The 2026 WNBA season is the 30th and current season of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The league expanded from 13 to 15 teams with the addition of the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, first announced in 2024. This followed the addition of the Golden State Valkyries in 2025.
In October 2025, the WNBA announced that the Chicago Sky would host the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game and related events for the second time in franchise history. The All-Star game was played at the United Center on Saturday, July 25, while the three-point contest and Skills Challenge took place on Friday, July 24, at Wintrust Arena.
This will be the last season for the Connecticut Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut after Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta purchased the franchise with the intention to relocate the team to Houston to revive the Houston Comets.
Offseason
Collective bargaining agreement
The current WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), signed in 2020, was originally to run through 2027, but the Women's National Basketball Player's Association (WNBPA) opted out in October 2024, accelerating its termination to October 31, 2025.
The previous CBA was signed in January 2020, covering the 2020–2027 seasons. The agreement introduced increased salaries, maternity and family benefits, and improved travel conditions.
Timeline October 2024: The WNBPA officially notified the league of its intent to opt-out of the existing CBA. Spring 2025: Preliminary discussions began between league representatives and the union. July 2025: The WNBPA issued a public statement claiming that the league has "failed to meet players' priorities" in the early stages of negotiations. October 2025: Tensions escalated after Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier criticized league leadership, prompting WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to respond that she will "do better" in rebuilding trust with players. October 30: It was announced that the WNBA and WNBPA had reached an agreement for a 30-day extension to continue negotiations. November 30: It was announced that the WNBA and WNBPA had reached an agreement to a 6-week extension pushing back the expiration deadline for the current CBA until January 9, 2026. December 18: The WNBPA announced that the union had authorized the executive committee to "call a strike when necessary" as players continue negotiations with the league over a new CBA. February 23, 2026: The WNBA told the WNBPA and its teams that a new CBA must be agreed to by March 10 for the 2026 schedule not to be impacted. March 18: The WNBA and WNBPA reached a verbal agreement on the terms of a new CBA. March 23: WNBA players unanimously approved the new CBA. March 24: The WNBA Board of Governors ratified the new CBA. The regular season began as scheduled on May 8.
Drafts Draft lottery On November 7, 2025, the WNBA announced that the 2026 draft lottery would be broadcast on Sunday, November 23, on ESPN.
The Dallas Wings won the first overall pick in the draft lottery for the second consecutive year.
Expansion draft
An expansion draft was held on April 3. The Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo selected players for their respective debut rosters. The Fire and Tempo took turns picking one player from each of the thirteen existing teams except for the Chicago Sky. However, Portland chose not to pick a player from the Las Vegas Aces nor did Toronto draft anyone from the Seattle Storm.
2026 WNBA draft
The 2026 WNBA draft was held on Monday, April 13, 2026.
Lottery picks PickPlayer NationalityTeamSchool / club team 1 Dallas WingsUConn2 Minnesota Lynx TCU3 / Seattle Storm Valencia 4 Washington MysticsUCLA5 / Chicago Sky UCLA
Transactions
Coaching changes
Off-season Team 2025 season 2026 seasonDallas Wings Chris Koclanes Jose FernandezNew York Liberty Sandy Brondello Chris DeMarcoPortland Fire Did not exist Alex SaramaSeattle Storm Noelle Quinn Sonia RamanToronto Tempo Did not exist Sandy Brondello
Preseason Schedule
| Monday, April 13 | 7:00 p.m. | colspan=3| 2026 WNBA draft | USA: ESPNCanada: TSN4/5 | colspan=4| — | The Shed |- | rowspan=5| Saturday, April 25 | rowspan=2| 3:00 p.m. | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Indiana | @ | New York | IONLeague Pass | 109–91 | Han Xu (20) | (7) | R. Johnson (8) | Barclays Center14,662 |- | Nigeria | @ | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Los Angeles | rowspan=10|League Pass | 63–89 | Plum (22) | Atkins (6) | Wheeler (7) | Viejas Arena3,459 |- | 4:00 p.m. | Chicago | @ | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Phoenix | 104–108 | Van Lith (20) | Mack (6) | Thomas (8) | Sanford Pentagon3,357 |- | 7:30 p.m. | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Minnesota | @ | Washington | 77–66 | Betts (13) | Poffenbarger (13) | C. Williams (3) | CareFirst Arena4,200 |- | 8:30 p.m. | Seattle | @ | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Golden State | 76–78 | (14) | Martin (7) | Mair (4) | Chase Center18,064 |- | Sunday, April 26 | 8:00 p.m. | Japan | @ | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Las Vegas | 78–94 | Yamamoto (24) | N. Smith (13) | (4) | Michelob Ultra Arena10,341 |- | Monday, April 27 | 8:00 p.m. | Nigeria | @ | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Minnesota | 79–88 | Kalu (25) | (7) | Hamzová (7) | T-Mobile Center6,510 |- | rowspan=4|Wednesday, April 29 | rowspan=2|7:00 p.m. | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Connecticut | @ | Toronto | 83–78 | (21) | Morrow (7) | Leger-Walker (4) | Coca-Cola Coliseum8,210 |- | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Atlanta | @ | Chicago | 87–78 | S. Taylor (23) | Okot (11) | Van Lith (6) | Wintrust Arena6,139 |- | rowspan=2|10:00 p.m. | Portland | @ | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Seattle | 81–91 | F. Johnson (20) | Malonga (11) | (5) | Climate Pledge Arena8,627 |- | Japan | @ | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Phoenix | 60–86 | Copper (17) | Mack (9) | Thomas (9) | Mortgage Matchup Center |- | Thursday, Apr 30 | 7:00 p.m. | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Dallas | @ | Indiana | IONLeague Pass | 95–80 | C. Clark (21) | Siegrist (11) | (5) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse11,745 |- | Friday, May 1 | 8:00 p.m. | Toronto | @ | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Minnesota | rowspan=3 | League Pass | 66–73 | Čechová (16) | (7) | C. Williams (6) | Target Center7,821 |- | Saturday, May 2 | 8:00 p.m. | Nigeria | @ | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Indiana | 57–105 | K. Mitchell (17) | R. Johnson (7) | Boston (6) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse10,051 |- | rowspan=4| Sunday, May 3 | rowspan=2| 3:00 p.m. | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Washington | @ | Atlanta | 83–72 | Betts (17) | (6) | (4) | Gateway Center Arena3,229 |- | bgcolor=#bbffbb| New York | @ | Connecticut | rowspan=2|IONLeague Pass | 79–67 | Griner (16) | Morrow (8) | (4) | Mohegan Sun Arena5,218 |- | rowspan=2| 7:00 p.m. | Las Vegas | @ | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Dallas | 84–101 | (18) | A. Smith (7) | Bueckers (9) | Moody Center10,179 |- | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Los Angeles | @ | Portland | League Pass | 85–75 | Ogwumike (17) | S. Williams (8) | Ogwumike (5) | Moda Center13,550
All-Star Game
Regular season Standings
Schedule
| rowspan=3| Friday, May 8 | rowspan=2| 7:30 p.m. | Connecticut | @ | bgcolor=#bbffbb| New York | rowspan=3|IONLeague Pass | 75–106 | Stewart (31) | Stewart (10) | Vanloo (11) | Barclays Center17,615 |- | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Washington | @ | Toronto | 68–65 | Mabrey (27) | Iriafen (16) | Amoore (3) | Coca-Cola Coliseum8,210 |- | 10:00 p.m. | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Golden State | @ | Seattle | 91–80 | Malonga (21) | (8) | Burton (6) | Climate Pledge Arena14,200 |- | rowspan=4| Saturday, May 9 | 1:00 p.m. | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Dallas | @ | Indiana | rowspan=2|ABC, Disney+ | 107–104 | K. Mitchell (30) | Shepard (9) | Shepard (9) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse17,274 |- | 3:30 p.m. | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Phoenix | @ | Las Vegas | 99–66 | Thomas (20) | Mack (15) | Thomas (9) | T-Mobile Arena16,511 |- | 7:00 p.m. | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Atlanta | @ | Minnesota | League Pass | 91–90 | A. Gray (24) | Reese (14) | Miles (8) | Target Center10,821 |- | 8:00 p.m. | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Chicago | @ | Portland | NBA TV | 98–83 | Cardoso (22) | Cardoso (14) | Diggins (7) | Moda Center19,335 |- | rowspan=4| Sunday, May 10 | 1:00 p.m. | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Seattle | @ | Connecticut | rowspan=2 |League Pass | 89–82 | (17) | Morrow (16) | Melbourne (6) | Mohegan Sun Arena7,374 |- | 3:00 p.m. | bgcolor=#bbffbb| New York | @ | Washington | 98–93 | Johannès (25) | Iriafen (12) | (7) | CareFirst Arena4,200 |- | 6:00 p.m. | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Las Vegas | @ | Los Angeles | USA Network | 105–78 | Plum (27) | Ogwumike (10) | Young (9) | Crypto.com Arena12,266 |- | 8:30 p.m. | Phoenix | @ | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Golden State | rowspan=5| League Pass | 79–95 | Salaün (21) | Thomas (9) | Burton (12) | Chase Center18,064 |- | rowspan=3| Tuesday, May 12 | 8:00 p.m. | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Atlanta | @ | Dallas | 77–72 | A. Gray (26) | Reese (16) | Canada (5) | College Park Center6,251 |- | rowspan=2 | 10:00 p.m. | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Minnesota | @ | Phoenix | 88–84 | Copper (30) | N. Howard (11) | Thomas (8) | Mortgage Matchup Center10,826 |- | New York | @ | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Portland | 96–98 | Carleton (26) | Stewart (10) | Leite (6) | Moda Center12,386 |- | rowspan=4| Wednesday, May 13 | 7:00 p.m. | Seattle | @ | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Toronto | 73–86 | Mabrey (26) | (8) | (6) | Coca-Cola Coliseum8,142 |- | 8:00 p.m. | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Las Vegas | @ | Connecticut | USA Network | 98–69 | Carter (27) | (11) | (6) | Mohegan Sun Arena5,452 |- | 10:00 p.m. | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Chicago | @ | Golden State | League Pass | 69–63 | (18) | Stokes (11) | Diggins (7) | Chase Center18,064 |- | 10:30 p.m. | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Indiana | @ | Los Angeles | USA Network | 87–78 | Plum (25) | (8) | C. Clark(9) | Crypto.com Arena12,605 |- | rowspan=2| Thursday, May 14 | 8:00 p.m. | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Minnesota | @ | Dallas | rowspan=2 | Prime | 90–86 | Bueckers (27) | (8) | Bueckers (8) | College Park Center5,982 |- | 10:00 p.m. | bgcolor=#bbffbb| New York | @ | Portland | 100–82 | Stewart (22) | J. Jones (9) | Johannès (11) | Moda Center13,087 |- | rowspan=4| Friday, May 15 | rowspan=2| 7:30 p.m. | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Las Vegas | @ | Connecticut | League Pass | 101–94 | Wilson (45) | Morrow (10) | C. Gray (10) | Mohegan Sun Arena7,265 |- | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Washington | @ | Indiana | rowspan=2|IONLeague Pass | 104–102 | C. Clark (32) | Iriafen (13) | C. Clark (10) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse15,673 |- | rowspan=2| 10:00 p.m. | Toronto | @ | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Los Angeles | 95–99 | (27) | N. Sabally (9) | Plum (9) | Crypto.com Arena11,861 |- | Chicago | @ | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Phoenix | League Pass | 83–91 | Jackson (29) | Thomas (11) | Cloud (7) | Mortgage Matchup Center11,094 |- | rowspan=4| Sunday, May 17 | 1:30 p.m. | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Las Vegas | @ | Atlanta | NBC | 85–84 | A. Gray (25) | Okot (11) | Young (7) | State Farm Arena17,044 |- | 6:00 p.m. | Seattle | @ | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Indiana | Peacock, NBCSN | 78–89 | C. Clark(21) | C. Clark(7) | C. Clark(10) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse14,505 |- | rowspan=2 | 7:00 p.m. | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Chicago | @ | Minnesota | rowspan=2 | League Pass | 86–79 | (20) | Cardoso (12) | (7) | Target Center10,001 |- | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Toronto | @ | Los Angeles | 106–96 | Sykes (38) | Hamby (9) | (7) | Crypto.com Arena11,648 |- | rowspan=2 | Monday, May 18 | 8:00 p.m. | Washington | @ | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Dallas | Peacock, NBCSN | 69–92 | Bueckers (18) | Shepard (16) | Bueckers (7) | College Park Center6,251 |- | rowspan=2 | 10:00 p.m. | Connecticut | @ | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Portland | rowspan=2 | League Pass | 82–83 | (18) | Morrow (12) | Rivers (6) | Moda Center12,010 |- | Tuesday, May 19 | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Toronto | @ | Phoenix | 98–90 | Sykes (31) | Mack (10) | Thomas (8) | Mortgage Matchup Center9,337 |- | rowspan=3 | Wednesday, May 20 | 7:00 p.m. | Portland | @ | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Indiana | rowspan=2 | USA Network | 73–90 | Boston (24) | (8) | Harris (7) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse14,010 |- | 9:00 p.m. | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Dallas | @ | Chicago | 99–89 | (24) | Cardoso (11) | Shepard (12) | Wintrust Arena9,025 |- | 10:00 p.m. | bgcolor=#bbffbb| Connecticut | @ | Seattle | rowspan=2| League Pass | 80–78 | Hiedeman (20) | Beers (8) | Hiedeman (5) | Climate Pledge Arena9,024 |- | rowspan=3| Thursday, May 21