Where to Watch the 2026 WNBA All-Star Draft: ESPN Coverage with Malika Andrews, Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon
Match date:
Where to Watch the 2026 WNBA All-Star Draft: ESPN Coverage with Malika Andrews, Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon
The 2026 WNBA All-Star Draft will be broadcast live on ESPN in the United States and via ESPN Unlimited, with UK viewers able to watch the event at 20:30 on Tuesday, 15 July 2026. The programme will be presented by Malika Andrews, with legendary WNBA stars Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon serving as pundit honorary general managers who will draft the All-Star rosters [8].
This milestone event marks part of the WNBA’s 30th season celebration, with Cooper and Weatherspoon taking centre stage to select from a pool of 22 All-Stars for their respective teams—likely to be named Team Cooper and Team Weatherspoon [8]. The draft comes ahead of the official 2026 WNBA All-Star Game, which will be held on Saturday, 25 July 2026 at the United Center in Chicago and broadcast on ABC at 8:30 p.m. ET [6][8].
About the Broadcast Team
Malika Andrews, the programme’s presenter, is one of the most prominent voices in American sports broadcasting. She currently serves as ESPN’s lead NBA reporter and has hosted major events including the NBA Draft and ESPN’s The Daily. Her sharp interview style and deep knowledge of basketball have made her a favourite among fans across the US and UK.
Cynthia Cooper, one of the two drafting pundits, is a four-time WNBA champion and two-time WNBA Finals MVP, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the league’s history. She led the Phoenix Mercury to back-to-back titles in 1997 and 1998 and remains an iconic figure in women’s basketball [8].
Teresa Weatherspoon, the second drafting pundit, is celebrated for her legendary 1993 All-Star Game performance, where she scored 16 points and recorded 10 assists in a 102–91 victory. She later became the first woman to coach an NBA team when she served as an assistant for the New Orleans Pelicans in 2007, and she has since held coaching roles with the Los Angeles Sparks and as head coach of the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream [8].
Key Players and Draft Pool
The 22-player All-Star pool includes rising stars and established legends such as Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever), A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces), Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty), Paige Bueckers (Dallas Wings), and Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever), who was named a 2026 All-Star starter [3]. The draft will determine team compositions for the upcoming All-Star Game, with fan and media excitement centred on whether Clark or fellow rookie Napheesa Collier will lead the more competitive roster [4].
If any selected player is unable to participate in the All-Star Game, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert will select a replacement, ensuring the final rosters remain competitive and representative of the league’s top talent [1].
How to Watch in the US and UK
In the United States, fans can watch the All-Star Draft live on ESPN or stream it via ESPN Unlimited. In the UK, the event will be available on ESPN (US) through international broadcasting partners, with the programme starting at 20:30 BST on 15 July. The official All-Star Game itself will be broadcast on ABC in the US and may be available via Sky or other UK sports networks depending on regional TV rights [6][8].
For more details on the 2026 WNBA All-Star roster, snubs, and predictions, visit ESPN’s full breakdown.
Article generated: 14 July 2026, 20:41 GMT