Folks, we made it. The 2026 WNBA season tips off with a three-game slate Friday night — yes, the very season some doubted we’d even see play out after negotiations on the new collective bargaining agreement appeared to be at an impasse earlier this year.
But those negotiations finally took off, as the WNBPA and WNBA Board of Governors officially voted in favor of the new CBA. The season is tipping off as scheduled, fresh off the heels of a transformative offseason that saw a massive pay increase for players, a spicy free-agency period, and the addition of two new franchises, the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire, with the Tempo making their debut Friday night.
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WNBA opening night schedule
7:30 p.m. ET — Connecticut Sun vs. New York Liberty, ION
7:30 p.m. ET — Washington Mystics vs. Toronto Tempo, ION/TSN
10 p.m. ET — Golden State Valkyries vs. Seattle Storm, ION
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights and more from the first day of the 2026 WNBA season:
Live26 updatesFri, May 8, 2026 at 5:03 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
Fri, May 8, 2026 at 5:45 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes have five quick points out of the half for the Tempo
Fri, May 8, 2026 at 5:37 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
Everything’s going right for the Liberty in head coach Chris DeMarco’s first game at the helm. MVP candidate Breanna Stewart leads all scorers with 21 points, followed by Marine Johannes. Brittney Griner leads the Sun with nine points.
Fri, May 8, 2026 at 5:29 PM PDT
Andy Backstrom
Washington closed the first half on a 9-2 run, and it all started with second-year forward Kiki Iriafen collecting an offensive rebound and putting it back for two.
Toronto made just 7 of its 27 field-goal attempts in the first half. It’s shooting 25.9% from the field.
Fri, May 8, 2026 at 5:24 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
Just a couple days after the Sun claimed Hailey Van Lith, she has five points for her new team.
Fri, May 8, 2026 at 5:16 PM PDT
Andy Backstrom
Toronto has already attempted 18 free throws, whereas Washington has taken just three shots from the charity stripe.
The Tempo are 15-of-18 from the free-throw line, accounting for more than half of their first-half scoring there.
This one’s tied 28-28 late in the second quarter.
Fri, May 8, 2026 at 5:11 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
To Kneepkens’ credit, she quickly hit a 3 on the other end of the floor after this.
Fri, May 8, 2026 at 5:09 PM PDT
Andy Backstrom
Marina Mabrey has drawn a pair of fouls from beyond the arc and capitalized by netting all six of her subsequent free-throw attempts.
She just pocketed her first field goal and now has a team-high eight points.
Mabrey is only 1-of-6 from the floor, though.
Fri, May 8, 2026 at 5:01 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
No Sabrina or Satou, no problem for the Liberty. They’re off to a commanding 36-13 lead over the Sun after just the first quarter, with Breanna Stewart leading the way with 10 points. Julie Vanloo, who just joined the team Friday, has seven points.
Fri, May 8, 2026 at 4:57 PM PDT
Andy Backstrom
Washington finished last season on a 10-game losing streak. The Mystics are hoping to start the 2026 campaign with a win. They’re on their way to that result with a four-point advantage after the first frame.
Toronto built some momentum down the stretch of the quarter, thanks to a flurry of buckets, including a 3-pointer from guard Julie Allemand.
Fri, May 8, 2026 at 4:55 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
It’s been a slow start for the Sun, who look a bit different than last year with several rookies seeing playing time. The vet Griner got in on the action, though, too.
Fri, May 8, 2026 at 4:51 PM PDT
Andy Backstrom
Former UCLA star Lauren Betts, whom the Mystics took fourth overall in this year’s draft on the heels of her national championship campaign, is still looking for her first bucket.
She’s 0-of-4 from the field so far.
Fri, May 8, 2026 at 4:46 PM PDT
Andy Backstrom
Former Virginia Tech and Kentucky standout Georgia Amoore missed the entire 2025 season before playing a single game for the Mystics because of an ACL injury.
Last year’s No. 6 overall pick is finally making her WNBA regular-season debut, and the Australian’s already connected from 3-point land.
Washington is leading 13-6 with 5:22 to go in the first quarter.
Fri, May 8, 2026 at 4:43 PM PDT
Andy Backstrom
It didn’t take long for Sonia Citron to get on the board. She maneuvered to make this early-game jumper possible.
Citron averaged 14.9 points per game while shooting 44.5% from deep as a rookie last season.
Fri, May 8, 2026 at 4:42 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
New York got off to a 10-2 lead early in the first quarter, kickstarted by former MVP Breanna Stewart. With Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally, Pauline Astier has five points early.
Fri, May 8, 2026 at 4:38 PM PDT
The Sun and Liberty tipped off at Barclays, with the home team in retro uniforms as the league begins its 30th season.
Fri, May 8, 2026 at 4:36 PM PDT
Fri, May 8, 2026 at 4:35 PM PDT
Andy Backstrom
Toronto is buzzing for the Tempo’s first-ever WNBA regular-season game.
The Coca-Cola Coliseum seats about 8,200 people, and it’s filled out by exuberant fans antsy for the expansion team’s debut.
Fri, May 8, 2026 at 4:15 PM PDT
Kari Anderson
We’re 15 minutes out from the 2026 WNBA season tipoff! Check out the full three-day tip-off schedule. 👇
Fri, May 8, 2026 at 4:00 PM PDT
Caroline Fenton, Cassandra Negley