Obama Center to host WNBA All-Star events after Sky facility delay
The Obama Presidential Center will host key 2026 WNBA All-Star events on July 24 after the Chicago Sky's unfinished Bedford Park training facility could not serve as planned. Media day, open practice, Changemaker Day, and Jr. WNBA Day will move to the center's Home Court instead. The shift comes as fans tracking WNBA standings head into All-Star weekend in Chicago.
Key Takeaways
- The WNBA announced July 8 that the Obama Presidential Center replaces the Sky's delayed Bedford Park facility for major All-Star community and media events on July 24.
- Home Court, a 60,000-square-foot athletic building with a regulation court, becomes the first professional sports league venue at the newly opened Jackson Park campus.
- The 2026 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game stays at the United Center on July 25, with the 3-Point Contest and Shooting Stars at Wintrust Arena on July 24.
- WNBA Live presented by AWS runs July 23–25 at McCormick Place as a separate three-day fan festival.
- Sky officials have not provided a move-in date for the Bedford Park practice facility, which was central to Chicago's original hosting bid.
Why is the Obama Center hosting WNBA All-Star events?
The league shifted several All-Star activations to the Obama Presidential Center because the Chicago Sky's new practice facility in Bedford Park remains under construction. When Chicago won the 2026 showcase, ownership highlighted that building as a host site for community programs such as Jr. WNBA Day.
With All-Star weekend approaching on July 24–25, the unfinished site could not accommodate the planned events. The Obama Center, which opened in June on the South Side at 6001 S. Stony Island Ave., offered a ready alternative with large athletic spaces.
What will happen at the Obama Center on July 24?
Most Friday All-Star programming will take place inside Home Court, the center's 60,000-square-foot athletic facility featuring a WNBA regulation-sized basketball court and multipurpose rooms. Scheduled activities include All-Star media day, an open practice, the third annual WNBA Changemaker Day, and Jr. WNBA Day.
Changemaker Day brings together league sponsorship partners, the Chicago Sky, Chicago Public Schools, and the Girls Opportunity Alliance. Jr. WNBA Day adds basketball clinics, leadership panels, STEM activities, and vision-board workshops aimed at inspiring girls across the city.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert called hosting events at the center an honor that reflects the league's commitment to connecting through basketball. Obama Foundation CEO Valerie Jarrett said the WNBA would be the first professional sports league to hold major events at the campus.
Where are the other 2026 WNBA All-Star events?
The main on-court showcase remains unchanged. The 2026 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game tips off Saturday, July 25, at the United Center. On Friday, July 24, the State Farm WNBA 3-Point Contest and Kia WNBA Shooting Stars take place at Wintrust Arena, home of the Chicago Sky.
WNBA Live presented by AWS, the league's immersive fan festival, runs Thursday, July 23, through Saturday, July 25, at McCormick Place. The expanded three-day event features partner activations, player appearances, and interactive experiences separate from the Obama Center programming, according to the WNBA.
What does this mean for the Chicago Sky and WNBA standings race?
The venue change is a visible setback for Sky leadership, who pitched the Bedford Park project as a centerpiece of Chicago's All-Star bid. Players and fans watching celebrity breaking news around the league may also note that the Sky have repeatedly pushed back timelines for the facility without announcing a firm move-in date.
For the broader league, the swap does not alter the competitive calendar. Teams continue their push toward the postseason while stars gather in Chicago. Fans comparing WNBA standings before the midsummer break will still see the same playoff picture — only the city's community stage has moved from a construction site to a presidential landmark, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.