The 2024 WNBA season is officially upon us, and along with it comes a fresh opportunity to preview the new season.  

From May 14 through May 21, enjoy a FREE League Pass preview with Tip-off Test Drive presented by CarMax – Stream these games in the Watch tab of the WNBA App with no subscription required. Download today to get ready to watch!

Tuesday, May 14th

New York Liberty @ Washington Mystics, 7 pm EST 

To start the WNBA season, we see the title-contending New York Liberty and a youthful Washington Mystics squad. Fresh off a trip to the WNBA Finals, New York seeks to build on last year’s success, and it will be critical to watch how they piece together a brand-new bench. For Washington, Brittney Sykes averaged 17.8 points per game against the Liberty: this is a great first test for either team.

Minnesota Lynx @ Seattle Storm, 10 pm EST

Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike make their debuts for Seattle, which is one of the most exciting storylines of the evening. Napheesa Collier and the Lynx look to build off last season’s promise and potential with a new look at guard and Alanna Smith in the frontcourt.

Wednesday, May 15th

Chicago Sky @ Dallas Wings, 8 pm EST

No. 7 overall pick Angel Reese plays her first game in the WNBA, and the Sky their first game in the Teresa Weatherspoon era. They’ll face a stiff test in a Wings team coming off of a deep playoff run. Who steps up alongside Arike Ogunbowale for Dallas with Satou Sabally sidelined?

Atlanta Dream @ Los Angeles Sparks, 10 pm EST

Rhyne Howard scored 43 points against the Sparks last season, which was one of the most electric performances of the W season. Watching Tina Charles in her first game with the Dream face off against the No. 2 and 4 picks, Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson should provide an enticing welcome to the WNBA.

Friday, May 17th

Washington Mystics @ Connecticut Sun, 7:30 pm EST

No. 6 overall pick Aaliyah Edwards makes her first return to Connecticut after a phenomenal career down the road at UConn. Budding star Shakira Austin will match up with one of the best frontcourts in the WNBA as Brionna Jones continues her return from last year’s Achilles injury. This Sun team is deep, versatile, and contending.

Seattle Storm @ Minnesota Lynx, 9:30 pm EST

The Lynx and Storm play twice in the opening week, as this matchup is the backend of a home-and-home series. These baseball series give us a glimpse at playoff basketball, with quick adjustments and strategy changes over a few days.

Saturday, May 18th

Chicago Sky @ Dallas Wings, 8 pm EST

In another early series, the Wings host the Sky for a second straight game. While the Wings are still very much the team that made the WNBA Semifinals, there are many tweaks around the roster, particularly at guard. Dana Evans made sizable strides overseas and will provide a tough challenge for Wings’ rookie guards, Jacy Sheldon and Sevgi Uzun.

Atlanta Dream @ Phoenix Mercury, 10 pm EST

New players are abundant on either roster, and it’ll be intriguing to watch how they grow into roles as the season progresses. Aerial Powers is in her first season with the Dream and could provide a significant scoring spark. For the Mercury, Natasha Cloud, Rebecca Allen, and Kahleah Copper are all new additions to the starting lineup. Phoenix is wildly talented, and they face a tough Atlanta team after a meeting with the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces to open the year.

Sunday, May 19th

Seattle Storm @ Washington Mystics, 3 pm EST

While these teams are very different now, it’s hard not to reminisce on the excellent playoff duel between these two franchises in 2022. I’m most eager to watch the backcourts match up, as Skylar Diggins-Smith and Jewell Loyd take on Brittney Sykes and Ariel Atkins. This is an excellent test for the Storm as they seek their stride.

Monday, May 20th

Seattle Storm @ New York Liberty, 7 pm EST

I’m most excited about this game across the entire CarMax free game slate, a matchup of two contenders. It’s worth noting that Nneka Ogwumike met with the Liberty in free agency. Breann Stewart moved to New York in free agency last season in a star-studded move, These franchises are inextricably linked at the moment, and I sense a potential rivalry between us!

Tuesday, May 21st

Dallas Wings @ Atlanta Dream, 7:30 pm EST

In a rematch of last season’s first-round series, we get a significant early test for the Atlanta Dream and their off-season additions and growth. This free agency period was about taking the next step for the Dream; does the offense take a step forward? Do things tighten up defensively? What young players take steps? This team is budding with potential, and it’ll be fun to watch how it culminates during the season. Also, please keep your eyes open for Wings’ rookie Jaelyn Brown, as she’ll likely spend significant time guarding Dream stars Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray.

Phoenix Mercury @ Las Vegas Aces, 10 pm EST

This is our first look at the reigning champs during the CarMax Tip-Off! As the Mercury continue to find their form, they’ll face the best team in the league for the second time in a week. The Aces keep finding subtle and significant ways to improve in all facets of the game. I’ll be keyed into how Las Vegas’ bench continues to round out, with rookies Kate Martin and Dyaisha Fair each making the team. Megan Gustafson provides a new look as a post option in the frontcourt and should be an excellent addition.

Washington Mystics @ Los Angeles Sparks, 10 pm EST

Dearica Hamby was dominant in the preseason for the Sparks, and three games into the season for Los Angeles, we’ll have a good feel if she’s in store for another All-Star season. I’ll also be excited to watch LA’s guards against Washington’s. Lexie Brown is back and healthy. Zia Cooke showed promise as a rookie and could take steps in year two. Layshia Clarendon was vital for this team at some point last season and is healthy again. Aari McDonald is on a new team for the first time in her career; how does she acclimate?

WNBA reporter Mark Schindler writes columns on WNBA.com throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at @MG_Schindler. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams