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When Does the WNBA Season Start (2026)? Everything to Know

The WNBA returns to NBC Sports for the 2026 season, but when does that season actually begin?

By Matthew Jackson
Angel Reese, #5 of the Chicago Sky, smiling on the court during a game.

Angel Reese, #5 of the Chicago Sky, during the game against the Dallas Wings on May 31, 2025 at the College Park Center in Arlington, TX.

 Photo: Cooper Neill/NBAE

We're nearing the end of the NBA regular season, but that's not the end of can't-miss basketball coming to you from NBC Sports. 

How to Watch

Watch NBC Sports on NBC and Peacock.

As part of its agreement to bring the NBA on NBC back into the fold, NBC also secured a license to air WNBA games, including playoffs, for the next 11 years, beginning with the 2026 season. That means you'll get to see Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, A'ja Wilson, and more of the best women in basketball across NBC and Peacock. 

But when do the WNBA festivities actually pick back up? Let's take a closer look.

RELATED: Peacock Performance View - Experience the NBA Like Never Before

When does the 2026 WNBA season begin?

The WNBA season typically ramps up while the NBA is finishing up its Playoffs, overlapping the two leagues for a dose of peak basketball before the WNBA takes center stage later in the year. In 2026, the WNBA will open its preseason on April 25, and the regular season will tip off on May 8. That means we're just weeks away from the return of women's hoops to the NBC Sports family. 

Caitlin Clark , #22 of the Indiana Fever, smiling during a practice session.

Caitlin Clark , #22 of the Indiana Fever, during the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star practice session at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 18, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

 Photo: Steph Chambers/Getty Images

WNBA on Peacock & NBC

The WNBA is coming to Peacock and NBC, with some of the sports biggest stars on the chase for a WNBA title. Want to see players like Caitlin Clark, A'ja Wilson, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers in action this season? Peacock has you covered.

Fans can find more than 50 WNBA regular-season and first-round playoff games each season across Peacock and NBC, along with some WNBA Finals games and WNBA Semi-Finals games. Watch the WNBA live on Peacock right here.

RELATED: Peacock ScoreCard - Turn Every NBA Game into Your Own Competition

What to expect from the WNBA on NBC

A'ja Wilson, #22 of the Las Vegas Aces, reacts during a game.

A'ja Wilson, #22 of the Las Vegas Aces, during the game against the Dallas Wings at Purcell Pavilion on May 2, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana.

 Photo: Justin Casterline/Getty Images

The full TV schedule for the 2026 WNBA season has not yet been announced, so we don't know which games the league will take to the NBC Sports family. We do know that, as part of the new 11-year agreement with the NBA and WNBA, NBC Sports will broadcast at least 50 WNBA games each year. 

Five of those 50 games will be hosted on NBC, but the rest will stream on Peacock. So, if you want to keep an eye on the WNBA all year long, a Peacock account is a good place to start. As for the postseason, we don't have complete announcements yet for which networks will get which games, but NBC Sports will play host to three WNBA Finals series and seven WNBA Semifinals series over the next 11 years. 

We'll have more updates on WNBA scheduling on NBC Sports as they become available, as well as info on broadcasting teams, special programming, and much more. 

NBA on NBC

The NBA is officially back on NBC and Peacock, with exclusive games every week across broadcast and streaming featuring some of the biggest stars in the game.

The action kicks off every week with Peacock NBA Monday, featuring exclusive games streaming only on Peacock. Then on Tuesday nights, check out NBC's Coast 2 Coast Tuesday, which features two marquee games in primetime. With Sunday Night Football wrapped up, the NBA has also taken over NBC's weekends with Sunday Night Basketball, with a primetime showcase game every week to wrap up the weekend.

Check out the full schedule for every NBA game on NBC and Peacock this season right here.

From real-time stats and predictive fun to highlight clips and immersive angles, Peacock’s suite of NBA features puts you in control of how you watch the game:

  • Courtside Live: An interactive, mobile-first viewing experience with new camera feeds and immersive perspectives that bring you to center court. Available weekly for select games throughout the 2025-2026 season.  
  • Peacock Performance View: Unlock a next-level broadcast with dynamic overlays showing playing insights, heat maps, scoring probabilities, and more.
  • Can’t Miss Highlights: Swipeable vertical highlights on the Peacock mobile app for quick recaps of clutch moments, momentum shifts, and standout plays, wherever you are.
  • Peacock ScoreCard: Turn every game into an interactive experience. Pick from a range of cards and watch as your predictions come true.
  • Catch Up With Key Plays: Instantly revisit the most pivotal game moments with a curated playlist you can access anytime below your player controls.

Sign up for Peacock now to make sure you're not missing a second of the NBA action. You can also gift the experience!

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