Where to Watch WNBA Games in 2026: Every Network, Every Team

Quick answer: WNBA games in 2026 air across 9 platforms: ION, ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, Prime Video, Peacock, Paramount+, USA Network, and NBA TV. Four of those (ION, ABC, CBS, NBC) are free over-the-air. The season starts May 8. Games not on national TV require WNBA League Pass.

The 2026 WNBA season is the most widely distributed in the league's 30-year history. A record 216 of 330 regular season games will air nationally, meaning most fans can find their team's game without a cable subscription most nights. The catch: those games are spread across nine different platforms, and knowing which one has tonight's game requires a cheat sheet.

This is that cheat sheet.

The 2026 WNBA broadcast partners

The league's new media rights deals, which kicked off this season, brought in several new partners alongside returning ones. Here's every platform carrying WNBA games in 2026:

What's free to watch

Four platforms carrying WNBA games in 2026 are completely free with an antenna or basic cable:

ION is the biggest story. The network has the most WNBA games of any partner this season (50) and it's available over the air in most US markets. ION runs Friday night doubleheaders throughout the season, which means most weeks you can watch two WNBA games for free on a Friday without any subscription.

ABC carries 13 games including the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game and the opening weekend doubleheader on May 9. If you have a TV antenna, you can watch the Fever vs. Wings and the Aces vs. Mercury on opening day for free.

CBS has 8 games this season, all free over-the-air. CBS games also stream simultaneously on Paramount+ for subscribers who prefer streaming over antenna.

NBC returns to WNBA coverage for the first time since 2002 with 7 Sunday games. NBC games also stream on Peacock.

The paid streaming options

Prime Video has 31 games this season, the most of any streaming-only platform. If you already have Amazon Prime ($14.99/month), WNBA games are included. If not, Prime Video with ads runs $8.99/month. Prime Video coverage skews toward marquee matchups: Fever, Aces, Liberty, and Wings all have multiple appearances.

Peacock carries 15 NBCSN games (streaming only, no cable channel) plus 7 NBC games that simulcast. The NBCSN games are Peacock-exclusive, meaning you need a subscription ($7.99/month with ads) to watch them. Peacock also has exclusive rights to the WNBA Finals beyond Games 1 and 4.

Paramount+ simulcasts all CBS games. If you have a Paramount+ subscription, you can stream every CBS game. Paramount+ with ads is $7.99/month.

ESPN carries 17 games, primarily on Tuesday nights and the new "Women's Sports Sundays" slot starting June 21. ESPN games are available on ESPN+ for cord-cutters ($11.99/month standalone, or included in Disney Bundle).

USA Network has 48 games, the second-highest total of any partner. USA Network requires a cable or live TV streaming subscription (available on YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and similar services).

NBA TV carries 15 games with a focus on the expansion teams (Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo in particular). NBA TV is available through most cable packages and through NBA League Pass.

WNBA League Pass

Games not assigned to a national broadcast partner stream exclusively on WNBA League Pass. About 114 of 330 regular season games fall into this category. League Pass costs $17.99/month or $59.99 for the full season. It also includes next-day replay access to every game, which is useful if you miss a national broadcast.

One note for local fans: League Pass blackouts apply to games in your home market in some cases. Check the WNBA app for your specific situation.

The Minnesota Lynx exception

Every team in the league has their games distributed nationally across the platforms above. The Minnesota Lynx are the one exception worth noting: they announced a new agreement with Victory+, a free streaming service, as a local broadcast partner. Lynx fans in the Minneapolis area may have access to select games on Victory+ in addition to national broadcasts.

The two new teams

The Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo are both playing their inaugural seasons in 2026. Both expansion franchises are featured prominently on NBA TV early in the season, with Portland hosting Chicago and Toronto hosting Washington on opening weekend. Both teams have national game assignments across the full slate of broadcast partners throughout the season.

Toronto fans should note that some streaming services have geographic restrictions. WNBA League Pass should be available in Canada, but confirm availability for specific platforms before subscribing.

Which teams have the most nationally televised games

The broadcast partners allocated national windows heavily toward the league's marquee matchups:

The Indiana Fever's 44-game national slate is historically unprecedented. Every single regular season game will air on one of the nine broadcast partners, with no League Pass required to watch a Fever game this year.

How to watch without cable

The combination of ION (free OTA), ABC (free OTA), CBS (free OTA), and NBC (free OTA) means a significant portion of the WNBA season is watchable with nothing more than a TV antenna. For the remaining games on paid platforms, here's the minimum stack:

If you want to cover the broadest possible slate without cable, Prime Video ($8.99/month with ads) and Peacock ($7.99/month with ads) together cover 53 games between them. Add WNBA League Pass ($59.99/season) and you have access to every game.

For fans who only follow one team, your team's page on this site shows you exactly which platform has each game, so you only subscribe to what you actually need.

Find your team's schedule

Every WNBA team has a dedicated page here with their full 2026 schedule, broadcaster for each game, and which games require paid subscriptions:

• Atlanta Dream
• Chicago Sky
• Connecticut Sun
• Dallas Wings
• Golden State Valkyries
• Indiana Fever
• Las Vegas Aces
• Los Angeles Sparks
• Minnesota Lynx
• New York Liberty
• Phoenix Mercury
• Portland Fire
• Seattle Storm
• Toronto Tempo
• Washington Mystics

The 2026 WNBA regular season runs May 8 through September 24. Playoffs begin in late September, with the WNBA Finals airing on NBC and Peacock.

About the author