Key Dates: 2026 WNBA Season

The stage is set for the league’s 30th season! 

Following a historic 2025 season highlighted by the Golden State Valkyries’ debut, A’ja Wilson’s KIA MVP run and the Las Vegas Aces’ third WNBA title in four years, Season 30 is set to tip off on Friday, May 8, 2026.  

With the 2026 WNBA Draft (tune in to ESPN on April 13 at 7:30 pm ET!) and the debut of two additional expansion teams on the horizon, the momentum is high. Check out some of the early storylines and key dates to look out for in the action-packed 2026 WNBA Schedule.  

Season 30 Tips Off  

The WNBA enters its landmark 30th season with WNBA Tip-Off 2026 presented by CarMax on Friday, May 8, with a three-game slate. The action continues through the weekend with an additional three games on Saturday, May 9 and five games on Sunday, May 10, to kick off the 44-game regular season. 

Full weekend schedule: 

Friday, May 8 (3 games) 

  • 7:30 pm ET: Connecticut Sun vs. New York Liberty 
  • 7:30 pm ET: Washington Mystics vs. Toronto Tempo 
  • 10 pm ET: Golden State Valkyries vs. Seattle Storm 

Saturday, May 9 (3 games) 

  • 1 pm ET: Dallas Wings vs. Indiana Fever 
  • 3:30 pm ET: Phoenix Mercury vs. Las Vegas Aces 
  • 9 pm ET: Chicago Sky vs. Portland Fire 

Sunday, May 10 (5 games) 

  • 1 PM ET: Seattle Storm vs. Connecticut Sun 
  • 3 PM ET: New York Liberty vs. Washington Mystics 
  • 7 PM ET: Las Vegas Aces vs. Los Angeles Sparks 
  • 7 PM ET: Atlanta Dream vs. Minnesota Lynx 
  • 8:30 PM ET: Phoenix Mercury vs. Golden State Valkyries 

Season 30 is also highlighted with a rematch of the league’s inaugural game in 1997, with the Los Angeles Sparks hosting the New York Liberty on Sunday, June 21, on the anniversary of the original matchup.

The Home Debuts: Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo 

The league is expanding to a 15-team field with the highly anticipated debut of the Toronto Tempo and the Portland Fire. Each team will make their home debut during the weekend of WNBA Tip-Off 2026 presented by CarMax. 

Toronto: Friday, May 8 at 7:30 pm ET vs. Washington Mystics 

Portland: Saturday, May 9 at 9 pm ET vs. Chicago Sky 

Aces Begin Back-to-Back Campaign, Revenge for the Mercury 

The 2025 WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces will begin their campaign for another back-to-back title (previously taking home the chip in 2022 and 2023) with their first home game on Saturday, May 9, hosting a 2025 WNBA Finals rematch against the Phoenix Mercury. The teams will face-off four times this season: 

Las Vegas Aces vs. Phoenix Mercury matchups: 

  • Saturday, May 9 at 3:30 pm ET (@ Las Vegas) 
  • Wednesday, June 17 at 10 pm ET (@ Phoenix) 
  • Saturday, July 11 at 4 pm ET (@ Las Vegas) 
  • Thursday, September 24 at 10 pm ET (@ Phoenix) 

Battle of the No. 1 Picks 

2023 and 2024 No. 1 overall picks Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark are the Indiana Fever’s dynamic duo. Soon, the newest top selection in the 2026 WNBA Draft will join the Dallas Wings and team up with the 2025 No. 1 overall pick, Paige Bueckers. The rookie duos will match up three times, with the first game coming Saturday, May 9. 

Dallas Wings vs. Indiana Fever matchups: 

  • Saturday, May 9 at 2 pm ET (@ Dallas) 
  • Friday, August 14 at 7:30 pm ET (@ Indiana) 
  • Thursday, August 20 at 8 pm ET (@ Dallas) 

Commissioner’s Cup Presented by Coinbase

The sixth annual WNBA Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase in-season tournament will take place Monday, June 1 through Wednesday, June 17. The Dallas Wings will kick off the two-game slate on opening night hosting the inaugural cup champions, the Seattle Storm. Following cup play, the top teams from the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference will go head-to-head in the 2026 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Championship. Who will be crowned the next Cup champion? 

AT&T WNBA All-Star 2026 takes Chicago 

The W is heading back to the Windy City! AT&T WNBA All-Star 2026 will take place Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25, hosted by the Chicago Sky. 

Additional Key Dates: 

Monday, September 1 – Wednesday, September 16: FIBA break 

Thursday, September 24: Last day of regular season 

Stay tuned for more updates around WNBA Rivals Week presented by Ally, the 2026 WNBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel and WNBA Finals dates!