The 2026 WNBA season, the league's 30th, began on May 8 with a major expansion to 15 teams, welcoming the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo following last year's addition of the Golden State Valkyries. A dramatic storyline is the Connecticut Sun's farewell season in Uncasville, as Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta purchased the franchise to relocate it to Houston and revive the Comets. Meanwhile, the Chicago Sky will host the 2026 All-Star Game at the United Center on July 25, with the three-point and skills contests taking place the day before at Wintrust Arena. After months of intense negotiations that included player strike authorization, the WNBA and players' union ratified a new CBA on March 24, ensuring the regular season started on time. In the draft lottery, the Dallas Wings secured the first overall pick for a second consecutive year, with the expansion draft held on April 3 and the main 2026 WNBA draft on April 13.