With the 2026 WNBA season officially underway, fans finally got their first real look at the league’s newest stars, revamped rosters, and championship contenders. Opening weekend brought breakout rookie performances, shocking upsets, electric crowds, and social media moments that immediately had the basketball world buzzing.
From Olivia Miles proving she belongs on the biggest stage to the Washington Mystics emerging as a potential sleeper team, here are the biggest takeaways from WNBA opening weekend.
Olivia Miles Proves Star Potential
One of the most eye-opening performances from a rookie this weekend came from Olivia Miles against the Atlanta Dream. Miles finished with 21 points, eight assists, and three rebounds while shooting 42.9% from the field and knocking down a 3-pointer to top it all off.
Miles did not just put together a strong stat line—she completely controlled the pace of the game. Her speed, shiftiness, and elite ball-handling immediately stood out against top defenders. Multiple possessions showcased her ability to create space off the dribble while threading difficult passes through traffic with confidence. Some would say she looked like Chelsea Gray out there with the way she was facilitating.
Her performance quickly became one of the most talked-about moments on WNBA social media during opening weekend, with fans praising her poise and explosiveness. The biggest takeaway? Although the Lynx dropped their season opener, the transition from college basketball to the WNBA may not take long for Miles at all.
Olivia Miles became the second player ever with at least 20 points and 8 assists in their debut, joining Hall of Famer Candace Parker in 2008.
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) May 10, 2026
Third most points scored (21) by a Lynx in their debut, tied with Maya Moore and Seimone Augustus. pic.twitter.com/0vcvPxnwZ4
The Washington Mystics may already be one of the most dangerous young teams in the league.
Their roster demonstrated versatility, defensive intensity, and chemistry throughout the opening weekend. Washington’s ability to push the pace offensively while defending at a high level made them difficult to contain for four quarters.
What makes the Mystics especially intriguing is their depth. Instead of relying on one superstar, they have multiple players like Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, and Shakira Austin who are capable of stepping up offensively on any given night. Given such frontcourt strength, the Mystics rank third in the league with 43 rebounds per game.
If their young core continues developing quickly, Washington could become one of the surprise playoff teams of the 2026 WNBA season. With the depth in bigs like Lauren Betts, it’s hard to count this team out. They won their opening-night game against the Toronto Tempo, with Citron leading the team with 26 points. Washington then took the New York Liberty, one of the WNBA's top teams, into overtime.
This Mystics team has so much potential that, despite its youth, it already looks like a legitimate early contender.
Indiana Fever Stunned at Home
One of the biggest headlines from opening weekend featured the Dallas Wings' victory over the Indiana Fever on the road.
Coming into the season, the Fever were once again among the most talked-about teams in basketball due to the star power surrounding Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and, after re-signing Kelsey Mitchell, Sophie Cunningham, and Lexie Hull.
The expectations placed on the roster are high, given how far Indiana advanced in the playoffs last season with multiple injuries. However, the opening weekend exposed early defensive concerns and highlighted late-game consistency issues. Saturday's game was the first 100-point season opener in WNBA history, as the Wings routed the Fever, 107-104.
WHAT A GAME BETWEEN THE FEVER AND WINGS 🍿
— ESPN (@espn) May 9, 2026
Kelsey Mitchell was this close to sending the game to OT 😱 pic.twitter.com/k0NMhElA5d
Although Clark and Mitchell weren't able to send the game into overtime with last-second 3-pointers, it was a high-scoring affair. Mitchell led all scorers with 30 points, while Boston tallied 23 points, four rebounds, three assists, and three steals. For Dallas, Bueckers, Odyssey Sims, and Arike Ogunbowale combined for 62 points. No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd scored three points on 1-of-2 shooting from the field in 18 minutes off the bench under head coach Jose Fernandez.
Clark struggled from the floor, shooting 7-of-18 and 2-of-9 from beyond the arc for 20 points, five rebounds, and seven assists. Saturday marked her first official game back on the hardwood since July 2025.
Despite the loss, the atmosphere surrounding Indiana remains unmatched. The Fever remain one of the league’s biggest draws, both in attendance and television viewership, showing the momentum the WNBA continues to build nationally.
Gabriela Jaquez: An Underrated Rookie to Watch
While many fans focused on the top rookie names entering the season, Gabriela Jaquez quietly showed why she may end up being one of the biggest steals of the 2026 WNBA Draft. In April, Jaquez was drafted No. 5 overall by the Chicago Sky.
Jaquez brings versatility on both ends of the floor, rebounds well for her position, and already looks comfortable within her team’s offensive system. She may not dominate headlines every night, but her all-around impact for Chicago could make her one of the most valuable role players in this rookie class.
5⃣ STRAIGHT PTS FOR THE ROOK
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 10, 2026
Gabriela Jaquez is havin’ her way, racking up five straight in the third and is up to 10 PTS!
POR-CHI I NBA TV I WNBA Tip-Off 2026 presented by @CarMax pic.twitter.com/ufMhT5SyIt
In her season debut, the former UCLA star recorded 10 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals while shooting 42.9 percent from the field and knocking down a 3-pointer in the Sky's 98-83 season victory over the Portland Fire.
As the season progresses, do not be surprised if Jaquez starts becoming a consistent contributor and earns more national attention.
Attendance and Fan Energy Reach Another Level
Who said nobody watches women’s sports? Well, they were wrong. Opening weekend continued to show the WNBA’s growing popularity. Multiple arenas sold out, featured energized crowds, packed lower bowls, and playoff-like atmospheres despite it being only the first games of the season. The Portland Fire drew 19,335 fans, marking a WNBA attendance record for an expansion team. In addition, the Wings and Fever drew 17,274 fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Most impressive, the Toronto Tempo's home opener reached 1 million viewers in Canada against the Washington Mystics. The WNBA's newest expansion team was the most-watched WNBA regular-season game ever in Canada, according to the league.
19,335 is the 2nd largest crowd for a home opener in WNBA history!
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) May 10, 2026
Skylar Diggins: "Almost 20,000 people here tonight. That's amazing for the 'nobody watches women's sports' crowd."
(via @zavanchy)pic.twitter.com/4aw0a0OJeA https://t.co/l8qg6xdN3m
The excitement surrounding stars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, and the league’s new rookie class has helped elevate fan interest to another level. Television ratings, merchandise sales, and online engagement continue trending upward, showing the WNBA’s momentum is not slowing down anytime soon.
With the new media rights deal in place, the WNBA is experiencing growth on every platform. This is only the beginning.
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