Ballislife has 30 video games you possibly can’t miss because the WNBA proclaims a tentative schedule for its thirtieth anniversary season.
Time will inform in the event that they make it to the altar…however the WNBA has requested you, on the very least, to avoid wasting the date(s).
The WNBA launched the schedule for its landmark thirtieth season on Wednesday, an indication of life from a league whose offseason has been rendered silent by ongoing, if not tense, collective bargaining settlement negotiations. When (or, worst case, if) the 2026 season will get underway, will probably be the WNBA’s longest but: all sides will play 44 video games with growth golf equipment in Portland and Toronto, and the slate consists of breaks for each the All-Star Sport in Chicago and the FIBA Girls’s Basketball World Cup in Germany.
“As we put together to tip off the WNBA’s historic thirtieth season, this schedule displays each how far the league has come and the momentum that continues to drive us ahead,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert mentioned within the league’s launch of the schedule. “From welcoming two new organizations in Toronto and Portland, to honoring our historical past with marquee matchups that join the league’s first sport to at this time’s stars, the 2026 season will rejoice the WNBA’s previous, current, and future. With a document variety of video games, rising international attain, and unprecedented momentum, this milestone season will assist outline the subsequent chapter of the WNBA.”
“Releasing the 2026 schedule is a key step as we put together for the WNBA’s thirtieth season,” a WNBA spokesperson instructed Alexa Philippou of ESPN. “[It] permits groups, companions, broadcasters, and followers to start the important planning for the yr forward.”
Whereas it could be arduous to completely analyze the schedule and its contents with the league at a relative standstill by its deadlock with its gamers, Ballislife has 30 for the thirtieth, a triple-decade of video games you possibly can’t miss as soon as the ball is lastly tipped.
The matchups are set.The dates are locked.The 2026 WNBA schedule is right here — test it out now at https://t.co/VdfNvDbFkS pic.twitter.com/WGPSJu1xa4
— WNBA (@WNBA) January 21, 2026
Might 8: Washington Mystics at Toronto Tempo
The headliner of the official opening day slate is the delivery of the Toronto Tempo, the WNBA’s first worldwide membership set to take the ground in Ontario. Whereas the rebooted Portland Hearth has garnered its personal rightful hype, this might be a real take a look at of the WNBA’s lasting energy because it expands to a second nation that has acquired it pretty properly on earlier exhibition showings.
Whereas Washington has struggled to retain its regular requirements, the presence of younger abilities Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen ought to make for an unbelievable debut, even with Tempo’s empty roster as of press time.
Might 9: Dallas Wings at Indiana Fever
The primary Saturday on the W docket opens will presumably present that the youngsters are far more than all proper: a battle between the latest incredible freshmen is about to be staged at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, as Caitlin Clark makes her presumed return towards Paige Bueckers. Supplied the Fever would not subside, Clark will not be the one Indianapolis rep making an anticipated return: eyes would doubtless flip to Kelsey Mitchell, who actually saved the Fever in competition till her physique shut down on her, in addition to different ailing fan favorites like Sydney Colson, Sophie Cunningham, and Aari McDonald.
It is attainable that Bueckers and Clark’s successor within the Rookie of the Yr race may also be partaking, because the Wings maintain the highest choose within the WNBA Draft for the second consecutive event.
Might 9: Phoenix Mercury at Las Vegas Aces
Contrasting its method to final yr’s Liberty-Lynx sequels, the league wasted no time arranging a de facto Sport 5 between the Aces and Mercury after final fall’s Finals fracas. Time will inform precisely who will likely be reprising her function, however it stands to motive that A’ja Wilson will doubtless look to defend her newest MVP honors.
Regardless of falling in 4, Phoenix gave the Aces a problem that has little question lingered within the minds of desert followers all through this offseason.
Might 10: Atlanta Dream at Minnesota Lynx
The thirtieth opening weekend ends with two groups carrying the bittersweet burden of getting loads to show: Atlanta’s dreamy debut below Karl Smesko (franchise-record 30 wins) yielded solely an upset loss to Indiana within the opening spherical. Up north, the Lynx appeared destined to atone for his or her championship heartbreak in New York as the highest seed, however a heartbreaking defeat to Phoenix ended their return journey early.
This sport may also function the debut for the second choose within the draft, which is at present held by the Lynx after a commerce with Chicago throughout final yr’s alternatives.
Might 17: Chicago Sky at Minnesota Lynx
One week after her debut, that aforementioned No. 2 choose (Azzi Fudd? Awa Fam? Lauren Betts? Flau’jae Johnson?) will get a glimpse of what may’ve been when the Chicago Sky visits for a Midwestern melee.
There could also be some regret on Chicago’s finish: whereas there’s hope in constructing blocks, Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese, the Sky’s rebuild shared the WNBA basement final time round. Chicago used the choose acquired within the doubtlessly fateful deal to pick the well-traveled Hailey Van Lith, considered one of a number of intriguing Windy Metropolis tasks below contract.
Might 20: Dallas Wings at Chicago Sky
It isn’t typically {that a} matchup on the league’s caboose even considerably resembles must-see TV. However when over 80 % of the league is trapped in a free company holding sample, one is drawn to the younger expertise below contract with the Sky and Wings.
With Cardoso, Reese, and Van Lith repping Chicago and Dallas bringing in Bueckers, Diamond Miller, and Maddy Siegrist, the lineup on this early-season deal with resembles one thing out of a Last 4.
Might 23: Portland Hearth at Toronto Tempo
The WNBA’s first growth extravaganza options two groups that at present have nary a lady on their lively roster. That is a stark distinction to the place their sisters in maiden WNBA voyages, the Golden State Valkyries, have been at this level final yr, as they a minimum of had a full purple contingent able to roll with their debut looming.
With that in thoughts, it’s going to be price seeing the place each the Tempo and the rebooted Hearth stand at this level of the yr.
Might 27/29: Phoenix Mercury at New York Liberty
The Liberty will get an early alternative to do what they could not final fall: defeat the Phoenix Mercury twice. New York earned an enormous Sport 1 victory within the two sides’ opening-round set earlier than Phoenix took the latter pair, with the primary half a dominant victory at Barclays Heart.
This sequence might function a tone-setter for the Chris DeMarco period, which can face a subplot on the opposite facet: Phoenix assistant Kristi Toliver was mentioned to be one of many contenders for the job earlier than DeMarco prevailed.
June 3: Toronto Tempo at New York Liberty
Regardless of a staunch vote of confidence from Breanna Stewart and others, Sandy Brondello was relieved of responsibility from her publish as New York Liberty head coach after a disappointing follow-up to the franchise’s first postseason championship protection.
It did not take lengthy for Brondello to discover a new gig, as she is now the unique coach of the Tempo. The Liberty’s new seafoam sovereign is DeMarco, a staple of the Golden State Warriors’ NBA dynasty. The previous, current, and potential way forward for the Liberty does Brooklyn battle to open Commissioner’s Cup play.
June 4: Atlanta Dream at Indiana Fever
To not steal clicks from Ballislife resident betting knowledgeable Sara Jane Gamelli, however… you would be sensible to take the over right here. Gainbridge Fieldhouse’s scoreboard operator will doubtless get some extra time with Clark, Chelsea Grey, Rhyne Howard, Naz Hillmon, Mitchell, and Jordin Canada all presumably in tow on this rematch of final yr’s first-round fracas.
In its Boston/Mitchell-led shorthanded kind, the Fever contaminated the Dream’s historic season with a bout of bittersweetness, taking the best-of-three set in upset trend.
June 4: Golden State Valkyries at Minnesota Lynx
Whereas considerably buried by the hullabaloo over new and acquainted locales alike, the Golden State Valkyries obtained the WNBA’s quest to 18 groups off to a sterling begin. Buoyed by breakouts from Veronica Burton and Kayla Thornton, Golden State grew to become the primary freshman crew to look on a WNBA playoff bracket earlier than bowing out to the top-seeded Lynx.
The best way that issues ended little question sticks with Natalie Nakase’s group: pressured to maneuver from San Francisco to San Jose attributable to scheduling conflicts, the Valkyries led Sport 2 by as a lot as 17 earlier than Minnesota stormed again to safe the sweep. An early sophomore barometer awaits the Valkyries within the type of their first journey again to Goal Heart since that bittersweet finale.
June 8: Seattle Storm at Las Vegas Aces
The early Unmatched yields have positioned Laces BC atop the untimely playoff bracket, its antics led by the dueling scoring antics of Brittney Sykes and Jackie Younger. Supplied the whole lot works out in free company, the Michelob Extremely Enviornment scoreboard might resemble a pinball machine with these backcourt experts in tow, and that does not even account for the presence of the lasting MVP Wilson.
The Pacific Northwest’s resistance to the latter is headlined by a homegrown publish contingent in Ezi Magbegor and Dominique Malonga.
June 13: Minnesota Lynx at Las Vegas Aces
The WNBA Finals in all probability might’ve lived as much as its freshly put in best-of-seven billing if the presumed matchup between the highest seeds performed out. Alas for the league-leading Lynx, an emotionally draining second-round sequence produced solely Mercury mastery and a Napheesa Collier damage, one which has saved her sidelined from the second season of her Unmatched league.
It is unknown at this level whether or not Collier and/or Kayla McBride will have the ability to partake on this Commissioner’s Cup conflict. In the event that they do, then this sport ought to be an intriguing look into an alternate universe the place Collier and Wilson swung for seven.
June 21: New York Liberty at Los Angeles Sparks
Three a long time after Kym Hampton and Lisa Leslie took the WNBA’s literal opening tip at The Nice Western Discussion board, Dearica Hamby and Jonquel Jones will doubtlessly observe of their sneakers at Crypto.com Enviornment, opening a rematch 30 years within the making.
The Liberty and Sparks will commemorate the league’s debut match out west, even when the standing of veterans is up within the air, the league’s future will doubtless be on show: Los Angeles’ contingent figures to characteristic Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson, the top-heavy Liberty nonetheless have Finals heroines Leonie Fiebich and Nyara Sabally available.
June 22/24: Phoenix Mercury at Indiana Fever
Had the Fever by some means flushed the mighty Aces in spherical two, would they’ve been any match for the scorching Mercury group that emerged on the opposite facet of the bracket? Clark and Co. will get two early alternatives at house to make their case when Phoenix is available in for a de facto doubleheader.
June 24/26: Atlanta Dream at Golden State Valkyries
For all Smesko achieved in his first yr on the Atlanta (which included guiding Allisha Grey and Howard to All-Star berths and Hillmon to a Sixth Lady of the Yr win), he was denied Coach of the Yr honors, as what Nakase had achieved along with her field of relative scraps was just too good to move up.
If Smesko’s nonetheless feeling uncooked about it, he’ll get three alternatives on the high of the summer season, together with a back-to-back set within the Bay Space. Golden State makes the journey Southeast on Independence Day.
June 25: New York Liberty at Seattle Storm
Usually, this checklist could be filled with “reunions” caused by offseason free company and trades. However with these affairs at a standstill due to the clean areas on CBA paperwork, the league will accept teaching reunions in the intervening time. That has the Liberty going through a number of former mentors who have been plucked from their latest staffs, together with one-year surprise Sonia Raman.
The previous Memphis Grizzlies assistant has been introduced in to steer the continued endeavors of the postseason-Stewart Storm, which has not received a playoff sequence since her transfer again east in 2023.
June 28: New York Liberty at Golden State Valkyries
The Liberty themselves get to play up the coach reunion trope three days after going through Raman. A visit out west will give DeMarco an opportunity to return to Chase Heart, the location of a few of his latest triumphs as a tenured Warriors assistant. Branded as “Ballhalla” in the course of the ladies’s season, nevertheless, it is unlikely that such affairs will likely be appreciated this time round.
The Liberty-Valkyries sequence additionally doubtlessly options Thornton squaring off towards her fellow metropolitan champions whereas Sabrina Ionescu and her signature sneakers return house to the Bay Space as properly.
July 2: Dallas Wings vs. Connecticut Solar (@ Hartford, CT)
If that is actually the tip for the Connecticut Solar, the franchise is embarking on a literal farewell tour of New England: along with operating the tables at Mohegan Solar Enviornment (a minimum of) yet another time, the Solar additionally has dates at TD Backyard in Boston and PeoplesBank Enviornment in Hartford.
The latter, in fact, is understood for internet hosting high-profile College of Connecticut basketball video games, and it’s set to host the most recent return of hallowed Husky and reigning Rookie of the Yr Bueckers, when the Wings search to set off early Independence Day fireworks.
With Dallas additionally holding the primary total choose on the upcoming WNBA Draft, there’s an opportunity that the sneakers of Bueckers’ fellow Storrs standout Azzi Fudd might additionally contact the Civic Heart flooring.
July 3: Minnesota Lynx at New York Liberty
The Liberty and Lynx by no means actually obtained a correct follow-up to their dramatic near the Finals’ best-of-five period: their 4 matchups in 2024 have been crammed right into a mid-summer stretch. By the point the awaited rematches got here, all sides was banged up. New York, for instance, did not have Betnijah Laney-Hamilton for the entire season, whereas Ionescu, Jones, and Stewart additionally confronted literal bumps alongside the way in which.
Minnesota additionally didn’t have Collier, Stewart’s fellow UConn legend and companion in forming Unmatched, in one of many matchups. Once more, it is arduous to understand how a lot could have modified by July 4th weekend, contemplating even the Memorial Day version has an aura of uncertainty. However we have seen sufficient of the Liberty and Lynx in latest excursions to know that they’re going to placed on a present irrespective of who’s on the ground.
July 5: Indiana Fever at Las Vegas Aces
Fireworks for the pink, white, and blue give approach to additional sparks from the pink, yellow, and blue. The vacation weekend closes out with the primary assembly between the Aces and Fever because the two sides engaged in an epic five-game semifinal set. The severely shorthanded Fever gave Sin Metropolis all it might deal with earlier than it put Mercury in retrograde.
The finale at Michelob Extremely Enviornment on Sept. 30 was an epic extra time thriller, one which noticed high playing cards Wilson and Younger unite for 67 tallies in a 107-98 clincher. This time, nevertheless, the Fever will presumably be stocked up, with Clark and the damage report becoming a member of the dependable Aliyah Boston.
July 6: Golden State Valkyries at Washington Mystics
Regardless of rising hype across the league, the youngsters, as soon as once more, have been fairly all proper. Bueckers earned the highest rookie title, Malonga discovered a groove late within the yr, whereas the Mystics loved the antics of Citron and Iriafen…and that is simply the highest 4 from final yr.
Instantly behind that quartet, nevertheless, there’s a lingering case of questioning what may’ve been: the Valkyries had fifth alternative Justė Jocytė stay abroad, whereas one more Washington first-rounder, Georgia Amoore, missed her freshman tour with an ACL damage.
With hyped participant matchups comparatively restricted within the league’s present state, it’s going to be fascinating to see whether or not Amoore and Jocyte are prepared for motion by then. If something, it ought to be a powerful exhibiting for W playoff darkhorses: the Valkyries’ early success with castoff veterans denied Citron and Iriafen an opportunity to go to the playoffs of their first season.
July 17: Los Angeles Sparks at Chicago Sky
The Sky’s final house sport earlier than it performs the function of All-Star hostess comes towards a Los Angeles group that is additionally on the lookout for some type of footing in its rebuild. With Brink and Jackson squaring off towards Cardoso and Reese, progress among the many children will doubtless be strictly analyzed on this showdown and past.
The Sparks at present carry the league’s longest playoff drought at 5 seasons, and the Sky is considered one of 4 groups behind them at two years apiece.
August 8: Las Vegas Aces at Minnesota Lynx
It is a matchup so good that we needed to checklist it twice … if solely to make up for the very fact we have been denied such a showdown final fall. In its present incarnation, the Aces-Lynx sequence has one thing to supply each basketball fan. The offensive potential speaks for itself, however these conferences might additionally characteristic the primary get-togethers between Wilson and Alanna Smith since they shared the latest WNBA Defensive Participant of the Yr title.
August 29: Toronto Tempo at Phoenix Mercury
The WNBA’s push for the playoffs will likely be interrupted by the 2026 FIBA Girls’s World Cup, the place 5 groups (Australia, Belgium, Nigeria, USA, and host Germany) have clinched their tickets for the FIBA bracket. One of many extra intriguing finales will in all probability be the Australian Opals boss Brondello, working with assistant, husband, and German chief Olaf Lange, going into her former locale of Phoenix, which at present boasts the skills of latest American Olympic heroine Kahleah Copper and fellow gold medalist Alyssa Thomas.
August 30: Los Angeles Sparks at Seattle Storm
Whereas the USA will as soon as once more be the FIBA favorites, observers on the lookout for a World Cup darkhorse to keep watch over would do properly to look at this matchup within the dwindling hours earlier than the second break: along with potential Individuals Brink and Jackson, the Sparks’ roster additionally options Belgian cats Julie Allemand and Julie Vanloo, who’ve helped deliver house every of the final two EuroBasket titles.
For Seattle, French phenom below contract Malonga is poised for a sophomore surge and can doubtless look to avenge Les Bleu’s loss on Parisian turf to Workforce USA on the finish of the latest Olympics.
September 24: Toronto Tempo at Connecticut Solar
Roster conditions are shaky sufficient on the fashionable WNBA panorama, however it’s totally secure in comparison with the photo voltaic flares in Uncasville. The Solar’s administration state of affairs has been a subplot of types on the W panorama to the purpose the place followers could be inspired to cherish each final season they’ve below Mohegan Solar Enviornment’s roof.
The potential finale comes towards the Tempo on what’s at present pegged as the ultimate day of the common season.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
