2020 WNBA season
League	Women's National Basketball Association
Sport	Basketball
Duration	July 25 – October 6, 2020[a]
Number of games	22[b]
Number of teams	12
TV partner(s)	ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, CBS, CBSSN, NBA TV
Top draft pick	Sabrina Ionescu
Picked by	New York Liberty
Season MVP	A'ja Wilson (Las Vegas)
Finals champions	Seattle Storm
Runners-up	Las Vegas Aces
Finals MVP	Breanna Stewart (Seattle)
WNBA seasons
← 2019 2021 →

The 2020 WNBA season was the 24th season of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The Washington Mystics were the defending champions. Planned changes to the league's schedule included an increase from 34 to 36 regular season games for each team, the introduction of a mid-season Commissioner's Cup tournament, and more games broadcast on ESPN and ABC.^[1] This was the first season under a new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and the WNBA Players Association.^[2] However, on April 3, the season was indefinitely postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[3] Under a plan approved on June 15, the league began a shortened 22-game regular season at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, without fans present on July 25.^[4][5][6] A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces was named the league MVP. The Seattle Storm won the 2020 WNBA Finals over the Aces, and Breanna Stewart was named the Finals MVP.

On January 14, 2020, the WNBA and the WNBA Players Association announced that a new eight-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) had been signed.^[7][2] Key provisions of the new CBA include:^[8][9]

• The new maximum base salary, for which certain qualified players and those designated as "core players" are eligible, is $215,000, an increase from $117,500 under the previous CBA. Maximum earnings for top players can be over $500,000.
• The new minimum base salary for inexperienced players is $57,000 and for experienced players is $68,000. This is an increase from $41,965 and $56,375 respectively under the previous CBA.
• The "core player" designation, under which teams can retain players otherwise eligible for free agency, remains available to teams. However, while teams could designate a player as such up to four times under the previous CBA, this has been reduced to thrice in the next two seasons and twice thereafter.
• Apart from those players under the "core player" designation, all players who have met contract obligations for five years become unrestricted free agents. This is a decrease from the required six years under the previous CBA.
• The league will enter a 50-50 revenue sharing agreement beginning in 2021, conditional on meeting certain revenue growth targets.
• For road games, players will receive "comfort/economy plus" seats rather than ordinary economy class seats, and will receive individual hotel rooms.
• The league will provide a new paid maternity leave policy, where players will receive their full salaries while on leave. Players with children will be provided an annual $5,000 childcare stipend and two-bedroom apartments. Veteran players are also eligible for up to $60,000 in reimbursements for costs related to family planning.
• The league will institute a new “Diversity in Coaching” initiative to build a pipeline to coaching and offer other paid employment opportunities for players during the offseason. Under the initiative, WNBA players can work on coaching staffs or in front offices of NBA teams without a salary limit, regardless of the WNBA team's ownership structure.^[c]
• The league will create expanded programs to address intimate partner violence and nutrition, but details about these programs were not included in the CBA.
• By the sixth year of the CBA, veteran players (defined for this purpose as those with more than 2 years of WNBA experience) will face season-long suspension for missing the start of training camp. The CBA includes several exceptions to this policy, among them serious injury or illness, maternity leave, national team commitments for non-US players, college graduations, and other significant life events.

The WNBA originally planned that each team would play 36 total games in the 2020 season, an increase from the 34 games played in each season since 2003. Teams were to have 18 home and road games each.^[1][10]

The original 2020 season schedule featured the inaugural Commissioner's Cup, an in-season tournament. In the first half of the season between May 15 and July 10, each team would have played its first home and road games against its five conference opponents. These games would have been designated as "Cup games", and the leaders in Cup standings in each conference were would have met in the Commissioner's Cup championship game scheduled for August 14, 2020.^[1][10]

The 2020 WNBA schedule originally included a traditional month-long break in July and August to allow players to participate in the Summer Olympic Games. The 2020 games were, however, postponed till 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, rendering this break unnecessary.

As with most professional sports leagues, the WNBA season was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 3, 2020, the WNBA announced that the start of its schedule would also be postponed.^[3] The 2020 entry draft took place as originally scheduled on April 17, although it was done remotely.^[3] On the originally scheduled opening day, May 15, 2020, Engelbert told ESPN that the players would get their first paychecks on June 1.^[11] On June 4, ESPN reported that the WNBA was planning on a shortened 22-game regular season to be held at IMG Academy, with players receiving 60% of their salaries.^[12] On June 9, The Next reported that many players were unhappy with the reduced salary, and the league revised its plans by June 12 to include full season salaries for players.^[13] On June 15, the return-to-play proposal was approved.^[5][14] The playoff format, which included single-elimination first and second-round games and then five-game series for the semifinals and finals, stayed the same and ended in October.^[14]

The New York Liberty have the first pick in the 2020 WNBA draft.^[15] The Liberty selected Sabrina Ionescu first overall.^[16] The full draft was televised on ESPN in the US and on both TSN2 and SN1 in Canada.^[17]

• In June 2019, Camille Little announced her retirement after twelve years of playing in the WNBA. She won the WNBA Title in 2010 with the Seattle Storm.^[18]
• In September 2019, Sancho Lyttle announced her retirement after fourteen years of playing in the WNBA. Lyttle made the WNBA All-Star game once, and twice lead the league in steals.^[19]
• Alana Beard announced her retirement on January 22, 2020, after fifteen years of playing professionally. Beard is a four time WNBA All-Star and two time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. She also won a WNBA Championship while playing with the Los Angeles Sparks.^[20][21]
• Rebekkah Brunson announced her retirement on February 11, 2020, after fifteen years of playing professionally. Brunson stayed with the Minnesota Lynx as an assistant coach. Brunson had her jersey number 32 retired by the Lynx. Brunson finished her career as a five time WNBA Champion and five time WNBA All-Star. As of her retirement, Brunson was the active WNBA leader in rebounds.^[22][23]
• Carolyn Swords announced she was retiring to join the marketing team of the Las Vegas Aces on February 24, 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she was let go from her position and resumed her career to re-join the Aces. Over her nine-year career, she played for four different teams.^[24]

Free agency negotiations started on January 28, 2020, and the signing period began on February 10, 2020.^[25]

Off-season
Team	2019 season	2020 season	Reference
Indiana Fever	Pokey Chatman	Marianne Stanley	[26][27]
New York Liberty	Katie Smith	Walt Hopkins	[28][29]

• In June 2019, it was announced that the Bankers Life Fieldhouse would undergo renovations to add an outdoor plaza and skating area. The Indiana Fever originally announced that they would play home games at the Hinkle Fieldhouse for the 2020–2022 seasons.^[30] However, the entire 2020 WNBA season was moved to Bradenton, Florida, and the Fever split their 2021 season between Bankers Life Fieldhouse and Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
• In July 2019, it was announced that Talking Stick Resort Arena would be undergoing renovations and the Phoenix Mercury would be forced to play their home games at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum for the 2020 season.^[31] The entire 2020 WNBA season was moved to Bradenton, Florida, and the Mercury returned to Talking Stick Resort Arena (at the time known as Phoenix Suns Arena) in 2021.
• On October 17, 2019, the New York Liberty announced that they would move to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn as their permanent home.^[32] In the 2018 and 2019 seasons, the Liberty's primary home venue was the Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York.
• On October 18, 2019, the Atlanta Dream announced that it would move from State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta to the new Gateway Center Arena in the southern suburb of College Park, Georgia.^[33]

Traditionally, there is no WNBA All-Star Game during an Olympic year, such as 2020. The 2020 Tokyo games were postponed until 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the season being held at IMG Academy, the All-Star Game was not played in 2020.

#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB	Conf.
1	x – Las Vegas Aces	18	4	.818	–	8–2
2	x – Seattle Storm	18	4	.818	–	8–2
3	x – Los Angeles Sparks	15	7	.682	3	5–5
4	x – Minnesota Lynx	14	8	.636	4	4–6
5	x – Phoenix Mercury	13	9	.591	5	4–6
6	x – Chicago Sky	12	10	.545	6	6–4
7	x – Connecticut Sun	10	12	.455	8	7–3
8	x – Washington Mystics	9	13	.409	9	6–4
9	e – Dallas Wings	8	14	.364	10	1–9
10	e – Atlanta Dream	7	15	.318	11	5–5
11	e – Indiana Fever	6	16	.273	12	4–6
12	e – New York Liberty	2	20	.091	16	2–8

Notes

x – Clinched playoff berth

e – Eliminated from playoffs

Home and Away records not shown, as all games played at a neutral location.

Updated to include results from September 13, 2020

Source

2020 WNBA preseason
Preseason Date Time (ET) Matchup TV Result High points High rebounds High assists Location Friday, April 17 8:00 p.m. 2020 WNBA draft USA: ESPN Canada: TSN2, SN1 Virtually
2020 WNBA regular season
July Date Time (ET) Matchup TV Result High points High rebounds High assists Location Saturday, July 25 12:00 p.m. Seattle Storm @ New York Liberty USA: ESPN Canada: TSN1/4 87–71 Clarendon (20) Stokes (10) Bird (5) IMG Academy 3:00 p.m. Los Angeles Sparks @ Phoenix Mercury ABC 99–76 N. Ogwumike (21) Griner (9) Gray (7) IMG Academy 5:00 p.m. Indiana Fever @ Washington Mystics CBSSN, NBC Sports Washington 76–101 Hines-Allen (27) Hines-Allen (10) Mitchell (4) IMG Academy Sunday, July 26 12:00 p.m. Connecticut Sun @ Minnesota Lynx USA: ESPN Canada: SN360 69–77 A. Thomas (20) Fowles (18) Dantas (5) IMG Academy 3:00 p.m. Chicago Sky @ Las Vegas Aces ABC 88–86 McCoughtry (25) Wilson (11) Vandersloot (11) IMG Academy 5:00 p.m. Dallas Wings @ Atlanta Dream CBSSN 95–105 Billings (30) Billings (13) Carter (8) IMG Academy Tuesday, July 28 7:00 p.m. Washington Mystics @ Connecticut Sun NBA TV, NESN+, NBC Sports Washington 94–89 Bonner (29) A. Thomas (11) Meesseman (8) IMG Academy 9:00 p.m. Los Angeles Sparks @ Chicago Sky NBA TV, WCIU, Spectrum Sportsnet 78–96 Tied (21) Tied (9) Vandersloot (10) IMG Academy 10:00 p.m. Minnesota Lynx @ Seattle Storm CBSSN, JoeTV, Fox Sports North Plus 66–90 Tied (18) Fowles (11) Loyd (6) IMG Academy Wednesday, July 29 7:00 p.m. Phoenix Mercury @ Indiana Fever NBA TV 100–106 Hartley (26) McCowan (13) 3 tied (5) IMG Academy 8:00 p.m. New York Liberty @ Dallas Wings CBSSN 80–93 Ionescu (33) Zahui B. (11) Ionescu (7) IMG Academy 10:00 p.m. Atlanta Dream @ Las Vegas Aces CBSSN, MYLVTV 70–100 Wilson (21) Wilson (11) Tied (4) IMG Academy Thursday, July 30 6:00 p.m. Seattle Storm @ Washington Mystics USA: ESPN Canada: SN360 71–89 Atkins (22) Stewart (10) Mitchell (6) IMG Academy 8:00 p.m. Chicago Sky @ Minnesota Lynx NBA TV, Fox Sports North, WCIU 81–83 Collier (20) Stevens (11) DeShields (5) IMG Academy 10:00 p.m. Connecticut Sun @ Los Angeles Sparks ESPN 76–81 Bonner (34) A. Thomas (18) A. Thomas (8) IMG Academy Friday, July 31 7:00 p.m. New York Liberty @ Atlanta Dream USA: NBA TV, Fox Sports Southeast Canada: TSN2, NBA TV Canada 78–84 Laney (30) Billings (15) Clarendon (5) IMG Academy 8:00 p.m. Indiana Fever @ Dallas Wings CBSSN 73–76 Sabally (23) Sabally (17) Allemand (11) IMG Academy 10:00 p.m. Las Vegas Aces @ Phoenix Mercury CBSSN, MYLVTV 95–102 Tied (22) Turner (9) Taurasi (10) IMG Academy
August Date Time (ET) Matchup TV Result High points High rebounds High assists Location Saturday, August 1 4:00 p.m. Minnesota Lynx @ Connecticut Sun USA: NBA TV, NESN, Fox Sports North Canada: NBA TV Canada 78–69 Bonner (28) Fowles (13) Tied (4) IMG Academy 6:00 p.m. Washington Mystics @ Chicago Sky USA: NBA TV, WCIU, NBC Sports Washington Canada: NBA TV Canada 86–88 Atkins (24) Hines-Allen (12) Vandersloot (8) IMG Academy 8:00 p.m. Los Angeles Sparks @ Seattle Storm CBSSN, JoeTV, Spectrum Sportsnet 75–81 Stewart (21) Parker (12) Clark (6) IMG Academy Sunday, August 2 1:00 p.m. Phoenix Mercury @ New York Liberty USA: ESPN Canada: TSN4 96–67 Hartley (27) Turner (11) Taurasi (9) IMG Academy 3:30 p.m. Atlanta Dream @ Indiana Fever USA: NBA TV, Fox Sports South Canada: NBA TV Canada 77–93 K. Mitchell (23) Billings (8) Allemand (9) IMG Academy 6:00 p.m. Dallas Wings @ Las Vegas Aces USA: ESPN2 Canada: NBA TV Canada 70–79 Ogunbowale (20) Tied (8) Hamby (4) IMG Academy Tuesday, August 4 6:00 p.m. Dallas Wings @ Chicago Sky WCIU, Fox Sports Southwest Plus 79–82 Ogunbowale (26) Stevens (10) Vandersloot (10) IMG Academy 7:00 p.m. Phoenix Mercury @ Atlanta Dream ESPN2 81–74 Carter (26) C. Williams (9) Taurasi (6) IMG Academy 9:00 p.m. Connecticut Sun @ Seattle Storm USA: ESPN2 Canada: NBA TV Canada 74–87 Stewart (22) A. Thomas (13) Canada (6) IMG Academy Wednesday, August 5 7:00 p.m. Minnesota Lynx @ New York Liberty CBSSN, Fox Sports North Plus 92–66 Carleton (25) Stokes (8) Clarendon (6) IMG Academy 8:00 p.m. Las Vegas Aces @ Washington Mystics USA: NBA TV, NBC Sports Washington, MYLVTV Canada: NBA TV Canada 83–77 Meesseman (24) Tied (13) Mitchell (4) IMG Academy 10:00 p.m. Indiana Fever @ Los Angeles Sparks Spectrum Sportsnet 75–86 K. Mitchell (24) Ca. Parker (11) Tied (5) IMG Academy Thursday, August 6 6:00 p.m. Seattle Storm @ Atlanta Dream ESPN2 93–92 Carter (35) C. Williams (10) Carter (7) IMG Academy 8:00 p.m. Connecticut Sun @ Dallas Wings NBA TV, Fox Sports Southwest Plus, NESN 91–68 Tied (17) A. Thomas (10) J. Thomas (9) IMG Academy 10:00 p.m. Chicago Sky @ Phoenix Mercury USA: ESPN2 Canada: TSN5, NBA TV Canada 86–96 Tied (22) Griner (8) Vandersloot (8) IMG Academy Friday, August 7 6:00 p.m. Indiana Fever @ Minnesota Lynx Fox Sports North Plus 80–87 Brown (26) McCowan (12) Brown (9) IMG Academy 7:00 p.m. New York Liberty @ Washington Mystics USA: ESPN2 Canada: TSN2 74–66 Powers (20) Zahui B. (14) Clarendon (6) IMG Academy 9:00 p.m. Los Angeles Sparks @ Las Vegas Aces ESPN2 82–86 Wilson (26) Ca. Parker (20) McCoughtry (5) IMG Academy Saturday, August 8 12:00 p.m. Atlanta Dream @ Dallas Wings USA: ESPN2 Canada: SN1, NBA TV Canada 75–85 Ogunbowale (24) Jefferson (10) Ogunbowale (6) IMG Academy 3:00 p.m. Phoenix Mercury @ Seattle Storm USA: ABC Canada: TSN2 68–74 Tied (20) Howard (10) Canada (10) IMG Academy 5:00 p.m. Chicago Sky @ Connecticut Sun USA: NBA TV, NESN+, WCIU Canada: NBA TV Canada 100–93 Tied (22) Copper (7) Vandersloot (11) IMG Academy Sunday, August 9 3:00 p.m. Minnesota Lynx @ Los Angeles Sparks ESPN 81–97 Dangerfield (29) Ca. Parker (10) Ca. Parker (9) IMG Academy 5:00 p.m. Las Vegas Aces @ New York Liberty YES 78–76 Wilson (31) Stokes (12) Clarendon (8) IMG Academy 7:00 p.m. Washington Mystics @ Indiana Fever ESPN2 84–91 K. Mitchell (29) McCowan (11) Tied (5) IMG Academy Monday, August 10 6:00 p.m. Connecticut Sun @ Atlanta Dream Fox Sports Southeast 93–82 A. Thomas (21) Bonner (9) J. Thomas (7) IMG Academy 7:00 p.m. Phoenix Mercury @ Dallas Wings USA: ESPN2 Canada: TSN2 91–79 Diggins-Smith (26) Griner (13) Diggins-Smith (7) IMG Academy 9:00 p.m. Chicago Sky @ Seattle Storm USA: ESPN2 Canada: TSN2 71–89 Stewart (25) Howard (7) Vandersloot (9) IMG Academy Tuesday, August 11 7:00 p.m. Las Vegas Aces @ Indiana Fever USA: ESPN2 Canada: NBA TV Canada 98–79 Tied (20) Wislon (11) Allemand (6) IMG Academy 9:00 p.m. Washington Mystics @ Minnesota Lynx ESPN2 48–68 Fowles (16) Fowles (13) Dangerfield (4) IMG Academy 10:00 p.m. New York Liberty @ Los Angeles Sparks USA: Spectrum Sportsnet Canada: TSN5 78–93 J. Jones (24) Zahui B. (10) Clarendon (5) IMG Academy Wednesday, August 12 7:00 p.m. Dallas Wings @ Connecticut Sun CBSSN 66–70 Ogunbowale (19) Sabally (9) Tied (4) IMG Academy 9:00 p.m. Phoenix Mercury @ Chicago Sky WCIU, Fox Sports Arizona 71–89 Quigley (20) Tied (9) Vandersloot (5) IMG Academy 10:00 p.m. Atlanta Dream @ Seattle Storm Twitter, JoeTV 63–100 Tied (20) Stewart (9) Canada(10) IMG Academy Thursday, August 13 6:00 p.m. Indiana Fever @ New York Liberty USA: YES, Fox Sports Indiana Canada: TSN3 86–79 Nurse (21) McCowan (13) Allemand (5) IMG Academy 7:00 p.m. Los Angeles Sparks @ Washington Mystics ESPN 81–64 Atkins (20) Meesseman (11) Tied (5) IMG Academy 9:00 p.m. Minnesota Lynx @ Las Vegas Aces USA: ESPN Canada: TSN3 77–87 Wilson (23) Collier (14) Tied (7) IMG Academy Friday, August 14 7:00 p.m. Connecticut Sun @ Chicago Sky Twitter, WCIU 77–74 Bonner (19) A. Thomas (10) A. Thomas (8) IMG Academy 8:00 p.m. Seattle Storm @ Dallas Wings USA: NBA TV Canada: NBA TV Canada 83–65 Ogunbowale (22) Tied (8) Bird (5) IMG Academy 10:00 p.m. Atlanta Dream @ Phoenix Mercury Fox Sports Arizona Plus, Fox Sports Southeast 80–96 Hartley (24) C. Williams (14) Dietrick (7) IMG Academy Saturday, August 15 12:00 p.m. Washington Mystics @ Las Vegas Aces USA: ESPN Canada: SN1 73–88 Atkins (17) Meesseman (9) Robinson (7) IMG Academy 2:00 p.m. Los Angeles Sparks @ Indiana Fever USA: ESPN Canada: NBA TV Canada 90–76 K. Mitchell (25) T. Mitchell (8) 4 tied (5) IMG Academy 6:00 p.m. New York Liberty @ Minnesota Lynx CBSSN, Fox Sports North Plus 64–94 Collier (26) Collier (13) 2 tied (5) IMG Academy Sunday, August 16 1:00 p.m. Dallas Wings @ Phoenix Mercury ABC 95–89 Ogunbowale (33) Taurasi (9) Hartley (6) IMG Academy 3:00 p.m. Seattle Storm @ Connecticut Sun ABC 95–72 Stewart (19) Tied (11) A. Thomas (6) IMG Academy 4:00 p.m. Chicago Sky @ Atlanta Dream Fox Sports Southeast, WCIU 92–67 Ch. Parker (17) Billings (8) Colson (6) IMG Academy Tuesday, August 18 7:00 p.m. Indiana Fever @ Connecticut Sun CBSSN 62–84 Bonner (28) A. Thomas (11) Tied (6) IMG Academy 9:00 p.m. Las Vegas Aces @ Chicago Sky ESPN2 82–84 Copper (18) Wilson (8) Vandersloot (15) IMG Academy 10:00 p.m. New York Liberty @ Seattle Storm JoeTV 64–105 Nurse (21) Howard (11) Bird (7) IMG Academy Wednesday, August 19 7:00 p.m. Atlanta Dream @ Washington Mystics CBSSN, NBC Sports Washington 91–98 Laney (35) Billings (12) Meesseman (10) IMG Academy 9:00 p.m. Dallas Wings @ Minnesota Lynx USA: Facebook, Fox Sports North Plus, Fox Sports Southwest Plus Canada: TSN3/5 84–91 Gray (22) Thornton (11) Dangerfield (6) IMG Academy 10:00 p.m. Phoenix Mercury @ Los Angeles Sparks Twitter, Fox Sports Arizona Plus, Spectrum Sportsnet 74–83 Taurasi (19) Ca. Parker (12) Hartley (9) IMG Academy Thursday, August 20 7:00 p.m. Chicago Sky @ New York Liberty CBSSN, YES, WCIU 101–85 Stevens (25) Stokes (9) Vandersloot (10) IMG Academy 8:00 p.m. Seattle Storm @ Indiana Fever Facebook, Fox Sports Indiana, JoeTV 85–90 Loyd (35) McCowan (10) Tied (6) IMG Academy 10:00 p.m. Connecticut Sun @ Las Vegas Aces CBSSN, NESN+ 78–99 McBride (25) McCoughtry (8) Robinson (9) IMG Academy Friday, August 21 7:00 p.m. Los Angeles Sparks @ Atlanta Dream Twitter, Spectrum Sportsnet 93–85 (OT) Johnson (23) Tied (9) Laney (11) IMG Academy 8:00 p.m. Washington Mystics @ Dallas Wings USA: Facebook, Fox Sports Southwest Plus, NBC Sports Washington Canada: NBA TV Canada 92–101 (OT) Hines-Allen (35) Hines-Allen (12) Ogunbowale (9) IMG Academy 10:00 p.m. Minnesota Lynx @ Phoenix Mercury CBSSN, Fox Sports North Plus 90–80 Hartley (24) Tied (9) Tied (6) IMG Academy Saturday, August 22 3:00 p.m. Seattle Storm @ Las Vegas Aces USA: ABC Canada: NBA TV Canada 74–82 Stewart (29) Stewart (18) Tied (7) IMG Academy 5:00 p.m. Indiana Fever @ Chicago Sky CBSSN, WCIU 76–87 Copper (26) Ch. Parker (8) Vandersloot (9) IMG Academy 7:00 p.m. New York Liberty @ Connecticut Sun CBSSN 65–82 A. Thomas (25) Bonner (12) Bonner (6) IMG Academy Sunday, August 23 4:00 p.m. Atlanta Dream @ Minnesota Lynx Twitter, Fox Sports North Plus, Fox Sports Southeast 78–75 Collier (18) Billings (13) Laney (10) IMG Academy 6:00 p.m. Dallas Wings @ Los Angeles Sparks USA: Facebook, Spectrum Sportsnet, Fox Sports Southwest Plus Canada: SN360 81–84 Sykes (23) Ca. Parker (14) Ca. Parker (6) IMG Academy 8:00 p.m. Phoenix Mercury @ Washington Mystics Facebook, NBC Sports Washington, Fox Sports Arizona 88–87 Taurasi (34) Turner (17) Hines-Allen (8) IMG Academy Tuesday, August 25 7:00 p.m. New York Liberty @ Chicago Sky CBSSN, WCIU 101–99 Quigley (29) Zahui B. (12) Vandersloot (9) IMG Academy 9:00 p.m. Las Vegas Aces @ Dallas Wings CBSSN, MYLVTV 96–92 Sabally (28) Hamby (14) Tied (5) IMG Academy 10:00 p.m. Indiana Fever @ Seattle Storm USA: ESPN2 Canada: NBA TV Canada 74–87 Stewart (27) McCowan (11) 3 tied (5) IMG Academy Friday, August 28 7:00 p.m. Minnesota Lynx @ Atlanta Dream USA: Facebook, Fox Sports Southeast, Fox Sports North Plus Canada: TSN3 88–79 Dangerfield (23) Collier (12) 3 Tied (5) IMG Academy 8:00 p.m. Los Angeles Sparks @ Connecticut Sun CBSSN 80–76 Gray (27) A. Thomas (9) Ca. Parker (7) IMG Academy 10:00 p.m. Washington Mystics @ Phoenix Mercury CBSSN 72–94 Diggins-Smith (24) Turner (7) Taurasi (7) IMG Academy Saturday, August 29 12:00 p.m. New York Liberty @ Las Vegas Aces CBSSN, MYLVTV 63–80 Wilson (20) Zahui B. (21) Robinson (6) IMG Academy 2:00 p.m. Seattle Storm @ Chicago Sky USA: ABC Canada: TSN3 88–74 Stewart (21) Howard (15) Tied (9) IMG Academy 4:00 p.m. Dallas Wings @ Indiana Fever CBS 82–78 Ogunbowale (30) Sabally (11) 3 Tied (4) IMG Academy Sunday, August 30 4:00 p.m. Connecticut Sun @ Washington Mystics Twitter, NBC Sports Washington 76-63 Bonner (20) Hinnes-Allen (13) A. Thomas (8) IMG Academy 6:00 p.m. Phoenix Mercury @ Minnesota Lynx Facebook, Fox Sports North, Fox Sports Arizona Plus 83–79 Diggins-Smith (25) Turner (15) Tied (5) IMG Academy 8:00 p.m. Atlanta Dream @ Los Angeles Sparks Facebook, Spectrum Sportsnet, Fox Sports Southeast 79–84 Carter (26) Billings (14) Ca. Parker (7) IMG Academy Monday, August 31 6:00 p.m. Chicago Sky @ Indiana Fever CBSSN 100–77 Tied (21) Tied (11) Vandersloot (18) IMG Academy 10:00 p.m. Los Angeles Sparks @ Minnesota Lynx CBSSN, Fox Sports North Plus, Spectrum Sportsnet 78–96 Collier (25) Tied (9) Carleton (10) IMG Academy
September Date Time (ET) Matchup TV Result High points High rebounds High assists Location Tuesday, September 1 7:00 p.m. Connecticut Sun @ New York Liberty CBSSN, NESN+ 70–65 Bonner (27) Bonner (12) A. Thomas (4) IMG Academy 8:00 p.m. Indiana Fever @ Atlanta Dream Facebook, Fox Sports South, Fox Sports Indiana 90–102 Tied (22) Achonwa (9) Carter (6) IMG Academy 10:00 p.m. Phoenix Mercury @ Las Vegas Aces Facebook, MYLVTV, Fox Sports Arizona Plus 92–85 Taurasi (32) Tied (13) McBride (9) IMG Academy Wednesday, September 2 7:00 p.m. Minnesota Lynx @ Chicago Sky Facebook, WCIU, Fox Sports North Plus 86–83 Dantas (28) Ch. Parker (15) Vandersloot (12) IMG Academy 8:00 p.m. Los Angeles Sparks @ Dallas Wings CBSSN, Spectrum Sportsnet 91–83 Ca. Parker (22) Sabally (11) Ca. Parker (6) IMG Academy 10:00 p.m. Washington Mystics @ Seattle Storm CBSSN, JoeTV, NBC Sports Washington 64–71 Meesseeman (17) Stewart (14) Tied (5) IMG Academy Thursday, September 3 6:30 p.m. Atlanta Dream @ New York Liberty CBSSN, YES 62-56 C. Williams (15) C. Williams (13) Zahui B. (4) IMG Academy 8:00 p.m. Las Vegas Aces @ Connecticut Sun Twitter, MYLVTV 93-78 Wilson (24) Mompremier (16) Tied (5) IMG Academy 10:00 p.m. Indiana Fever @ Phoenix Mercury Facebook, Fox Sports Indiana 81-105 Diggins-Smith (28) Turner (12) Diggins-Smith (8) IMG Academy Friday, September 4 7:00 p.m. Chicago Sky @ Washington Mystics Twitter, NBC Sports Washington, WCIU 69-79 Mitchell (20) Tied (10) Mitchell (12) IMG Academy 8:00 p.m. Minnesota Lynx @ Dallas Wings Facebook, Fox Sports Southwest Plus, Fox Sports North Plus 88-75 A. Gray (26) Collier (14) Tied (5) IMG Academy 10:00 p.m. Seattle Storm @ Los Angeles Sparks USA: Facebook, Spectrum Sportsnet, JoeTV Canada: TSN2 90-89 Tied (25) Stewart (8) Stewart (9) IMG Academy Saturday, September 5 4:00 p.m. Connecticut Sun @ Indiana Fever USA: Facebook, Fox Sports Indiana Canada: SN360 96-77 Bonner (26) 5 Tied (6) Allemand (8) IMG Academy 6:00 p.m. Las Vegas Aces @ Atlanta Dream Facebook, Fox Sports Southeast, MYLVTV 89-79 Tied (21) Wilson (8) Tied (6) IMG Academy 8:00 p.m. New York Liberty @ Phoenix Mercury Twitter 67-83 Diggins-Smith (30) Tied (13) Turner (4) IMG Academy Sunday, September 6 4:00 p.m. Dallas Wings @ Washington Mystics Twitter, NBC Sports Washington, Fox Sports Southwest Plus 101-94 (OT) Ogunbowale (39) Hines-Allen (10) Mitchell (9) IMG Academy 6:00 p.m. Seattle Storm @ Minnesota Lynx USA: Facebook, Fox Sports North, JoeTV Canada: NBA TV Canada 103-88 Dantas (22) Dantas (9) Tied (7) IMG Academy 8:00 p.m. Chicago Sky @ Los Angeles Sparks CBSSN, Spectrum Sportsnet, WCIU 80-86 Tied (24) Ca. Parker (15) Vandersloot (15) IMG Academy Monday, September 7 6:00 p.m. Connecticut Sun @ Phoenix Mercury CBSSN, NESN 85–70 Bonner (25) A. Thomas (9) A. Thomas (9) IMG Academy Tuesday, September 8 7:00 p.m. Los Angeles Sparks @ New York Liberty CBSSN, Spectrum Sportsnet 96-70 Tied (20) Tied (8) Ca. Parker (7) IMG Academy 8:00 p.m. Minnesota Lynx @ Washington Mystics ESPN2 86-89 Hines-Allen (26) Collier (11) Mitchell (10) IMG Academy 10:00 p.m. Indiana Fever @ Las Vegas Aces ESPN2 86–92 K. Mitchell (24) Wilson (16) Allemand (8) IMG Academy Wednesday, September 9 7:00 p.m. Phoenix Mercury @ Connecticut Sun Facebook, Fox Sports Arizona Plus 100–95 Diggins-Smith (33) Turner (21) 3 tied (5) IMG Academy 8:00 p.m. Atlanta Dream @ Chicago Sky CBSSN, WCIU 97–89 Laney (24) Vandersloot (11) Tied (5) IMG Academy 10:00 p.m. Dallas Wings @ Seattle Storm CBSSN, JoeTV 95–107 Sabally (25) Stewart (11) Bird (9) IMG Academy Thursday, September 10 7:00 p.m. New York Liberty @ Indiana Fever CBSSN 75-85 Dupree (22) J. Jones (10) Dupree (7) IMG Academy 8:00 p.m. Las Vegas Aces @ Minnesota Lynx USA: ESPN2 Canada: NBA TV Canada 104-89 Dangerfield (24) Tied (11) 3 Tied (6) IMG Academy 10:00 p.m. Washington Mystics @ Los Angeles Sparks CBSSN, Spectrum Sportsnet, NBC Sports Washington 80–72 Hines-Allen (30) Ca. Parker (17) Mitchell (9) IMG Academy Friday, September 11 7:00 p.m. Atlanta Dream @ Connecticut Sun Facebook, Fox Sports Southeast 82–75 Carter (22) Laney (10) 3 tied (4) IMG Academy 8:00 p.m. Chicago Sky @ Dallas Wings CBSSN, WCIU 95–88 Ogunbowale (38) Hebard (8) Vandersloot (12) IMG Academy 10:00 p.m. Seattle Storm @ Phoenix Mercury CBSSN, JoeTV 83–60 Walker-Kimbrough (24) Turner (11) Peddy (6) IMG Academy Saturday, September 12 12:00 p.m. Washington Mystics @ New York Liberty USA: NBA TV, NBC Sports Washington Canada: TSN5 75–58 Hines-Allen (25) Hines-Allen (11) Meesseman (7) IMG Academy 3:00 p.m. Las Vegas Aces @ Los Angeles Sparks USA: NBA TV, Spectrum Sportsnet, MYLVTV Canada: NBA TV Canada 84–70 N. Ogwumike (24) Ca. Parker (10) Gray (11) IMG Academy 6:00 p.m. Minnesota Lynx @ Indiana Fever Fox Sports North 98–86 Banham (29) McCowan (9) Banham (10) IMG Academy Sunday, September 13 12:00 p.m. Dallas Wings @ New York Liberty CBSSN, YES 82–79 Ogunbowale (26) Tied (10) Nurse (7) IMG Academy 3:00 p.m. Las Vegas Aces @ Seattle Storm USA: ABC Canada: TSN2 86–84 Loyd (30) Russell (11) Hamby (8) IMG Academy 5:00 p.m. Washington Mystics @ Atlanta Dream USA: Facebook, Fox Sports Southeast Canada: SN360 85–78 Laney (27) C. Williams (11) Meesseman (7) IMG Academy
2020 WNBA postseason
First Round Date Time (ET) Matchup TV Result High points High rebounds High assists Location Tuesday, September 15 7:00 p.m. Connecticut Sun @ Chicago Sky USA: ESPN2 Canada: TSN1/4 94–81 A. Thomas (28) A. Thomas (13) A. Thomas (8) IMG Academy 9:00 p.m. Washington Mystics @ Phoenix Mercury USA: ESPN2 Canada: TSN1/4 84–85 Mitchell (25) Turner (11) Taurasi (6) IMG Academy
Second Round Date Time (ET) Matchup TV Result High points High rebounds High assists Location Thursday, September 17 7:00 p.m. Phoenix Mercury @ Minnesota Lynx USA: ESPN2 Canada: TSN5, NBA TV Canada 79–80 Taurasi (28) Turner (14) Taurasi (9) IMG Academy 9:00 p.m. Connecticut Sun @ Los Angeles Sparks USA: ESPN2 Canada: SN360 73–59 Ca. Parker (22) Ca. Parker (14) J. Thomas (6) IMG Academy
Semifinals Date Time (ET) Matchup TV Result High points High rebounds High assists Location Sunday, September 20 1:00 p.m. Connecticut Sun @ Las Vegas Aces USA: ESPN Canada: TSN2 87–62 J. Thomas (31) Wilson (9) A. Thomas (5) IMG Academy Tuesday, September 22 7:00 p.m. Connecticut Sun @ Las Vegas Aces USA: ESPN2 Canada: TSN5 75–83 Wilson (29) Mompremier (9) Young (5) IMG Academy 9:00 p.m. Minnesota Lynx @ Seattle Storm USA: ESPN2 Canada: TSN5 86–88 Tied (25) Stewart (10) Bird (8) IMG Academy Thursday, September 24 7:30 p.m. Minnesota Lynx @ Seattle Storm USA: ESPN2 Canada: TSN2 79–89 Dantas (23) Stewart (8) Tied (7) IMG Academy 9:30 p.m. Las Vegas Aces @ Connecticut Sun USA: ESPN2 Canada: SN360 68–77 A. Thomas (23) Tied (12) Young (7) IMG Academy Sunday, September 27 1:00 p.m. Las Vegas Aces @ Connecticut Sun USA: ESPN Canada: TSN2 84–75 McCoughtry (29) Bonner (15) Tied (6) IMG Academy 3:00 p.m. Seattle Storm @ Minnesota Lynx USA: ABC Canada: TSN2 92–71 Stewart (31) Collier (15) Bird (9) IMG Academy Tuesday, September 29 7:30 p.m. Connecticut Sun @ Las Vegas Aces USA: ESPN2 Canada: TSN1/4/5 63–66 Wilson (23) Jones (12) Bonner (6) IMG Academy
Finals Date Time (ET) Matchup TV Result High points High rebounds High assists Location Friday, October 2 7:00 p.m. Seattle Storm vs. Las Vegas Aces USA: ESPN2 Canada: TSN1/4/5 93–80 Stewart (37) Stewart (15) Bird (16) IMG Academy Sunday, October 4 3:00 p.m. Seattle Storm vs. Las Vegas Aces USA: ABC Canada: SN 104–91 Stewart (22) Tied (8) Tied (10) IMG Academy Tuesday, October 6 7:00 p.m. Las Vegas Aces vs. Seattle Storm USA: ESPN Canada: TSN3/5 59–92 Stewart (26) Swords (10) Bird (7) IMG Academy

The following shows the leaders in each statistical category during the 2020 regular season.^[34][35]

Category	Player	Team	Statistic
Points per game	Arike Ogunbowale	Dallas Wings	22.8 ppg
Rebounds per game	Candace Parker	Los Angeles Sparks	9.7 rpg
Assists per game	Courtney Vandersloot	Chicago Sky	10.0 apg
Steals per game	Alyssa Thomas	Connecticut Sun	2.0 spg
Blocks per game	A'ja Wilson	Las Vegas Aces	2.0 bpg
Field goal percentage	Ruthy Hebard	Chicago Sky	68.2% (58/85)
Three point FG percentage	Alysha Clark	Seattle Storm	52.2% (35/67)
Free throw percentage	Tiffany Mitchell	Indiana Fever	95.1% (77/81)
Points per game (team)	Las Vegas Aces		88.7 ppg
Field goal percentage (team)	Chicago Sky		49.1%

The WNBA continued its current playoff format for 2020. The top eight teams, regardless of conference, make the playoffs, with the top two teams receiving a bye to the semi-finals. The remaining six teams play in two single-elimination playoff rounds, with the third and fourth seeds receiving a bye to the second round.^[36]

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

Date Awarded	Eastern Conference		Western Conference		Reference
	Player	Team	Player	Team
August 3	Myisha Hines-Allen (1/2)	Washington Mystics	Breanna Stewart (1/2)	Seattle Storm	[37]
August 10	Courtney Vandersloot (1/2)	Chicago Sky	A'ja Wilson (1/2)	Las Vegas Aces	[38]
August 17	DeWanna Bonner (1/2)	Connecticut Sun	Napheesa Collier (1/1)	Minnesota Lynx	[39]
August 24	Courtney Vandersloot (2/2)	Chicago Sky	Candace Parker (1/1)	Los Angeles Sparks	[40]
August 31	Alyssa Thomas (1/1)	Connecticut Sun	Breanna Stewart (2/2)	Seattle Storm	[41]
September 8	DeWanna Bonner (2/2)	Connecticut Sun	Skylar Diggins-Smith (1/1)	Phoenix Mercury	[42]
September 14	Myisha Hines-Allen (2/2)	Washington Mystics	A'ja Wilson (2/2)	Las Vegas Aces	[43]

For games played	Eastern Conference		Western Conference		Reference
	Player	Team	Player	Team
August	Courtney Vandersloot (1/1)	Chicago Sky	A'ja Wilson (1/2)	Las Vegas Aces	[44]
September	Myisha Hines-Allen (1/1)	Washington Mystics	A'ja Wilson (2/2)	Las Vegas Aces	[45]

For games played	Player	Team	Reference
August	Crystal Dangerfield (1/2)	Minnesota Lynx	[46]
September	Crystal Dangerfield (2/2)	Minnesota Lynx	[47]

For games played	Coach	Team	Reference
August	Bill Laimbeer (1/2)	Las Vegas Aces	[48]
September	Bill Laimbeer (2/2)	Las Vegas Aces	[49]

Award		Winner	Position	Team	Votes/Statistic
Most Valuable Player Award		A'ja Wilson	Forward	Las Vegas Aces	43 of 47[50]
Finals MVP Award		Breanna Stewart	Forward	Seattle Storm	[51]
Rookie of the Year Award		Crystal Dangerfield	Guard	Minnesota Lynx	44 of 47[52]
Most Improved Player Award		Betnijah Laney	Forward/Guard	Atlanta Dream	25 of 47[53]
Defensive Player of the Year Award		Candace Parker	Forward/Center	Los Angeles Sparks	16 of 47[54]
Sixth Woman of the Year Award		Dearica Hamby	Forward	Las Vegas Aces	44 of 47[55]
Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award		Nneka Ogwumike	Forward	Los Angeles Sparks	21 of 46[56]
Peak Performer: Points		Arike Ogunbowale	Guard	Dallas Wings	22.8 ppg[57]
Peak Performer: Rebounds		Candace Parker	Forward/Center	Los Angeles Sparks	9.7 rpg[57]
Peak Performer: Assists		Courtney Vandersloot	Guard	Chicago Sky	10.0 apg[57]
Coach of the Year Award		Cheryl Reeve	Coach	Minnesota Lynx	25 of 47[58]
Basketball Executive of the Year Award		Dan Padover	General manager	Las Vegas Aces	37 points[59]
Team	Guard	Guard	Forward	Forward	Center
All-WNBA First Team[60]	Courtney Vandersloot	Arike Ogunbowale	A'ja Wilson	Breanna Stewart	Candace Parker
All-WNBA Second Team[60]	Diana Taurasi	Skylar Diggins-Smith	DeWanna Bonner	Napheesa Collier	Myisha Hines-Allen
All-Defensive First Team[61]	Alysha Clark	Betnijah Laney	Brianna Turner	Alyssa Thomas	Elizabeth Williams
All-Defensive Second Team[61]	Ariel Atkins	Brittney Sykes	Breanna Stewart	Napheesa Collier	A'ja Wilson
All-Rookie Team[62]	Crystal Dangerfield	Julie Allemand	Chennedy Carter	Jazmine Jones	Satou Sabally

Team	Head coach	Previous job	Years with team	Record with team	Playoff appearances	Finals Appearances	WNBA Championships
Atlanta Dream	Nicki Collen	Connecticut Sun (assistant)	2	31–37	1	0	0
Chicago Sky	James Wade	UMMC Ekaterinburg (assistant)	1	20–14	1	0	0
Connecticut Sun	Curt Miller	Los Angeles Sparks (assistant)	4	79–57	3	1	0
Indiana Fever	Marianne Stanley	Washington Mystics (assistant)	0	0–0	0	0	0
New York Liberty	Walt Hopkins	Minnesota Lynx (assistant)	0	0–0	0	0	0
Washington Mystics	Mike Thibault	Connecticut Sun	7	130–108	6	2	1

Team	Head coach	Previous job	Years with team	Record with team	Playoff appearances	Finals Appearances	WNBA Championships
Dallas Wings	Brian Agler	Los Angeles Sparks	1	10–24	0	0	0
Las Vegas Aces	Bill Laimbeer	New York Liberty	2	35–33	1	0	0
Los Angeles Sparks	Derek Fisher	New York Knicks	1	22–12	1	0	0
Minnesota Lynx	Cheryl Reeve	Detroit Shock (assistant)	10	231–109	9	6	4
Phoenix Mercury	Sandy Brondello	Los Angeles Sparks (assistant)	6	118–86	6	1	1
Seattle Storm	Dan Hughes	San Antonio Stars	2	44–24	2	1	1

Notes:

• Year with team does not include 2020 season.
• Records are from time at current team and are through the end of the 2019 season.
• Playoff appearances are from time at current team only.
• WNBA Finals and Championships do not include time with other teams.
• Coaches shown are the coaches who began the 2020 season as head coach of each team.

In response to the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Bucks boycotted Game 5 of their series against the Orlando Magic on August 26. Later that day, the NBA announced that in light of the Bucks' decision, all games for the day were postponed.^[63] The WNBA joined the protest and postponed their three games that were originally scheduled on Wednesday: Washington Mystics vs. Atlanta Dream; Los Angeles Sparks vs. Minnesota Lynx; Connecticut Sun vs. Phoenix Mercury.^[64] Games were again postponed on August 27.^[65] Games resumed on Friday, August 28.^[66]

• Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on basketball