The 2026 WNBA season will start on time, league commissioner Cathy Engelbert said after the WNBA and players’ union agreed in principle to a new collective bargaining agreement.
There are still administrative steps left for the agreement to be finalized and become official, but the league’s 30th season will not be delayed.
Advertisement
Training camp begins on April 19, less than a week after the 2026 WNBA draft. The league also needs conduct free agency — here are the top nine WNBA free agents — and expansion drafts for the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo. Here is when the 2026 season will start and what to know about the new CBA.
When does WNBA season start 2026?
Engelbert said the season will start on time on May 8. Here are the games scheduled for that day, all times Eastern.
-
7:30 p.m.: Connecticut Sun vs. New York Liberty
-
7:30 p.m.: Washington Mystics vs. Toronto Tempo
-
10 p.m.: Golden State Valkyries vs. Seattle Storm
Here is the remaining schdule for opening weekend.
Saturday, May 9
-
1 p.m.: Dallas Wings vs. Indiana Fever
-
3:30 p.m.: Phoenix Mercury vs. Las Vegas Aces
-
9 p.m.: Chicago Sky vs. Portland Fire
Sunday, May 10
-
1 p.m.: Seattle Storm vs. Connecticut Sun
-
3 p.m.: New York Liberty vs. Washington Mystics
-
7 p.m.: Las Vegas Aces vs. Los Angeles Sparks
-
7 p.m.: Atlanta Dream vs. Minnesota Lynx
-
8:30 p.m.: Phoenix Mercury vs. Golden State Valkyries
When is WNBA draft 2026?
The 2026 WNBA draft is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 13, a little more than a week after a national champion will be crowned in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. ESPN is set to broadcast and live stream the draft.
Advertisement
When is WNBA All-Star Game?
The WNBA All-Star Weekend is July 24-27 in Chicago.
When does WNBA free agency start?
It is not yet known when exactly free agency will begin, but it will likely be a wild ride with about 80% of players being free agents.
WNBA CBA negotiations update
Details of the agreement, including the number of years, have not been finalized. Neither the WNBA or players’ union would comment on specifics of the deal. ESPN reported the new salary cap would start at $7 million, up from $1.5 million in 2025, and the average revenue share for the the players would be nearly 20% across deal, up from 9.3% under the old deal. As for player salaries, according to the report, the supermax would be $1.4 million, average in range of $600,000 and the minimum above $300,000.
Advertisement
What WNBA team has No. 1 draft pick?
The Dallas Wings were awarded the No. 1 overall pick in the draft lottery for the second consecutive year. The Wings will have first dibs on big names such as UConn’s Azzi Fudd, Spain’s Awa Fam, UCLA‘s Lauren Betts, TCU‘s Olivia Miles and LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson.
“We want someone who wants to win,” said Wings forward Maddy Siegrist, who represented the team at the lottery in November. The Minnesota Lynx will pick second in the draft, followed by the Seattle Storm.
WNBA mock draft
From UCLA’s Kiki Rice, who is rising up the draft board, to South Carolina’s Raven Johnson, whose play has turned heads all season, USA TODAY’s Meghan L. Hall reviews where prospects could land in her latest WNBA mock draft.
Advertisement
WNBA season schedule 2026
The WNBA’s landmark 30th season is scheduled to tip off on Friday, May 8.
-
Sept. 24: Last day of regular season
-
June 1-17: Commissioner’s Cup
-
July 24-27: All-Star Weekend (Chicago)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When WNBA season starts in 2026, opening weekend schedule, start times
