The 2026 WNBA season starts on May 8, featuring three games. Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever will have all 44 games aired nationally, while other teams have fewer nationally broadcast games.
Key points
2026 WNBA season starts on May 8
Opening games feature three matchups
Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever games aired nationally
Games available on 10+ channels/platforms
Caitlin ClarkIndiana FeverConnecticut SunNew York Liberty
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The ease with which you can watch this season will depend on which team you’re trying to follow. Want to catch all of Caitlin Clark’s games? The Indiana Fever’s entire 44-game schedule will air nationally, making it super easy to tune in. But the New York Liberty will have only 33 of its games broadcast nationally, and for teams like the Las Vegas Aces and Chicago Sky, that number is even lower.
Here’s what you need to know about watching the 2026 WNBA season live, from this week’s opening games, all the way through the WNBA playoffs.
Q&A
When does the 2026 WNBA season start?
The 2026 WNBA season starts on May 8, 2026.
What teams are playing in the opening games of the 2026 WNBA season?
The opening games feature the Connecticut Sun vs. New York Liberty, Washington Mystics vs. Toronto Tempo, and Golden State Valkyries vs. Seattle Storm.
How can I watch Caitlin Clark's games in the 2026 WNBA season?
You can watch all of Caitlin Clark's games as the Indiana Fever's entire 44-game schedule will be aired nationally.
Which channels will broadcast the 2026 WNBA games?
The games will be broadcast on various channels including ABC, ESPN, NBC, ION, and Amazon Prime Video.
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When does the WNBA season start?
The 2026 WNBA season tips off with a three-game opening night slate on Friday, May 8, 2026.
When is Caitlin Clark’s first game?
Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever’s first game of the season is on Saturday, May 9, 2026. The Fever will host the Dallas Wings for a 1 p.m. ET game, airing on ABC and streaming live on Disney+.
What channel are WNBA games on?
For the 2026 season, WNBA games will be spread across a wide range of channels (and streaming platforms). Games will air on ABC, ESPN (and ESPN2/ESPN+), CBS, NBC (and NBCSN), ION, USA Network, and NBA TV. Plus, some games will be exclusive to Amazon Prime Video; games that air on NBC will stream on Peacock; games on CBS will be available on Paramount+; and select games airing on ABC will stream on Disney+. Certain games will also be available only via League Pass.
Confused? Overwhelmed? Don’t have cable these days? Here’s a loose weekly schedule for which nights of the week get which channels, plus what you’ll need to watch WNBA games in 2026:
YouTube TV gets you nearly every channel you'll need for the 2026 WNBA season, including ION, NBC, ABC, CBS, ESPN, and NBA TV. While the platform has announced it intends to give subscribers complimentary access to ESPN Unlimited, that integration has been delayed for the time being.
That being said, you can get a great deal on YouTube TV right now: $67.99/month for your first five months, then $82.99/month thereafter.
One thing to note: YouTube TV livestreams tend to run a slight delay, which isn't ideal if you're trying to keep up with the live game down to the exact second.
DirecTV's Choice tier (currently $104.98/month after fees for your first three months) gets you access to nearly every channel you need to watch sports throughout the year, especially for the WNBA: ION, NBC, ABC, CBS, ESPN, and NBA TV (plus an abundance of local RSNs). DirecTV Choice (and most other DirecTV plans) also come with free ESPN Unlimited, which gets you access to every ESPN channel, an amazing value and a must for watching tons of sports all year round.
DirecTV offers a free trial on any tier, so you can try it all out at low risk. After your free trial and new subscriber month deal on DirecTV's Choice tier, the monthly price goes up to $115/month (after fees). If you're interested in trying a live TV streaming service but aren't ready to commit, we recommend starting with DirecTV.
ESPN's streaming platform offers thousands of exclusive live events, original studio shows, and acclaimed series that air across ESPN's suite of seven linear channels, as well as exclusive content on ESPN+, ABC on ESPN, SEC+, ACCNX, and more. Every WNBA game airing on ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC this season will stream on ESPN Unlimited. The Unlimited tier costs $29.99/month or $299.99/year.
ESPN Select allows subscribers to access exclusive content only available on the app, and an extensive archive of on-demand content (including the entire 30 For 30 library, select ESPN Films, game replays, and more). Whether you purchase a standalone plan, add-on, or Disney bundle plan, the service provides access to thousands of sports events for $12.99/month or $129.99/year.
Sling TV's Day Pass gives consumers the freedom to watch what they want, when they want, without committing to a monthly streaming subscription. So if you love watching certain teams or just want to tune into the occasional playoff game, it's the ideal, cost-effective plan.
Sign up for a single day ($4.99), a weekend ($9.99), or a full week ($14.99) and watch every channel available through Sling Orange, which includes ESPN and ESPN2, and over 30 more channels. No strings attached.
Want to catch a specific sporting event on channels Sling Orange doesn't typically carry? You can customize your channel lineup with a Sports Extra add-on to get additional coverage of SEC, ACC, ESPNU, and more for just a dollar more.
Amazon’s will once again serve as one of the streaming homes for the WNBA this season. In 2026, Prime Video will stream most Thursday night WNBA games free to all Amazon Prime subscribers.
On top of Amazon Prime Video, an Amazon Prime subscription includes free shipping, exclusive deals, Amazon Music, a year of free Grubhub+, and more. A standard Amazon Prime subscription is $15 monthly or $139 annually, but discounts are available for students and those on qualified government assistance. You can try Amazon Prime for 30 days free.
For $11/month, an ad-supported Peacock subscription lets you stream live sports and events airing on NBC, including WNBA games. Plus, you'll get access to thousands of hours of shows and movies, including beloved sitcoms such as Parks and Recreation and The Office, every Bravo show,and much more.
For $17/month, you can upgrade to an ad-free subscription, which includes live access to your local NBC affiliate (not just during designated sports and events) and the ability to download select titles to watch offline.
