CHICAGO (theACC.com) – As the WNBA tips off its 22nd All-Star Game at Chicago’s United Center on Saturday, July 25, six former players with Atlantic Coast Conference ties representing their teams and alma maters. The six players from ACC schools are the most among all conferences.

The six players include starters Natasha Howard, who played at Florida State, and former Notre Dame star Jessica Shepard. The reserves include Nneka Ogwumike (Stanford), Jackie Young (Notre Dame), Sonia Citron (Notre Dame) and Marina Mabrey (Notre Dame). Howard and the Notre Dame trio of Young, Citron and Mabrey will play for Team Coop, led by WNBA legend Cynthia Cooper as Honorary General Manager, while Shepard and Ogwumike will play for fellow WNBA legend Teresa Weatherspoon’s Team Spoon.

Tipoff from Chicago is scheduled for Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC and the ESPN App.

A former ACC player has won WNBA All-Star Game MVP honors twice in the last three seasons, with former Notre Dame standouts Jewell Loyd winning in 2023 and Arike Ogunbowale earning the award in 2024, her second of her professional career (2021).

ACC Players in the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game
Starters
Jessica Shepard, Notre Dame (Minnesota) – Team Spoon
Natasha Howard, Florida State (Minnesota) – Team Coop
Reserves
Nneka Ogwumike, Stanford (Los Angeles) – Team Spoon
Jackie Young, Notre Dame (Las Vegas) – Team Coop
Sonia Citron, Notre Dame (Washington) – Team Coop
Marina Mabrey, Notre Dame (Toronto) – Team Coop