WNBA 2026 Season Schedule: Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese Matchups, Key Dates and More

WNBA basketball is coming soon to a TV near you.

The WNBA released its official schedule for the 2026 season, which will run from Friday, May 8 to Thursday, Sept. 24. The schedule reveal comes despite stalled negotiation talks between the WNBPA and the league on a new collective bargaining agreement after the previous CBA expired in January.

The upcoming season, which is the WNBA’s 30th, will feature two new expansion teams, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo. Just like last year, there will be 44 regular season games before WNBA playoffs start on Sept. 27. Each team will play 22 home games and 22 away games.

“From welcoming two new organizations in Toronto and Portland, to honoring our history with marquee matchups that connect the league's first game to today's stars, the 2026 season will celebrate the WNBA's past, present, and future. With a record number of games, growing global reach, and unprecedented momentum, this milestone season will help define the next chapter of the WNBA,” league commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement.

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As to be expected, all eyes will be on Fever star guard Caitlin Clark, who missed over half of her second WNBA season due to injuries but will be looking to pick up right where she left off. Clark and Indiana will open their season against Paige Bueckers and the Wings on May 9 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Here’s everything to know about the upcoming 2026 WNBA season:

Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese 2026 schedule: When do the Fever play the Sky?

Clark and Reese will face off three times this year.

The Fever host the Sky on June 11 and then play them on the road on Aug. 8 and Aug. 23.

Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever full 2026 schedule

Opponent	Location	Date
Dallas Wings	Gainbridge Fieldhouse	Saturday, May 9
Los Angeles Sparks	Crypto.com Arena	Wednesday, May 13
Washington Mystics	Gainbridge Fieldhouse	Friday, May 15
Seattle Storm	Gainbridge Fieldhouse	Sunday, May 17
Portland Fire	Gainbridge Fieldhouse	Wednesday, May 20
Golden State Valkyries	Gainbridge Fieldhouse	Friday, May 22
Golden State Valkyries	Chase Center	Thursday, May 28
Portland Fire	Moda Center	Saturday, May 30

Opponent	Location	Date
Atlanta Dream	Gainbridge Fieldhouse	Thursday, June 4*
New York Liberty	Barclays Center	Saturday, June 6*
Washington Mystics	CareFirst Arena	Monday, June 8*
Chicago Sky	Gainbridge Fieldhouse	Thursday, June 11*
Connecticut Sun	Mohegan Sun Arena	Saturday, June 13*
Toronto Tempo	Gainbridge Fieldhouse	Tuesday, June 16*
Atlanta Dream	Gainbridge Fieldhouse	Thursday, June 18
Atlanta Dream	Gateway Center Arena	Saturday, June 20
Phoenix Mercury	Gainbridge Fieldhouse	Monday, June 22
Phoenix Mercury	Gainbridge Fieldhouse	Wednesday, June 24
Los Angeles Sparks	Gainbridge Fieldhouse	Saturday, June 27

*Commissioner’s Cup games

Opponent	Location	Date
Las Vegas Aces	Michelob ULTRA Arena	Sunday, July 5
Los Angeles Sparks	Crypto.com Arena	Wednesday, July 8
Phoenix Mercury	Mortgage Matchup Center	Thursday, July 9
Las Vegas Aces	Michelob ULTRA Arena	Sunday, July 12
Golden State Valkyries	Gainbridge Fieldhouse	Wednesday, July 15
Seattle Storm	Gainbridge Fieldhouse	Friday, July 17
New York Liberty	Gainbridge Fieldhouse	Saturday, July 18
Connecticut Sun	Gainbridge Fieldhouse	Wednesday, July 22
Seattle Storm	Climate Pledge Arena	Tuesday, July 28
Portland Fire	Moda Center	Friday, July 31

Opponent	Location	Date
Minnesota Lynx	Target Center	Sunday, Aug. 2
Las Vegas Aces	Gainbridge Fieldhouse	Thursday, Aug. 6
Chicago Sky	Wintrust Arena	Saturday, Aug. 8
New York Liberty	Gainbridge Fieldhouse	Tuesday, Aug. 11
Dallas Wings	Gainbridge Fieldhouse	Friday, Aug. 14
Atlanta Dream	Gateway Center Arena	Sunday, Aug. 16
Toronto Tempo	Coca-Cola Coliseum	Tuesday, Aug. 18
Dallas Wings	College Park Center	Thursday, Aug. 20
New York Liberty	Barclays Center	Saturday, Aug. 22
Chicago Sky	Wintrust Arena	Sunday, Aug. 23
Connecticut Sun	Gainbridge Fieldhouse	Friday, Aug. 28

Opponent	Location	Date
Toronto Tempo	Coca-Cola Coliseum	Friday, Sept. 18
Washington Mystics	Gainbridge Fieldhouse	Sunday, Sept. 20
Minnesota Lynx	Gainbridge Fieldhouse	Tuesday, Sept. 22
Minnesota Lynx	Target Center	Thursday, Sept. 24

WNBA All-Star Weekend and Key Dates in 2026

Event	Date
WNBA Commissioner’s Cup	June 1–17 (title game on June 30)
WNBA All-Star Weekend	July 24–25 in Chicago, Ill.
World Cup break	Aug. 31 to Sept. 16
Start of WNBA Playoffs	Sept. 27

Big WNBA games to watch during 2026 season

The Tempo will make their franchise debut on May 8 against the Mystics. The Fire, rekindled decades after their short original WNBA lifespan from 2000 to ‘02, will open their season on May 9 against the Sky.

The defending champion Aces will play the Mercury in a WNBA Finals rematch on May 9. Las Vegas, led by four-time MVP A’ja Wilson, have won three of the last four league titles. The Aces will also face off against Phoenix on June 17, July 11 and Sept. 24.

The Sparks will host the Liberty on June 21, which will mark a rematch of the WNBA’s inaugural game. The game will be played on the anniversary of the original matchup, when the two founding teams played on June 21, 1997 at Great Western Forum in L.A. to kick off the first-ever season of professional women’s basketball in the country. The Liberty won, 67–57.

WNBA 2026 season TV and streaming schedule

The WNBA has yet to release its full TV and streaming schedule, which includes nationally broadcasted games and various streaming partners. The schedule will be unveiled at a later date.

How does the lack of a CBA affect the upcoming 2026 season?

The WNBA and the players’ union haven’t yet agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement. The 2026 season will be contingent on a CBA being finalized before play begins in May. Otherwise, a work stoppage could be on the horizon.

In the latest update on negotiations, the league and the players’ union agreed to a moratorium on free agency, which comes on the heels of the two sides failing to reach an agreement on a new CBA by Jan. 9. They reportedly remain far apart on key issues, including the structure of a revenue-sharing system. As the tense months-long standoff continues, players are not expected to sign contracts with teams while their new salaries are still being negotiated.

Essentially, WNBA free agency has been put on hold. Some top free agents in 2026 include A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, Dearica Hamby, Kelsey Plum and Kelsey Mitchell.

The WNBA and players’ union are currently in a “status quo” period in which the conditions of the old CBA remain in effect, and they will continue to negotiate on good faith. Hopefully, the two sides can get a fair deal done soon.