When Does the WNBA Regular Season Start? Key Dates, Players to Watch & More Ahead of 2025 Season

Thanks to the electrifying performances by the rookies and vets in the 2024 season, the WNBA broke multiple records. According to a marketing report, the WNBA was the fastest-growing brand in professional sports in 2024, showing a quick rise after a slow growth. Athletes like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Aja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, Sabrina Ionescu, and others hooked more fans to the league with the high-intensity games on the plate. The same strong teams are ready with more to offer this season.

The offseason trades and drafts have strengthened multiple rosters, handing them a chance to compete for the title. The addition of an expansion franchise, the Golden State Valkyries, spiced up the competition, with the number of games moving up from 40 to 44. And that’s not all. The new and exciting rookies like Dominique Malonga, Paige Bueckers, and Hailey Van Lith additions have upped the tempo, and fans are restless for the new season to start.

Here are all the details you need to know.

When is the WNBA season starting? Key dates for the 2025 season

The 2025 WNBA will be the 29th edition of the league and is set to tip off on Friday, May 16, with a trio of games. As per the official announcement, opening night will feature the Atlanta Dream visiting the Washington Mystics, the Minnesota Lynx taking on the Dallas Wings, and the Los Angeles Sparks facing off against the expansion Golden State Valkyries in their inaugural game. This is the first time there will be 13 teams in the league, and each team will play 44 games—22 home games and 22 road ones.

“We look forward to tipping off the WNBA’s 29th season in May of 2025 and continuing to build on the success of last season, when the WNBA delivered its most-watched draft and All-Star Game, and set records for viewership, attendance, digital consumption and merchandise sales,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in December.

And yes, to go even beyond that, the league has also come up with new additions to the format. For example, the Rivalry Week, starting from the tipoff, will consist of many high-profile games, and opponents will face each other. It will be held in August, as the most anticipated Reese-Clark rivalry will tip off the action in prime time. The Fever-Sky game will broadcast on CBS on Aug. 9.

Another highlight would be the Commissioner’s Cup tournament, an in-season tournament running from June 1 to June 17, 2025.

The midseason will then shift to the WNBA All-Star Game on July 19, hosted at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. It’s the city’s first time hosting, and with Caitlin Clark’s Fever calling it home, expect a raucous crowd. “The city of Indianapolis and the entire state of Indiana have such an incredible and enduring passion for the game of basketball, making the region the perfect host to celebrate the WNBA and the game’s greatest stars,” Engelbert said.

Then the regular season wraps up, and real stakes begin.

The road to the championship begins on Sunday, Sept. 14, when the top eight teams in the standings punch their tickets to the playoffs. It will be a best-of-three first-round battle. Those who make it through move on to the semifinals — a best-of-five showdown. Then there is another history being made by the league. For the first time ever, the WNBA Finals will follow a best-of-seven format.

Here is a complete list of the events:

Players to watch out for ahead of the 2025 season

One player you can’t miss on the WNBA landscape is CC. After a standout college career, Caitlin Clark lived up to the hype around her first WNBA season. She broke multiple records and won the Rookie of the Year Award. She will be back for more accolades, records, and titles in her second year with the revamped Indiana Fever side.

The top pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Paige Bueckers, joins the Dallas Wings with high expectations. Stepping up her career to the W, the 2024 NCAA champion will be looking to make Dallas a contender with her all-around game. The Wings have a strong team, yet Rookie Bueckers will be the face of the franchise. Known for her exceptional basketball IQ and scoring prowess, Bueckers is poised to make an immediate impact alongside Arike Ogunbowale.

Even after winning the regular season MVP, putting up massive stats in the 2024 season, A’ja Wilson lost early in the postseason. This year, she will be back with a new team, formation, and aim for her third title. Even though the team has some new faces, Aja remains the focal point of the Aces.

Sabrin Ionescu, the sharpshooter, was a key player in the Liberty’s first WNBA title. Along with Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones, the long-range shooter was lethal for the Liberty franchise. She will be ready to take a bigger role in the 2025 season and help NY defend its title.

The franchise came close to winning the fifth title in the league. Napheesa Collier’s performances, though they ended up on the losing side, were applauded by many. The former UConn star will look to win her first title with a few familiar faces in the franchise.

The success of the 2024 season brought many eyeballs to the league. It was the prime reason the league was able to ink a mega $ 2.2 B over 11-year broadcasting deal for the upcoming seasons. The 2025 WNBA season will be widely accessible to fans across various platforms. Games will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, Ion, CBS, CBS Sports Network, Amazon Prime Video, and NBA TV. Stay tuned and enjoy the most exciting basketball action live.

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