What's Going On With The WNBA
Kelsey Plum. | Getty Images The Los Angeles Sparks have played over a quarter of their 2026 games and have found a perfect combination of success and failure, going 6-6.
With 25 percent of the action now complete, it’s time to present quarterly team awards.
These will be similar to WNBA’s end-of-year awards, but with only Sparks players considered. So again, not saying this is the league MVP, for example, but the most valuable player on the Sparks.
Most Valuable Spark: Kelsey PlumThere were no other players who could seriously be considered more valuable for the Sparks than Kelsey Plum.
She is averaging 24.8 points per game. The only player in the WNBA scoring more is A’ja Wilson at 25.9 points per game. On her attempts, Plum is shooting a career-high 55.8 percent. That’s the third-best shooting percentage in the WNBA for players attempting at least 10 field goals per game.
Beyond her incredible shooting and scoring, Plum is creating opportunities for her team. She is averaging 6.9 assists per game, third highest in the WNBA.
Add in her leadership, and it’s clear she is team’s No. 1 option and most valuable player.
Defensive Player of LA: Ariel AtkinsAtkins was brought to LA to give the team elite perimeter defense. Mission accomplished.
She is averaging a team-high 2.0 steals per game. That’s the second most in the WNBA, with only Rhyne Howard of the Atlanta Dream registering more at 3.1.
Her defense is fierce and voracious. She’s not just reacting to what the offense is doing; she disrupts it and causes havoc. She’s strong enough to fight over a screen and stay in front, and fast enough to drop and recover. Atkins has a nose for the ball and is tremendous at applying pressure on the ball or jumping into passing lanes to force turnovers.
On above-the-break 3s, Atkins has opponents making only 30.6 percent of their attempts. That makes her the 11th-best guard at defending this shot.
Trading Rickea Jackson to acquire Atkins might still not be a popular decision among Sparks fans, but defensively, it’s easy to see why they made that choice.
Most Improved Spark: Cameron BrinkCameron Brink is finally healthy and showing what she can do.
Defensively, she remains dominant with 1.5 blocks and 0.6 steals per game. Offensively, though, she is taking her game to another level. On the season she’s averaging 9.2 points and shooting a career-high 52 percent from the field.
She’s also taking the most threes ever attempting 2.3 per game while shooting 33% from deep which is also a career-best.
These numbers aren’t earth shattering, but if she keeps it up, her numbers will only rise. Since she tore her ACL during her rookie season, she’s yet to have a fully healthy year. This will be her first and that should excite this franchise.
Sixth Spark of the Year: Cameron BrinkBrink is not only LA’s most improved player, but the best player off the bench for LA. She is behind Rae Burrell for most reserve points by just a decimal point, but leads the Sparks bench in rebounds with 4.3 per game. And, she is the team’s overall blocks leader.
Now that her offense is catching up to her defense, Brink is one of the most promising frontcourt players in the WNBA and is the first big subbed onto the court for the purple and gold.
Los Angeles’ Peak PerformersThese are the top players for the Sparks in points, assists and rebounds. So, no analysis here, simply the platers with the highest averages.
Scoring: Kelsey Plum, 24.8 points per gameRebounding: Nneka Ogwumike, 8.6 rebounds per gameAssists: Kelsey Plum, 6.9 assists per gameThe 7-5 Indiana Fever will visit New England this weekend to play the 2-12 Connecticut Sun on Saturday evening. The game, part of the WNBA's in-season Commissioner's Cup tournament, will tip off at 6 p.m. ET. Caitlin Clark, who spent most of last season out with injuries and has faced some scrutiny for her performance thus far this season, silenced critics last Thursday when she pulled off her third career game with at least 30 points and 10 assists during the Fever's game against the Chicago Sky. Can she pull off a similar feat this weekend?
Saturday's Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun game will be broadcast on NBCSN and stream on Peacock; here's what you need to know to tune in, and get the latest updates on all of the league's stats, schedules, and news here.
How to watch the Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun:Date: June 13, 2026
Time: 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT
TV channel: NBCSN, WTHR (Indiana)
Streaming: Peacock,DirecTV, YouTube TV and more
Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun game time:The Fever vs. Sun game tips off at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 13.
Fever vs. Sun game channel:The Fever vs. Sun game will be broadcast on NBCSN and locally in Indiana on WTHR.
How to watch the Fever vs. Sun game without cable:This week's WNBA matchup between the Fever and Sun will be available on NBC Sports Network, which means it'll be streaming on platforms like DirecTV and YouTube TV. It will also be available on Peacock.
What channel are WNBA games on this season?For the 2026 season, WNBA games will be spread across a wide range of channels (and streaming platforms). Games will air on ABC, ESPN (and ESPN2/ESPN+), CBS, NBC (and NBCSN), ION, USA Network, and NBA TV. Plus, some games will be exclusive to Amazon Prime Video; games that air on NBC will stream on Peacock; games on CBS will be available on Paramount+; and select games airing on ABC will stream on Disney+. Certain games will also be available only via League Pass.
Confused? Overwhelmed? Don't have cable these days? Here's a loose weekly schedule for which nights of the week get which channels, plus what you'll need to watch WNBA games in 2026:
Sunday — ABC, CBS, ESPN, NBA TV, or NBC
Monday — NBCSN/Peacock or USA
Tuesday — ESPN
Wednesday — USA
Thursday — NBA TV or Prime Video
Friday — ION
Saturday — ABC, CBS or NBCSN/Peacock
Indiana Fever 2026 Broadcast Schedule:All times Eastern
Saturday, June 13, 2026 (Commissioner's Cup)
Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun, 6 p.m. (NBCSN/Peacock/Local Broadcasters)
Tuesday, June 16, 2026 (Commissioner's Cup)
Toronto Tempo vs. Indiana Fever, 7 p.m. (USA Network/Local Broadcasters)
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Atlanta Dream vs. Indiana Fever, 7:30 p.m. (Prime Video/Local Broadcasters)
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream, 1 p.m. (ABC)
Monday, June 22, 2026
Phoenix Mercury vs. Indiana Fever, 8 p.m. (USA Network)
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Phoenix Mercury vs. Indiana Fever, 7:30 p.m. (USA Network/Local Broadcasters)
Saturday, June 27, 2026
Los Angeles Sparks vs. Indiana Fever, 8 p.m. (CBS/Paramount+)
Sunday, July 5, 2026
Indiana Fever vs. Las Vegas Aces, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Indiana Fever vs. Los Angeles Sparks, 10 p.m. (USA Network/Local Broadcasters)
Thursday, July 9, 2026
Indiana Fever vs. Phoenix Mercury, 10 p.m. (Prime Video/Local Broadcasters)
Sunday, July 12, 2026
Indiana Fever vs. Las Vegas Aces, 9 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Golden State Valkyries vs. Indiana Fever, 8 p.m. (USA Network/Local Broadcasters)
Friday, July 17, 2026
Seattle Storm vs. Indiana Fever, 7:30 p;m. (ION/WNBA League Pass)
Saturday, July 18, 2026
New York Liberty vs. Indiana Fever, 8 p.m. (CBS/Paramount+)
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Connecticut Sun vs. Indiana Fever, 8 p.m. (USA Network/Local Broadcasters)
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
Indiana Fever vs. Seattle Storm, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN/Local Broadcasters)
Friday, July 31, 2026
Indiana Fever vs. Portland Fire, 10 p.m. (ION/WNBA League Pass/Local Broadcasters)
Sunday, August 2, 2026
Indiana Fever vs. Minnesota Lynx, 1 p.m. (ABC)
Thursday, August 6, 2026
Las Vegas Aces vs. Indiana Fever, 7 p.m. (Prime Video)
Saturday, August 8, 2026
Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
New York Liberty vs. Indiana Fever, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Friday, August 14, 2026
Dallas Wings vs. Indiana Fever, 7:30 p.m. (ION/WNBA League Pass)
Sunday, August 16, 2026
Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream, 5 p.m. (ESPN)
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Indiana Fever vs. Toronto Tempo, 7 p.m. (ESPN/Local Broadcasters)
Thursday, August 20, 2026
Indiana Fever vs. Dallas Wings, 8 p.m. (Prime Video/Local Broadcasters)
Saturday, August 22, 2026
Indiana Fever vs. New York Liberty, 7 p.m. (Prime Video)
Sunday, August 23, 2026
Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky, 7 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)
Friday, August 28. 2026
Connecticut Sun vs. Indiana Fever, 7:30 pm. (ION/WNBA League Pass)
Friday, September 18, 2026
Indiana Fever vs. Toronto Tempo, 7:30 p.m. (ION/WNBA League Pass/Local Broadcasters)
Sunday, September 20, 2026
Washington Mystics vs. Indiana Fever, 4 p.m. (NBA TV/Local Broadcasters)
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Minnesota Lynx vs. Indiana Fever, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Thursday, September 24, 2026
Indiana Fever vs. Minnesota Lynx, 8 p.m. (USA Network/Local Broadcasters)