WNBA agrees record 216 national television broadcasts for 2026 season
The WNBA has announced a record 216 regular-season games and major events will be broadcast nationally across the United States during the 2026 season under a new media rights deal.
The upcoming campaign marks the first year of the North American league’s highly anticipated new broadcasting partnerships.
Viewers will benefit from expanded coverage across established platforms such as Disney, Amazon Prime Video and CBS, alongside new partners including NBCUniversal.
Fever lead national television appearances
The Indiana Fever will have all 44 of their regular-season fixtures shown to a widespread television audience.
They are closely followed by the Dallas Wings, defending champions New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces, who secure 36, 35 and 33 televised games respectively.
Broadcaster ION retains the bulk of the Friday night schedule, committing to 50 live matches throughout the summer.
Commissioner hails unprecedented exposure
This expansion of coverage follows an explosive period of growth for women’s elite basketball, driven by high-profile draft classes and record-breaking attendance figures.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert praised the landmark arrangements for providing increased visibility to the sport’s biggest stars.
“The WNBA’s unprecedented lineup of linear and streaming partners will shine a light on must-see matchups,” said Engelbert.
Playoff coverage shared across networks
Post-season action will be divided among multiple broadcasters to maximize viewership during the championship run.
Disney Networks will carry two first-round series, while USA Network and Prime Video will manage one each.
The season-ending WNBA Finals will air exclusively across NBC platforms, including the USA Network and Peacock streaming service.
