How to watch WNBA games on Ion TV: Full schedule, live streams & more for new Friday night broadcasts

Contributor
Sara Tidwell
How to watch WNBA games on Ion TV: Full schedule, live streams & more for new Friday night broadcasts image

The WNBA and Ion TV are partnering up this season to bring fans a new feature, the "Friday Night Spotlight."

Throughout the league's 27th season, Ion TV will broadcast a handful of key WNBA games nationally, beginning Friday, May 26 when the Mystics take on the Sky and the Wings take on the Storm.

The deal will bring a new level of growth to the league that's been pushing for expansion in recent years through what's famously known as appointment viewing. This is what other leagues have been doing, including NBA Thursdays on TNT and NFL Sundays on NBC.

MORE: WNBA's new TV deal, explained

Here's everything you need to know about the WNBA on Ion TV, a new weekly fixture going into the league's second quarter century.

What channel is Ion TV?

There are dozens of markets that carry Ion TV on cable. Below are some of the biggest, and the complete list can be found here:

MarketAffiliate StationChannel
Atlanta, Ga.WPXA-TV14
Boston, Mass.WDPX-TV58
 WBPX-TV68
 WPXG-TV21
Chicago, Ill.WCPX-TV38
Dallas, TexasKPXD-TV68
Houston, TexasKPXB-TV49
Jacksonville, Fla.WPXC-TV21
Knoxville, Tenn.WPXK-TV54
Las Vegas, N.V.KMCC(TV)34
Los Angeles, Calif.KPXN-TV30
 KILM(TV)64
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Fla.WPXM-TV35
Milwaukee, Wis.WPXE-TV55
Minneapolis-St. Pail, Minn.KPXM-TV41
Nashville, Tenn.WNPX-TV28
New Orleans, La.WPXL-TV49
New York, N.Y.WPXN-TV31
Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne, Fla.  
Philadelphia, Penn.WPPX-TV61
Pittsburgh, Penn.WINP-TV16
Salt Lake City, UtahKUPX-TV16
San Antonio, TexasKPXL-TV26
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif.KKPX-TV65
Seattle-Tacoma, Wash.KWPX-TV33
St. Louis, Miss.WRBU(TV)46
Tampa-St. Petersburg, Fla.WXPX-TV66
Washington, D.C.WPXW-TV66
 WWPX-TV60

In addition, you can go to the platform's official website to find your local providers and their channels based on your zip code.

How to live stream WNBA on Ion TV for free without cable

    If you're a household that's gone cord free in recent years, there's still a variety of options that will allow you to access Ion TV and the WNBA's Friday night spotlight games live, including Fubo, which is offering a free seven-day trial for new subscribers.

    Streaming optionCable subscription needed?Free?CostFree trial?
    FuboNoNo$74.99/monthYes
    Hulu + Live TVNoNo$69.99/monthYes
    DirecTV StreamNoNo$74.99/monthYes
    YouTube TVNoNo$72.99/monthYes

    MORE: Watch Ion TV's WNBA Friday night games on Fubo (free trial included)

    WNBA on Ion TV national schedule

    Ion TV will air 44 games, courtesy of the new deal between the broadcaster and the league. The WNBA is the first professional league to air on this platform, and their "Friday Night Spotlight" will allow fans a chance to sit down on the couch and catch a game or two at the end of every week.

    MORE: WNBA national TV schedule 2023

    Here is their 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.

    When does the WNBA on Ion TV start?

    • Date: Friday, May 26
    • Time: 8 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. CT

    The WNBA officially kicked off its opening weekend with high-pressure games, including Brittney Griner's return to the Phoenix Mercury and the Seattle Storm's first debut without their rockstars Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart.

    "Friday Night Spotlight" with Ion TV will begin on Friday, May 26 when the Washington Mystics travel to the Chicago Sky. There will be a second game as the Seattle Storm hosts the Dallas Wings.

    Both games on the first Ion TV Friday are Commissioners Cup games.

    The WNBA season is playing a record number of games this year, 40 per team with 20 away and 20 home appearances each, and will stretch until Sept. 10.

    MORE: The ultimate WNBA guide for the 2023 season