The WNBA is set for unprecedented visibility in the first year of its new media rights deal, announcing a 2026 regular season schedule featuring 40 games across major U.S. broadcast networks.
A combined slate of games will air on CBS (20), ABC (13) and NBC (7), including the All-Star Game on ABC. When factoring in additional coverage from ION Television, the league will reach 74 national broadcast windows before the playoffs—one of the highest totals in U.S. sports outside the NFL.
The schedule also marks a major leap in primetime exposure. Eleven games are set for primetime slots on broadcast television, a dramatic increase for a league that had aired just five such games in its history prior to the last three seasons.
Much of the spotlight will center on rising superstar Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, who are featured heavily across the national slate. All 44 Fever games will air nationally—an unprecedented level of exposure for a single team.
NBC will introduce two editions of “Sunday Night Basketball,†while CBS will anchor a six-week run of Saturday night primetime games early in the season. Meanwhile, ESPN will continue its “Women’s Sports Sundays†programming, further expanding the league’s reach.
Beyond broadcast, the WNBA will have 200 total national windows across TV and streaming platforms, including partnerships with ESPN, USA Network, NBA TV, Prime Video and Peacock.
While the regular season enjoys a major broadcast push, the playoffs remain more limited in reach. NBC will air select WNBA Finals games, with the majority scheduled for cable and streaming platforms.
The expanded schedule underscores the league’s rapid growth, fueled by surging interest in women’s basketball and a new generation of star power driving record viewership and media demand.