Original legends Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon got together on ESPN to form the rosters for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game.
The WNBA All-Star Game is bringing some original championship flair to the annual midsummer exhibition.
Honorary general managers Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon made their selections for the 2026 hardwood showcase on Wednesday, forming rosters that will do battle on July 25 at Chicago’s United Center. Cooper and Weatherspoon faced in three of the first four editions of the WNBA Finals, repping the Houston Comets and New York Liberty, respectively.
Hear Coop and T-Spoon’s first thoughts on who drafted the better roster
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— WNBA (@WNBA) July 15, 2026
Staged on Wednesday afternoon’s edition of “NBA Today,” Cooper and Weatherspoon saw their two rounds split between the 10 starters and 12 reserves chosen to represent the league in the Windy City. Cooper’s side immediately gained Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers, while Weatherspoon’s obtained her Indiana Fever counterpart Caitlin Clark. Bueckers and Clark were the top two earners in fan voting, leading to their respective assignments by the league.
View the full rosters below.
(Players listed in order of selection unless noted)
Team Coop
Starters
- Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings (assigned)
- Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty
- Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever
- Natasha Howard, Minnesota Lynx
- Gabby Williams, Golden State Valkyries
Reserves
- Angel Reese, Atlanta Dream
- Marina Mabrey, Toronto Tempo
- Dominique Malonga, Seattle Storm
- Kelsey Plum, Los Angeles Sparks
- Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces
- Sonia Citron, Washington Mystics
Head Coach: Becky Hammon, Las Vegas Aces
Analysis
Recent All-Star games, especially those that operate under the “fantasy draft” format, often enjoy scoreboards that light up like pinball machines. If you’re inclined to (responsibly) bet on the weekend’s proceedings, Cooper will likely have you comfortable betting the over.
This is a team, after all, that has a shooter like Marina Mabrey (the latest to join one of the WNBA’s most exclusive sisterhoods as an earner of a 53-point game) coming off the bench. The wide-open spaces prevalent in these exhibitions should no doubt be music to the ears—and arms—of Bueckers, Mabrey, and Mitchell, as well as the sneaky defensive prowess of the athletic Williams. It’s perhaps only a shame that Plum, still working off a leg injury, is unable to join the squad.
Cooper’s club also features psychological warfare that likely rivals what opponents of the original Comets had to deal with on a nightly basis. She used her first starter pick on Stewart (denying Weatherspoon a chance to work with a fellow metropolitan maven) and her debut reserve choice on Reese, Weatherspoon’s most prominent pupil with the 2024 Chicago Sky.
Cooper may be the one participant working with any form of homecourt advantage of the game: with no one from the local Sky on hand for the contest, the Chicago native Cooper may be the one source of Windy City power in town for the main event.
Team Spoon
Starters
- Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever (assigned)
- A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
- Olivia Miles, Minnesota Lynx
- Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever
- Jessica Shepard, Dallas Wings
Reserves
- Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream
- Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream
- Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty
- Courtney Williams, Minnesota Lynx
- Kiki Iriafen, Washington Mystics
- Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks
Head Coach: Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota Lynx
Analysis
If defense wants to make a return to the All-Star game— not just the WNBA’s, but any and all unaided by nation’s pride—Weatherspoon might’ve single-handedly done so with the squad she has assembled, especially if and when Miles and Williams share the floor.
Once she had the Caitlin Clark/A’ja Wilson centerpieces in tow, Weatherspoon surrounded the league’s well-rounded face with well-sized two-way talents, including Clark’s teammate Boston. Weatherspoon doubled down on the concept when she chose her reserves: the dueling Dream duo of Gray and Howard should be well-positioned to continue their long-distance calls while any misfires could be readily cleaned up by Boston, Shepard and their post partners Iriafen and Jones.
Further finesse on offense should be downright legendary with Clark in tow: Weatherspoon’s backcourt is further headlined by the arrival of Miles, who could well take over for or accompany Bueckers and/or Clark in the assigned top fan vote slot in the coming years. Miles’ status will likely be discussed this week after she endured a lower-body injury shortly before the selections were made.
Notes
Weatherspoon got the opening pick, using it on reigning WNBA champion and MVP Wilson. Cooper pried Weatherspoon’s fellow Liberty legend Breanna Stewart with her own selection, beginning a theme of separating familiar faces.
Bueckers and Dallas teammate Shepard will square off on the other side, as will Stewart and Jones, who was among the reserves picked by Weatherspoon. Similarly, Wilson was likewise separated from fellow crowned champion Young, who was one of the later selections alongside the D.C. duo of Citron and Iriafen (likewise separated).
Fans of the three teams with three All-Stars will likewise be forced to pick a side: Clark and Boston will square off against Indiana Fever compatriot Mitchell. Meanwhile, Miles will be able to work with Minnesota teammate Williams on Team Spoon, but Team Cooper carries the rookie sensation’s fellow starter Howard.
Cooper opened the selection of reserves by taking Angel Reese. Weatherspoon opened her own reserve round by taking the remaining Georgians Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray. Ultimately, both Cooper and Weatherspoon had the option to trade once the second round ended. However, both legends were satisfied with their squads.
Charity Cases
In addition to its All-Star plans, the league also announced that six figures in charity dollars will be on the line.
Team Coop is set to represent “Angels Athletics,” which has stated a mission “determined to develop in [young girls] the skills and confidence to break down barriers and achieve goals throughout their lives.” Team Spoon has “Girls in the Game” on its side, repping a group that “provides sports, health and leadership programs in partnership with schools, parks and community centers in Chicago.”
As implied in the latter mission statement, both organizations are based in Chicago. Accordingly, the winning team’s group will get $70,000, while the runner-up will receive $30,000.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
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