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WNBA opens 2026 season in May with Caitlin Clark vs. Paige Bueckers
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- WNBA opens 2026 season in May with Caitlin Clark vs. Paige Bueckers
The 2026 WNBA season is scheduled to begin Friday, May 8. It will be the league's 30th season, provided the WNBA and the players' union come to a collective bargaining agreement .
The WNBA announced the 44-game schedule for upcoming season on Wednesday as CBA talks continue.
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"As we prepare to tip off the WNBA's historic 30th season, this schedule reflects both how far the league has come and the momentum that continues to drive us forward," WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said via a statement from the league.
"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."
The league's expansion franchises, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo , will be front and center during the opening weekend. Toronto will open with a May 8 matchup against the Washington Mystics and Portland May 9 against forward Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky . As the opening weekend rolls on, the 2025 MVP A'ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces will host the Phoenix Mercury on May 9 in a WNBA Finals rematch , and superstar Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever will take on Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings at home.
The sixth WNBA Commissioner's Cup is scheduled from June 1-17, with the title game played on Tuesday, June 30. On June 21, the Los Angeles Sparks host the New York Liberty as a tribute to the league's inaugural game on the same date in 1997.
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In July, Chicago will host the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game on July 25 at the United Center. All-Star weekend also includes the 3-point Contest and WNBA Skills Challenge on July 24 at Wintrust Arena. The league will take a two-week break from Sept. 4-13 for the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Germany. The regular season resumes after the World Cup break on Sept. 17, and concludes on Sept. 24.
The 2026 WNBA playoffs tipoff on Sept. 27 with a best-of-three first round series, followed by a best-of-five semifinals and a best-of-seven finals.
The WNBA announced it will share the complete television and streaming schedule at a later date.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA opens 2026 season in May with Caitlin Clark vs. Paige Bueckers
