You wake up, grab your coffee, and check the scores. But wait. It’s January. Usually, this is the time of year when WNBA stars are either overseas in Turkey or Italy, or maybe just catching up on sleep after a grueling summer.
Not anymore.
If you’re looking for who plays today in the WNBA, you’re going to find a landscape that’s shifting under your feet. Technically, the "WNBA" season hasn't started yet—that's a May thing. But the players? They are absolutely on the court right now.
The January Reality: Who Plays Today in the WNBA Offseason?
Honestly, the old "offseason" is basically dead. Today, Friday, January 16, 2026, the traditional WNBA schedule is empty, but the league's biggest names are headlining the Unrivaled basketball league in Miami.
It’s a 3-on-3 format, and it’s fast. Like, really fast.
If you're looking for a game tonight, here is what the court looks like in Miami:
- 7:30 PM ET: Laces BC vs. Phantom BC
- 8:45 PM ET: Hive BC vs. Rose BC
These aren't "minor league" rosters. You've got players like Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, and Kelsey Plum running these squads. It’s the answer to the age-old problem of players having to go to Russia or China just to make a living in the winter. Now, they stay in Florida, play on a shortened court, and get paid equity in the league.
Why the 2026 Schedule is Currently a Mess
You might have heard the rumblings. The WNBA is in a weird spot right now. The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) actually expired just a few days ago, on January 9.
Because of that, we are in a "status quo" period.
What does that mean for you? It means while we know the Toronto Tempo and the Portland Fire are joining the league this year, the official 44-game (or maybe 50-game!) schedule is still being hammered out. The league is expanding to 15 teams. That is a massive logistical nightmare when you're also arguing over $10 million salary caps and charter flights.
Expansion Fever: Toronto and Portland
When the real season tips off in May, the map looks different.
- Toronto Tempo: Canada finally got its team. After that preseason game in Toronto shattered records a couple of years ago, it was a no-brainer.
- Portland Fire: They’re back. Rip City is getting WNBA basketball again, and the rivalry with the Seattle Storm is already heating up on social media.
The expansion draft is the next big hurdle. Every team can only protect a few players, which means some massive names—names you probably have jerseys for—are going to be wearing Toronto or Portland colors by springtime.
The "Project B" Factor
There’s also this new thing called Project B. It’s a 5-on-5 global tour. They just announced a stop in Tokyo for late March.
This is where it gets tricky for the WNBA. If the WNBA tries to start training camps in mid-March, as some owners want, it clashes directly with these international tours. Players are basically being forced to choose between the traditional league and these high-paying startup tournaments.
Is There a Game Tonight?
If you are looking at a sportsbook or a TV guide for "WNBA" specifically today, you'll see zeros. But if you flip over to TNT or whatever streaming service is carrying Unrivaled, you’ll see the best players in the world.
Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark (if she's not golfing) have changed the gravity of this sport. People want to see them year-round. That's why this January schedule exists. It’s high-intensity, high-stakes, and frankly, it's a lot more fun than watching a blowout in the NBA mid-season.
Your Next Steps for Following the Action
Stop checking the old WNBA app for today's scores; it won't update until the draft. Instead, do this:
- Check the Unrivaled Schedule: They play Friday through Monday. Tonight’s double-header in Miami starts at 7:30 PM ET.
- Watch the CBA News: The "status quo" period means a strike or lockout is technically possible, though most experts think the 2026 season will start on time in May.
- Follow the Expansion Draft: Keep an eye on the "Protected Lists." This is where you'll see if your favorite team is about to lose a starter to Toronto or Portland.
The league is growing faster than the infrastructure can sometimes handle, but for fans, it just means more basketball in months where we used to have none.