The Ultimate Guide to Streaming WNBA Games in 2025 – All Free and Paid Options

The WNBA is back and more popular than ever. With rising stars like Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, Aliyah Boston, and #1 draft choice Paige Bueckers, the league is finally having its moment in the sun. Thankfully, the games are widely available. It might get tricky or expensive if you need to see every game of a team, but you’ll be able to watch a lot of women’s basketball on most live TV streamers.

In 2025, the WNBA Finals will be a best-of-seven format for the first time in league history. This season also brings the first expansion team in 17 years: the Golden State Valkyries.

Streaming Nationally Televised WNBA Games

The league has several national broadcast partners. The linear channels you’ll need are:

• ABC/ESPN3: 13 games, All-Star Game
• ESPN:13 games
• CBS: 8 games
• CBS Sports Network: 12 games
• ION: 50 games
• NBA TV: 40 games

If you want a service with all of those channels, choose DIRECTV, Fubo, or YouTube TV.

Any game on ABC will also be available on ESPN+ and ESPN3.

The playoffs will appear on ABC and ESPN.

Prime Video carries 21 exclusive games and the Commissioner’s Cup Championship. You can watch with a 30-day free trial.

$8.99/mo.

Get 30 Days Free

How to Watch WNBA Games for Free

It’s easy to watch WNBA games for free. Not all games have a free option, but the majority do. Here’s what to consider.

Watching WNBA with an Antenna

Thankfully, most local WNBA teams offer free broadcasts over the air. Just fire up your antenna and choose the local partner listed above. You should be able to access ABC, CBS, and ION in most markets.

Need an antenna? Here’s one we recommend.

Watching WNBA Games with Totally Free Streaming Services

You can watch every Friday night doubleheader on ION with multiple free services:

• Plex
• Pluto TV
• The Roku Channel
• Sling Freestream
• Tubi
• Xumo Play

Choosing Free Trials for Short-Term WNBA Access

Most live TV providers offer free trials.

• DIRECTV offers all the WNBA channels and you can watch free for 5 days.
• Hulu + Live TV is missing NBA TV and ION, but you can watch the other games free for 3 days.
• YouTube TV has a free trial and includes all the channels you need.
• Fubo‘s free trial is 5 days, and has all the WNBA channels.
• Prime Video will give you 30 days free to watch its exclusive games.
• Minnesota Lynx fans can watch FanDuel Sports Network North free for 7 days.

Regional Sports Networks and Regional WNBA Streamers

The easiest way to stream the WNBA’s regional broadcasts is to start with a live TV provider. Five WNBA teams offer standalone streaming options.

Out-of-Market WNBA Streaming

If you live away from your favorite team’s home area, you’ll need WNBA League Pass. Start with 7 days free and then pay just $12.99/month. Subscribers will see over 200 games.

$12.99/mo.

Get 7 Days Free

Watching WNBA with DIRECTV

DIRECTV is your best bet for watching WNBA games because it carries every channel you need.

You also get 3 free months of Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ, MGM+, and Cinemax when you choose the Choice plan. It’s a great choice as a women’s basketball fan.

Watching WNBA with Fubo

Fubo carries all the national WNBA broadcasts. Choose the Elite plan if you want NBA TV.

Watching WNBA with Hulu + Live TV

Hulu + Live TV won’t give you NBA TV or ION, but you can watch games on the other channels.

Watching WNBA with Sling TV

Sling is one of my go-to live TV streamers, but I wouldn’t recommend it for WNBA. It doesn’t carry CBS or CBS Sports Network. ABC coverage is limited, but any games airing on that channel would be available with ESPN3.

If you use Sling Freestream, you can watch any games on ION for free.

Watching WNBA with YouTube TV

YouTube TV has all the national channels you need.

Watching WNBA with Prime Video

If you subscribe to Amazon Prime, you’ll get Prime Video for free. That service offers 21 exclusive games. Most are on Thursday nights. The first WNBA Prime Video game is May 22: Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream.

Watching WNBA with Peacock

New for 2025, Peacock is allowing fans in the NBC regional sports viewing areas to add their telecasts. You’ll need a standard Peacock subscription ($7.99/mo.) to access this option.

For the WNBA, this only helps fans of the Connecticut Sun. They can add NBC Sports Boston for $14.95/mo.

Why Choose a Streaming Service for WNBA?

Streaming is usually significantly cheaper than cable. You’ll also have greater channel flexibility so you only pay for what you want.

Importantly, there’s no contract with streaming! Sign up for one month or quit before your free trial expires. There’s no downside.

You also don’t need special cable boxes to stream baseball. You can watch with your smart TV, streaming device, phone, tablet, or computer. It’s ultimate flexibility at a better price.

Conclusion

For most basketball fans, a combination of DIRECTV and Prime Video is the best choice for the WNBA. To start the season, DIRECTV is offering $30 off your first month of the Choice package after a 5-day free trial.

ION is a crucial channel for WNBA games, but it’s widely available on free services.

$105.98/mo.

$75.98/mo.

Get 5 Days Free

JJ Piazza

JJ Piazza is Streaming Smarter’s sports expert. Born and raised in LA, he cheers for the Dodgers, Lakers, and USC Trojans. He cut the cord in 2015 and still misses PlayStation Vue. His favorite streaming service is DIRECTV.