The WNBA preseason or exhibition games are those friendly games before the official start of the regular season. Exhibition games provide teams with an opportunity to get into game shape, experiment with new players, and develop team chemistry without impacting the standings. For the fans, preseason games provide a preview of rookies, new additions, and future storylines.
In 2025, the WNBA took a giant leap in visibility by broadcasting all 15 preseason games—four nationally televised on channels such as ESPN, ION, and NBA TV, and up to 14 for free through League Pass on the WNBA app. Preseason normally occurs in early May. In 2025, the preseason started May 2 and ended just ahead of the regular season, which began around mid-May.
What Are the Rules for WNBA Preseason Rosters and Player Minutes?
Rosters for training camp usually begin with a large number of players; teams sometimes take approximately 18 players to camp. The active roster limit for the regular season is usually 12 players, although most teams have 11 because of salary cap issues. Teams need to make last-minute cuts and file their roster by May 15 (for the 2025 season).
Although there are no hard minute restrictions on exhibition contests, these games are crucial in providing opportunities for bench players, rookies, and marginal players to get substantial playing time to demonstrate their abilities. Since the teams are scouting, player minutes are also determined by coaches who would like to observe certain players more closely in actual action.
Players and coaches must obey media availability rules during the preseason. Practice sessions need to have 20–30 minutes of media availability following practice. During game days, the players should be available to give pre-game media interviews within a 15-minute window, and coaches and top players should be present at post-game press conferences within 10 minutes after the end of the game.
How Do WNBA Preseason Results Affect Regular Season Rosters?
Preseason play greatly impacts final roster selection. With so few openings (11–12), teams have to make calculated decisions. If a player has a standout performance—great scoring or good defense—they can secure a roster spot ahead of others, even some higher draft choices.
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Although a draft pick is an honor, lower-round picks usually don’t make the roster because of the WNBA’s limited number of spots. In 2023, only around 15 of 36 draft picks wound up on rosters; in 2025, only a few of the 38 draft picks were successful in gaining spots.
Roster limitations and salary cap restrictions ensure that even quality college resumes don’t always lead to a contract. Preseason players can still catch on through waivers by other clubs, particularly those in expansion or injury situations.