NBC and Peacock reclaim WNBA broadcasts, signaling a monumental chapter and massive growth, but labor talks loom large over the league's next move.
For the first time in more than two decades, the Women's National Basketball Association will return to NBC airwaves.
NBCUniversal recently confirmed that beginning with the 2026 season, WNBA games will once again be broadcast on NBC and streamed on Peacock as part of the league’s landmark 11-year media rights agreements that run through 2036.
However, this move marks NBC’s first WNBA broadcasts since 2002, when the network carried games during the league’s early years from 1997 to 2002.
The return comes under the NBA’s broader multi-billion-dollar media deal finalized in 2023. Under the new structure, NBCUniversal will air 50 regular-season games per year across NBC, USA Network, and Peacock.
Additionally, the agreement also includes playoff coverage, with NBCU set to televise one first-round series annually and rotate semifinal and Finals broadcasts throughout the term.
The WNBA also renewed partnerships with The Walt Disney Company and Amazon Prime Video. Disney platforms will carry at least 25 regular-season games each year, along with marquee events such as the WNBA All-Star Game and the Draft. Amazon Prime Video will stream 30 regular-season games annually and continue carrying the Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game.
In total, more than 125 regular-season and playoff games will be distributed each season nationally across the three partners.
NBC’s promotional rollout highlighted some of the league’s biggest stars, including Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese. The timing, however, arrives amid ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations between the league and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association.
While the WNBA has already released its 2026 schedule, questions remain about whether the season will begin on time if a new CBA is not finalized. Revenue sharing remains the central sticking point, even as recent proposals have included concessions on housing and facility standards.
The potential for a work stoppage still looms, though several star players have expressed a desire to play next season if an agreement can be reached.
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert called the new media deals “a monumental chapter” for the league, emphasizing long-term sustainability and growth. NBCUniversal executives echoed that sentiment, noting the network aired the first nationally televised WNBA game and views the return as a full-circle moment.
The agreement also underscores the league’s rapid rise. The WNBA has expanded to new markets in the Bay Area and Toronto, posted record viewership and attendance numbers, and seen unprecedented engagement across digital platforms.
Now, with NBC and Peacock back in the fold, the league’s next era will unfold on a bigger stage than ever, provided labor peace follows the momentum.