2026 WNBA Guide: TV Schedule, How to Watch & More

Every year, the WNBA gets bigger and bigger, and this season is no exception.

The growth is happening both on and off the court. The league is expanding to 15 teams with the additions of the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire, while a record 216 games will air on national television this season. Combined with surging fan interest and a landmark collective bargaining agreement reached in the offseason, the WNBA enters the year with more momentum than ever.

And the product on the court matches the hype. From established superstars to rising young talent, every team in the league is loaded with players ready to showcase the skill, competitiveness and star power that continue to elevate the WNBA to new levels.

Here’s your comprehensive guide to all things WNBA 2026, from the full TV schedule to where to watch, key dates and more.

Stream WNBA all season long on DIRECTV

Shop Packages

2026 WNBA Season TV Schedule

The WNBA season tips off Friday, May 8, when the Connecticut Sun travel to New York to take on the Liberty at 7:30 p.m. Eastern on ION TV.

Simultaneously, the Washington Mystics will visit the Toronto Tempo, who make their league debut at 7:30 p.m. Eastern as well.

The second round of the doubleheader features the Golden State Valkyries visiting the Seattle Storm at 10 p.m. Eastern on ION TV.

Click below to view all of the upcoming WNBA games, including information of what channel to tune into to watch live.

Full 2026 WNBA Basketball Schedule

Click on your team below to find the full season TV schedule and more.

Atlanta Dream | Chicago Sky | Connecticut Sun | Dallas Wings | Golden State Valkyries | Indiana Fever | Las Vegas Aces | Los Angeles Sparks | Minnesota Lynx | New York Liberty | Portland Fire | Phoenix Mercury | Seattle Storm | Toronto Tempo | Washington Mystics

How to Watch WNBA Games

With the most broadcast games in the league’s history, 2026 is expected to be a big year for the WNBA, and you don’t want to miss it.

Here are all the channels and streaming platforms you can watch WNBA games live in 2026:

Broadcast Channels:

• ESPN – Ch. 206
• ION TV – Ch. 305
• NBA TV – Ch. 216
• USA Network – Ch. 242
• ABC – Find your local ABC network
• CBS – Find your local CBS network
• NBC – Find your local NBC network

Steaming:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Peacock
• ESPN Unlimited
• WNBA League Pass

Key Dates for the 2026 WNBA Season

Here are the key dates you don’t want to miss:

Opening Weekend (May 8–10)

Expansion Team Debuts

Commissioner’s Cup

Season 30 Anniversary Game / “WNBA Court Origins” (June 21)

As part of the league’s 30th anniversary celebration, the WNBA will spotlight four original-franchise matchups throughout the season.

AT&T WNBA All-Star 2026 — Chicago

Las Vegas Aces vs. Phoenix Mercury

2025 WNBA Finals Rematch Series

Additional Key Dates

2026 WNBA Playoffs & Finals

The 2026 WNBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel begin on Sept. 27, with first-round coverage split across Disney Networks, USA Network and Prime Video.

Semifinal coverage will air across Disney platforms, NBC, Peacock and NBCSN. Every game of the 2026 WNBA Finals will air nationally on NBC or USA Network and stream on Peacock.

WNBA Teams by Conference

Here are the 15 WNBA teams broken out into conferences:

Eastern Conference

• Atlanta Dream
• Chicago Sky
• Connecticut Sun
• Indiana Fever
• New York Liberty
• Toronto Tempo
• Washington Mystics

Western Conference

• Dallas Wings
• Las Vegas Aces
• Los Angeles Sparks
• Minnesota Lynx
• Portland Fire
• Phoenix Mercury
• Seattle Storm
• Golden State Valkyries

WNBA Championship History

Of the teams in the league, here are the ones who have managed to pull off a WNBA championship title:

*Teams no longer active

2026 WNBA Players to Watch

A’ja Wilson – Las Vegas Aces

Wilson is fresh off her record-setting fourth MVP season, her third defensive player of the year season and fourth consecutive first team all-WNBA and first team all-defensive selection.

Wilson also led the Aces to their third WNBA championship in the last five years. Until proven otherwise, Wilson remains the league’s most dominant player on both ends of the floor and will once again have the Aces as title favorites.

Napheesa Collier – Minnesota Lynx

Collier is expected to miss the first few months of the season as she recovers from ankle surgeries, but she is coming off a career year, finishing second in the MVP voting for the second straight year, finishing first team all-WNBA for the third straight year and first team all-defense for the second straight year.

Collier also became the first player in WNBA history to have put together a 50-40-90 shooting percentage. She may have a shortened season, but that won’t mean it’s any less impactful when she returns.

Alyssa Thomas – Phoenix Mercury

In her first season in Phoenix, Thomas put together another all-WNBA season, flirting with a triple-double on the season with 15 points, 8.8 rebounds and 9.2 assists, which led the league, to go along with 1.6 steals per game.

It was her fourth straight all-star appearance, and she was able to take the Mercury all the way to the WNBA Finals. With a full year under her belt in the Phoenix system, Thomas and company look a little bit different than they did a year ago, but as long as No. 25 is on the floor, the Mercury are in contention.

Caitlin Clark – Indiana Fever

After an electric Rookie of the Year season in which she finished first team all-WNBA, made the all-star team and finished fourth in MVP voting, Clark came out hot in 2025 before multiple injuries shut her down for the rest of the year.

Despite Clark’s absence, the Fever reached the Eastern Conference finals. With her return, they are poised to be one of the league’s most formidable teams.

Across 40 career games, Clark is averaging 18.5 points, 8.5 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. With Clark healthy, this Fever team is poised to make a giant leap.

Allisha Gray – Atlanta Dream

Gray put together a third straight all-star season, finishing first team all-WNBA and fourth in the MVP voting after she averaged 18.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game. She shot 38% from three and helped lead Atlanta to its best regular season finish in franchise history.

This year, the Dream have even more firepower than a year ago and Gray will be turned to help their dream get fulfilled.

Paige Bueckers – Dallas Wings

Bueckers won Rookie of the Year handily, finishing second team all-WNBA and being named to the all-star team after she averaged 19 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game.

Fresh off a national championship at UConn, Bueckers’ rookie season quickly established her as one of the league’s best young players.

This year, she’s joined by a former college teammate (and current girlfriend) Azzi Fudd, who was drafted first overall for the Wings and gives them elite shooting and defense. The Wings also picked up co-defensive player of the year Alanna Smith to shore up their interior.

Watch WNBA Basketball on DIRECTV

Get DIRECTV to make sure you can catch the best women’s basketball action this season.