Stewart’s Milestones and Toronto’s Debut Headline WNBA Opening Night

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The 30th season of the WNBA arrived with a roar on Friday night, delivering a mix of historic individual achievements, the birth of a new franchise, and a statement win from the defending heavyweights. From a record-breaking performance in Brooklyn to a nail-biter in Toronto, opening night of the 2026 season proved that the league’s momentum is only accelerating.

Liberty Dominate as Stewart Reaches 6,000

In front of a sellout crowd of 17,615 at Barclays Center, the New York Liberty sent a clear message to the rest of the league with a 106–75 dismantling of the Connecticut Sun.

The night belonged to Breanna Stewart, who put on a clinic with 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks. In the process, Stewart became the second-fastest player in WNBA history to reach 6,000 career points (293 games). She also vaulted past Hall of Famer Lauren Jackson for 15th on the all-time scoring list.

New York’s depth was on full display as Marine Johannès added 17 points (5-of-9 from deep), and Julie Vanloo made franchise history. Vanloo became the first Liberty reserve to record a points/assists double-double, finishing with a near triple-double with 12 points, 7 rebounds, and a career-high 11 assists.

Mystics Spoil the Party in Toronto

The most anticipated event of the evening took place at Coca-Cola Coliseum, where the Toronto Tempo played the first game in franchise history. While the atmosphere was electric, the Washington Mystics proved to be rude guests, escaping with a 68–65 victory.

The Tempo’s Bright Spot: Marina Mabrey led all scorers with 27 points, keeping the expansion side competitive until the final buzzer.
Mystics’ Young Core: Sonia Citron was sensational in her season debut, dropping 26 points. However, it was the interior duo of Shakira Austin (18 points, 11 rebounds) and rookie Kiki Iriafen (12 points, 16 rebounds) that ultimately wore down the Tempo.
The Closer: Austin showed veteran poise by sinking four consecutive free throws in the final 18 seconds to secure the win.

Valkyries Strike Gold in Seattle

The Golden State Valkyries began their sophomore campaign with a gritty 91–80 road win over the Seattle Storm. Despite losing starters Tiffany Hayes (pinky) and Cecilia Zandalasini (jaw) to early injuries, Golden State’s “next woman up” mentality prevailed.

Janelle Salaun led the charge with 20 points and five triples, while Kaitlyn Chen provided a second-half spark with 14 points. The game also marked a bittersweet homecoming for Gabby Williams, the Valkyries’ marquee signing, who finished with 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists against her former team.

For the rebuilding Storm, French sensation Dominique Malonga was a massive bright spot, leading the team with 21 points. No. 8 overall pick Flau’jae Johnson added 12 points in her highly anticipated professional debut, but shot just 3-12 from the field.

Opening Night Scoreboard

Matchup	Final Score	Top Performer
Connecticut Sun @ NY Liberty	75–106	Breanna Stewart (31 PTS, 10 REB)
Washington Mystics @ Toronto Tempo	68–65	Sonia Citron (26 PTS)
GS Valkyries @ Seattle Storm	91–80	Janelle Salaun (20 PTS, 5 3PM)

What’s Next?

The action continues today, Saturday, May 9, with another high-profile slate featuring the Las Vegas Aces taking on the Phoenix Mercury, and the season debut of Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever against Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, and the Dallas Wings.