn't her night, Hiedeman has earned kudos in her first season in Seattle after five years in Connecticut and the last two in Minnesota. She has made 58 of 169 3-pointers (34.3%) and is a needed veteran presence for a young Storm team.

Shooting Stars

Team Washington

Legend: Elena Delle Donne

Current player: Shakira Austin

Nike NYBL player: Jezelle "GG" Banks

Grade: A+

Delle Donne is one of the all-time great scorers in women's basketball history and a two-time WNBA MVP. But Friday she gave credit to Banks, her fellow native of Wilmington, Delaware. The young guard, who is No. 4 on ESPN's SportsCenter Next 100 for the class of 2027, made two 4-point shots in the final for Team Washington, which won with 31 points. Delle Donne also credited Banks for having the confidence to shoot first. The Hall of Famer said that made sense considering she and Austin are both 6-foot-5, and the 5-10 Banks is the fastest of the trio.

That speed was important because time is of the essence in this competition, which was new to WNBA All-Star Weekend this year. The three-person teams had 70 seconds to score from seven spots on the court, which ended with the 4-point half-court shot. Team Washington advanced to the final with a 35-point first round. Austin is averaging career highs of 15.0 points and 9.5 rebounds and said she was "delighted" to come away with the trophy and cash prize Friday.

TeamSeattle

Legend: Lauren Jackson

Current player: Flau'jae Johnson

Nike NYBL player: Tatiana "Tati" Griffin

Grade: B

Another Hall of Famer graced Seattle's squad; Johnson is a rookie, and Griffin is the No. 1-ranked player in the SportsCenter Next 100 Class of 2028, a 6-0 guard from Mater Dei High School in California. Jackson, whose last season in the WNBA was 2012, admitted before the competition that she doesn't really play basketball anymore (she needs a knee replacement). But she decided this event was worth the trek from her native Australia with her son and said she just enjoyed being back in the WNBA environment. The three-time MVP helped Team Seattle to 26 points in the first round, earning a trip to the final; in the second round the players scored 24.

Team Detroit/Dallas

Legend: Deanna "Tweety" Nolan

Current player: Jessica Shepard

Nike NYBL player: Morghan Reckley

Grade: C

The 6-4 forward Shepard is having a career year for the Dallas Wings, averaging 14.9 points and 12.0 rebounds in a season that yielded her first All-Star appearance. Unsurprisingly, she was the sharpest player for Team Dallas/Detroit, which totaled 20 points. Nolan, who was part of three WNBA championship teams with Detroit before that franchise relocated to Tulsa and then to Dallas, struggled more to find her rhythm. The four-time WNBA All-Star ended her career in the league in 2009 when the franchise first moved although she continued to play overseas for several years.

Reckley, a 5-7 guard from Georgia, is No. 5 in the SportsCenter Next 100 Class of 2028. And while Nolan, 46, might not have been on fire Friday, Reckley could pick up some tips watching vintage footage of "Tweety," who got to the rim as explosively as any guard in WNBA history when she was with the Shock.

Team Minnesota

Legend: Rebekkah Brunson

Current player: Courtney Williams

Nike NYBL player: Ryan Carter

Grade: C-

The Minnesota Lynx are atop the WNBA at the All-Star break with a record of 22-6. But Team Minnesota didn't quite have it Friday in the Shooting Stars competition, finishing with 19 points. Brunson, who won five WNBA titles and is one of the top rebounders in league history, is currently an assistant coach for the Lynx. Williams has been one of the keys to Minnesota's strong start, averaging 15.3 points, and she had the best overall performance for Team Minnesota. Carter, a 6-0 guard from Pennsylvania, is No. 12 in the SportsCenter Next 100 Class of 2027. Like the other four prep players competing Friday, Carter has not yet announced a college destination.

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