Shakira Austin shines as Fudd wins WNBA 3-point shootout
Shakira Austin helped Team Washington win the inaugural WNBA All-Star Shooting Stars Challenge on Friday night in Chicago, pairing with Elena Delle Donne and Jezelle "GG" Banks. Moments later, Dallas Wings rookie Azzi Fudd became the first rookie to win the 3-point contest, beating Portland's Bridget Carleton 30-19 in the final round. The skills night mixed legends, current stars, and rising talent—and put real prize money on the line for athletes building wealth beyond the regular season. For more money-minded sports and career angles, see our Wealth Hacks & Passive Income hub.
Key Takeaways
- Shakira Austin, Elena Delle Donne, and Jezelle "GG" Banks won the first WNBA All-Star Shooting Stars Challenge for Team Washington.
- Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd, the 2026 No. 1 pick, became the first rookie to win the WNBA 3-point shootout.
- Fudd scored 30 points in the final round to beat Portland Fire forward Bridget Carleton, who finished with 19.
- Fudd earned $70,000 for the 3-point win, with $30,000 guaranteed under new CBA guidelines—far above last year's union payout.
- Team Washington's trio each received $22,500 and also split an $85,000 prize, per ESPN.
Who is Shakira Austin and what did she win at All-Star?
Shakira Austin is a forward for the Washington Mystics. On Friday in Chicago, she was the current-player piece of Team Washington in the league's first Shooting Stars competition, which replaced the traditional skills challenge.
According to ESPN, each Shooting Stars team featured three players from different generations: one legend, one current player, and one up-and-coming prospect. Austin teamed with WNBA Hall of Famer Elena Delle Donne and Nike EYBL player Jezelle "GG" Banks.
Team Washington beat Team Seattle in the final. Seattle featured legend Lauren Jackson, current player Flau'jae Johnson, and high school player Tatianna Griffin. Yahoo Sports reported Washington scored 31 points in the final round to Seattle's 24, with Banks sealing the win on a half-court look.
Delle Donne called the event fun and said she hoped viewers enjoyed watching legends help the next generation rise. For Austin, the win put a Mystics name on the first Shooting Stars trophy and underscored how All-Star night can deliver both spotlight and payout.
How did Azzi Fudd win the WNBA 3-point shootout?
Fudd, selected No. 1 overall in 2026 out of UConn, entered the contest as a pure shooting prospect. ESPN reported she ranks 10th in the WNBA with 2.0 threes per game and is also 10th in total threes made with 53 this season.
In the championship round, Fudd scored 30 of a possible 40 points. She missed only six of 27 shots and topped Carleton's 19. Yahoo Sports noted she opened the final by hitting all five balls from the left corner and matched last year's winning total posted by Sabrina Ionescu.
Fudd admitted she was nervous and excited. She said the set shot feels like muscle memory—taking the ball from the rack is what she has done since she was young. She credited her parents for her form, especially her mother, whose shot she described as identical to hers.
She also tied her stationary accuracy to injury rehab. Multiple college injuries, including a torn right ACL and meniscus in November 2023, left her doing chair and rack shooting. That grind, she said, made knocking down robotic, stationary threes second nature.
The Athletic reported Fudd made 17-of-27 in the first round for 24 points to advance, then heated up knowing she needed more to beat Carleton. Fellow Wings and UConn connections courtside helped fuel the crowd as she closed out the title.
Who else competed in the 3-point contest?
Fudd and Carleton advanced from a six-player field. Yahoo Sports listed first-round scores that left Atlanta's Rhyne Howard (20), Toronto's Marina Mabrey (18), Seattle's Natisha Hiedeman (17), and Golden State's Janelle Salaün (19) short of the final.
Carleton had to chase Fudd's 30 in the last round. She needed 30 to force a playoff and 31 to win, but finished with 19 after a cold stretch. The Fire forward had set a high bar earlier; Yahoo Sports had her at 27 in the opening round before Fudd took over when it counted.
The result made history: Fudd is the first rookie to win the contest in the 13 times it has been held, Yahoo Sports reported. For a No. 1 pick still early in her Wings career, the trophy is an early résumé stamp and a cash boost.
What prize money did Shakira Austin and Fudd take home?
All-Star contests are entertainment—and income. ESPN reported Fudd earned $70,000 as 3-point champion, with $30,000 of that guaranteed under new CBA guidelines. By comparison, ESPN noted Sabrina Ionescu's prize money from the union last year was $2,575.
For the Shooting Stars win, ESPN said Delle Donne, Shakira Austin, and Banks each received $22,500 and also split a prize of $85,000. That structure turns a Friday night exhibition into a meaningful payday for current players, legends, and prospects sharing one stage.
Yahoo Sports offered a slightly different breakdown of sponsor and appearance fees across events, but the clear throughline is that WNBA All-Star skills money has jumped. Athletes who convert spotlight nights into larger checks are practicing a simple wealth habit: stack high-visibility performance with contract-era prize rules.
Shakira Austin's Shooting Stars title and Fudd's rookie 3-point crown gave Chicago two clear storylines—one about a Mystics big delivering in a new team format, and one about a Wings sharpshooter rewriting contest history with a 30-point final.