Jonquel Jones Wins MVP as Team Spoon Wins WNBA All-Star Game

Jonquel Jones Claims MVP and Team Spoon Dominates the First Half

Jonquel Jones put together a stellar performance to secure MVP honors finishing with 22 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists for Team Spoon. With the award, Jones completed the WNBA’s full MVP collection Saturday night, having previously won regular-season, Finals and Commissioner’s Cup MVP awards. Jones is a star with the New York Liberty.

Team Spoon opened the game on a high note, taking a 29-17 lead with just under four minutes remaining in the first quarter, and took a 35-34 lead after a free-flowing first quarter. Team Coop closed the period on a 17-6 run to trail by just one point heading into the second, though. While Team Coop took a brief 54-53 lead midway through the second quarter, Team Spoon scored 28 points in the final five minutes of the first half to hold an 81-64 edge at halftime.

Record-Breaking Attendance and Star-Studded Rosters in Chicago

A league All Star Game-record 19,783 fans attended the game at the United Center. The WNBA All-Star Game is a testament to player talents and fan cultures, and also a good measure of this league’s ongoing evolution. In its first season, the brand-new WNBA didn’t even have an All-Star celebration. A decade after that, both All-Star coaches hailed from franchises soon to be relocated or disbanded. Two decades after inauguration, Maya Moore led the field with around 33,000 fan votes. Now cut to 2026, when both Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark exceeded the 1 million mark.

This year’s All-Star Game shows how much the W has going for it right now. Bueckers, Clark, Olivia Miles, Dominique Malonga and Angel Reese lead the next generation into the spotlight. They’re joined by enduring superstars like A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. Gabby Williams highlights the instant success of the event. Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers led all players with 1,045,051 fan votes, while Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark finished second with 1,023,321. A pre-draft coin flip awarded Bueckers to Cynthia Cooper’s Team Coop and placed Clark with Teresa Weatherspoon’s Team Spoon, creating the weekend’s most anticipated individual storyline before the game even begins. The two headline guards are surrounded by a loaded collection of established champions, MVPs, rising stars, first-time All-Stars, and young players helping shape the WNBA’s next era. A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, Olivia Miles, Gabby Williams, Nneka Ogwumike, Angel Reese, Jackie Young, and Kahleah Copper are among them.

The teams are set for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game after honorary general managers Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon selected their rosters during Wednesday’s (15 July) All-Star Draft. Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark will captain Team Weatherspoon, while Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers headlines Team Cooper at the showcase event in Chicago on Saturday (25 July). Clark was named a starter for the third straight year, as announced by the league on 2 July, joining 10 other players selected early by fans, current players and media.

Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike, the WNBA’s fourth-leading scorer and rebounder of all time, highlights the list of 12 players who have been named reserves for the 2026 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game. Ogwumike’s 11th All-Star selection tied for second-most in WNBA History with Diana Taurasi, behind only Sue Bird’s 13. Jones Earns Sixth All-Star Selection; Los Angeles’ Kelsey Plum and Las Vegas Aces’ Jackie Young All-Stars for Fifth Time. Seattle Storm’s Dominique Malonga, Toronto Tempo’s Marina Mabrey Voted as First-Time All-Stars. WNBA Legends and Special, 30th Season All-Star General Managers Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon to Draft All-Star Rosters.

Standout Performances Across Both Benches

Caitlin Clark finished with 17 points on 6-of-17 shooting, including 5-of-15 from behind the arc. She also recorded five assists, four rebounds and one steal. Reese played nine minutes for Team Coop, grabbing five rebounds and dishing out four assists. She missed her only field-goal attempt, though.

Jonquel Jones had 22 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists and Olivia Miles added 11 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists to boost Team Spoon to a 129-122 victory against Team Coop on Saturday in the WNBA All-Star Game in Chicago. Jones garnered MVP honors, helping outpace a 28-point effort from Kelsey Mitchell of Team Coop. Allisha Gray (19 points), Caitlin Clark (17), A’ja Wilson (12), Courtney Williams (12), Nneka Ogwumike (11) and Kiki Iriafen (10) also scored in double figures for Team Spoon. Marina Mabrey added 23 points for Team Coop. Gabby Williams chipped in 18 points, while Paige Bueckers and Dominique Malonga had 12 each. Malonga added 13 rebounds for a double-double while Breanna Stewart (six points) also had 13 boards.

Charitable Donations and Game Format Stakes

Team Spoon also earned $70,000 for Girls in the Game, a Chicago organization that offers sports, health and leadership programs for youth. Team Coop earned $30,000 for Angels Athletics, which helps girls build confidence and skills through sports. Each All-Star collects a $15,000 participation bonus. The winning side sends $70,000 to its designated charity and the losing side $30,000. Team Coop is playing for Angels Athletics, which works to get young girls into sports. Team Spoon is playing for Girls in the Game, a Chicago organization running sports, health, and leadership programs through schools, parks, and community centers.