Team Washington secures WNBA Shooting Stars win

Team Washington won the 2026 WNBA Shooting Stars championship on Friday night at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, kicking off the league’s All-Star Weekend. The squad of Mystics legend Elena Delle Donne, current Mystics forward Shakira Austin, and 17-year-old Team USA U18 star Jezelle “GG” Banks topped a four-team field in the inaugural event.

The format required three-person teams, each composed of a WNBA icon, a current professional, and a Nike EYBL high school standout, to score across seven shooting locations in 70 seconds. The sequence ran from a right-side layup to a baseline attempt, a right-wing three-pointer, a top-of-the-key shot, a left-corner three, and a half-court logo shot worth four points. Zones carried point values from one to seven, with longer distances yielding higher returns.

Washington opened with 39 points in the first round. Seattle earned the other finals spot by surpassing Dallas/Detroit’s total of 20 points, aided by two converted half-court attempts. Minnesota finished with 19 points in the opening round.

Dallas/Detroit, featuring Jessica Shepard, Deanna Nolan, and Morghan Reckley, missed all half-court tries. Minnesota’s roster included Courtney Williams, Rebekkah Brunson, and Ryan Carter.

In the final, Seattle, led by Hall of Famer Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm star Flau’jae Johnson, and high schooler Tatianna Griffin, recorded 24 points. Team Washington responded with 31 points to secure the title, as Banks drilled the game-winning basket.

Each of the four players earned 15,000, while participants excluding high school players received 7,500 apiece. The competition preceded Friday night’s 3-Point Contest and Saturday’s All-Star Game.