How to Watch the Chicago Sky
Prep your game plan for watching the Chicago Sky
From spring to early fall, there’s truly no better time to be a women’s sports fan in the Windy City. Between the NWSL’s Chicago Stars taking over the pitch and the Chicago Sky lighting up the hardwood at Wintrust Arena, the local sports scene is always buzzing with excitement.
But keeping up with the city’s premier basketball squad requires a solid game plan. Juggling the mix of local stations, national TV networks, and streaming exclusives can leave you scrambling right before tip-off.
Whether you want to watch the Chicago Sky every game day or just tune in for the biggest matchups, I have you covered. Keep reading for a complete breakdown of this season’s channel details and my top TV provider picks to make sure you never miss a game.
Where to watch the Chicago Sky—local TV breakdown
If you live in the Chicago metropolitan area, the in-market TV home for Chicago Sky games is Weigel Broadcasting’s WCIU-TV (The U). The local network will televise 24 matchups in 2026, allowing fans to catch more than half the regular-season schedule for free on Channel 26 using an over-the-air antenna.
While some of these WCIU broadcasts overlap with national TV coverage, others are strictly local exclusives. If you’re cheering from outside of Chicago, you’ll need a WNBA League Pass subscription to stream those regional games live.
| Channel | Starting price | Coverage | Available on |
|---|---|---|---|
| WCIU | — | In-market games | Over-the-air antenna, DIRECTV, Fubo, Spectrum, YouTube TV, Xfinity |
| WNBA League Pass | $14.99/mo. | Most out-of-market games | WNBA app, Prime Video Channels |
Where to watch the Chicago Sky—national TV breakdown
Chicago Sky games are often featured on national TV. That makes keeping up with the team more accessible regardless of where you live. Best of all, this wide distribution lets you bypass the typical headache of regional blackouts for much of the season.
You can find these marquee games on popular broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, and ION, as well as premium staples such as ESPN, USA Network, and NBA TV. Just keep in mind that a select few matchups are strictly Amazon Prime Video exclusives.
| Network | Coverage | Available on |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Prime Video | Thursday night exclusives, Commissioner's Cup championship | Prime Video subscription ($8.99–$17.98/mo.) |
| ABC | Select weekend games | Cable, satellite, live TV streaming services, digital antenna |
| CBS | Select weekend games | Cable, satellite, live TV streaming services, Paramount+ Premium, digital antenna |
| CBS Sports Network | Select regular-season games | Cable, satellite, live TV streaming services |
| ESPN / ESPN2 | Regular-season and playoff games | Cable, satellite, live TV streaming services |
| ION | Friday night regular-season games | Cable, satellite, live TV streaming services, digital antenna |
| NBA TV | Select regular-season games | Cable, satellite, live TV streaming services |
| USA Network | Select regular-season games | Cable, satellite, live TV streaming services |
Best TV plans for watching the Chicago Sky
For fans in the Chicagoland area, tracking down WCIU isn’t as hard as you’d think. The independent station is available for free via a digital antenna and on select cable and live TV streaming providers. But to watch exclusive national broadcasts—and root for the team from afar—you need a broad-reaching TV package.
Whether you watch locally or from out of market, YouTube TV is my top recommendation to round out your setup. It carries essential WNBA networks like ESPN, USA Network, ION, and NBA TV. You even get NBCSN, which simulcasts games otherwise locked behind Peacock Premium. Here’s a closer look at my top viewing recommendations to catch every Sky tip-off.
Best Overall
YouTube TV ($82.99/mo.) offers a comprehensive channel lineup for Sky fans. Chicagoans get local affiliate WCIU, while everyone gets key national WNBA networks like ESPN, USA Network, NBCSN, and NBA TV.
Exclusive Games
You’ll want Amazon Prime Video ($8.99–$17.98/mo.) for its exclusive Sky matchups, plus the Commissioner’s Cup Championship.
Out-of-Market Coverage
If you live outside Chicago’s broadcast territory, WNBA League Pass ($14.99/mo.) is the only way to watch the Sky’s local broadcasts live. The only catch is that nationally televised cable games are blacked out.
Watch the Sky with a free trial
Free live TV streaming trials are the ultimate viewing hack for Chicago Sky fans looking to avoid long-term contracts. Services like DIRECTV and YouTube TV offer short trial periods to stream games completely free.
The Sky also make a handful of national appearances on Amazon Prime Video this season. If you aren’t a Prime member, you can activate a 30-day free trial to catch these Thursday night matchups without paying a dime.
| Packages | Price | ABC | ESPN | CBS | NBC | ION | USA Network | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECTV | Five days free, then $94.99–$179.98/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | View Plans for DIRECTV STREAM |
| Fubo | Five days free, then $14.99–$94.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | — | ✔ | — | View Plans for FuboTV |
| YouTube TV | Varies, then $82.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | View Plans for YouTube TV |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Get tickets to see the Sky!
Buy Chicago Sky tickets through our partner, StubHub—your source for the best deals on Sky games and more.
How to watch the Chicago Sky FAQ
What channel are the Chicago Sky on?
You can watch the Chicago Sky's in-market games locally on WCIU. Nationally televised matchups air across networks like ABC, CBS, ESPN, ION, and USA Network, with select games streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Peacock Premium.
Can I stream Sky games without cable?
Yes, in-market fans can stream local broadcasts through live TV streaming services that carry WCIU, such as YouTube TV and Fubo. Out-of-market fans can use WNBA League Pass, while select national matchups stream exclusively on Prime Video.
Why are Sky games blacked out in my area?
Blackout rules restrict WNBA League Pass from showing live games within the Chicago Sky's local broadcast territory. Nationally televised games on major networks like ESPN or streaming platforms like Prime Video are also subject to blackout restrictions on the service.
Can I watch the Chicago Sky for free?
Fans in the Chicagoland area can watch locally broadcast games on WCIU for free using an over-the-air antenna. Nationally televised matchups on broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, and ION are also available for free with an antenna.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com Sports Editor, Taylor Kujawa, dug into the Chicago Sky’s complete regional and national broadcast calendar to map out this season’s viewing options. By comparing specific network rights against top streaming and cable packages, he verified exactly which services carry the must-have WNBA channels. The result is a streamlined guide designed to keep you locked into Sky basketball without overpaying for unnecessary TV subscriptions.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our review methods.
