Phoenix to host WNBA All-Star Game in 2024 - ESPN

LAS VEGAS — Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced Sunday that Phoenix will be the host city for the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game.

It will be the third time for the event in Phoenix; it was also there in 2000 and 2014.

«With Phoenix being one of our original franchises, now under new ownership, they are very excited,» Engelbert told ESPN. «The city is also hosting a women's Final Four coming up [2026], and I think they want to be a center of basketball. So the Mercury were very interested in having All-Star.»

Mat Ishbia, who purchased the Phoenix Suns and Mercury last December, told ESPN that he and other Phoenix officials have been monitoring how things are going this week for the WNBA All-Star Game in Las Vegas, which includes a large «WNBA Live» fan fest. Team A'ja Wilson faces Team Breanna Stewart at 8:30 p.m. ET Saturday on ABC/ESPN App.

«We're all here in Las Vegas seeing how [owner] Mark Davis and the Las Vegas Aces are putting on the All-Star Game and saying, 'What can we take from here to put into our event?'» Ishbia said. «And make it even better, not only for the people that show up for the game, but for the community. We're looking at all aspects of it to try to make this a great show.

»We're real big believers that Phoenix is a basketball destination, not only for women's and men's players but for fans. It's one of the best basketball hotspots in the country. And we're eager to showcase that."

The All-Star Game will be held at Footprint Center, home of the Mercury and Suns. The Mercury, who last won the WNBA title in 2014, currently still have players Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi on their roster from back then.

Griner, an All-Star starter here in Las Vegas, said she has fond memories of the 2014 All-Star