How many games are in the WNBA season?

The WNBA has come a long way since it debuted in the summer of 1997 with eight teams and a 28-game season. Heading into the 2024 season, it's 28th, the WNBA has never been bigger, more visible and more culturally relevant. It's also never covered as much of the calendar as it does right now.

The 2024 WNBA season will feature 40 games for each team but that wasn't always the case.

The WNBA season wasn't always 40 games

This will be the second 40-game season for the WNBA, reflecting the league's steady growth and expansion. The inaugural season was just 28 games long but the league immediately added games the next two seasons and it's only grown from there.

WNBA Season	Number of Games
1997	28
1998	30
1999	32
2000	32
2001	32
2002	32
2003	34
2004	34
2005	34
2006	34
2007	34
2008	34
2009	34
2010	34
2011	34
2012	34
2013	34
2014	34
2015	34
2016	34
2017	34
2018	34
2019	34
2020	22 COVID Bubble Season
2021	32
2022	36
2023	40
2024	40

With 12 teams in the league, every team does not play every opponent an even number of times. Each team will play the other 11 teams at least three teams and will play a fourth game against seven of those opponents.

The WNBA will also have a brand-new level of visibility this season with a slew of broadcast partners. Cable channel Ion will carry the most regular season games, at 43, while ESPN will carry the entirety of the WNBA Playoffs. But you can also catch regular-season games on NBATV, ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, Prime, CBS Sports and Paramount Plus, depending on the day.

Every game that's not available on a national television partner is also available on WNBA League Pass. A season-long subscription is just $34.99, a screaming deal that lets you watch every game for every team that's not televised on a national partner. In addition, you can watch full-game replays the next day, as well as classic games in their archive.

While WNBA teams will play the same number of games this season as last season, the time frame is very different, to accomodate a three-week break for the Paris Olympics in July and August. Here are the key dates for the 2024 WNBA season:

Key dates for the 2024 WNBA season

May 14: Opening Night
June 1-13: Commissioner's Cup Tournament
June 25: Commissioner's Cup Championship
July 18-21: WNBA All-Star Weekend
July 21-August 14: Olympic Break
August 19: WNBA Trade Deadline
September 19: End of the regular season
September 22: Playoffs begin
October 20: Latest possible Finals date

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