WNBA releases 2026 schedule amid CBA negotiations

The WNBA released its 2026 schedule on Wednesday for the upcoming 30th anniversary of the league.

The timing is a little strange for the WNBA as a new collective bargaining agreement hasn’t been reached, putting a 2026 season in jeopardy. In a statement, the league said the schedule release was to help prepare teams, sponsor and broadcast partners and fans. (The WNBA released its 2025 schedule in December 2024.)

However, since the WNBA is in a status quo period of negotiations after failing to reach two deadlines, conducting normal business operations is permissible. That includes scheduling and reserving arenas so the league is positioned to start its season if and when a CBA is met.

Assuming the season starts according to plan, here is what to know about the 2026 schedule:

A second consecutive season of 44 games

Schedule length and the WNBA’s season footprint have been a topic of discussion in the CBA negotiations, as the league attempts to increase the number of games to coincide with expansion and deliver more inventory to its television partners. However, the current CBA — which governs the terms of status quo — allows for a maximum of 44 games.

The WNBA is also limited by the FIBA World Cup from Sept. 4 to 13, which will result in about a two-week break before the end of the regular season. Even if the new CBA extends the schedule, that will not happen in 2026.

Toronto and Portland debuts

The league appears to have made an effort to highlight its expansion teams.

The Toronto Tempo will host the Washington Mystics on opening night, Friday, May 8. The Portland Fire will get their own re-launch (the franchise originally played in the WNBA from 2000-02) the next day, hosting the Chicago Sky.

Caitlin Clark vs. Paige Bueckers on opening weekend

The 2024 and 2025 No. 1 picks, who memorably battled twice in the NCAA Tournament during their college careers, will play each other on Saturday, May 9. Due to injury, Bueckers with the Dallas Wings and Clark with the Indiana Fever met only once in the 2025 season, but they are now a headlining rivalry to start the season, which seemingly displaces the Fever-Sky rivalry.

A rematch of the 2025 WNBA Finals between the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury is another opening weekend highlight. The defending champions will host the Mercury in their matinee opener on May 9, but it is unclear if there will be a banner or ring ceremony because the game will take place at T-Mobile Arena instead of the Aces’ regular home of Michelob ULTRA Arena.

Sparks and Liberty play on WNBA anniversary

The Los Angeles Sparks will host the New York Liberty on June 21 to commemorate the first WNBA game played in Los Angeles 29 years prior. The two franchises are among the remaining three from the inaugural season along with the Mercury.

The Aces also technically date back to the league’s first season, then as the Utah Starzz, who moved to San Antonio in 2003 and then Las Vegas in 2018.

Commissioner’s Cup is back for Year 6

The WNBA will once again feature its in-season tournament as regular-season games from June 1-17 double as Commissioner’s Cup games.

Each team will play every other squad within its conference: six games for Eastern Conference teams (Atlanta, Chicago, Connecticut, Indiana, New York, Toronto and Washington) and seven for each Western Conference team (Dallas, Golden State, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Phoenix, Portland and Seattle). The East and West teams with the best records in Cup games will meet in the Cup championship on June 30.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

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