"Mr. Worldwide" has now latched himself onto the meteoric growth of women's basketball, agreeing to perform at the WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday.
Armando Christian Perez, known better by his stage name "Pitbull," is slated to take the court at halftime of the Phoenix -based event, which will begin at 8:30 p.m. ET. "I was raised by a woman, and a woman made me a man. It’s an honor to make history and perform at the WNBA All-Star Game," Pitbull said. "Here’s to all the powerful women of the WNBA. So buckle up and get ready to have a good time, Dale!"
As the premier stadium performer of the modern music scene, Pitbull's presence at this year's All-Star Game joins it to many of the world's most recognizable sporting events. The Miami native has previously performed at the 2014 World Cup Opening Ceremony in Sao Paolo, Brazil, and both the Copa America Centenario and Final Four in 2016. More recently, he was also scheduled to perform at the 2024 Daytona 500.
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"We have an opportunity to use AT&T WNBA All-Star to showcase an incredible league and some of the greatest athletes in the world," Mat Ishbia, owner of Phoenix Mercury and Phoenix Suns , said in a press statement. "It’s important everything we do, on and off the floor, is at the same level as the superstars who will be playing. Pitbull is one of the world’s most dynamic artists and I wanted a halftime performer who reflects the same excitement, passion and incredible fandom of the WNBA."
On either side of Pitbull's performance, the WNBA's most anticipated All-Star Game will proceed with a unique format. The exhibition contest will see the complete Team USA squad, who will head from Phoenix to the Olympic Games this month, against Team WNBA, comprised of the most beloved remaining players.
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The first 10 players on the Team WNBA roster earned their status automatically through the result of a fan vote, while the remaining two players were appointed collectively by the league's 12 head coaches. This online poll evidences the WNBA's surging popularity over just the past 12 months. Caitlin Clark and Indiana Fever teammate Aliyah Boston were the two most popular candidates in 2024, earning 700,735 and 618,680 votes respectively, while no player surpassed 100,000 last season.
Saturday's matchup also offers fans the opportunity to see Clark and Angel Reese paired up on the same squad, pitted as high-profile rivals for much of their fledging basketball careers. The two sensational rookies are joined by several stellar veterans as well, including Arike Ogunbowale , who ranks third in the WNBA with 22.2 points per game, alongside New York Liberty frontcourt star Jonquel Jones.
Here's a look at the complete Team WNBA roster:
- DeWanna Bonner, Connecticut Sun
- Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever
- Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
- Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream
- Dearica Hamby, Los Angeles Sparks
- Brionna Jones, Connecticut Sun
- Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty
- Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx
- Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever
- Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas Wings
- Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm
- Angel Reese, Chicago Sky
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