WNBA opening night: Liberty dominate Sun, Tempo come up short in debut vs. Mystics, Valkyries outrun Storm

The 2026 WNBA season opened with a three-game slate on Friday night, marking the league’s 30th season after overcoming collective bargaining agreement negotiations. The New York Liberty dominated the Connecticut Sun 106-75, with Breanna Stewart delivering a standout performance of 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks. The Liberty’s victory came despite the absence of Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally due to injury and illness, respectively. Connecticut’s top scorer was Diamond Miller with 16 points, while Brittney Griner contributed 13 points and 6 rebounds, and rookie Hailey Van Lith scored 9 in her debut. Meanwhile, the Toronto Tempo made their WNBA debut, losing 68-65 to the Washington Mystics in a tightly contested game. The Mystics, the youngest team in the league, held off a late Tempo comeback attempt, with Sonia Citron leading the charge with 26 points. Toronto’s Marina Mabrey scored 27 points, but the Mystics’ experience proved decisive. The Golden State Valkyries secured a 91-80 victory over the Seattle Storm in their season opener, preventing Seattle from winning under new head coach Sonia Raman. The Valkyries overcame an early fast pace from Seattle, with Janelle Salaun scoring 20 points and the team shooting 41% from three-point range. Dominique Malonga led all scorers with 21 points and 8 rebounds, achieving a historic milestone as the youngest player in WNBA history to reach 200 career rebounds. The three games concluded with the Liberty’s decisive win, the Mystics’ narrow victory, and the Valkyries’ upset. The season opener highlighted strong performances from key players across the league, setting the stage for an exciting 2026 campaign.