For the first time, five German players in the WNBAtwo new teams, the Basketball World Cup in Germany as a showcase – the US professional women’s basketball league is booming and starting the new season.
New season in the WNBA – starts on May 8th, playoffs from September 27th
The new season in the WNBA starts on Friday, May 8th with three games. The first top game is coming up on Saturday Las Vegas Aces celebrate their title win in front of their home crowd with a new edition of the final duel from last year against Phoenix Mercury. After Allstar-Weekend (July 25th/26th) is on August 2nd Trade deadline to. On August 31st, the WNBA will take a two-week break from play for the Basketball World Cup in Berlin, where the US star players will also appear. The start of the playoffs is scheduled for September 27th.
Fiebich, Sabally and Co. – the German players in the WNBA
The WNBA teams have five German players under contract in the new season – more than ever before in the US professional league. The two biggest names in German women’s basketball will play together in the future New York Liberty: Satou Saballyselected number two behind Sabrina Ionescu in the 2020 draft, has moved to New York to join the team Leonie Fiebich. Fiebich, the playmaker for the DBB team, won the title in her first WNBA season with the Liberty in 2024, together with Nyara Sabally. Satou’s sister has moved on to Toronto for the new season, to one of the two new teams in the WNBA. She was selected in the so-called “Expansion Draft” as well Luisa Geiselsöderanother national player: Geiselsöder, previously in Dallas, will strengthen the team in the future Portland Fire. Playing in Portland in the future too Frieda Bühner. The 21-year-old, currently the biggest German talent, has recommended herself for the WNBA draft with a very strong season in Spain and was selected by Portland as “Development players” signed.
Frieda Bühner before her debut season in the WNBA
15 teams in the WNBA – with Portland and Toronto as new franchises
After a new team, Golden State, came into the WNBA last year, the booming US professional league will be joined by the Portland Fire in the new season Toronto Pace expanded by two teams to now 15 teams. League commissioner Cathy Engelbert had announced that a 16th team should be added by 2028. The regular season now extends over 30 game days for the first time. Because of the league’s expansion, an “expansion draft” was held in which the two new franchises from Portland and Toronto were able to use separate access rights to available players from existing teams.
Million dollar contracts and more TV money – the WNBA is booming
The punctual start of the new season was in jeopardy for a long time due to the dispute over a new framework collective agreement, the so-called collective bargaining agreement, Star players even threatened to go on strike. It was only at the last minute that an agreement was reached between the league and the union that guaranteed the players significantly higher salaries, up to a maximum of $1.7 million. In addition, the players will have a greater share of the booming league’s overall revenue than before. The new media deal alone is expected to bring the WNBA a total of $2.2 billion over eleven years. In the USA, WNBA games will be loud in the future “ESPN” announcement broadcast during primetime on Sunday evening.
Who are the favorites?
The Las Vegas Aces have won the title in three of the past four seasons. The team around superstar A’ja Wilson is also the top favorite in the coming season. The first challengers are the New York Liberty with the two top German players Fiebich and Sabally, the experienced Breanna Stewart and shooting queen Sabrina Ionescu. US experts also have chances of winning the title Atlanta Dream with poster girl Angel Reese and Indiana Fever admitted, with stars Sophie Cunningham and Caitlin Clark. But Caitlin Clark in particular has to be spared from injuries this time.
Who broadcasts the WNBA?
The games of the US professional women’s basketball league will also be shown live in Germany. The pay channel Sky broadcasts up to four games per week during the regular season. The final series will be broadcast completely live.
