WNBA live stream: How to watch women’s basketball without cable, including limited free options
WNBA live stream: How to watch women’s basketball without cable, including limited free options
Excitement is extra high with rising stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese joining the league this season. Here’s how to catch them in action.
BY Shannon Cudd
Women’s basketball is keeping the momentum going from March Madness.
Some 18.9 million viewers tuned in to watch the championship game from the women’s college basketball tournament. Just two months later, some of the key players from the tournament have gone professional, joining the Women’s National Basketball Association. Their season kicked off May 14, putting an extra-bright spotlight on the sport and its rising stars. Here’s what you need to know going into the season, including how to catch the games.
Why is there so much excitement around the WNBA this year?
The WNBA was created in 1997. The Houston Comets were the first champions that year, thanks in part to Cynthia Cooper’s impressive postseason scoring numbers. This season marks its 28th year.
Caitlin Clark, now one of basketball’s biggest stars, recently graduated from the University of Iowa, turning in her team jersey. She was the No. 1 overall draft pick of the Indiana Fever. On Thursday night, she and her teammates faced the New York Liberty, losing 102-66. Clark managed to get nine points, seven rebounds, and six assists, but it was the first time since her freshman year in college that she only scored in the single digits. The same teams will face off again on Saturday.
Angel Reese also made her debut this week with the Chicago Sky, facing off against the Dallas Wings after graduating and leaving LSU behind. Dallas beat Chicago 87-79. Reese scored 12 points and made eight rebounds. One can expect that Reese and Clark will only get better with more experience.
The Las Vegas Aces are the team to beat this season. They already have two back-to-back WNBA championships under their belt and are gunning for a third. Their impressive roster includes two-time MVP center A’ja Wilson and five-time All-Star guard Chelsea Gray. And let’s not forget the pair of two-time All-Stars in guards Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young.
How can I watch WNBA season games live?
Depending on the game, cable subscribers can catch regular-season games on various networks: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ABC, and CBS. Select games are also available to stream with a WNBA League Pass.
You can find the full TV schedule on the WNBA website. Remember, you can watch either of the broadcast networks for free with an over-the-air antenna.
Which WNBA games are happening this weekend?
Glad you asked. Here’s the weekend lineup:
- Friday, May 17, 7:30 p.m.: Mystics vs Sun
- Friday, May 17, 9:30 p.m.: Storm vs Lynx
- Saturday, May 18, 1 p.m.: Fever vs Liberty
- Saturday, May 19, 3 p.m.: Sparks vs Aces
- Saturday, May 19, 8 p.m.: Sky vs Wings
- Saturday, May 19, 10 p.m.: Dream vs Mercury
- Sunday, May 20, 3 p.m.: Storm vs Mystics
What if I don’t have cable? Can I still stream the games live?
For cord-cutters without a traditional cable TV subscription, things get a little trickier. You’ll have to combine several live-TV streaming services, such as:
Fubo and Hulu offer free trials.
However, those services won’t have everything. Some games are being exclusively streamed on Amazon Prime and Paramount+ this season.
Navigating what game is being shown where will be a bit of a puzzle, but ultimately worth that challenge for the love of the game.
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