The wait is nearly over for women’s basketball fans.
Following a record-breaking 2024 season that captured the attention of millions, the WNBA is ready to make an even bigger splash in 2025.
New WNBA era begins on May 16
This Friday, May 16, the 2025 WNBA season officially tips off with a high-stakes matchup between the Atlanta Dream and Washington Mystics at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The game will be broadcast on ION and WNBA League Pass and will mark the beginning of a season packed with over 175 nationally televised games.
Headlining the opening night are newly acquired Dream stars Brittney Griner and Bri Jones, facing off against a retooled Mystics squad.
Fans won’t have to wait long to see the league’s most talked-about stars take the court.
Caitlin Clark, the 2024 Rookie of the Year and MVP front-runner, begins her sophomore campaign with the Indiana Fever on Saturday, May 17.
She’ll go head-to-head with fellow sensation Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky in a nationally televised showdown at 3 p.m. ET on ABC.
Clark made history last season by becoming the first rookie with two triple-doubles and finishing with the most points, double-doubles, and threes ever by a first-year player.
Clark’s impact goes beyond the box score, her games will be must-watch TV.
In fact, 41 of the Fever’s 44 regular season contests will be shown on national networks, breaking records for both the franchise and the league.
Another rising star making headlines is Paige Bueckers, who will make her long-awaited WNBA debut for the Dallas Wings on Friday, May 16, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The No. 1 overall pick and NCAA champion from UConn will face a tough challenge in her first outing against the 2024 Finals runner-up Minnesota Lynx, led by All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year Napheesa Collier.
2025 WNBA season tip off weekend:
Friday, May 16
- Atlanta Dream and Washington Mystics – 7:30 p.m. ET (ION and WNBA League Pass)
- Minnesota Lynx vs. Dallas Wings – 7:30 p.m. ET (ION and WNBA League Pass)
- Los Angeles Sparks vs. Golden State Valkyries – 10:00 p.m. ET (ION and WNBA League Pass)
Saturday, May 17
- Las Vegas Aces vs. New York Liberty – 1:00 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN+ and Disney+)
- Chicago Sky vs. Indiana Fever – 3:00 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN+ and Disney+)
- Seattle Storm vs. Phoenix Mercury – 10:00 p.m. ET (WNBA League Pass)
Sunday, May 18
- Washington Mystics vs. Connecticut Sun – 1:00 p.m. ET (WNBA League Pass)
- Minnesota Lynx vs. Los Angeles Sparks – 6:00 p.m. ET (WNBA League Pass)
With more than 175 games airing across platforms like ABC, ESPN, CBS, Prime Video, and WNBA League Pass, fans have more access than ever before.
From Clark to Reese to Bueckers, the future is now, and this season is poised to be unforgettable.
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