Music has been part of the WNBA All-Star Game from its very first edition on July 19, 1999. On that landmark day, Whitney Houston recreated her rendition of the National Anthem, which she had also famously sung during the 1991 Super Bowl. Now, over two and a half decades later, that tradition has evolved into the All-Star Game’s Half-Time show. This year, the WNBA has roped in multiple-time Grammy winner Tyla.

“2x GRAMMY®-Award-Winning, Multi-Platinum Global Superstar, Tyla, Will Take Center Court on Saturday, July 25 at AT&T WNBA All-Star Game,” WNBA Communications announced July 16.

“I’m honoured to be a part of the AT&T WNBA All-Star Game this year. These athletes bring so much power and heart to what they do, and I am excited to share the stage and bring A*POP to my supporters,” the 24-year-old Johannesburg native said as per the announcement.

Last year, the league got Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum-selling artist GloRilla to headline the halftime show, who expressed similar excitement about the opportunity. “You know I’m always going to represent for the ladies and I’m excited to bring that BIG GLO energy to the WNBA All-Star stage,” she said last year.

Meanwhile, Tyla has been building momentum for her upcoming sophomore album, A*POP, with promotional appearances and performances across several cities. Her stop at the WNBA All-Star Game is another major moment in that rollout.

The halftime show also comes with an interesting storyline involving Angel Reese. The Chicago Sky star and Tyla have shared a friendly bond ever since they crossed paths at Louis Vuitton’s pre-Olympics party in Paris in July 2024. Reese posted a video of Tyla’s performance, calling her “such a beauty,” and the singer later reshared it. The pair’s photos and videos from the event quickly went viral across TikTok and X.

Reese has also made no secret of her admiration for Tyla’s music. Tyla’s hit “Truth or Dare” is among the featured tracks on Reese’s Apple Music pregame playlist, Angel Reese: The Warm-Up.

Reese is set to lace up as a reserve, while Tyla will take center stage at halftime. With both stars sharing the spotlight in Chicago, fans won’t be surprised if the two reunite for another viral off-court moment. But beyond the basketball and the halftime show, the All-Star Game still has plenty more in store.

What makes this year’s WNBA All-Star Game unique

The 2026 WNBA All-Star Game is packed with storylines that fans rarely get to see. One of the biggest is Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston lining up against their own Indiana Fever teammate, Kelsey Mitchell. That’s because Mitchell was drafted to Team Cooper, while Clark and Boston landed on Team Weatherspoon.

However, the game is about more than star-studded matchups. This year, the league is also introducing a new community initiative through the AT&T WNBA All-Star Game. The two teams will compete for a $100,000 charity prize pool, with $70,000 going to the winning team’s partner organization and $30,000 to the runner-up’s.

On that line, Team Cooper will play for Angels Athletics, a Chicago-based nonprofit that empowers young girls through sports by helping them build confidence, skills, and leadership. Meanwhile, Team Weatherspoon will represent Girls in the Game, an organization that works with schools, parks, and community centers across Chicago to provide sports, health, and leadership programs for girls.

The league is also doing something new in selecting team captains. For the first time since the player draft format was introduced in 2018, the league has moved away from having the top two fan vote-getters acting as captains.

Now, add in Tyla’s halftime performance, a brand-new draft format, and some must-watch player matchups. Ultimately, the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game has all the ingredients to be one of the league’s most memorable showcases.