Press Release

NEW YORK, May 13, 2026 – The WNBA and NBA Board of Governors have unanimously approved the sale and relocation of the Connecticut Sun from the Mohegan Tribe to new owner Tilman J. Fertitta, the league announced today.
Mohegan Sun Arena will remain the home of the Sun for the 2026 WNBA season. During this season, the Sun will host two regular-season games at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, Connecticut (May 30 and July 2), and return to Boston, Massachusetts for a matchup at TD Garden (August 18). The team will relocate to Houston beginning with the 2027 season.
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Tip-Off 2026

The 30th season of the WNBA tipped off with a bang, with rookies flying out of the gate with highlight performances, underdog squads testing the limits of contenders, and up-and-coming units finding their groove early on in the year. 
We’re only a few games into the season, so I won&#8217;t make any statements about how teams looked during Tip-Off weekend that sound too grandiose. But there were at least five definitive things to take away from the contests that kicked off the league’s 30th year. 
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<h2>2026 Rookie Class Shines</h2>
<div id="attachment_260410" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-260410" class="wp-image-260410" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2274822522-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2274822522-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2274822522-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2274822522-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2274822522-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2274822522-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2274822522-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />Jovana Nogic #29 of the Phoenix Mercury</div>
Much of this year’s draft class has already taken a swing at their first taste of WNBA, and there were some major standouts from the first weekend of action. Olivia Miles’ 21-point, eight-assist, two-block, two-steal, and three-rebound debut for the Minnesota Lynx was nearly enough to get them a win over the Atlanta Dream on opening weekend, but regardless of the outcome, it was unbelievably impressive. 
Flau’jae Johnson was on fire for the Seattle Storm in their one win from opening weekend, getting the Connecticut Sun into foul trouble and driving with purpose to the basket despite the danger of Brittney Griner lurking at the rim. She was also not afraid to <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/storms-flaujae-johnson-shines-hits-110722119.html">let Griner know</a> about her ability to get to the hoop. 
There were also a few sleeper rookies who shone this past weekend, with one being Serbian guard Jovana Nogic with the Phoenix Mercury. She’s a confident shot taker with a three-ball consistently in her bag, and the Mercury really needed someone like her injected into the roster following the loss of Satou Sabally in free agency. 
Madina Okot, the former board-eater with the South Carolina Gamecocks, quickly established herself as an apt Griner replacement for the Atlanta Dream on the glass with 11 rebounds and 14 points in her debut. 
It’ll be exciting to watch several other high-ceiling rookies like Azzi Fudd, Raven Johnson, and Awa Fam begin to hit their stride throughout this season. But it’s obvious that the All-Rookie race and the battle for Rookie of the Year are not going to be a clear-cut. 
<hr />
<h2>2. Washington Mystics and Their Young Core</h2>
Following a downtrodden 2025 season riddled with injuries, the Mystics snapped up quite a few big-name bigs in this year’s draft, adding some depth behind their key frontcourt duo in Shakira Austin and Kiki Iriafen. 
Those two, plus guard Sonia Citron, already look to be a serious problem for teams this year thanks to their defensive effort and ability to score all over the floor. Citron is averaging 21.5 points on 54.2 percent shooting from the field, while Iriafen firmly leads the league in rebounding through two contests. Austin is a bit of a unicorn for the Mystics as she has multiple ways of killing teams as a scorer, thanks to her excellent ball-handling for a forward, but her health has to remain intact for Washington to truly make some noise later in the season and in the race to the postseason. 
While it’s a small sample size, there’s more than enough to be scared about with the potential of this Mystics squad. 
<hr />
<h2>3. Fringe Contenders Impressed</h2>
While we know the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty are strong candidates for being Finals-bound, there are a few other squads that have the depth and star power to push either of those teams to the brink. The Dallas Wings, Atlanta Dream, and Phoenix Mercury all proved to be that sort of potential thorn in the Aces and Liberty’s sides with their opening weekend performances. 
For Phoenix, the largest question for them this offseason was how they’d fare after losing Sabally in free agency. The answer to that question is multi-fold: they’re relying on the defensive presence provided by Alyssa Thomas, in addition to the health and three-level scoring of Kahleah Copper. And, they have the depth to have a strong run in the regular season, followed by an even stronger one in the postseason. 
You’d have to imagine Phoenix is itching to get back to the Finals following getting swept by the Aces in 2025. Well, a start to the year that features 47.8 shooting from three-point range and an emphatic victory over the Aces in their season debut surely communicates how hungry they are to get back to that peak. 
As for the Wings, there are still huge question marks about their defensive capabilities. Alanna Smith, the co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2025, was brought on by the Wings as an attempt to address at least one part of their defensive weakness. 
She had a tough matchup in the Wings’ first game, which was against Aliyah Boston and the Indiana Fever. Still, you have to love Dallas’ upside on offense. They posted a 120.2 offensive rating in their first game, led by Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, and Odyssey Sims. 
Atlanta’s bread and butter this season may be their ability to keep teams grounded thanks to their defense. They immediately saw the benefit of adding Angel Reese to their roster this offseason via trade in their first game, against the Lynx. 
She and Allisha Gray had back-to-back blocks to seal their victory over Minnesota, showing just how valuable a piece Reese could be to Atlanta on defense while she still carves out a role on offense. That block was her third, which was a team-high, which added to her already impressive line featuring 14 boards and 11 points.
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<h2>4. New York Liberty and Golden State Valkyries Undefeated </h2>
<div id="attachment_260411" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-260411" class="wp-image-260411" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2275536485-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2275536485-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2275536485-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2275536485-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2275536485-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2275536485-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2275536485-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />Janelle Salaun #13 of the Golden State Valkyries</div>
Again, it’s way too early in the season to frame these teams’ undefeated records following tip-off weekend as anything more than a two-game winning streak, but both teams’ methods of winning were impressive nonetheless. 
For Golden State, they’ve once again been relying on guard Veronica Burton and forward Janelle Salaun for firepower. Salaun, specifically, has been a revelation and is already building off of her All-Rookie campaign in 2025. Her 56.3 percent shooting from three-point range to start the year leads the Valkyries, and she’s taken the second-most three pointers so far this season in the league. 
 
Burton has contributed with her passing, hitting 12 assists in Golden State’s win over the Mercury, while also picking up three steals. She was a big factor in the Valkyries’ win over Phoenix, sealing their 2-0 record following the opening weekend. 
Golden State’s bench is also looking good to start the year, which is, again, a huge factor for any team seeking to become a true contender. Their second unit has averaged 42 points per game through two contests and is shooting 52 percent from deep. They’re also averaging 2.5 blocks per game, which is good for second in the league so far. Again, small sample size, but it’s clear that the Valkyries have the depth necessary to go up against other powerhouse squads early on in the year. 
Taking a look at New York, it’s hard not to point out the start that Breanna Stewart has had. She’s leading the team in shot attempts and is still shooting an efficient 47.5 percent from the field overall. With Sabrina Ionescu out to begin the year, it was important that either she, Jonquel Jones, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, or newly-added guard Pauline Astier would pick up the scoring slack, and Stewart has taken that role seriously through two contests. 
New York’s bench has been a bit shakier of a foundation for them compared to that of Golden State’s, but with no Leonie Fiebich or Ionescu during tip-off weekend, that drop-off was expected. Getting Laney-Hamilton back is also a huge plus for the Liberty’s future depth, with the forward an ever-lurking threat from midrange for New York’s guards to play off of. 
Their veteran-heavy roster and ability to match up with just about anyone make them a top threat once again. 
<hr />
<h2>5. The Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire’s Opening Crowds</h2>
If you caught the Toronto Tempo’s first-ever home game against the Washington Mystics, which nearly ended with a ton of drama, then you probably had to turn your television down a few times. The crowd at the Coca-Cola Coliseum was unbelievably loud, which is well-deserved after the team pushed things down to the wire against a talented Mystics squad. 
Portland’s crowd was not only loud, but they added themselves to the history books with a record-breaking 19,335 fans at their season opener. That’s the largest crowd for any inaugural team’s season opener in WNBA history, and a great representation of just how great the demand is for more WNBA basketball. 
While the Fire and Tempo lost their respective opening contests, they’re off on the right foot. They have too much talent to be struggling for long.

26WNBA_Tip-Off_CarMax_onBlkBkgd

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Five Things I Like: WNBA Tip-Off 2026

Analysis

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-199787" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1.png" alt="" width="2560" height="100" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1-300x12.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1-1024x40.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1-768x30.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1-1536x60.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1-2048x80.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
Editor&#8217;s Note: Read more WNBA coverage from the Athletic <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/wnba/">here</a>. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams.
***
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-260402" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-12T104256.103.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-12T104256.103.png 2000w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-12T104256.103-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-12T104256.103-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-12T104256.103-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-12T104256.103-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />
INDIANAPOLIS — The Dallas Wings were at rock bottom in 2025 when they selected Paige Bueckers with the No. 1 overall pick.
They were fresh off a nine-win season and moving on to their third coach in four seasons when Bueckers became the rope thrown to the drowning franchise. But even she can’t work miracles. At least, not in Year 1 anyway, as the Wings missed the playoffs.
But Saturday, as the Wings opened the 2026 season against the Indiana Fever with a 107-104 win in Bueckers’ sophomore season debut, a franchise that’s been adrift looked like it could finally see land.
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“I’ve been saying, I feel like this is the best roster we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Wings four-time All-Star guard Arike Ogunbowale said. “It’s just complete.”
Bueckers wasn’t the final missing puzzle piece, but she was the catalyst.
After her rookie season ended with 10 wins, the Wings’ second-straight without a postseason, Dallas opted to find its fourth coach in five years as it fired Chris Koclanes. The Wings then went against the coaching trend of hiring from the NBA in favor of a well-respected, winning college coach in Jose Fernandez from South Florida. When free agency finally opened following a contentious 17-month-long negotiation period for a new collective bargaining agreement, general manager Curt Miller signed players, such as forwards Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard, who looked on paper like they could make the Wings legitimate playoff contenders. He followed those free agency moves by drafting Buecker’s familiar backcourt UConn running mate in sharpshooter Azzi Fudd.
The result of every move over the last 13 months was on full display Saturday, and the early grade passed with top marks. Bueckers finished with 20 points, four assists, three rebounds and just one turnover.
“She’s special,” Fernandez said. “She reads how she’s being guarded. Having coached against her and seeing her now, I mean, she sees things two, three times ahead of stuff. That’s remarkable.”
Bueckers is fresh off a busy offseason that included her first season playing with Unrivaled, the professional three-on-three league, and with Team USA’s senior national team.
Individually, she committed to bulking up in an effort to withstand the toll of a 44-game WNBA season, the results of which are apparent in her noticeably stronger frame. Bueckers said she lived in the weight room, ate better and even prioritized better sleep.
One area of Buecker’s development that can’t be visibly measured is her leadership.
“She’s one of those generational talents that not only shows up on the court, but off,” Smith said. “She leads by example. She holds herself to a certain standard, which I think is really important for people in leadership positions. You gotta walk the walk to talk the talk. That’s something she naturally does, which is really rare for a young player to do.”
Beyond Smith, Bueckers has garnered the respect of a team full of WNBA veterans, including Ogunbowale, who shouldered the weight of the Wings’ expectations for six seasons.
“We just got to have our hands up, because we know she’s going to make the right read,” Ogunbowale said. “She’s super efficient every night. … She’s just really elite.”
The Wings entered the 2026 season with lofty expectations surrounding them. At minimum, they’re widely predicted to get back to the playoffs. But at the peak of possibilities for the Wings is title contention.
Bueckers holds the keys.
“I’m not one to live in the past,” Bueckers said. “But I’m not sure how long it was until we got our first win last year, and three counting the preseason. It’s not to say get complacent, or oh, we got one win, we’re going to go 44-0. We’re so focused on winning the day, winning the practice and getting better every single day, which leads to wins in total.”
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/annie-costabile/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Annie Costabile</a> is a Senior Writer for The Athletic covering the WNBA and women&#8217;s basketball at large. Before joining The Athletic, she worked as a women&#8217;s sports reporter for Front Office Sports and, prior to that, was a sports reporter at the Chicago Sun-Times for seven years, where she covered the Chicago Sky and women&#8217;s sports. Annie also served as the high school preps and recruiting editor at The Clarion-Ledger. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa, based in Brooklyn.
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Paige Bueckers Showed Why She Holds Keys to Dallas Wings’ Season in Win Over Indiana Fever

Stats

WNBA Inside the Game powered by AWS is a new basketball intelligence platform that will use AI capabilities to provide fans with live stats and comprehensive analytics during games. Inside the Game analytics offer a deeper understanding of the unique nuances between the NBA and WNBA, while also highlighting the fundamental similarities they share.
With the power of AWS AI and Machine Learning, check out everything you need to know about the league’s first Inside the Game stat: Gravity.
<hr />
<h2>What is gravity?</h2>
Gravity is a new way to quantify how much a player pulls defenders out of their normal assignments, essentially measuring how much attention they draw compared to what the spacing on the floor predicts.
Gravity uses player-tracking data and advanced machine-learning models to compare the pressure the defense is putting on each offensive player with the level of defensive pressure expected, given the offensive spacing.
In simple terms, Gravity tells us who forces defenses to react, even before they touch the ball.
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<h2>How does gravity work?</h2>
The WNBA’s optical tracking system uses 3D pose detection to track 20 points on each player’s body at 25 frames per second. Those detailed body-position coordinates fuel the Machine Learning model, allowing it to capture every movement and spatial relationship on the floor.
The Gravity model compares the defensive pressure a player would receive on average based on the location of the ball and their position on the floor (Expected Defensive Pressure Score) to the pressure they actually draw (Defensive Pressure Score). The model learns how defenders typically behave in each scenario, and measures deviations that signal defensive adjustments. The result is a Gravity differential that measures how much attention a player pulls from the defense beyond expectation.
The Gravity score measures frame-by-frame impact, expressed as a normalized value on a -100 to 100 scale, with 0 reflecting the league average. Above 0? You’ve got pull. Above 80 off-ball? Defenses are terrified of you before you even catch the ball. Above 90? You’re bending the floor, and you’re a scorer that the defense simply cannot blink on. Basically, that player should be guarded from the parking lot.
<hr />
<h2>Why does it matter?</h2>
Historically, the “eye test” has been the predominant way for spotting how certain players impact a defensive scheme, whether or not they have the ball. Coaches and fans have instinctively known which players demanded extra attention, but now, with the power of AWS AI and Machine Learning, the eye test just got smarter.
Gravity captures a player’s ability to impact the game before the play even begins. It highlights players who generate high-value spacing, draw mismatches, and make their teammates’ jobs easier – often without taking a shot. With Gravity, this invisible impact becomes visible, and the off-ball impact becomes measurable. Reframing WNBA starpower through data by quantifying players’ unique dominance.
Gravity is part of the next generation of stats and insights that we’re bringing to fans in real-time with the power of AWS AI.

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WNBA Inside the Game: Intro to Gravity

Betting + Odds

The wait is finally over! The 2026 WNBA season tips off Friday, May 8, with a packed opening weekend full of new faces, familiar names in new spots, and plenty of competition right out of the gate. The Connecticut Sun and New York Liberty get things started at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, with 10 more games rolling through the rest of the weekend.
Let’s break down the <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba?category=game-lines&amp;subcategory=game">WNBA odds</a> for Friday and Saturday, take a look at the matchups, and share my best bets for each day on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Stay locked into the WNBA’s 30th season with game previews, best bets, player props and more on <a href="https://dknetwork.draftkings.com/">DraftKingsNetwork.com!</a>
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<h2>WNBA Tip-Off Weekend Odds </h2>
<h3>Friday, May 8</h3>
Connecticut Sun vs. New York Liberty (7:30 p.m. ET) — NY -10.5, O/U 159.5
The New York Liberty enter the season as the favorites to win it all at +220 and return almost their entire core from last year. Sabrina Ionescu, a huge part of New York’s identity, will miss at least the first game after suffering an ankle injury in the preseason, while Satou Sabally, the Liberty’s biggest offseason addition, will also start the season sidelined.
Connecticut has a less experienced roster and recently added 10-time All-Star Brittney Griner, but the Sun still feel undermatched against the Finals favorites.
Washington Mystics vs. Toronto Tempo (7:30 p.m. ET) — TOR -1.5, O/U 160.5
Introducing one of the league’s newest franchises, the Tempo, as Toronto hosts its inaugural home game Friday night. Marina Mabrey arrives from the Sun via the Expansion Draft and looks to carry over her dominant Unrivaled season, while former UCLA guard Kiki Rice headlines the draft class after averaging 14.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game.
The Mystics bring back sophomores Sonia Citron and Kiki Irafen, with Citron leading the league in three-point percentage at 44.5% as a rookie. The roster is young, but this is a good early test for both teams.
Golden State Valkyries vs. Seattle Storm (10:00 p.m. ET) — GS -6.5, O/U 157.5
Seattle underwent a roster overhaul in the offseason, with Nneka Ogwumike, Gabby Williams, Brittney Sykes, and Skylar Diggins-Smith all moving on. However, they’ve added young talent, including Spain’s Awa Fam at No. 3 overall. At 19, Fam brings fluidity at her size with the ability to pass and attack the rim. It’ll be interesting to see how she pairs with last year’s pick Dominique Malonga, who has shown elite athleticism and strong upside at 20.
Gabby Williams gets her former team on opening night and was Golden State’s top offseason addition. Her stats don’t jump off the page, but her defense definitely does. Williams’ 99 steals last season put her one shy of the record, and she adds speed and versatility to a Valkyries team that made the playoffs in its inaugural year.
Friday Best Bets (Singles)
<ul>
<li>NY Liberty -10.5 (-102)</li>
<li>Marina Mabrey Over 1.5 Three Pointers Made (-166)</li>
<li>Brittney Sykes Over 14.5 Points (+115)</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h3>Saturday, May 9</h3>
Dallas Wings vs. Indiana Fever (1:00 p.m. ET) — IND -6.5 O/U 175.5
Bring out the stars! Saturday tips off with Caitlin Clark facing last year’s Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers, with the current favorite for the award, Azzi Fudd, also on the floor. We haven’t seen Clark since July 15, 2025 due to injury, but she returns as an elite facilitator for a Fever team that reached the second round despite missing multiple guards.
Bueckers is coming off an impressive rookie debut as the only player to rank top 10 in points, assists, and steals. Her former UConn teammate Azzi Fudd adds another pure shooter with the strength to contribute defensively, setting up a star-studded matchup.
Phoenix Mercury vs. Las Vegas Aces (3:30 p.m. ET)— LV -7.5 O/U 166.5
A’ja Wilson. Need I say more? The reigning champion enters 2026 after winning her fourth regular-season MVP and another Finals MVP. She shot 50.5% from the field while averaging 23.4 points and 10.2 rebounds on the way to a title. Jackie Young is another name to watch after averaging 16.5 points in the regular season, then elevating to 20.4 points per game in the playoffs while shooting 49.4%.
Don’t count out the Mercury, though. Phoenix brings back Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, and Kahleah Copper as they push for a return to the playoffs. Thomas is coming off an MVP-level season with 15.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 9.2 assists, controlling the game with her physicality. The Mercury lost Satou Sabally but still have the experience and shooting to make an early statement.
Atlanta Dream vs. Minnesota Lynx (8:00 p.m. ET) — ATL -3.5, O/U 157.5
While many familiar faces changed teams, Angel Reese made the biggest splash. In Chicago, she led the league in rebounds and became the only player in WNBA history to average at least 12.0 per game in a season. She joins a physical, experienced roster that thrives on second-chance points. Rhyne Howard is a standout shooter, especially from deep, and with the fourth-best odds to win it all, the Dream are a team to watch.
Minnesota started last season red hot, often sitting atop the title odds behind Napheesa Collier’s two-way dominance. Coming into 2026, the roster looks a bit different. Co-DPOY Alanna Smith is gone, along with key role players, but the Lynx did bring back Kayla McBride — a sharpshooter coming off back-to-back All-Star seasons. Plus, Minnesota added TCU’s Olivia Miles at No. 2 overall in the draft, a smart floor general who led the NCAA in triple-doubles.
Chicago Sky vs. Portland Fire (9:00 p.m. ET) — CHI -4.5 O/U 160.5
The second expansion team to debut is the Fire, featuring Bridget Carleton, Carla Leite, and center Ceiseloder. We haven’t seen them in a regular season game yet, but they draw a softer matchup against a Sky team retooling its direction. After moving on from Angel Reese, Chicago now features Skylar Diggins, DiJonai Carrington, Azurá Stevens, Rickea Jackson, and No. 5 pick Gabriel Jaquez. Jaquez left UCLA on a high note after a dominant national championship run and shot 53.9% from the field in the regular season.
Saturday Best Bets (Singles):
<ul>
<li>Caitlin Clark Under 2.5 Three Pointers Made (+110)</li>
<li>A’ja Wilson Over 23.5 Points (-125)</li>
<li>MIN Lynx +3.5 (-102)</li>
</ul>
<hr />
All odds and lines provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and are subject to change.
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TERMS: DRAFTKINGS.COM/SPORTSBOOK. ON BEHALF OF BOOT HILL CASINO &amp; RESORT (KS). PASS-THRU OF PER WAGER TAX MAY APPLY IN IL.

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WNBA Tip-Off 2026 Weekend Odds, Best Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook

Nike and the WNBA are debuting a fresh set of WNBA Nike Rebel Edition uniforms designed through collaboration with the league’s 15 teams and building on insights from communities that define them. The uniforms reflect each team’s energy, spirit, values and local influences, bringing emotional connection, cultural authenticity and a peak expression of each team’s identity to the court.
Nike is investing in the future of basketball through a long-term partnership with the WNBA alongside product innovation and storytelling that matches the competitive nature of the game and supports and celebrates the women both on and off the court.
The latest WNBA Nike Rebel Edition uniforms set a new standard for design, reflecting players’ confidence, self-expression and a shared rebel spirit while elevating the game on the court, in culture and for fans around the world. The Rebel Edition uniforms complement existing WNBA Nike Heroine Edition (white) and Explorer Edition (team color) uniforms.
“Each Rebel uniform is an opportunity to bring the team’s identity into sharper focus and let their energy speak in a new way on court,” says Katie West, Senior Manager &amp; Designer, Basketball Apparel, Nike. “It’s a privilege to translate what makes each team distinct into something players can wear with confidence and fans can feel connected to.”
Victory Rebel Edition uniforms and a Rebel Fanwear retail collection — which takes design cues from the Rebel Edition&#8217;s colors, graphics and spirit of self‑expression — are bringing this energy to WNBA fans. The Victory Rebel Edition (jersey and short) and Rebel Fanwear (hoodie, T-shirt and short) will be available May 8 at <a href="https://www.nike.com/">nike.com</a>, <a href="https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/__sneak-peek__/lockervision.wnba.com">lockervision.wnba.com</a>, team stores and select retailers.
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Nike Empowers Teams to Express Their Identity With the 2026 WNBA Rebel Edition Uniforms

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– In addition, 25-Year WNBA Official Eric Brewton Assumes Newly Created 
League Office Position of WNBA Referee Performance &amp; Development Advisor –
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NEW YORK, May 7, 2026 – NBA G League referees Ryan “RJ” Johnson, Ken Jones, Leah Lanie, Genesis Perrymond and Josh Reed have been named WNBA staff officials for the 2026 season, the league announced today through Albert Sanders, Executive Vice President, Head of Referee Operations.
In addition, longtime WNBA official Eric Brewton has joined the NBA Referee Operations team as a WNBA Referee Performance and Development Advisor, a newly created position. In that role, Brewton will support the growth of the WNBA’s game officials by providing developmental and evaluative performance feedback to the league’s referees.
“Eric brings a strong track record of officiating excellence to his new role,” said Sanders. “His extensive experience, proficiency, and his passion for the game will have a meaningful impact in the continued development of WNBA officials.”
“Congratulations to RJ, Ken, Leah, Genesis and Josh on their advancement to the WNBA staff,” said Sanders. “All five officials have worked tirelessly to reach this moment in their career, and they will only continue to hone their talents as they join the WNBA officiating staff.”
The addition of Johnson, Jones, Lanie, Perrymond, and Reed – each of whom has experience in the NBA G League – brings the roster of WNBA officials to 34 for the 2026 season. The NBA G League serves as the primary developmental and training pipeline for officials. Through their work in the G League, officials receive extensive on-court experience and complementary learning in preparation for refereeing at the highest levels.
Johnson has officiated in the NBA G League for four seasons, which included G League Playoffs assignments. In addition, he has refereed games in the Basketball Africa League. An accredited FIBA referee, Johnson served as an official at the 2024 FIBA U18 AMERICUP and in a 2024 Women’s Basketball World Cup Pre-Qualifying tournament.
Jones has seven seasons of experience in the NBA G League, including G League Playoff games each season since 2022. Jones’ resume also includes officiating in the 2025 Basketball Africa League Finals.
Lanie’s four seasons of experience as a NBA G League official also includes G League Playoff assignments. In addition, she has officiated in the Basketball Africa League and officiated NCAA Women’s Basketball, including the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Perrymond has experience as a referee across two seasons in the NBA G League. In addition, she has officiated in the Basketball Africa League and officiates NCAA Women’s Basketball.
Reed has officiated three seasons in the NBA G League and has received assignments in the G League Playoffs during that time. He also has officiated NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball games since 2024.
Brewton, a WNBA game official for 25 seasons, officiated in 103 playoff games, including 28 WNBA Finals assignments.
The complete list of 2026 WNBA officials is available <a href="http://pr.nba.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/46/2026/05/2026-WNBA-Referee-Headshots.pdf">here</a>.
The WNBA’s 30th regular season will tip off on Friday, May 8. WNBA Tip-Off 2026 presented by CarMax begins with three games on ION, highlighted by the inaugural game for the Toronto Tempo, which hosts the Washington Mystics (7:30 p.m. ET). Action continues Saturday with an ABC doubleheader broadcast featuring the Dallas Wings visiting the Indiana Fever (1 p.m. ET) and the defending champion Las Vegas Aces hosting the Phoenix Mercury in a rematch of the 2025 Finals (3:30 p.m. ET).
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WNBA and NBA Approve Sale of Connecticut Sun to Tilman J. Fertitta; Team to Relocate to Houston in 2027

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WNBA and NBA Approve Sale of Connecticut Sun to Tilman J. Fertitta; Team to Relocate to Houston in 2027

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