How and Where to Watch Every WNBA Game This Season (2024)

Read on to learn how to "uncomplicate" your watch needs.

Author

The Weekly Assist
May 15, 2024

How and Where to Watch Every WNBA Game This Season (2024)

First things first: the easiest way to watch the majority of WNBA games is to buy WNBA League Pass, the league’s streaming service. 

It’s only $34.99 for the year, which brings your monthly total out to less than $3 a month. It’s a great deal. And a great way to support the league.

The simplest option: Get WNBA League Pass for $34.99/year and watch most games live (and all games on-demand)

But here’s the one problem with league pass: 

You won’t be able to watch games affected by national and local blackouts live (but you can watch them on-demand on League Pass after the games are over). 

What are national blackouts?

National blackouts are when a national channel has exclusive rights to broadcast a game and you can only watch that game on that national channel. 

Which means that WNBA games airing on ESPN, ESPN 2, ABC, CBS, CBS Sports Network must be watched live on those channels. Check the WNBA schedule to see which games this applies to. 

If you don’t have a cable TV provider that offers those channels, here are the best streaming services that do:

Games airing on Amazon Prime will also be blacked out in League Pass and can only be watched with an Amazon Prime Video subscription ($8.99/month, unless you already have a Prime Membership, in which case it’s included).

The most complete option: Pair League Pass with either Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV or Fubo TV, and add Amazon Prime Video to watch all nationally broadcast games for a total of $85-92/month.

But, if you don’t want to spend almost $100 extra a month, here are some other options for catching nationally broadcast games: 

  • Find a friend who has the required cable or streaming service and convince them to have a watch party (or just show up at their door with snacks at game time)

  • Find a local sports bar where you can watch WNBA games. If they don’t play WNBA games, ask them to. You may need to mobilize a bigger group to convince them women’s sports can be good for business. 

What are local blackouts?

Local blackouts are when a local channel has exclusive rights to broadcast a game, so you must watch games on that channel. 

This only applies to you if you are “in-market” for one of the 12 WNBA teams. If you’re not in-market for any teams, you will not experience any local blackouts.

Check your zip code on the WNBA website to find out if you are in-market for any teams (and keep in mind you could be in-market for multiple teams).

If you check your zip code and it says “you will be unable to view certain Live Sparks games”, for example, that means you are in-market for the Los Angeles Sparks. And that means you must watch all of their games (that are not nationally broadcast) with the local provider. Those games will be blacked out in League Pass. 

Take a look at this game:

The “Restrictions Apply” under the League Pass logo is referring to the fact that for in-market Mystics and Sparks fans, they will have to watch the game on local TV (on Monumental Sports Network Streaming and Spectrum SportsNet respectively). 

If you’re in-market for a team and you want to watch their games, you have some options:

  • If you don’t care about watching games live, you can watch the games on-demand on League Pass after they’re over. 

  • If you want to watch live, you’ll have to phone a friend, find a sports bar, or get the required service to watch your local channel (stay tuned for our upcoming guide on where and how to watch in-market games for all 12 WNBA teams).

But what if you just want to watch a few games cheaply? 

One cost-saving option is to get an over-the-air antenna. Just check your zip code here to see what channels you can get in your area for free. You’ll be able to get some local and national games for the one-time cost of the antenna (~$20-$40).

But, if you just want to check out some games for free, you can watch Friday night games broadcast on ION by signing up for Plex, Tubi, Freevee, or PlutoTV. 

The cheapest option: Sign up for Plex, Tubi, Freevee, or PlutoTV and watch Friday night games for free on ION. 

In our opinion, getting WNBA League Pass is a no brainer. But the rest is completely up to you.

So if you’re like some of us, and getting into sports for the first time (maybe ever in your entire life), you’re probably asking: why is it like this?  

Isn’t this… I don’t know… unnecessarily complicated?

The short answer: yes!

The WNBA broadcast schedule is unnecessarily confusing because it is designed to promote TV channels, NOT to make life easier for fans. 

So whatever you do, don’t let the convoluted rules of sports broadcasting keep you from watching the WNBA. Find what works for you and enjoy the game. 

And, if you want gametime alerts that send you the right link at the right time, then make sure to fill out our gametime preferences survey.

When you do, you’ll get gametime notifications with your personalized when you want them sent straight to your phone or inbox at the times you request.

And, these notifications will include a customized link tailored to your watch preferences.

Now doesn’t that sound totally UNCOMPLICATED?

You’re welcome… and welcome to The Weekly Assist!  

Happy watching,

The Weekly Assist Team