WNBA: Preseason games begin this weekend—here’s what to watch

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The WNBA is back, and we have a trio of preseason games across Friday and Saturday, followed by a pair of games on Sunday, to kick things off.

Previously, preseason action was difficult to watch, but this year, the league has stepped up, making its games more accessible. You don’t need a subscription to watch WNBA preseason games on League Pass—it’s free!

Since everyone watches women’s sports and it’s free for all this weekend, here are three things to watch for during these games:

The Aces begin their chase for another ring with a new Jewell

The Las Vegas Aces fell short of their goal of three-peating last season, falling to the eventual champions, the New York Liberty, in the semifinals.

Now, they are back and still have A’ja Wilson at the helm, along with a new star guard in Jewell Loyd. On Friday, WNBA fans will get their first chance to watch these new-look Aces against the Dallas Wings.

Dallas might not be a title contender like Las Vegas, but they are also a team to watch. This will be Paige Bueckers’ WNBA preseason debut, and while it’s not regular season action, there will be plenty of intrigue to see how she looks during her first minutes of action.

Get ready for lots of hype and overreaction regardless of how it goes.

Angel Reese is back in Baton Rouge

Preseason play allows for events you normally don’t see. The Chicago Sky taking on the Brazilian national team at LSU—Angel Reese’s alma mater—is exactly the kind of game that wouldn’t happen any other time, and it will be historic.

The Sky were one of the most exciting teams last year, with Reese establishing herself as a great young big, averaging 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game. You can also add an All-Star appearance and making the All-Rookie Team to Reese’s list of rookie accomplishments. She and Caitlin Clark were part of a rookie class that breathed new life into the WNBA and ensured an even brighter future.

After Chicago just missed the playoffs in Reese’s first year, the path towards the postseason starts with this game against Brazil.

A double dose of CC

With the Indiana Fever playing the Washington Mystics on Saturday in Indiana before taking on the Team Brazil at Iowa on Sunday, it means the Clark phenomenon returns to the court.

She had an unreal rookie year, winning the Rookie of the Year award, making the All-WNBA First Team and clinching a playoff seed for the Fever for the first time since 2016.

Indiana has overhauled its roster, adding players like DeWanna Bonner and Sophie Cunningham to put itself in the running for a championship right now. This weekend, we get two chances to preview whether the Fever can reach those expectations.