Analysis

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: March. Where superstars are made. Where shots become historic. Where teams hoist trophies. As we gear up for a month-long women’s basketball frenzy with today’s stars like UConn’s Azzi Fudd, LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson, and UCLA’s Lauren Betts, let’s flash back to some WNBA greats who made their mark during the Big Dance in the 1990s before they were pros. 
These players deserve their due for how they captivated audiences en route to winning a national championship. As a nod to the viral social media trend, “What were you like in the ‘90s?” let’s go down memory lane while “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls serenades in the background. 
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<h2 style="text-align: center">Jennifer Azzi, Stanford (1986–1990)</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-257751" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-314250-688x1024.jpg" alt="" width="538" height="800" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-314250-688x1024.jpg 688w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-314250-202x300.jpg 202w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-314250-768x1143.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-314250-1032x1536.jpg 1032w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-314250-1376x2048.jpg 1376w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-314250-scaled.jpg 1720w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 538px) 100vw, 538px" />
Before Azzi was an Olympic gold medalist with the 1996 Dreamers and a member of the WNBA Top 20@20, the point guard led Stanford to its first women’s basketball National Championship in 1990. They defeated Auburn, and her future Olympic teammate and WNBA foe Ruthie Bolton, in a thrilling 88-81 victory. Stanford trailed in the first half, but rallied back thanks to Azzi’s 17 points.  
Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer knew her Cardinals were going to win it all that 1990 season. She hung a sign on the locker room door: “1990 National champions. Get comfortable with it.” 
“Not winning never entered our minds,” Azzi <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/annkillion/article/In-Tara-they-trusted-Stanford-s-1990-16053720.php">said</a>.
That year, Azzi racked up the awards. She was named the Wade Trophy winner, Naismith Player of the Year, and the tournament’s most outstanding player. Azzi was drafted fifth overall in the 1999 WNBA draft by the Detroit Shock, who reached the playoffs in her first season. She then played three seasons with the San Antonio Silver Stars, leading the league in the 3-point percentage in both 1999 and 2001.
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<h2 style="text-align: center">Sheryl Swoopes, Texas Tech (1991–1993)</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-257752" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-295331-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="533" height="800" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-295331-scaled.jpg 1707w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-295331-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-295331-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-295331-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-295331-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-295331-1365x2048.jpg 1365w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px" />
Swoopes was on a mission in 1993. Her Texas Tech Lady Raiders entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed in the West Regional and demolished everyone in their path to reach the National Championship game. They’d face No. 1 overall seed Ohio State, and future WNBA legend Katie Smith, for the title. 
Swoopes scored a Final Four record of 47 points (16-24 from the field and 11-11 from the free-throw line) in the upset, being named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. Her 144 total tournament points (35.4 ppg) in a five-game stretch still holds 30 years later. It was her 17th 30-plus game. 
“There are no words to describe what a great player she is,” head coach Marsha Sharp <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-04-05-sp-19403-story.html">said of Swoopes then</a>. “I’ve never seen a player who can dominate a game like she can. She’s the greatest player of her time, and she does everything with so much class. She has a certain charisma—it’s why all our people love her so much.”
It was not only women’s basketball’s first title, but it was also the first National Championship in any sport at Texas Tech. 
The Texas native would go on to win the first four championships in WNBA history with the Houston Comets, and would finish her Hall-of-Fame career as a three-time MVP, six-time All-Star, and three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
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<h2 style="text-align: center">Charlotte Smith, North Carolina (1991–1995)</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-257753" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2002807-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="535" height="800" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2002807-scaled.jpg 1712w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2002807-201x300.jpg 201w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2002807-685x1024.jpg 685w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2002807-768x1149.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2002807-1027x1536.jpg 1027w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2002807-1369x2048.jpg 1369w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 535px) 100vw, 535px" />
Trailing by two points with 0.7 seconds left, North Carolina’s coach Sylvia Hatchell burned back-to-back timeouts. The first huddle’s play was drawn for a 6-foot-5 center, Sylvia Crawley, to catch a lob and finish at the rim. But Louisiana Tech quickly caught on and clogged the paint. The next whistle, a new one was drawn up: a baseline out-of-bounds play that would go for the win. Junior forward Charlotte Smith started on the ball-side block in a box set. On the whistle, she screened diagonally. Tech’s miscommunication left Smith wide open for a weak-side 3. The hometown kid sinks it. UNC’s lone title is stamped as one of the most thrilling title finishes ever.
“When I look back at that moment, the magnitude of it is still pretty shocking because it created waves all over the world,” Smith <a href="https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-women/article/2022-02-16/1994-womens-ncaa-tournament-north-carolinas-charlotte-smith-remembers-buzzer">reminisces</a>. “It put not only women’s basketball on the map and UNC women’s basketball on the map, but Charlotte Smith became a household name.”
Smith was selected 33rd overall in the 1999 draft by the Charlotte Sting, then also played for the Washington Mystics and the Indiana Fever. She’d play eight seasons in the WNBA before getting into coaching; after serving as a long-time assistant coach at UNC, she took over at Elon University and led them to their first NCAA tournament bid in history. 
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<h2 style="text-align: center">Rebecca Lobo, Connecticut (1991–1995)</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-257754" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-280422-e1774456985332.jpg" alt="" width="562" height="800" />
UConn’s first unblemished season came in 1995 with six-foot-four Lobo in the center, and it would go down as one of the most dominant seasons ever. They went a perfect 35-0, and won every regular-season game by double digits. They set the record for the highest average scoring margin at 33.2. (<a href="https://justwomenssports.com/reads/uconn-womens-basketball-undefeated-regular-season-31-0-2026/#:~:text=However%2C%20the%20Huskies%20went%20on,third%2Dhighest%20in%20DI%20history.">This season’s UConn team</a> is winning by a whopping 37.8 ppg. Sheesh.) 
Lobo was crowned the Naismith Player of the Year, the Wade Trophy, and AP Player of the Year for averaging a near double-double (17.1 points, 9.8 rebounds). Soon after the confetti and the national championship celebrations concluded, Lobo was headed to join Team USA — she skipped her college graduation to attend tryouts — and won gold with the 1996 Olympic squad. 
She was one of the founding players of the WNBA with the New York Liberty, was an All-Star in 1999, and is a part of the Naismith Hall of Fame. 
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<h2 style="text-align: center">Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee (1995–1999)</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-257755" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-395005-scaled-e1774457155924.jpg" alt="" width="533" height="800" />
Before Holdsclaw was the No. 1 WNBA draft pick in 1999 and had a historic career for the Washington Mystics, she was wreaking havoc for Pat Summitt’s Tennessee Lady Vols. She’s the program’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder. She won three national championships (1996, 1997, and 1998), was the back-to-back MOP in 1997 and 1998, and was the back-to-back Naismith Player of the Year in 1998 and 1999. 
She was also one part of the “Three Meeks”: Semeka Randall, Tamika Catchings, and Holdsclaw. Mik, Meek, and Mique. Not only did they share the same middle syllable, but they shared the same winning desire at Tennessee. “We wanted to go out there and dominate and embarrass people,” Holdsclaw would say decades later. During the 1998 season, they did. A perfect 39-0 with a fairytale national championship ending. They each knew their role: Randall was the floor general, orchestrating Summitt’s offense to a T. Catchings was the defensive wizard, picking pockets and taking names. Holdsclaw was a precisionist, slicing through the defense like she was a contestant on Iron Chef. Together, they molded into a three-headed Meekmonster, virtually impossible to contain. 
Holdsclaw was a six-time WNBA All-Star, getting her first start as a rookie, and won Olympic gold in 2000. 
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: center">Stephanie White, Purdue (1995–1999)</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-257757" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-401663-scaled-e1774457260866.jpg" alt="" width="536" height="800" />
When the game clock struck zero on March 28, 1999, in San Jose, CA, Purdue’s All-American Stephanie White and her head coach Carolyn Peck were national champions. The top-ranked Boilermakers handily beat Duke, 62-45, despite White going down with a severe ankle injury with only four minutes to go in the contest. It was Peck’s last game before heading to the WNBA to be the coach and GM of the Orlando Miracle. The 17,753 fans in the San Jose Arena went wild, and chanted “One more year!” as she cut down the net.
They wish they could’ve said the same for White, who in her senior year nabbed the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year, Wade Trophy, and the Honda Sports Award while averaging 20.2 points per game. She’s still the Boilermakers’ third all-time leading scorer. 
White was drafted by the Charlotte Sting in 1999, then played the rest of her six-year WNBA career with the Indiana Fever. But White took to coaching early on, even while she was still playing pro. In the WNBA, she’s made stops in Chicago and Connecticut, where she won Coach of the Year in 2023, before returning to the Fever as head coach in 2025. 
Jordan Robinson is a freelance journalist, author, host, analyst, and content creator based in Los Angeles, CA.

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March Icons: A Look Back at Tournament Greats

Player News

Breanna Stewart and Paige Bueckers embody two of the most statistically significant eras in UConn history, combining for five NCAA Championships and multiple National Player of the Year awards. While Stewart’s tenure is defined by an unprecedented four consecutive titles and four Final Four MOP honors, Bueckers’ career is marked by becoming the first freshman to win major national player of the year awards and later leading the Huskies to the 2025 national title.
Both players were selected No. 1 overall in their respective WNBA Drafts, further solidifying their impact on the program’s legacy. Take a look back at Stewart and Bueckers&#8217; runs at UConn.
<hr />
<h2>Breanna Stewart (2012–2016)</h2>
<div id="attachment_257651" style="width: 970px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-257651" class="wp-image-257651" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-1222487961-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="593" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-1222487961-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-1222487961-300x185.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-1222487961-1024x633.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-1222487961-768x475.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-1222487961-1536x949.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-1222487961-2048x1266.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />Breanna Stewart #30 of the Connecticut Huskies after winning the NCAA Women&#8217;s National Championship at Amalie Arena on April 7, 2015 in Tampa, Florida.</div>
Breanna Stewart’s career at UConn was marked by four consecutive national titles from 2013 to 2016, making her a 4x NCAA Champion and the only player in history to be named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player four times. In addition to her postseason success, Stewart was a 3x AP Player of the Year and a 3x Naismith College Player of the Year (2014–2016).
She was also a 4x AP All-American and a 3x American Athletic Conference Player of the Year, leading to her selection as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 WNBA Draft.
Collegiate performance spotlight:
2013 National Championship: 23 PTS, 9 REB, 3 BLK
2014 National Championship:  21 PTS, 9 REB, 4 AST
2015 Sweet 16: 31 PTS, 12 REB, 7 AST
2015 Final Four: 25 PTS, 8 REB, 4 BLK
2016 National Championship: 24 PTS, 10 REB, 6 AST
<hr />
<h2>Paige Bueckers (2020–2025)</h2>
<div id="attachment_257652" style="width: 970px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-257652" class="wp-image-257652" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2208890388-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2208890388-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2208890388-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2208890388-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2208890388-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2208890388-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2208890388-2048x1366.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />Paige Bueckers #5 of the UConn Huskies speaks to the media during a press conference after winning the National Championship of the NCAA Women&#8217;s Basketball Tournament at Amalie Arena on April 06, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.</div>
Paige Bueckers’ career at UConn was highlighted by being the first freshman in history to win a major National Player of the Year award. From 2021 to 2025, she was a 3x Unanimous First-team All-American, a 3x Big East Player of the Year, and a 3x Big East Tournament MOP.
In 2025, Bueckers led the program to the NCAA Championship and received the Wade Trophy and the Honda Sports Award. During her tenure, she was also a 2x Nancy Lieberman Award winner and a 4x NCAA All-Tournament selection before being drafted No. 1 overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
Collegiate performance spotlight:
2023 Round of 32: 32 PTS, 10 REB, 6 AST
2023 Elite Eight: 28 PTS, 10 REB, 6 AST
2025 Sweet 16: 40 PTS, 6 REB, 3 STL
2025 Elite Eight: 31 PTS, 6 AST, 4 STL

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Collegiate Spotlight: University of Connecticut

free

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Sabrina Ionescu Drops Season-High 36 Points

Leslie threw down the WNBA’s first in‑game dunk on July 30, 2002, in a matchup between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Miami Sol. 

First WNBA Dunk: Lisa Leslie

Jackson made history as the first international WNBA MVP in 2003, starring for the Seattle Storm during her award‑winning season.

First International MVP: Lauren Jackson

Brunson became the first player in league history to win five championships, earning one with the Sacramento Monarchs (2005) and four with the Minnesota Lynx (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017).

First to Five Rings: Rebekkah Brunson

Delle Donne completed the league’s first‑ever 50‑40‑90 shooting season on September 8, 2019, during a Washington Mystics vs. Chicago Sky matchup.

First WNBA Player to Join Exclusive 50-40-90 Club: Elena Delle Donne

Taurasi hit her 10,000‑point milestone from the three‑point line on August 3, 2023, in a Phoenix Mercury 91–71 win over the Atlanta Dream.

First Player to Reach 10k Career Points: Diana Taurasi

Ionescu faced Stephen Curry in the historic NBA vs. WNBA 3‑Point Challenge on February 17, 2024 at All‑Star Weekend in Indianapolis, scoring 26 points in the duel.

First WNBA Player to go head-to-head with NBA player at 3PT contest: Sabrina Ionescu

Clark recorded the first triple‑double by a rookie on July 6, 2024, posting 19‑12‑13 in an 83–78 win vs. the New York Liberty.

First Rookie to Record a Triple-Double: Caitlin Clark

Wilson earned her record‑breaking fourth MVP award on September 21, 2025, after a dominant season with the Las Vegas Aces.

First 4x MVP: A’ja Wilson

Photo Gallery

<div>
		<h2>Gallery Block</h2>
	</div>

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Women's History Month: She Did it First

Since the WNBA&#8217;s inception in 1997, legendary athletes have redefined the game&#8217;s boundaries by setting statistical benchmarks that once seemed unreachable. From Diana Taurasi&#8217;s longevity to Tina Charles&#8217;s glass-cleaning dominance and Sue Bird&#8217;s visionary playmaking, these leaders represent the gold standard of professional basketball. 
Check out the league&#8217;s All-Time leaders currently holding the crown for most points, rebounds, and assists in WNBA history ahead of Season 30.
<hr />
<h2>All-Time Leading Scorers</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-242618" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2234396956-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="633" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2234396956-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2234396956-1-300x198.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2234396956-1-1024x675.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2234396956-1-768x506.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2234396956-1-1536x1012.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2234396956-1-2048x1349.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
1. Diana Taurasi (10,646)
2. Tina Charles* (8,396)
3. DeWanna Bonner* (7,807)
4. Tina Thompson (7,488)
5. Tamika Catchings (7,380)
6. Nneka Ogwumike* (7,305)
7. Candice Dupree (6,895)
8. Cappie Pondexter (6,811)
9. Sue Bird (6,803)
10. Candace Parker (6,574)
Charles will look to add to her career total of 8,396 points, which ranks her second in WNBA history. Bonner sits 589 points behind Tina Charles for second place on the WNBA&#8217;s All-Time career points list. Ogwumike is approaching a top-five spot on the WNBA&#8217;s All-Time career points list, entering the 2026 season just 75 points behind Tamika Catchings.
<hr />
<h2>All-Time Career Rebounds </h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-242621" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2235617810-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2235617810-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2235617810-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2235617810-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2235617810-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2235617810-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2235617810-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
1. Tina Charles* (4,262)
2. Sylvia Fowles (4,006)
3. Candace Parker (3,467)
4. Rebekkah Brunson (3,356)
5. Tamika Catchings (3,315)
6. Lisa Leslie (3,307)
7. Nneka Ogwumike* (3,268)
8. DeWanna Bonner* (3,204)
9. Candice Dupree (3,149)
10. Tina Thompson (3,070)
Charles will look to extend her lead as the WNBA&#8217;s All-Time leading rebounder in the 2026 season. Ogwumike is just 39 rebounds behind Lisa Leslie, who ranks No. 6 on the All-Time career rebounds list. Bonner trails Ogwumike by 64 rebounds heading into the 2026 season, as both active players will continue adding to their career totals.
<hr />
<h2>All-Time Career Assists </h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-242587" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2238666133-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2238666133-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2238666133-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2238666133-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2238666133-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2238666133-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2238666133-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
1. Sue Bird (3,234)
2. Courtney Vandersloot (2,887)
3. Ticha Penicheiro (2,599)
4. Diana Taurasi (2,394)
5. Lindsay Whalen (2,348)
6. Chelsea Gray* (1,870)
7. Alyssa Thomas* (1,820)
8. Skylar Diggins* (1,768)
9. Natasha Cloud* (1,732)
10. Becky Hammon (1,708)
The Point Gawd currently sits just outside the top 5 on the WNBA&#8217;s All-Time career assists list. Thomas enters the 2026 season just 50 career assists behind Chelsea Gray. Both dime-droppers will aim to move closer to the top 5 next season. Just 52 assists behind Thomas, Skylar Diggins joins Alyssa Thomas and Chelsea Gray in closing in on a top 5 rank on the All-Time career assists list. Cloud passed Becky Hammon for ninth on the All-Time career assist list in the 2025 season. Look for her to continue adding to her impressive career total in the 2026 season!
&nbsp;
* &#8211; denotes player is still active

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WNBA All-Time Milestones: Points, Rebounds and Assists

Season Preview

The stage is set for the league’s 30th season! 
Following a historic 2025 season highlighted by the Golden State Valkyries’ debut, A’ja Wilson’s KIA MVP run and the Las Vegas Aces’ third WNBA title in four years, Season 30 is set to tip off on Friday, May 8, 2026.  
With the 2026 WNBA Draft (tune in to ESPN on April 13 at 7:30 pm ET!) and the debut of two additional expansion teams on the horizon, the momentum is high. Check out some of the early storylines and key dates to look out for in the action-packed 2026 WNBA Schedule.  
<hr />
<h2>Season 30 Tips Off  </h2>
The WNBA enters its landmark 30th season with WNBA Tip-Off 2026 presented by CarMax on Friday, May 8, with a three-game slate. The action continues through the weekend with an additional three games on Saturday, May 9 and five games on Sunday, May 10, to kick off the 44-game regular season. 
Full weekend schedule: 
Friday, May 8 (3 games) 
<ul>
<li data-ccp-border-top="0px none " data-ccp-padding-top="0px" data-ccp-border-bottom="1px solid #000000" data-ccp-padding-bottom="1.3333333333333333px">7:30 pm ET: Connecticut Sun vs. New York Liberty </li>
<li data-ccp-border-top="0px none " data-ccp-padding-top="0px" data-ccp-border-bottom="1px solid #000000" data-ccp-padding-bottom="1.3333333333333333px">7:30 pm ET: Washington Mystics vs. Toronto Tempo </li>
<li data-ccp-border-top="0px none " data-ccp-padding-top="0px" data-ccp-border-bottom="1px solid #000000" data-ccp-padding-bottom="1.3333333333333333px">10 pm ET: Golden State Valkyries vs. Seattle Storm </li>
</ul>
Saturday, May 9 (3 games) 
<ul>
<li data-ccp-border-top="0px none " data-ccp-padding-top="0px" data-ccp-border-bottom="1px solid #000000" data-ccp-padding-bottom="1.3333333333333333px">1 pm ET: Dallas Wings vs. Indiana Fever </li>
<li data-ccp-border-top="0px none " data-ccp-padding-top="0px" data-ccp-border-bottom="1px solid #000000" data-ccp-padding-bottom="1.3333333333333333px">3:30 pm ET: Phoenix Mercury vs. Las Vegas Aces </li>
<li data-ccp-border-top="0px none " data-ccp-padding-top="0px" data-ccp-border-bottom="1px solid #000000" data-ccp-padding-bottom="1.3333333333333333px">9 pm ET: Chicago Sky vs. Portland Fire </li>
</ul>
Sunday, May 10 (5 games) 
<ul>
<li data-ccp-border-top="0px none " data-ccp-padding-top="0px" data-ccp-border-bottom="1px solid #000000" data-ccp-padding-bottom="1.3333333333333333px">1 PM ET: Seattle Storm vs. Connecticut Sun </li>
<li data-ccp-border-top="0px none " data-ccp-padding-top="0px" data-ccp-border-bottom="1px solid #000000" data-ccp-padding-bottom="1.3333333333333333px">3 PM ET: New York Liberty vs. Washington Mystics </li>
<li data-ccp-border-top="0px none " data-ccp-padding-top="0px" data-ccp-border-bottom="1px solid #000000" data-ccp-padding-bottom="1.3333333333333333px">7 PM ET: Las Vegas Aces vs. Los Angeles Sparks </li>
<li data-ccp-border-top="0px none " data-ccp-padding-top="0px" data-ccp-border-bottom="1px solid #000000" data-ccp-padding-bottom="1.3333333333333333px">7 PM ET: Atlanta Dream vs. Minnesota Lynx </li>
<li data-ccp-border-top="0px none " data-ccp-padding-top="0px" data-ccp-border-bottom="1px solid #000000" data-ccp-padding-bottom="1.3333333333333333px">8:30 PM ET: Phoenix Mercury vs. Golden State Valkyries </li>
</ul>
Season 30 is also highlighted with a rematch of the league’s inaugural game in 1997, with the Los Angeles Sparks hosting the New York Liberty on Sunday, June 21, on the anniversary of the original matchup.
<hr />
<h2>The Home Debuts: Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo </h2>
The league is expanding to a 15-team field with the highly anticipated debut of the Toronto Tempo and the Portland Fire. Each team will make their home debut during the weekend of WNBA Tip-Off 2026 presented by CarMax. 
Toronto: Friday, May 8 at 7:30 pm ET vs. Washington Mystics 
Portland: Saturday, May 9 at 9 pm ET vs. Chicago Sky 
<hr />
<h2>Aces Begin Back-to-Back Campaign, Revenge for the Mercury </h2>
The 2025 WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces will begin their campaign for another back-to-back title (previously taking home the chip in 2022 and 2023) with their first home game on Saturday, May 9, hosting a 2025 WNBA Finals rematch against the Phoenix Mercury. The teams will face-off four times this season: 
Las Vegas Aces vs. Phoenix Mercury matchups: 
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Saturday, May 9 at 3:30 pm ET (@ Las Vegas) </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">Wednesday, June 17 at 10 pm ET (@ Phoenix) </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">Saturday, July 11 at 4 pm ET (@ Las Vegas) </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">Thursday, September 24 at 10 pm ET (@ Phoenix) </li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h2>Battle of the No. 1 Picks </h2>
2023 and 2024 No. 1 overall picks Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark are the Indiana Fever’s dynamic duo. Soon, the newest top selection in the 2026 WNBA Draft will join the Dallas Wings and team up with the 2025 No. 1 overall pick, Paige Bueckers. The rookie duos will match up three times, with the first game coming Saturday, May 9. 
Dallas Wings vs. Indiana Fever matchups: 
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Saturday, May 9 at 2 pm ET (@ Dallas) </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">Friday, August 14 at 7:30 pm ET (@ Indiana) </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">Thursday, August 20 at 8 pm ET (@ Dallas) </li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h2>Commissioner&#8217;s Cup Presented by Coinbase</h2>
The sixth annual WNBA Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase in-season tournament will take place Monday, June 1 through Wednesday, June 17. The Dallas Wings will kick off the two-game slate on opening night hosting the inaugural cup champions, the Seattle Storm. Following cup play, the top teams from the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference will go head-to-head in the 2026 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Championship. Who will be crowned the next Cup champion? 
<hr />
<h2 data-ccp-border-bottom="1px solid #000000" data-ccp-padding-bottom="1.3333333333333333px">AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star 2026 takes Chicago<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335572071&quot;:6,&quot;335572072&quot;:1,&quot;335572073&quot;:0,&quot;335572079&quot;:6,&quot;335572080&quot;:1,&quot;335572081&quot;:0,&quot;469789798&quot;:&quot;single&quot;,&quot;469789806&quot;:&quot;single&quot;}"> </h2>
The W is heading back to the Windy City! AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star 2026 will take place Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25, hosted by the Chicago Sky.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335572071&quot;:6,&quot;335572072&quot;:1,&quot;335572073&quot;:0,&quot;335572079&quot;:6,&quot;335572080&quot;:1,&quot;335572081&quot;:0,&quot;469789798&quot;:&quot;single&quot;,&quot;469789806&quot;:&quot;single&quot;}"> 
<hr />
<h2>Additional Key Dates: </h2>
Monday, August 31 – Wednesday, September 16: FIBA break 
Thursday, September 24: Last day of regular season 
Stay tuned for more updates around WNBA Rivals Week presented by Ally, the 2026 WNBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel and WNBA Finals dates!

2026-regular-season-key-dates

2026 WNBA Schedule Release: Key Dates and What to Know 

Press Release

– Toronto Tempo Makes Franchise Debut May 8; Portland Fire Opens Season in Return to WNBA May 9 – 
– May 9 Includes Defending WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces’ Finals Rematch vs. Phoenix Mercury, and Caitlin Clark and Indiana Fever Hosting Paige Bueckers and Dallas Wings – 
– Los Angeles Sparks Host New York Liberty on June 21 in Rematch of WNBA’s Inaugural Game, 
on Anniversary of Original Matchup –
 
NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2026 – The WNBA today released its <a href="http://www.wnba.com/schedule">game schedule</a> for the 2026 regular season, the league’s 30th, which will begin on Friday, May 8.  The regular season will conclude on Thursday, Sept. 24, followed by the WNBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel.
The milestone season will feature two new teams – the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo – and 44 games per team, with each team playing 22 home games and 22 road games. Highlights include a rematch of the league’s inaugural game in 1997, with the Los Angeles Sparks hosting the New York Liberty on Sunday, June 21, on the anniversary of the original matchup.  In addition, the sixth annual WNBA Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase will feature a 17-day period in June when the schedule will consist entirely of Cup games.
The WNBA will unveil its complete television and streaming schedule at a later date. That schedule is expected to include over 200 of 330 games being available through the league’s national broadcast and streaming partners.
“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,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “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.”
All 15 teams will be in action during opening weekend as part of WNBA Tip-Off 2026 presented by CarMax.
WNBA Tip-Off 2026 presented by CarMax will begin with three games on Friday, May 8, including the Tempo’s debut when it hosts the Washington Mystics at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto (7:30 p.m. ET). In other opening night games, the New York Liberty will host the Connecticut Sun (7:30 p.m. ET), and the Golden State Valkyries, who last season became the first WNBA expansion team to reach the playoffs in its inaugural season, will visit the Seattle Storm (10:00 p.m. ET).
The action will continue on Saturday, May 9 with a matchup of the two most recent Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year winners, as Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings, who own the top pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft, visit Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, champions of the 2025 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase (1:00 p.m. ET). Later, the defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces will host the Phoenix Mercury in a rematch of last season’s WNBA Finals (3:30 p.m. ET). The nightcap marks the Fire’s regular-season return to the league, as Portland hosts the Chicago Sky at Moda Center (9:00 p.m. ET).
The opening weekend concludes on Sunday, May 10 with five games, highlighted by the Minnesota Lynx hosting the Atlanta Dream in a matchup of last season’s No. 1 and No. 3 playoff seeds, respectively (7:00 p.m. ET).
Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase
The WNBA Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase will feature a 49-game schedule from June 1-17. Each team will play one game against every other team in its conference – a total of six games for each of the seven Eastern Conference teams and seven games for each of the eight Western Conference teams. All Cup games except the Championship will count toward regular-season win-loss records.
Eastern Conference teams will play three games each at home and on the road. Western Conference teams will play either four games at home and three on the road, or three at home and four on the road.
The title game will be played on Tuesday, June 30, featuring the Eastern and Western Conference teams with the best record in Commissioner’s Cup play and will be hosted by the conference winner that has the best winning percentage in all regular season games played from opening day through June 17, the final day of Commissioner’s Cup games.
AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star 2026
The 2026 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game, the 22nd All-Star Game in league history, will be played on Saturday, July 25 at United Center in Chicago. Additional All-Star activities will also include the 3-Point Contest and Kia WNBA Skills Challenge on Friday, July 24 at Wintrust Arena, home of the Chicago Sky. WNBA Live, the league’s interactive fan festival, will take place at McCormick Place.
FIBA World Cup Break
The WNBA regular season will include a roughly two-week break when numerous WNBA players are expected to represent their respective nations in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 from Sept. 4-13 in Germany.
Race for the WNBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel
With playoff berths and seedings potentially on the line, the regular season will resume after the World Cup break on Thursday, Sept. 17 and conclude with five games on Thursday, Sept. 24.
The WNBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel will then tip off on Sunday, Sept. 27. The bracket-style postseason will have three rounds, beginning with a best-of-three First Round featuring the top eight teams regardless of conference. First Round winners will advance to the best-of-five Semifinals, which will be followed by the best-of-seven Finals.
Additional Schedule Highlights
<ul>
<li>Two teams that closed the 2025 regular season on significant winning streaks – Las Vegas and Atlanta – will look to continue their streaks at the start of 2026.</li>
<li>The Aces need three wins to open the season to surpass the 2001 Sparks’ WNBA record of 18 straight regular season wins. The Aces will look to build on their 16-game winning streak when they open their season by hosting Phoenix (Saturday, May 9) and then visiting Los Angeles (Sunday, May 10) and Connecticut (Wednesday, May 13).</li>
<li>The Dream, whose six straight wins are two shy of the franchise record, will tip off at Minnesota (Saturday, May 10), visit Dallas (Tuesday, May 12), and host Las Vegas (Sunday, May 17) in its first three games.</li>
<li>In addition to opening the season against one another on Saturday, May 9, the Aces and Mercury will meet three more times: Wednesday, June 17 in Phoenix, Saturday, July 11 in Las Vegas, and Thursday, Sept. 24 in Phoenix on the final day of the regular season.</li>
<li>Indiana and Minnesota, the opponents in the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game last season, will clash three times. The Fever and Lynx will first meet on Sunday, Aug. 2 in Minneapolis before closing the regular season with consecutive matchups on Tuesday, Sept. 22 in Indiana and Thursday, Sept. 24 in Minnesota.</li>
<li>Indiana and Las Vegas, whose 2025 WNBA Semifinals series went to a decisive Game 5, will meet three times. The Fever will visit the Aces on Sunday, July 5 and Sunday, July 12, and host them on Thursday, Aug. 6.</li>
<li>New York, which met Las Vegas in the 2023 WNBA Finals and Minnesota in the 2024 Finals, will face those two teams a total of six times. The Liberty will host the Lynx on Friday, July 3 and the Aces on Sunday, Aug. 9. New York will visit Las Vegas on Tuesday, June 23 and Thursday, July 30, and will be in Minnesota on Saturday, July 11 and Friday, Sept. 18.</li>
<li>Six teams will host a total of 19 games at special venues that accommodate larger crowds than their normal home arenas.</li>
<li>The Tempo, which will play a majority of its home games at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, will host three games at the nearby Scotiabank Arena and two games each at the Bell Centre in Montreal and Rogers Arena in Vancouver.</li>
<li>The Aces will host three contests at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, including games against Phoenix (May 9), Chicago (July 3) and Indiana (July 5).</li>
<li>The Mystics will play their regular-season finale against the Sky at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. (Thursday, Sept. 24).</li>
<li>The Sky will face Las Vegas (Sunday, June 28) and Indiana (Saturday, Aug. 8) at United Center.</li>
<li>The Sun will take on Los Angeles (Saturday, May 30) and Dallas (Thursday, July 2) at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, Conn., and the Sparks at TD Garden in Boston (Tuesday, Aug. 18).</li>
<li>The Wings will host Chicago (Sunday, July 12), Golden State (Friday, Aug. 7), and Indiana at American Airlines Arena in Dallas (Thursday, Aug. 20).</li>
<li>During the regular season, each team will play three games against every cross-conference opponent and either three or four games, including Commissioner’s Cup play, against in-conference opponents. The Eastern Conference comprises Atlanta, Chicago, Connecticut, Indiana, New York, Toronto and Washington. The Western Conference is composed of Dallas, Golden State, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Phoenix, Portland and Seattle.</li>
</ul>
Below is the game schedule for WNBA Tip-Off 2026 presented by CarMax.
2026 SCHEDULE: WNBA SEASON TIP-OFF PRESENTED BY CARMAX
 
<table style="width: 98.8929%" width="609">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10.5195%" width="47">DAY</td>
<td style="width: 15.9417%" width="77">DATE</td>
<td style="width: 17.3701%" width="127">AWAY</td>
<td style="width: 18.6658%" width="127">HOME</td>
<td style="width: 19.1475%" width="116">LOCAL TIME</td>
<td style="width: 54.9728%" width="116">EASTERN TIME</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10.5195%" width="47">Fri.</td>
<td style="width: 15.9417%" width="77">5/8/26</td>
<td style="width: 17.3701%" width="127">Connecticut</td>
<td style="width: 18.6658%" width="127">New York</td>
<td style="width: 19.1475%" width="116">7:30 PM</td>
<td style="width: 54.9728%" width="116">7:30 PM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10.5195%" width="47">Fri.</td>
<td style="width: 15.9417%" width="77">5/8/26</td>
<td style="width: 17.3701%" width="127">Washington</td>
<td style="width: 18.6658%" width="127">Toronto</td>
<td style="width: 19.1475%" width="116">7:30 PM</td>
<td style="width: 54.9728%" width="116">7:30 PM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10.5195%" width="47">Fri.</td>
<td style="width: 15.9417%" width="77">5/8/26</td>
<td style="width: 17.3701%" width="127">Golden State</td>
<td style="width: 18.6658%" width="127">Seattle</td>
<td style="width: 19.1475%" width="116">7:00 PM</td>
<td style="width: 54.9728%" width="116">10:00 PM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10.5195%" width="47">Sat.</td>
<td style="width: 15.9417%" width="77">5/9/26</td>
<td style="width: 17.3701%" width="127">Dallas</td>
<td style="width: 18.6658%" width="127">Indiana</td>
<td style="width: 19.1475%" width="116">1:00 PM</td>
<td style="width: 54.9728%" width="116">1:00 PM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10.5195%" width="47">Sat.</td>
<td style="width: 15.9417%" width="77">5/9/26</td>
<td style="width: 17.3701%" width="127">Phoenix</td>
<td style="width: 18.6658%" width="127">Las Vegas</td>
<td style="width: 19.1475%" width="116">12:30 PM</td>
<td style="width: 54.9728%" width="116">3:30 PM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10.5195%" width="47">Sat.</td>
<td style="width: 15.9417%" width="77">5/9/26</td>
<td style="width: 17.3701%" width="127">Chicago</td>
<td style="width: 18.6658%" width="127">Portland</td>
<td style="width: 19.1475%" width="116">6:00 PM</td>
<td style="width: 54.9728%" width="116">9:00 PM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10.5195%" width="47">Sun.</td>
<td style="width: 15.9417%" width="77">5/10/26</td>
<td style="width: 17.3701%" width="127">Seattle</td>
<td style="width: 18.6658%" width="127">Connecticut</td>
<td style="width: 19.1475%" width="116">1:00 PM</td>
<td style="width: 54.9728%" width="116">1:00 PM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10.5195%" width="47">Sun.</td>
<td style="width: 15.9417%" width="77">5/10/26</td>
<td style="width: 17.3701%" width="127">New York</td>
<td style="width: 18.6658%" width="127">Washington</td>
<td style="width: 19.1475%" width="116">3:00 PM</td>
<td style="width: 54.9728%" width="116">3:00 PM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10.5195%" width="47">Sun.</td>
<td style="width: 15.9417%" width="77">5/10/26</td>
<td style="width: 17.3701%" width="127">Las Vegas</td>
<td style="width: 18.6658%" width="127">Los Angeles</td>
<td style="width: 19.1475%" width="116">3:00 PM</td>
<td style="width: 54.9728%" width="116">6:00 PM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10.5195%" width="47">Sun.</td>
<td style="width: 15.9417%" width="77">5/10/26</td>
<td style="width: 17.3701%" width="127">Atlanta</td>
<td style="width: 18.6658%" width="127">Minnesota</td>
<td style="width: 19.1475%" width="116">6:00 PM</td>
<td style="width: 54.9728%" width="116">7:00 PM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10.5195%" width="47">Sun.</td>
<td style="width: 15.9417%" width="77">5/10/26</td>
<td style="width: 17.3701%" width="127">Phoenix</td>
<td style="width: 18.6658%" width="127">Golden State</td>
<td style="width: 19.1475%" width="116">5:30 PM</td>
<td style="width: 54.9728%" width="116">8:30 PM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10.5195%" width="47">Tue.</td>
<td style="width: 15.9417%" width="77">5/12/26</td>
<td style="width: 17.3701%" width="127">Atlanta</td>
<td style="width: 18.6658%" width="127">Dallas</td>
<td style="width: 19.1475%" width="116">7:00 PM</td>
<td style="width: 54.9728%" width="116">8:00 PM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10.5195%" width="47">Tue.</td>
<td style="width: 15.9417%" width="77">5/12/26</td>
<td style="width: 17.3701%" width="127">Minnesota</td>
<td style="width: 18.6658%" width="127">Phoenix</td>
<td style="width: 19.1475%" width="116">7:00 PM</td>
<td style="width: 54.9728%" width="116">10:00 PM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10.5195%" width="47">Tue.</td>
<td style="width: 15.9417%" width="77">5/12/26</td>
<td style="width: 17.3701%" width="127">New York</td>
<td style="width: 18.6658%" width="127">Portland</td>
<td style="width: 19.1475%" width="116">7:00 PM</td>
<td style="width: 54.9728%" width="116">10:00 PM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10.5195%" width="47">Wed.</td>
<td style="width: 15.9417%" width="77">5/13/26</td>
<td style="width: 17.3701%" width="127">Seattle</td>
<td style="width: 18.6658%" width="127">Toronto</td>
<td style="width: 19.1475%" width="116">7:00 PM</td>
<td style="width: 54.9728%" width="116">7:00 PM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10.5195%" width="47">Wed.</td>
<td style="width: 15.9417%" width="77">5/13/26</td>
<td style="width: 17.3701%" width="127">Las Vegas</td>
<td style="width: 18.6658%" width="127">Connecticut</td>
<td style="width: 19.1475%" width="116">8:00 PM</td>
<td style="width: 54.9728%" width="116">8:00 PM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10.5195%" width="47">Wed.</td>
<td style="width: 15.9417%" width="77">5/13/26</td>
<td style="width: 17.3701%" width="127">Chicago</td>
<td style="width: 18.6658%" width="127">Golden State</td>
<td style="width: 19.1475%" width="116">7:00 PM</td>
<td style="width: 54.9728%" width="116">10:00 PM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10.5195%" width="47">Wed.</td>
<td style="width: 15.9417%" width="77">5/13/26</td>
<td style="width: 17.3701%" width="127">Indiana</td>
<td style="width: 18.6658%" width="127">Los Angeles</td>
<td style="width: 19.1475%" width="116">7:00 PM</td>
<td style="width: 54.9728%" width="116">10:00 PM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10.5195%" width="47">Thu.</td>
<td style="width: 15.9417%" width="77">5/14/26</td>
<td style="width: 17.3701%" width="127">Minnesota</td>
<td style="width: 18.6658%" width="127">Dallas</td>
<td style="width: 19.1475%" width="116">7:00 PM</td>
<td style="width: 54.9728%" width="116">8:00 PM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10.5195%" width="47">Thu.</td>
<td style="width: 15.9417%" width="77">5/14/26</td>
<td style="width: 17.3701%" width="127">New York</td>
<td style="width: 18.6658%" width="127">Portland</td>
<td style="width: 19.1475%" width="116">7:00 PM</td>
<td style="width: 54.9728%" width="116">10:00 PM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10.5195%" width="47">Fri.</td>
<td style="width: 15.9417%" width="77">5/15/26</td>
<td style="width: 17.3701%" width="127">Las Vegas</td>
<td style="width: 18.6658%" width="127">Connecticut</td>
<td style="width: 19.1475%" width="116">7:30 PM</td>
<td style="width: 54.9728%" width="116">7:30 PM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10.5195%" width="47">Fri.</td>
<td style="width: 15.9417%" width="77">5/15/26</td>
<td style="width: 17.3701%" width="127">Washington</td>
<td style="width: 18.6658%" width="127">Indiana</td>
<td style="width: 19.1475%" width="116">7:30 PM</td>
<td style="width: 54.9728%" width="116">7:30 PM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10.5195%" width="47">Fri.</td>
<td style="width: 15.9417%" width="77">5/15/26</td>
<td style="width: 17.3701%" width="127">Toronto</td>
<td style="width: 18.6658%" width="127">Los Angeles</td>
<td style="width: 19.1475%" width="116">7:00 PM</td>
<td style="width: 54.9728%" width="116">10:00 PM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10.5195%" width="47">Fri.</td>
<td style="width: 15.9417%" width="77">5/15/26</td>
<td style="width: 17.3701%" width="127">Chicago</td>
<td style="width: 18.6658%" width="127">Phoenix</td>
<td style="width: 19.1475%" width="116">7:00 PM</td>
<td style="width: 54.9728%" width="116">10:00 PM</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
 
 
# # #

2026-schedule-release

WNBA Slated To Tip Off 30th Season Friday, May 8 with WNBA Tip-Off 2026 Presented by CarMax

It&#8217;s 2025 WNBA Assists Week! Who had the best dime-dropping action from the 2025 season?
<hr />
<h2>Best Team: Minnesota Lynx</h2>
The Minnesota Lynx have established themselves as one of the most efficient passing teams in WNBA history. In the 2025 season, the Lynx averaged 23.3 assists per game, ranking third all-time in single-season assist averages. This follows their 2024 season where they averaged 23.0 assists per game.
With these back-to-back seasons, the Lynx now account for two of the four instances in league history where a team averaged 23+ assists per game.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The <a href="https://twitter.com/minnesotalynx?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@minnesotalynx</a> led the league with 746 assisted catch and shoots this szn, a masterclass in timing and touch.
See how these dimes turned into pure rhythm! 👇<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBAAssistsWeek?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBAAssistsWeek</a> | Powered by GeniusIQ <a href="https://t.co/hlGHRaQeAC">pic.twitter.com/hlGHRaQeAC</a>
&mdash; WNBA (@WNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1986841337396662422?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<hr />
<h2>Best Player: Alyssa Thomas</h2>
With a 2025 campaign highlighted by a record-breaking eight triple-double performances, Alyssa Thomas set the record for most total assists in a regular season (357) over 39 games. Her 9.15 APG led the league and marked the second-highest regular season APG average in WNBA history.
Thomas made history by becoming the first player to record three seasons with 300+ assists.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Of course we&#39;re leading the week with the season assists leader 👏
Alyssa Thomas delivered elite pace and vision all year, averaging 9.2 APG and recording her third 300+ assist season.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBAAssistsWeek?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBAAssistsWeek</a> <a href="https://t.co/VPEE5jhc7K">pic.twitter.com/VPEE5jhc7K</a>
&mdash; WNBA (@WNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1985380989950889997?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<hr />
<h3>Best Performance: Alyssa Thomas (August 22, 2025)</h3>
On August 22, 2025, Thomas delivered one of the most memorable performances of the season, dishing out 16 assists in a single game.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The top single-game assist performances of the szn ✔️
Alyssa Thomas recorded a <a href="https://twitter.com/PhoenixMercury?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@phoenixmercury</a> franchise record against the Valkyries with 16 AST to go along with 13 PTS and 12 REB.
Thomas finished the szn as the league leader in AST!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBAAssistsWeek?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBAAssistsWeek</a> <a href="https://t.co/jhvEemSOC5">pic.twitter.com/jhvEemSOC5</a>
&mdash; WNBA (@WNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1986177476674916722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<hr />
<h3>Top 10 Assists of the Year</h3>
Check out the best dimes from the 2025 season!
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Top 10 Assists of the 2025 Season" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/440-EA_0kR4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

2025-wnba-assists-week

2025 WNBA Assists Week: Best in Ball Movement

Awards

– Wilson and Collier Joined on First Team by Alyssa Thomas, Allisha Gray and Kelsey Mitchell – 
– Eight-Time All-WNBA Team Selection Nneka Ogwumike Leads Second Team, Which Also Features 
Jackie Young, Sabrina Ionescu, Aliyah Boston and Paige Bueckers – 
– Gray, Mitchell, Boston and Bueckers Make Their All-WNBA Team Debuts –
NEW YORK, Oct. 10, 2025 – Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson, the 2025 Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player and Kia WNBA Co-Defensive Player of the Year, and Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier have been unanimously selected to the 2025 All-WNBA First Team, the WNBA announced today.
Wilson and Collier, the runner-up for the 2025 Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player Award, were named to the All-WNBA First Team on all 72 ballots in voting by a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Wilson earned a spot on the First Team for the fourth consecutive season and is an All-WNBA pick for the sifth time overall. Collier, a four-time All-WNBA Team selection, was voted to the First Team for the third straight season.
Joining Wilson and Collier (360 points each) on the 2025 All-WNBA First Team are Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (358), Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (341) and Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (320).
This is the fourth All-WNBA Team selection for Thomas, who makes her third consecutive appearance on the First Team. Gray and Mitchell are All-WNBA Team selections for the first time.
The 2025 All-WNBA Second Team consists of Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike (185 points), Aces guard Jackie Young (148), Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (125), Fever center Aliyah Boston (112) and Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (112).
Ogwumike is an All-WNBA Team choice for the eighth time, Ionescu for the fourth time and Young for the second time. Boston makes her debut on the All-WNBA Team. Bueckers’ selection marks the second straight season a rookie was selected to the All-WNBA Team (Indiana’s Caitlin Clark was a First Team choice in 2024).
Voting for the All-WNBA Team was conducted at the conclusion of the regular season. Players were selected without regard to position and received five points for each First Team vote and three points for each Second Team vote.
2025 All-WNBA First Team 
A’ja Wilson, Aces: In her eighth WNBA season, Wilson earned a record fourth Kia WNBA MVP Award – her second consecutive MVP honor – and was a co-winner of the Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award along with Minnesota’s Alanna Smith. The 6-4 Wilson averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.3 blocked shots and 1.6 steals – all the second-best per-game marks of her career. She led the league in points per game for the second straight season and in blocks per game for the fifth time. Wilson also scored the most points (937) and had the highest efficiency rating (29.2) in the WNBA.
Napheesa Collier, Lynx: Collier, the runner-up to Wilson as the Kia WNBA MVP in 2024 and 2025, was the Kia WNBA Western Conference Player of the Month for May, June and July. She was selected to the WNBA All-Defensive Team for the fourth time. The 6-1 forward ranked second in the league in scoring with a career-high 22.9 points per game. In addition, Collier ranked 11th in rebounds per game (7.3) and third in steals per game (1.6). Behind Collier, the Lynx finished the regular season with the league’s best record (34-10).
Alyssa Thomas, Mercury: The 6-2 Thomas finished third in voting for the Kia WNBA MVP Award after setting a WNBA regular-season record with eight triple-doubles, extending her WNBA career-leading mark to 19. In addition, Thomas led the league in assists per game (9.2) and recorded a league record for total assists (357). She also finished third in the league in rebounds per game (8.8). Thomas was selected to the WNBA All-Defensive Team for the seventh time.
Allisha Gray, Dream: In her ninth WNBA season, Gray earned her third straight All-Star selection and was an All-Star starter for the first time. The 6-0 guard was named the Kia WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month for May, June and August and finished fourth in voting for the Kia WNBA MVP Award. Gray ranked seventh in the league in scoring with a career-high 18.4 points per game. She also set career highs in rebounds (5.3) and assists per game (3.5) and ranked sixth in the WNBA in three-point field goals made (98).
Kelsey Mitchell, Fever: Mitchell ranked third in the WNBA in scoring with a career-high 20.2 points per game and made a league-leading 111 three-point field goals. In her eighth WNBA season, Mitchell was an All-Star selection for the third consecutive season and finished fifth in the voting for the Kia WNBA MVP Award. The 6-0 guard also contributed 3.4 assists per game.
2025 All-WNBA Second Team 
Nneka Ogwumike, Storm: In her 14th WNBA season, Ogwumike started all 44 regular season games and earned her 10th All-Star selection. The 6-2 forward ranked ninth in the WNBA in points per game (18.3), 13th in rebounds per game (7.0) and 11th in field goal percentage (51.9). Ogwumike also became the sixth player in league history to reach 7,000 career points and the only one to do so while shooting at least 50 percent from the field.
Jackie Young, Aces: The No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm and a two-time WNBA champion with Las Vegas, Young was an All-Star selection for the fourth season in a row. The 6-0 guard finished 12th in the league in scoring (16.5 points per game) and 11th in assists (5.1 apg), ranking second among Aces players in both categories while posting the second-best figure of her career in each.
Sabrina Ionescu, Liberty: The 5-11 guard ranked 10th in the WNBA in points per game (18.2) and sixth in assists per game (5.7). She also led the league in free throw percentage (93.3) and finished ninth in three-point field goals made (81). In addition, she contributed 4.9 rebounds and a career-high 1.3 steals per game. In her sixth WNBA season, Ionescu was selected as an All-Star for the fourth consecutive season.
Aliyah Boston, Fever: The unanimous 2023 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year and an All-Star in all of her three WNBA seasons, Boston helped lead the Fever to a spot in the WNBA Semifinals and was named to the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team. The 6-5 center-forward averaged career highs of 15.0 points and 3.7 assists per game. She finished sixth among WNBA players in rebounds per game (8.2), fourth in total rebounds (361) and fifth in field goal percentage (53.8).
Paige Bueckers, Wings: The 2025 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year led all rookies in total points (692), points per game (19.2), total assists (194) and assists per game (5.4). Among all players, Bueckers ranked fifth in scoring average, sixth in steals per game (1.6) and ninth in assists per game. The 6-0 guard, who was voted as a starter for the 2025 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game, set a WNBA single-game scoring record for rookies with 44 points at the Los Angeles Sparks on Aug. 20.
In honor of their accomplishments, each member of the All-WNBA First Team will receive $10,300 and each member of the Second Team will receive $5,150.
Below are the voting results for the 2025 All-WNBA Team.
2025 ALL-WNBA FIRST TEAM 
<table style="border-collapse: collapse;width: 100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25%">
Player, Team 
</td>
<td style="width: 25%">
1st Team Votes 
</td>
<td style="width: 25%">
2nd Team Votes 
</td>
<td style="width: 25%">
Total Points 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25%">
Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
</td>
<td style="width: 25%">72</td>
<td style="width: 25%">0</td>
<td style="width: 25%">360</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25%">
A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
</td>
<td style="width: 25%">72</td>
<td style="width: 25%">0</td>
<td style="width: 25%">360</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25%">
Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury
</td>
<td style="width: 25%">71</td>
<td style="width: 25%">1</td>
<td style="width: 25%">358</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25%">
Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream
</td>
<td style="width: 25%">67</td>
<td style="width: 25%">2</td>
<td style="width: 25%">341</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25%">
Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever
</td>
<td style="width: 25%">58</td>
<td style="width: 25%">10</td>
<td style="width: 25%">320</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;
2025 ALL-WNBA SECOND TEAM
<table style="border-collapse: collapse;width: 100%;height: 176px">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 56px">
<td style="width: 25%;height: 56px">
Player, Team
</td>
<td style="width: 25%;height: 56px">1st Team Votes</td>
<td style="width: 25%;height: 56px">
2nd Team Votes 
</td>
<td style="width: 25%;height: 56px">Total Points</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 25%;height: 24px">
Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm
</td>
<td style="width: 25%;height: 24px">1</td>
<td style="width: 25%;height: 24px">60</td>
<td style="width: 25%;height: 24px">185</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 25%;height: 24px">
Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces
</td>
<td style="width: 25%;height: 24px">5</td>
<td style="width: 25%;height: 24px">41</td>
<td style="width: 25%;height: 24px">148</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 25%;height: 24px">
Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty
</td>
<td style="width: 25%;height: 24px">1</td>
<td style="width: 25%;height: 24px">40</td>
<td style="width: 25%;height: 24px">125</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 25%;height: 24px">
Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever
</td>
<td style="width: 25%;height: 24px">2</td>
<td style="width: 25%;height: 24px">34</td>
<td style="width: 25%;height: 24px">112</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 25%;height: 24px">
Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings
</td>
<td style="width: 25%;height: 24px">2</td>
<td style="width: 25%;height: 24px">34</td>
<td style="width: 25%;height: 24px">
112
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Players were selected without regard for position. Players received five points for each First Team vote and three points for each Second Team vote.
# # #

2025-all-wnba-teams

A’ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier Unanimously Selected to 2025 All-WNBA First Team

Cynthia Cooper, Houston Comets (25.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG and 4.0 APG)

1997

Cynthia Cooper, Houston Comets (26.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG and 2.7 APG)

1998

Cynthia Cooper, Houston Comets (21.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG and 4.3 APG)

1999

Cynthia Cooper, Houston Comets (22.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG and 3.5 APG)

2000

Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles Sparks (22.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG and 3.5 APG)

2001

Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles Sparks (16.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG and 2.0 APG)

2002

Ruth Riley, Detroit Shock (14.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG and 3.3 BPG)

2003

Betty Lennox, Seattle Storm (22.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG and 2.0 APG)

2004

Yolanda Griffith, Sacramento Monarchs (18.5 PPG, 9.8 RPG and 1.3 APG)

2005

Deanna Nolan, Detroit Shock (17.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG and 2.8 APG)

2006

Cappie Pondexter, Phoenix Mercury (22.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG and 5.6 APG)

2007

Katie Smith, Detroit Shock (21.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG and 3.3 APG)

2008

Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury (20.4 PPG, 6.8 RPG and 2.8 APG)

2009

Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm (22.3 PPG, 8.0 RPG and 2.0 SPG)

2010

Seimone Augustus, Minnesota Lynx (24.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG and 4.7 APG)

2011

Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever (22.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG and 3.5 APG)

2012

Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx (20.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG and 2.3 APG)

2013

Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury (20.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG and 6.3 APG)

2014

Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota Lynx (15.6 PPG, 9.4 RPG and 1.2 APG)

2015

Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks (17.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG and 2.2 APG)

2016

Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota Lynx (17.8 PPG, 15.0 RPG and 2.4 BPG)

2017

Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm (25.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG and 3.7 APG)

2018

Emma Meesseman, Washington Mystics (17.8 PPG, 4.6 RPG and 1.8 APG)

2019

Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm (28.3 PPG, 7.7 RPG and 2.3 APG)

2020

Kahleah Copper, Chicago Sky (17.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG and 1.3 APG)

2021

Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas Aces (18.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG and 6.0 APG)

2022

A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces (21.3 PPG, 12.5 RPG and 1.5 APG)

2023

Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty (17.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG and 2.2 APG)

2024

2025 Playoffs

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Photo Gallery: WNBA Finals MVPs Through the Years

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