2026 WNBA All-Star 3-Point Contest: Format and rules explained

The 2026 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game, which brings together the league’s big name players, takes place this weekend and as a prelude, there will be other attractions for fans to enjoy at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

Among them, the 3-Point Contest, which is a series of rounds in which players compete against each other to sink the most three-point shots from various spots around the arc within a set time limit.

This year the contest features six of the league’s top three-point shooters, although Caitlin Clark will not be there. These players are selected based on their performance during the regular season, focusing on their three-point shooting percentage and overall impact from beyond the perimeter line.

Which players will be taking part in the 2026 WNBA All-Star 3-Point Contest?

This year’s contest will feature Bridget Carleton, Azzi Fudd, Natisha Hiedeman, Rhyne Howard, Marina Mabrey and Janelle Salaun.

All-Star 3-Point Contest format

The 3-Point Contest features two rounds where players compete to make the most three-point shots from five spots around the arc within 70 seconds. Here’s a breakdown of how the contest is structured:

Participants: The contest features six of the league’s top three-point shooters this year. These players are selected based on their performance in the regular season, focusing on their three-point shooting percentage and overall impact from beyond the arc.

First Round: All six participants compete in the first round. Each player gets 70 seconds to score as many points as possible.

Final Round: The top two scorers from the first round advance to the final round. The player with the highest score in the final round is crowned the champion.

Scoring rules

The court is set up with five shooting locations around the three-point arc, two spots on each wing and one spot at the top of the key. Each location has a rack containing five basketballs.

Each rack contains four standard basketballs, worth one point each. The fifth ball in each rack, known as the “money ball”, is worth two points. In addition to the standard racks, each player has a special “money ball rack” which they can choose to place at any of the five locations. This rack contains five money balls, each worth two points.

Each player has 70 seconds to shoot all the balls. Players must move quickly and efficiently from one rack to the next to maximize their score.

Additionally, two ball pedestals will be placed at deep shot locations for “From the Logo” shots. Each pedestal will hold one black ball with orange and blue stars; shots made with this special ball are each worth three points.

In the event of a tie for the highest score in either round, a 30-second tiebreaker round is held. Players shoot from the same five spots, with the same point system, but with only 30 seconds on the clock.

Players must shoot from behind the three-point line. Stepping on or over the line results in the shot not counting. The clock starts when the player begins their first shot. It’s crucial for players to manage their time effectively to ensure they attempt all their shots within the 70-second window.

When is the WNBA 3-Point Contest?

The 2026 3-point contest is scheduled to take place at Wintrust Arena in Chicago on Friday July 24, with the evening’s program due to start at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.

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