WNBA basketball is almost back, and soon it will be streaming on a TV near you. That’s right, on Wednesday the league unveiled its 2026 schedule for what promises to be a landmark 30th season. The WNBA said the early release was intentional, giving teams, sponsors, broadcast partners and fans more time to prepare. As a reminder, the 2025 calendar was published in December 2024.
Here’s everything you need to know.
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When does the WNBA season start? Know the date, key matches and more
According to the official 2026 schedule, the WNBA season will run from Friday, May 8 to Thursday, September 24. Season length has been a focus of CBA discussions, with the league looking to grow, add expansion teams and offer more content to broadcast partners. But for now, the current CBA still limits the regular season to 44 games, and that’s the number of games each team will play in 2026.
Check out the full schedule below!
There’s already drama in opening weekend. On Saturday, May 9, the number one picks in the 2024 and 2025 drafts, who have become unavoidable rivals during their battles in the NCAA tournament, will meet again as pros. Yes, we have an opening match between Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers scheduled.
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Injuries have limited Dallas’ Bueckers and Indiana’s Clark to just one matchup in 2025, but they are now the main event, a matchup that could temporarily take the Fever vs. Sky rivalry out of the spotlight. But that’s not all!
The opening weekend also includes a rematch of the 2025 WNBA Finals as the Las Vegas Aces host the Phoenix Mercury on May 9. The match is scheduled for a matinee, and while you might expect a banner or ring ceremony, that’s still up in the air because the match is taking place at T-Mobile Arena rather than the Aces’ usual home, Michelob ULTRA Arena.
Teams to Watch: A Look at the Underdogs
It’s difficult to judge the teams at the moment because they haven’t been able to make a move. The league is currently in a status quo period as it has failed to reach a new CBA agreement with the players’ union, missed two negotiation deadlines and failed to meet WNBPA demands. As a result, both parties agreed to a moratorium on league activities, which suspends the early stages of free agency, including qualifying offers and core designations.
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But if we had to predict who the underdogs might be, it would probably be the newer teams this season. The 2026 campaign marks the debut of the Toronto Tempo and the return of the Portland Fire, and both could find themselves in a tough spot early on.
We saw last season how difficult this league can be for new owners. There are no lottery picks, no extra help from the league and free agency isn’t as simple as it seems. Just ask the Valkyries. Last season they headed for the fences in free agency, chasing Kelsey Plum, Courtney Vandersloot and Brionna Jones, only to see each of them opt for the safety of tried and tested franchises in the WNBA playoffs.
The Athletic reported that Paige Bueckers was their real dream target, but Dallas had no interest in dealing out the No. 1 pick. With that option gone, general manager Ohemaa Nyanin had to improvise and ended up relying heavily on the international talent we saw them recruit last season.
One advantage the Valkyries had was that the WNBA held the expansion draft before the new year. The two new teams in 2026 will not have this luxury. There’s a lot to work out for both franchises in terms of roster construction, but Golden State has already shown that if you build a team that fits your coach’s style, you can still make the playoffs. You just need the right combination.
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If they succeed, they could easily become the underdogs this season, as both teams will have enough quality and talent to challenge the rest of the league.
Another team that could be an underdog this season is the Chicago Sky. Yes, they should be part of the conversation between title contenders. That was the intention last season when they traded for Ariel Atkins and signed talent like Courtney Vandersloot. But the end result was a 10-34 record, the second-worst finish in the league, and Angel Reese publicly criticized the team.
Bayou Barbie has made it clear she wants to play with the best, but the Sky have developed a reputation as one of the worst-run franchises in the league, and that could be a major obstacle when free agency opens. . They may not have the big names that Reese has in mind, but this is the perfect opportunity for general manager Jeff Pagliocca to prove himself and get creative instead of just chasing the stars.
Of course, this is all just a hypothesis at the moment. No one really knows how free agency will play out this season, especially with more 80% of the league is heading to the market. Much of this is speculation, but this looks to be a monumental year for Chicago. If they fail to deliver on their promises, there’s a real chance they’ll lose Reese down the line.
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What makes the 2026 WNBA season special? Know everything
“Whether it’s welcoming two new organizations in Toronto and Portland, or honoring our history with marquee matchups that connect the league’s premier game with today’s stars, the 2026 season will celebrate the past, present and future of the WNBA. With a record number of games, growing global reach and unprecedented momentum, this landmark season will help define the next chapter of the WNBA,” said the league commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, in a press release about the upcoming season.
This season promises to be historic, not only because it could once again break audience and attendance records with the arrival of two new teams, but also thanks to everything the players have gone through to get there.
In fact, there is no guarantee the season will happen until CBA negotiations are complete. The two sides are still very far apart, and that is worrying. The main sticking point is the salary structure. The players want a system that pays them 30 percent of gross revenue, while the league wants to first subtract expenses and then share what’s left, according to The Athletic.
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If the WNBPA and the league achieve this, it will be a monumental moment. It would show that female athletes can fight for their worth and win, and it would put them closer to the same financial table as men by getting a fair share of the money they help bring in.
The position 2026 WNBA schedule released: Key matchups, dates and what stands out appeared first on EssentiallySport.
