WNBA national TV schedule 2023: Complete list of ABC, ESPN, CBS, Ion TV & Paramount plus games

Sara Tidwell

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WNBA national TV schedule 2023: Complete list of ABC, ESPN, CBS, Ion TV & Paramount plus games image

The WNBA has bumped its schedule capacity to 40 games per team this year, and fans of the league will be able to watch a record-high 205 of those games live.

The league partnered with CBS/Paramount+, CBS Sports Network, Ion, NBA TV, Twitter, Amazon Prime Video, Meta Quest, and the ESPN family of networks, including ABC, ESPN2, ESPN3 and ESPN+.

WNBA League Pass will also provide 150 live games to its subscribers, but local blackouts apply.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Englebert said in a press release:

Providing our passionate, growing fan base with increased opportunities to view WNBA games and related content across traditional as well as streaming and social platforms continues to be a primary focus. And we are doing just that from tip-off weekend in May through our postseason in October as our broadcast and streaming partners continue to offer an enormous national platform for WNBA players and fans. Following an offseason of unprecedented player movement, we are extremely pleased to announce the full 2023 broadcast and streaming schedule, and we’re not done yet as we will continue to look for innovative and creative ways to shape the WNBA fan experience and the landscape of media and content consumption.”

With tip-off set for Friday, May 19 at 7 p.m., The Sporting News went ahead and laid out the complete national TV schedule for the WNBA's 27th annual season.

WNBA national broadcast schedule 2023

All tipoffs listed are in ET, and the full schedule for the season can be viewed on the WNBA website.

Appointment viewing is a new concept the WNBA is trying out this year to raise viewership, synonymous with what other professional leagues like the NFL and NBA have done. According to a press release from the league, this will be done via:

  • Thursdays on Prime
  • Fridays on ION
  • Weekends on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and CBS Television Network

MORE: Watch select WNBA regular season games with Sling TV

Here's the full national TV schedule:

ESPN / ESPN2 / ABC

There will be 25 games split between ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC, the league announced earlier this year. There will be four marquee games opening weekend and history will be made when the All-Star Game is hosted for the first time on primetime on ABC on July 15.

The ESPN family of networks will also be broadcasting up to 27 games from the WNBA Playoffs, including the finals. For extra entertainment, the Skills Challenge and Three-Point Contest will be aired on ESPN on July 14.

Additionally, the WNBA Countdown — the pregame show from last season — will be available with at least 10 editions airing ahead of game broadcasts.

Here is their full slate:

  • ABC games
  • ESPN games
  • ESPN2 games
  • ESPN3 games
DateMatchupTime (ET)
May 19Phoenix Mercury at Los Angeles Sparks11 p.m.
May 20Las Vega Aces at Seattle Storm3 p.m.
 Atlanta Dream at Dallas Wings1 p.m.
May 21Chicago Sky at Phoenix Mercury 4 p.m.
May 30Minnesota Lynx at Dallas Wings8 p.m.
 New York Liberty at Seattle Storm9 p.m.
June 11Dallas Wings at New York Liberty1 p.m.
 Chicago Sky at Las Vegas Aces3 p.m.
 Connecticut Sun at Atlanta Dream4 p.m.
 Washington Mystics at Seattle Storm3 p.m.
June 25Chicago Sky at Connecticut Sun1 p.m.
 Washington Mystics at New York Liberty1 p.m.
 Dallas Wings at Los Angeles Sparks3 p.m.
July 1Connecticut Sun at Las Vegas Aces3 p.m.
July 2Los Angeles Sparks at Atlanta Dream3 p.m.
 Chicago Sky at Indiana Fever4 p.m.
 Washington Mystics at Dallas Wings3 p.m.
July 8Seattle Storm at New York Liberty1:30 p.m.
July 9Washington Mystics at Connecticut Sun3 p.m.
 Dallas Wings at Indiana Fever4 p.m.
July 22Connecticut Sun at Atlanta Dream1 p.m.
 Las Vegas Aces at Minnesota Lynx3 p.m.
July 25Phoenix Mercury at Atlanta Dream7 p.m.
 Seattle Storm at New York Liberty7 p.m.
 Las Vegas Aces at Chicago Sky7 p.m.
 Connecticut Sun at Dallas Wings8 p.m.
July 30Washington Mystics at Atlanta Dream3 p.m.
 Seattle Storm at Indiana Fever4 p.m.
 Phoenix Mercury at Chicago Sky4 p.m.
 New York Liberty at Los Angeles Sparks4 p.m.
Aug. 1Minnesota Lynx at Connecticut Sun7 p.m.
 Phoenix Mercury at Indiana Fever7 p.m.
Aug. 6Indiana Fever at Atlanta Dream3 p.m.
 Las Vegas Aces at New York Liberty3 p.m.
 Los Angeles Sparks at Washington Mystics3 p.m.
 Chicago Sky at Dallas Wings4 p.m.
Aug. 13Chicago Sky at Washington Mystics3 p.m.
 New York Liberty at Indiana Fever3 p.m.
Aug. 19Los Angeles Sparks at Las Vegas Aces3 p.m.
Aug. 28Las Vegas Aces at New York Liberty7 p.m.
Sept. 3New York Liberty at Chicago Sky3 p.m.
 Indiana Fever at Dallas Wings4 p.m.
Sept. 10Phoenix Mercury at Las Vegas Aces3 p.m.
 Los Angeles Sparks at Seattle Storm3 p.m.

CBS

CBS, the home station of the NFL and some marquee college football games, reachable to many by cable antenna, will carry 40 games across their Television and Sports Network, as well as Paramount+.

Here is their full slate. All games listed are on CBS Sports unless bolded — those games are on CBS:

DateMatchupTime (ET)
May 25Las Vegas Aces at Los Angeles Sparks10 p.m.
May 27Connecticut Sun at New York Liberty1 p.m.
May 28Minnesota Lynx at Las Vegas Aces9 p.m.
June 3Seattle Storm at Los Angeles Sparks10 p.m.
June 4Chicago Sky at New York Liberty2 p.m.
 Las Vegas Aces at Indiana Fever4 p.m.
June 6Indiana Fever at Chicago Sky8 p.m.
 Los Angeles Sparks at Seattle Storm10 p.m.
June 11Phoenix Mercury at Indiana Fever5 p.m.
June 13Atlanta Dream at New York Liberty8 p.m.
 Seattle Storm at Phoenix Mercury10 p.m.
June 17Seattle Storm at Dallas Wings2 p.m.
June 18Phoenix Mercury at New York LibertyNoon
 Atlanta Dream at Indiana Fever4 p.m.
June 20Minnesota Lynx at Los Angeles Sparks10 p.m.
June 22Connecticut Sun at Minnesota Lynx8 p.m.
June 26Indiana Fever at Las Vegas Aces10 p.m.
June 27Seattle Storm at Minnesota Lynx8 p.m.
 Dallas Wings at Phoenix Mercury10 p.m.
June 29Minnesota Lynx at Seattle Storm10 p.m.
July 2New York Liberty at Seattle Storm6 p.m.
July 5Atlanta Dream at Los Angeles Sparks10 p.m.
July 11Phoenix Mercury at Las Vegas Aces10 p.m.
July 12Las Vegas Aces at Los Angeles Sparks10 p.m.
July 18Connecticut Sun at Phoenix Mercury10 p.m.
July 23Phoenix Mercury at Washington Mystics1 p.m.
July 30Minnesota Lynx at Connecticut Sun1 p.m.
 Dallas Wings at Las Vegas Aces6 p.m.
Aug. 2Dallas Wings at Seattle Storm10:30 p.m.
Aug. 8Las Vegas Aces at Dallas Wings8 p.m.
 Washington Mystics at Phoenix Mercury10 p.m.
Aug. 13Atlanta Dream at Las Vegas Aces9 p.m.
Aug. 22Las Vegas Aces at Atlanta Dream7 p.m.
Aug. 23Phoenix Mercury at Los Angeles Sparks10 p.m.
Aug. 27Los Angeles Sparks at Connecticut Sun1 p.m.
Aug. 29Chicago Sky at Los Angeles Sparks10:30 p.m.
Aug. 31Seattle Storm at Los Angeles Sparks10 p.m.
Sept. 5New York Liberty at Dallas Wings8 p.m.
 Washington Mystics at Phoenix Mercury10 p.m.
Sept. 10Chicago Sky at Connecticut Sun1 p.m.

ION

ION will air 44 games courtesy of a shiny new deal between the broadcast giant and the league. The WNBA is the first league to air on this platform, and their "Friday Night Spotlight" will adhere to appointment viewing, meaning fans can expect to sit down on the couch every Friday and catch a game or two.

ION is home to several well-known shows, including NCIS, Blue Bloods, Chicago P.D. and Fire, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU and Bones. If you're a fan of Elena Delle Donne, ION is the place to be, with 12 Washington Mystics games scheduled to air here.

MORE: WNBA's new TV deal, explained: 3 reasons why the partnership with Ion is a win for the league

Here is their full slate:

DateMatchupTime (ET)
May 26Washington Mystics at Chicago Sky8 p.m.
 Dallas Wings at Seattle Storm10 p.m.
June 2Dallas Wings at Washington Mystics7 p.m.
 Las Vegas Aces at Atlanta Dream7:30 p.m.
 New York Liberty at Chicago Sky6 p.m.
 Los Angeles Sparks at Phoenix Mercury10 p.m.
June 9New York Liberty at Atlanta Dream7:30 p.m.
 Phoenix Mercury at Dallas Wings8 p.m.
 Indiana Fever at Minnesota Lynx8 p.m.
 Chicago Sky at Los Angeles Sparks10 p.m.
 Washington Mystics at Seattle Storm10 p.m.
June 16Phoenix Mercury at Washington Mystics7 p.m.
 Minnesota Lynx at Los Angeles Sparks10 p.m.
June 23New York Liberty at Atlanta Dream7: 30 p.m.
 Dallas Wings at Los Angeles Sparks10 p.m.
June 30Washington Mystics at Atlanta Dream7:30 p.m.
 Los Angeles Sparks at Chicago Sky8 p.m.
July 7Indiana Fever at Washington Mystics7 p.m.
 Atlanta Dream at Chicago Sky8 p.m.
 Las Vegas Aces at Dallas Wings8 p.m.
 Phoenix Mercury at Minnesota Lynx8 p.m.
July 21New York Liberty at Washington Mystics7 p.m.
July 28Seattle Storm at Chicago Sky8 p.m.
 Washington Mystics at Dallas Wings8 p.m.
Aug. 4Connecticut Sun at Indiana Fever7 p.m.
 Los Angeles Sparks at Washington Mystics7 p.m.
 Chicago Sky at Dallas Wings8 p.m.
 New York Liberty at Minnesota Lynx8 p.m.
Aug. 11Chicago Sky at New York Liberty7:30 p.m.
 Washington Mystics at Las Vegas Aces10 p.m.
Aug. 18Dallas Wings at Connecticut Sun7 p.m.
 Washington Mystics at Indiana Fever7 p.m.
 Chicago Sky at Atlanta Dream7:30 p.m.
 New York Liberty at Phoenix Mercury10 p.m.
 Minnesota Lynx at Seattle Storm10 p.m.
Aug. 25Los Angeles Sparks at Atlanta Dream7:30 p.m.
Sept. 1Dallas Wings at Indiana Fever7 p.m.
 Connecticut Sun at New York Liberty7:30 p.m.
 Atlanta Dream at Minnesota Lynx8 p.m.
Sept. 8Indiana Fever at Connecticut Sun7 p.m.
 Atlanta Dream at Washington Mystics7 p.m.
 Minnesota Lynx at Chicago Sky8 p.m.
 Seattle Storm at Dallas Wings8 p.m.
 Las Vegas Aces at Phoenix Mercury10 p.m.

NBA TV

NBA TV is in its 21st season of WNBA coverage and will provide 43 games this year, the second most of any platform. Indiana will be their main focus with 10 games, due to the young and talented roster and its inclusion of South Carolina icon Aliyah Boston. They will broadcast Indiana's game against the Dream, where last year's Rookie of the Year Rhyne Howard will face off with Boston, the favorite to win it this year.

Here is their full slate:

DateMatchupTime (ET)
May 19New York Liberty at Washington Mystics7 p.m.
May 28Indiana Fever at Atlanta Dream3 p.m.
June 4Dallas Wings at Connecticut Sun1 p.m.
June 14Los Angeles Sparks at Dallas Wings1 p.m.
June 20Atlanta Dream at Dallas Wings8 p.m.
 Connecticut Sun at Seattle Storm10 p.m.
June 21Las Vegas Aces at Phoenix Mercury3:30 p.m.
June 24Indiana Fever at Las Vegas Aces9 p.m.
June 27New York Liberty at Connecticut Sun7 p.m.
June 28Los Angeles Sparks at Chicago SkyNoon
 Atlanta Dream at Washington Mystics7 p.m.
June 29Indiana Fever at Phoenix Mercury10 p.m.
July 1Minnesota Lynx at Phoenix Mercury10 p.m.
July 12New York Liberty at Indiana FeverNoon
July 18Minnesota Lynx at Atlanta Dream7 p.m.
July 19Dallas Wings at New York Liberty1 p.m.
July 20Atlanta Dream at Connecticut Sun11:30 a.m.
 Chicago Sky at Phoenix Mercury10 p.m.
July 22Chicago Sky at Seattle Storm9 p.m.
July 23Indiana Fever at New York Liberty3 p.m.
July 25Indiana Fever at Los Angeles Sparks10 p.m.
July 26Washington Mystics at Minnesota Lynx8 p.m.
July 27Indiana Fever at Los Angeles Sparks3:30 p.m.
Aug. 1New York Liberty at Los Angeles Sparks10 p.m.
Aug. 5Seattle Storm at Phoenix Mercury10 p.m.
Aug. 8Connecticut Sun at Seattle Storm3 p.m.
 Minnesota Lynx at Chicago Sky8 p.m.
Aug. 10Atlanta Dream at Seattle Storm10 p.m.
Aug. 13Phoenix Mercury at Seattle Storm6 p.m.
Aug. 20Dallas Wings at Washington Mystics3 p.m.
 Connecticut Sun at Chicago Sky5 p.m.
 Seattle Storm at Minnesota Lynx7 p.m.
Aug. 22Connecticut Sun at Washington Mystics7 p.m.
Aug. 24Las Vegas Aces at Chicago Sky8 p.m.
Aug. 26Las Vegas Aces at Washington Mystics7 p.m.
Aug. 27Atlanta Dream at Indiana Fever4 p.m.
 Dallas Wings at Phoenix Mercury6 p.m.
Aug. 29Minnesota Lynx at Washington Mystics7 p.m.
Sept. 2Seattle Storm at Las Vegas Aces9 p.m.
Sept. 3Phoenix Mercury at Minnesota Lynx7 p.m.
Sept. 5Chicago Sky at Indiana Fever7 p.m.
Sept. 6Seattle Storm at Atlanta Dream7 p.m.
Sept. 10Washington Mystics at New York Liberty1 p.m.

Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video will offer 21 games, including the Commissioner's Cup Championship Game on Aug. 15. 21 games will be featured in the participating teams' markets through their local broadcast partners.

The platform will also feature two of the season's superteam matchups — the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces — when they face each other in both June and August.

Here is their full slate:

DateMatchupTime (ET)
May 25Minnesota Lynx at Phoenix Mercury10 p.m.
June 1Connecticut Sun at Minnesota Lynx8 p.m.
June 8Las Vegas Aces at Connecticut Sun7 p.m.
June 15Atlanta Dream at Connecticut Sun7 p.m.
 Seattle Storm at Las Vegas Aces10 p.m.
June 22Washington Mystics at Chicago Sky8 p.m.
 Indiana Fever at Seattle Storm10 p.m.
June 29New York Liberty at Las Vegas Aces10 p.m.
July 6Seattle Storm at Connecticut Sun7 p.m.
July 20Los Angeles Sparks at Minnesota Lynx8 p.m.
 Las Vegas Aces at Seattle Storm10 p.m.
July 27Atlanta Dream at New York Liberty7 p.m.
Aug. 3Atlanta Dream at Phoenix Mercury10 p.m.
Aug. 10Minnesota Lynx at Indiana Fever7 p.m.
 Connecticut Sun at Phoenix Mercury10 p.m.
Aug. 15Commissioner's Cup ChampionshipTBD
Aug. 17New York Liberty at Las Vegas Aces10 p.m.
Aug. 24New York Liberty at Connecticut Sun7 p.m.
Aug. 31Phoenix Mercury at Connecticut Sun7 p.m.
 Washington Mystics at Las Vegas Aces10 p.m.
Sept. 7Los Angeles Sparks at New York Liberty7 p.m.

Meta Quest

Meta Quest has been given 20 games to showcase. But, like me, I'm sure you're wondering what the heck this platform even is.

It's a virtual reality headset, created by Facebook... Interesting concept, VR basketball. Minnesota Lynx and Indiana Fever fans will benefit the most, with eight and six of their games respectively being broadcast here.

The league and Meta, who is now an official marketing partner of the league, have signed a multiyear partnership making this an annual thing, and making Meta the official VR headset of the WNBA.

Here is their full slate:

DateMatchupTime (ET)
May 19Chicago Sky at Minnesota Lynx8 p.m.
May 21Indiana Fever at New York Liberty2 p.m.
May 23Atlanta Dream at Minnesota Lynx8 p.m.
May 30Chicago Sky at Atlanta Dream7 p.m.
June 7Minnesota Lynx at New York Liberty7 p.m.
June 11Los Angeles Sparks at Minnesota Lynx7 p.m.
June 13Washington Mystics at Indiana Fever7 p.m.
June 18Chicago Sky at Washington Mystics3 p.m.
June 24Phoenix Mercury at Seattle Storm9 p.m.
July 5Phoenix Mercury at New York Liberty7 p.m.
July 9Los Angeles Sparks at Phoenix Mercury6 p.m.
July 12Dallas Wings at Minnesota Lynx1 p.m.
July 22Los Angeles Sparks at Dallas Wings8 p.m.
Aug. 8Los Angeles Sparks at Indiana Fever7 p.m.
Aug. 20Indiana Fever at Phoenix Mercury6 p.m.
Aug. 22Dallas Wings at Minnesota Lynx8 p.m.
Aug. 24Seattle Storm at Indiana Fever7 p.m.
Aug. 26New York Liberty at Minnesota Lynx8 p.m.
Sept. 5Los Angeles Sparks at Connecticut Sun7 p.m.
Sept. 10Minnesota Lynx at Indiana Fever1 p.m.

Twitter

Elon Musk's blue bird app gets custody of 12 games. There are special perks about the Twitter games, the biggest being that when fans tweet about a team, the tweet can and will be incorporated into the action-packed game-day livestreams.

11 teams will have games presented under #WNBATwitterLive, which will also provide game highlights and postgame interviews.

Here is their full slate:

DateMatchupTime (ET)
May 21Indiana Fever at New York Liberty2 p.m.
May 23Atlanta Dream at Minnesota Lynx8 p.m.
May 30Chicago Sky at Atlanta Dream7 p.m.
June 13Washington Mystics at Indiana Fever7 p.m.
June 18Chicago Sky at Washington Mystics3 p.m.
June 24Phoenix Mercury at Seattle Storm9 p.m.
July 5Phoenix Mercury at New York Liberty7 p.m.
July 12Dallas Wings at Minnesota Lynx1 p.m.
July 22Los Angeles Sparks at Dallas Wings8 p.m.
Aug. 22Dallas Wings at Minnesota Lynx8 p.m.
Aug. 24Seattle Storm at Indiana Fever7 p.m.
Sept. 5Los Angeles Sparks at Connecticut Sun7 p.m.

 

Sara Tidwell

Sara Tidwell is an editorial intern with The Sporting News. A native to Michigan's Thumb region, she received her Bachelor's degree in journalism from Michigan State University. Previous bylines include the Detroit News, Cincinnati Enquirer, Hartford Courant and The State News.