GLD at WNBA All-Star Weekend 2026: The 30th Anniversary Chain, Record-Breaking Performances, and Players Who Shined

Chicago Hosts the Historic WNBA All-Star Weekend

The 30th season of the WNBA is in full swing and is already shaping up to be one of the best the league has ever seen. GLD kicked off the year designing the WNBA 30th Anniversary Chain, which features a basketball silhouette fully flooded in hand-set stones and a spinning WNBA logo over the word “THIRTY”. If you haven’t seen the league's MVP, Aja Wilson, or players around the W rocking the 1-of-1 piece throughout the season, then you likely caught a glance of it at the 2026 WNBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago, Illinois.

This year's All-Star celebration was hosted in Chicago for the second time ever, and the Windy City definitely did not disappoint with a historic turnout. During the action-packed weekend, Nneka Ogwumike became the all-time leading scorer in WNBA All-Star history, Dominique Malonga became the youngest player to dunk in the game, a record-setting 19,783 fans attended and swag-surfed while watching history be made, and GLD was right in the middle of it all. GLD partnered with Togethxr to make the WNBA shine, with numerous players and celebrities wearing GLD pieces throughout the weekend, both on and off the court. Here’s how it all went down.

GLD's Season 30 Chain: Built for the Most Historic Season in WNBA History

For the 30th season of the WNBA, GLD's design team created the 1-of-1 chain to honor the history of the league and properly celebrate the milestone. The statement piece, which features more than 5,200 hand-set stones weighing over 1,000 grams, totaling 250 carats, also showcases a spinning WNBA logo over the “THIRTY” wordmark. It has become a highly coveted symbol of the 30th season, with players using it to celebrate their major wins and milestones. Read more about the 1-of-1 piece here.

The 30th Anniversary Chain made its rounds all weekend, with several special moments centered around the iconic piece. WNBA star Flau’jae Johnson iced out her lil bro Aydin with the piece, which is almost as big as he is. Azzi Fudd became the first rookie to ever win the 3-Point Contest and celebrated on the podium proudly holding up her trophy while wearing the chain. Jonquel Jones also rocked the spinning piece, posing with it after winning the All-Star MVP award with a standout performance. The lengthy list of stars who wore the piece during the All-Star Weekend also includes DiJonai Carrington, Dawn Staley, JuJu Watkins, Ellie the Elephant, Gabrielle Union, Zaya Wade, Bam Adebayo, and Kelsey Ashley among many others.

The Players Who Showed Up and Showed Out in GLD

The list is long, but the weekend was full of players, coaches, legends, and more rocking GLD pieces, both on and off the court. Seeing players wear jewelry on the court isn’t typical either, because the WNBA prohibits jewelry during games. But, of course, GLD was the only jewelry brand that players chose to wear on the court while playing in the All-Star Game.

Players Wearing GLD Collection Pieces:

Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces played in the Diamond Tennis Necklace during the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game.

 

Shakira Austin also wore the Diamond Tennis Necklace to win the Kia WNBA Shooting Stars competition and to accept her trophy.

 

Lexie Brown and celebrity stylist Kelsey Ashley each styled the Flared Cross Rosary Necklace.

Rickea Jackson of the Chicago Sky star shined while wearing the Diamond Tennis Necklace.

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Olivia Miles, the electric Minnesota Lynx rookie, wore the Minnesota Lynx Official WNBA Logo Pendant.

 

Awa Fam, the Seattle Storm center, rocked GLD’s Clustered Tennis Chain.

 

Chiney Ogwumike, the former WNBA star and current ESPN analyst, said the iced-out GLD basketball was “the most beautiful ball I've ever seen, thanks to ShopGLD, baby.”

Kahleah Copper, a WNBA champion, wore stacked GLD chains while playing in the All-Star Game.

Dominique Malonga, the Seattle Storm center, wore the Tennis Link GLD Star Multicolor Lariat Necklace and became the youngest player in WNBA All-Star history to dunk and the youngest to record a double-double.

 

Tasha Cloud, a regular in GLD, wore the Round Stone Star Tennis Necklace and the Iced Canary Star Oval Chain with a 90s-inspired fit, saying "You already know what it is. Shop GLD on the mold."

 

Candace Parker, the WNBA legend, was seen in the Iced Canary Cushion Cut Tennis Chain.
 

Tiffany Hayes, the WNBA veteran, wore an Iced Canary Star Oval Chain.

Allisha Gray, the Atlanta Dream guard, rocked the Round Star Tennis Chain.

Aerial Powers, the WNBA champion, wore the Diamond Tennis Necklace.

Jessica Shepard, the Dallas Wings forward, came through with the Micro Diamond Cross Pendant.

Madison Booker, the University of Texas player, wore the 6MM Heart Diamond Tennis Bracelet.

GLD x WNBA: Here’s to the Next 30

The relationship between the WNBA and GLD goes beyond the officially licensed WNBA collection. Players are regularly seen rocking pieces in tunnel fits, at league events, and when they pull up to the office to get iced out. GLD is proud to support a league that is changing the game of basketball while doing it on their own terms. Here’s to the next 30 years of the WNBA and the special moments still to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the GLD 30th Anniversary WNBA Chain?
The GLD 30th Anniversary WNBA Chain is a 1-of-1 piece created by GLD to celebrate the 30th season of the WNBA. It features a basketball silhouette flooded with 5,200 brilliant hand-set stones totaling 250 carats, weighing 1,000 grams, with the word "THIRTY" in orange, a large W representing the WNBA, and a physical spinning WNBA logo at the center. It is not available for purchase.

Where was the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game held?
The 2026 WNBA All-Star Game was held in Chicago, Illinois. This was the second time the Windy City hosted the All-Star Weekend festivities. The game set a new attendance record with 19,783 fans in attendance, the most in WNBA All-Star history.

Who won the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game MVP award?
Jonquel Jones won the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game MVP award.

Who won the 2026 WNBA 3-Point Contest?
Azzi Fudd won the 2026 WNBA 3-Point Contest, becoming the first rookie in history to win the competition. She celebrated on the podium wearing the GLD 30th Anniversary Chain.

Which WNBA players wore GLD at All-Star Weekend 2026?
Over 15 WNBA players and celebrities wore GLD at All-Star Weekend 2026 including Tasha Cloud, Jackie Young, Dominique Malonga, Shakira Austin, Candace Parker, Aerial Powers, Rickea Jackson, Lexie Brown, Allisha Gray, Olivia Miles, Tiffany Hayes, Jessica Shepard, DiJonai Carrington, Flau'jae Johnson, and Azzi Fudd.

What record did Dominique Malonga set at the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game?
Dominique Malonga became the youngest player in WNBA All-Star history to dunk and the youngest to record a double-double, finishing with 12 points and 13 rebounds at just 20 years old.

What record did Nneka Ogwumike set at WNBA All-Star 2026?
Nneka Ogwumike became the all-time leading scorer in WNBA All-Star Game history at the 2026 All-Star Weekend in Chicago.

Is GLD an official WNBA partner?
Yes. GLD is an official WNBA licensing partner, producing officially licensed team pendants across the league. GLD created the 30th Anniversary Chain to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the WNBA.

John Polanco

John Polanco is a copywriter from the birthplace of hip-hop whose work spans jewelry, fashion, beauty, music, world-leading brands, and art institutions shaping the diaspora.