With the pregame set to begin on April 25, the WNBA 2026 season is just a couple of weeks away. After an eventful off-season, during which the WNBA and WNBPA reached a historic CBA agreement, the regular season will kick off with the Connecticut Suns facing the hosts, the New York Liberty, on May 8 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Thanks to two new expansion teams, Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, the league is set to achieve a historic mark of hosting 330 games this year.
While the Indiana Fever faces a major issue selling tickets for the first pre-game this season, fans certainly want to see them on their screens. Not just Caitlin Clark’s team fans, in fact, even the entire WNBA community is looking for a TV and Streaming guide for the 2026 season.
Where to Watch the WNBA 2026 Season?
Fans who are on their TV or Cable network can watch the live stream on ESPN, ABC, CBS, NBC, USA Network, and ION. Meanwhile, they can stream the games on Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, and Paramount+.
Following is the day-by-day schedule of the upcoming 2026 season:
- Monday: USA, Peacock
- Tuesday: ESPN
- Wednesday: USA
- Thursday: Prime Video
- Friday: ION
- Saturday: ESPN, CBS
- Sunday: ABC, NBC, ESPN
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Key Highlights of the WNBA 2026 Season
The league signed its historic 11-year media rights deal (2026 to 2036) with Disney, NBCUniversal, and Amazon Prime Video, valued at $2.2 billion, yielding them $200 million annually. The 2026 season marks the commencement of the new deal.
Moreover, under the new deal, the finals hosting rights will rotate among Disney, Amazon Prime, and NBC each year. The 2026 season’s finals will be hosted by the NBA, which will be available to stream on Peacock and telecast on NBC or USA Network.
Another noteworthy fact about the media rights deal is that ESPN/ABC will get to broadcast a total of 30 games this season, including the 2026 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game.
Amazon Prime, on the other hand, retained the exclusive rights to stream the Championship Game of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup. They are also WNBA League Pass third-party distributors.
It is interesting to note that NBC aired the first-ever WNBA game in 1997. However, they will now air only seven Sunday games. Meanwhile, Peacock streams 12 Monday matchups and three weekend games.
Which Games To Watch Out For in the First Week of the WNBA 2026 Season?
The opening night of the upcoming 2026 season will see the New York Liberty hosting the Connecticut Sun at their home. While this can be the most anticipated season-opener game, the Toronto Tempo will also debut against the Washington Mystics at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
The following is the list of must-watch games in the first week of the 2026 season:
May 8, 2026: Sun vs. Liberty – 7:30 pm ET at Barclays Center, Brooklyn
May 8, 2026: Mystics vs. Tempo – 7:30 pm ET at Coca-Cola Coliseum, Toronto
May 9, 2026: Wings vs. Fever – 1:00 pm ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
May 9, 2026: Mercury vs. Aces – 3:30 pm ET at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas valley
FAQs regarding WNBA 2026 Season
Q. How many teams are playing in the WNBA 2026 season?
A. The league expands to 14 teams with the addition of Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, increasing competition and total games.
Q. Which day has the most WNBA games on national TV?
A. Sundays feature the widest coverage, with games airing on ABC, NBC, and ESPN.
Q. Is the WNBA 2026 season available to watch internationally?
A. Yes, international fans can stream games via WNBA League Pass and select global partners depending on their region.
Q. Do I need multiple subscriptions to watch the full WNBA 2026 season?
A. Yes, since games are split across ESPN, ABC, CBS, NBC, and streaming platforms, multiple subscriptions may be required.