WNBA All-Star 2026 in Chicago kicked off Friday morning as the players practiced at the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park on the South Side, becoming the first pro sports league to utilize the Center’s athletic space.
Before practice commenced, the players were paid a surprise visit from President Barack Obama himself.
The Chicago native and lifelong basketball fan walked onto the Home Court, a 60,000-square-foot athletic space that features a full-length basketball court. The players greeted
him with applause.
President Obama spoke to the players for a few minutes, celebrating their accomplishments, the growth of the league and meeting a few new faces.
Obama said:
Some of you I’m meeting for the first time.
All of you are extraordinary, and I could not be bigger fans. The way the game has been growing lately, the way it’s been picking up and people paying attention to your excellence, I think it’s been something for basketball fans, generally, a sight to see. It’s been making me happy.
I know many of you are involved in some wonderful ventures off the court, looking out for other young people and inspiring them. I just wanted to say thanks.
Additionally, Obama gave a special shout-out to reigning MVP and champion A’ja Wilson. “I see you, A’ja Wilson, MVP,” he said.
Players from both teams and coaches Cheryl Reeve and Becky Hammon, along with honorary captains Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon, then took a picture with the former President.
President Obama was seen talking with Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Nneka Ogwumike, as well as working on his defense with Jonquel Jones.
Obama said he won’t be able to attend Saturday’s All-Star Game at the United Center due to a prior commitment with his wife and former First Lady Michelle Obama.
After practice, players on both teams expressed enthusiasm and appreciation at seeing President Obama, his support for the league and being able to ball at his Presidential Center.
“I think it’s dope, especially for him to pull up and show his love the way he did,” Courtney Williams of the Minnesota Lynx said to Swish Appeal. “I feel like that’s dope.”
Williams also foresees Obama being a natural fit for her now-iconic Studbudz streams on Twitch that she co-hosts with former teammate Natisha Hiedeman. “He’s going to have our stream poppin’,” Williams said. “We’ll just give him the camera, do your thing.”
Aliyah Boston of the Indiana Fever echoed the same sentiment and thanked Obama for his support for the game.
“It was super dope,” she said to Swish Appeal. “I feel like for me, President Obama, just the way that he is so intentional with women’s basketball is super dope. This center is helping the community, which I’m super excited about. It’s pretty awesome.”
Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper, formerly of the Chicago Sky, appreciates what the center does for the city of Chicago, explaining:
I think this is amazing, especially for where we are in Chicago to have something like this. It’s amazing, so for people to have access to this, to be able to get on the court and talk about the different things that they have here, different things that they offer. I’m super happy that they have this in this community; it’s big.
The Obama Presidential Center, which opened on June 19, features an eight-story museum highlighting Obama’s presidency, a playground, a fruit and vegetable garden and a branch of the Chicago Public Library.
During his Presidency (2009 to 2017), Obama consistently indicated his enthusiasm for women’s basketball. He welcomed WNBA and women’s collegiate basketball teams to the White House. He also cultivated friendships with the likes of Maya Moore and Candace Parker, as well as filling out women’s brackets during the NCAA Tournament each year.
