Updated on April 21, 2026
If you’re planning on taking your kids to a WNBA basketball game – excellent choice! WNBA games are fun, kid-friendly, and a great way to see some quality basketball. I’m a huge fan and love taking my kids with me to watch women’s professional basketball.
If you’re not up to speed with the WNBA, look through this quick guide to:
- The league
- The teams
- Important dates
- How to follow your team(s)
Enjoy the season and maybe we’ll see you at a game!
WNBA Basics for 2026
League Play Began: 1997
Number of Teams: There will be 15 teams for 2026, with the addition of the Toronto Tempo and the Portland Fire. In 2027, the Connecticut Sun will move to Houston.
Growth: In 2025, the WNBA continued to break attendance records, television records, and experience tremendous growth. This is an exciting time to watch or go to a WNBA game!
Number of Games: 44
Playoffs: The top 8 teams from regular season play match up to begin the playoffs (1 v 8, 2 v 7, 3 v 6, 4 v5), with the winners of each meeting for the semi-finals. The remaining two teams meet for the finals. 2026 playoff rounds will be best-of-three, best-of-three, and best-of-seven.
Reigning Champs: The Las Vegas Aces swept the Phoenix Mercury 4-0 in the 7-game championship series. A’ja Wilson was named the Finals MVP.
Reigning WNBA Award Winners: Aja Wilson (MVP), Alanna Smith & A’ja Wilson (Co-Defensive Players of the Year), Paige Bueckers (Rookie of the Year), Naz Hillmon (6th Player of the Year), Veronica Burton (Most Improved Player)
Map of Current & Future WNBA Teams
WNBA Teams in 2026
Atlanta Dream
Location: Atlanta, GA
Arena: Gateway Center Arena
Official Website: Atlanta Dream
Conference: Eastern
Current Stars: Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, Jordin Canada, Brionna Jones, Angel Reese
2025 Finish: 3rd regular season, lost in first round of playoffs to Indiana Fever
Mascot: none, former mascot Star (a bird) retired in 2020
Fun Fact: The Dream get their name from Atlanta native Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.
Chicago Sky
Location: Chicago, IL
Arena: Wintrust Arena
Official Website: Chicago Sky
Conference: Eastern
Current Stars: Skylar Diggins, Rickea Jackson, Kamilla Cardoso
2025 Finish: 12th regular season
Mascot: Skye, a lioness
Fun Fact: The Sky’s colors (yellow and blue) represent Chicago’s skyline – with bright blue sky and golden yellow sunlight. The Sky will host the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game.
Read about
Going to a Chicago Sky Game with Kids
Visiting Chicago with a 10-Year-Old
Connecticut Sun
Location: Uncasville, CT
Arena: Mohegan Sun Arena
Official Website: Connecticut Sun
Conference: Eastern
Current Stars: Brittney Griner, Aneesah Morrow, Saniyah Rivers, Kennedy Burke
2025 Finish: 11th regular season
Mascot: Blaze, an orange furry creature
Fun Fact: The log of the Sun is a modern take on an ancient Mohegan symbol. The Mohegan Tribe is indigenous to southern New England, and owns the Connecticut Sun.
Dallas Wings
Location: Arlington, TX
Arena: College Park Center
Official Website: Dallas Wings
Conference: Western
Current Stars: Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, Alanna Smith, #1 2026 Draft pick Azzi Fudd
2025 Finish: 13th regular season
Mascot: Lightning, a pegasus
Fun Fact: Before being the Dallas Wings, the team was the Shock, and it played in Detroit, Michigan and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Golden State Valkyries
Location: Oakland, CA
Arena: Chase Center
Official Website: Golden State Valkyries
Conference: Western
Current Stars: Kayla Thornton, Gabby Williams
2025 Finish: 8th regular season, lost in first round of playoffs to Minnesota Lynx
Mascot: Valkyrie, a female in Norse mythology that chooses worthy warriors to take to Valhalla
Fun Fact: Purple was chosen as the main team color because it’s associated with ambition.
Indiana Fever
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Arena: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Official Website: Indiana Fever
Conference: Eastern
Current Stars: Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell
2025 Finish: 6th regular season, lost in second round of playoffs to LV Aces
Mascot: Freddy, a furry red creature
Fun Fact: Indianapolis will hosted the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game.
Read about
Going to an Indiana Fever Game with Kids
Getting Caitlin Clark’s Autograph and Gainbridge Fieldhouse – A Guide for Kids
Las Vegas Aces
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Arena: Michelob Ultra Arena
Official Website: Las Vegas Aces
Conference: Western
Current Stars: A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young, Jewell Loyd, Chelsea Gray
2025 Finish: 2nd regular season, won WNBA championship in finals over Phoenix Mercury
Mascot: Bucket$, a jackrabbit
Fun Fact: The Aces were back-to-back champions in 2022 and 2023.
Los Angeles Sparks
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Arena: Crypto.com Arena
Official Website: Los Angeles Sparks
Conference: Western
Current Stars: Dearica Hamby, Cameron Brink, Nneka Ogwumike, Kelsey Plum
2025 Finish: 9th regular season
Mascot: Sparky, a dog
Fun Fact: The Sparks have retired the number 9, worn by legend Lisa Leslie, one of the members of the first Sparks team from 1997. She was the first WNBA player to dunk in a game!
Minnesota Lynx
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Arena: Target Center
Official Website: Minnesota Lynx
Conference: Western
Current Stars: Napheesa Collier, Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams
2025 Finish: 1st regular season, lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Phoenix Mercury
Mascot: Prowl, a lynx
Fun Fact: The Lynx have 4 WNBA championships, tied for the most with the Houston Comets and the Seattle Storm.
New York Liberty
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Arena: Barclays Center
Official Website: New York Liberty
Conference: Eastern
Current Stars: Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Sabrina Ionescu, Satou Sabally, Leonie Fiebich
2025 Finish: 5th, lost in first round of playoffs to Phoenix Mercury
Mascot: Ellie, an elephant (and fan favorite mascot)
Fun Fact: The Liberty had lost in the finals 5 times before finally winning on its 6th try in 2024.
Phoenix Mercury
Location: Atlanta, GA
Arena: Mortgage Matchup Center (formerly Footprint Center)
Official Website: Phoenix Mercury
Conference: Western
Current Stars: Kahleah Copper, Alyssa Thomas
2025 Finish: 4th, lost in finals to LV Aces
Mascot: Scorch, an extraterrestrial from Mercury (the planet)
Fun Fact: The Mercury are one of three remaining teams from the first (1997) season, along with the NY Liberty and the LA Sparks.
Portland Fire
Location: Portland, OR
Arena: Moda Center
Official Website: Portland Fire
Conference: Western
Current Stars: TBD
2025 Finish: N/A
Mascot: TBD, perhaps the same mascot the team had in the early 2000s, Spot (a dalmation)
Fun Fact: The original Portland Fire only played for three seasons, and never made the playoffs.
Seattle Storm
Location: Seattle, WA
Arena: Climate Pledge Arena
Official Website: Seattle Storm
Conference: Western
Current Stars: Dominique Malonga, Ezi Magbegor
2025 Finish: 7th regular season, lost in first round of playoffs to LV Aces
Mascot: Doppler, a red, furry creature
Fun Fact: The Storm have never lost a WNBA finals… if they make it to the championship game, they win.
Read my Tips for Going to a Seattle Storm Game with Kids
Toronto Tempo
Location: Toronto, Canada
Arena: Coca-Cola Coliseum
Official Website: Toronto Tempo
Conference: Eastern
Current Stars: Marina Mabrey, Temi Fagbenle, Brittney Sykes
2025 Finish: N/A
Mascot: Beaver
Fun Fact: The Tempo is the first WNBA franchise located outside of the US.
Washington Mystics
Location: Washington, DC
Arena: CareFirst Arena
Official Website: Washington Mystics
Conference: Eastern
Current Stars: Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, Shakira Austin
2025 Finish: 10th
Mascot: Pax, a panda
Fun Fact: The team’s name (Mystics) is tied to its NBA counterpart, the Washington Wizards.
Good To Know: I’ve listed each team’s arena, but sometimes they move to larger arenas for big matchups.
Important Dates for the 2026 WNBA Season
November 23, 2025 – Draft lottery. Results: #1 – Dallas, #2 – Minnesota, #3 – Seattle, #4 – Washington, #5 – Chicago
April 3, 2026– Expansion draft, when the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo were able to draft players from existing teams.
April 13, 2026 – WNBA Draft
May 18, 2026 – Regular Season play begins
How to Follow the WNBA
If you want to keep track of your favorite team or the WNBA as a whole, check out:
WNBA League Pass – I have this and even though they’ve raised the price again ($39.99 as of April 24, 2026), it’s still a bargain. Note that you can’t watch games live if you’re in the blackout area or it’s nationally televised.
Official Team sites (linked above in each team’s section) and team apps
WNBA site and the WNBA app – Good places for game highlights, short video clips, player of the week clips, etc. I check the app often during the season and prefer it to individual teams’ apps.
NY Times (The Athletic)
Sports sites like NBC Sports, ESPN, ABC News
Reddit – WNBA and team subreddits
Where to Get WNBA Clothing and Gear
I’m a big Caitlin Clark fan (and now my boys are too). We’ve purchased clothing, basketballs, and other merch (like water bottles, towels, etc). Here are where I’ve had the best luck with availability, quality, and selection:
- Online team stores
- Physical team stores at arenas
- Dick’s Sporting Goods
- Fanatics
- Wilson (for basketballs)
- Nike (online)
- Gatorade (for water bottles & towels)
Helpful Tip: Shop around because sometimes you’ll find discount codes for signing up for a newsletter, and that 20% off can really add up!
I hope this has helped you understand the WNBA a little bit more and that you enjoy watching the season with your family!
