10 p.m. ET is the scheduled tipoff Friday as the Los Angeles Sparks host the Chicago Sky at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
ion will carry the game on TV and streaming, giving viewers a single outlet to watch the Chicago-Los Angeles matchup.
The game comes as the 2026 WNBA season opens under a new collective bargaining agreement and a new media-rights deal.
Loaded rosters, a rookie class led by Azzi Fudd, Olivia Miles and Lauren Betts, and the Aces' bid for a fourth title in five years frame the broader season backdrop.