Aflac has significantly increased the prize money for this year’s WNBA All-Star Weekend, elevating the total payout for the 3-Point Contest and Shooting Stars competition to a record-breaking $170,000. This move marks a notable boost in the financial rewards offered to players during the annual showcase event.
The newly expanded prize pool is split between Friday’s 3-Point Contest, which awards $40,000 to first place, $30,000 to second, and $15,000 to third, and the Shooting Stars event, which carries a combined purse of $85,000 with the exact distribution yet to be announced. Notably, this is the first year that second- and third-place finishers in the 3-Point Contest will receive monetary awards, a historic development for the WNBA.
Since the inception of Aflac’s partnership with the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA), the company’s financial commitment has steadily increased. Starting from $110,000 in 2024, the prize fund rose to $115,000 in 2025 before making this substantial leap to $170,000 in 2026.
Impact on Players and League Incentives
Previous winners have utilized their All-Star earnings in meaningful ways, including investments in homes, charitable causes, and community projects. For example, Allisha Gray, who won in 2024, collected prize money that exceeded half of her annual salary, underscoring the significance of these awards beyond the competition itself.
Alongside Aflac’s contributions, the league’s latest collective bargaining agreement (CBA) has introduced additional financial incentives. Every participant in the 3-Point Contest is guaranteed a $10,000 award, with the winner receiving an extra $20,000 on top of that. This new multi-tiered prize system reflects the evolving landscape of player compensation within the WNBA.
WNBPA Executive Director Terri Carmichael Jackson emphasized the importance of this enhanced structure, calling it a “historic moment for WNBA players” that highlights the value of Aflac’s ongoing support.