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The WNBA‘s Orange Carpet has effectively blurred the lines between sports and high fashion — allowing the best of the best in women’s basketball to generate buzzy cultural moments during their arrivals to events like the WNBA Finals, the WNBA Draft, and the WNBA All-Star Weekend (while becoming tastemakers in their own right and getting to collaborate with major designers).
Those who want to catch their favorite players on the Orange Carpet are in luck, as E!’s “Live From the Orange Carpet: WNBA Finals” broadcast is set to take place on October 19, kicking off at 6 p.m. EST before Game 2 of the WNBA Finals (Atlanta Dream at Golden State Valkyries) tips off two hours later.
How to Watch the WNBA Finals Orange Carpet Online Tonight
Hosted by Lilly Singh (part owner and chief hype officer of the Toronto Tempo team), the programming will also feature commentary and interviews by comedian Wanda Sykes, WNBA Hall of Famer Tina Thompson, WNBA stylist Brittany Hampton, and USA Sports’ WNBA courtside reporter Terrika Foster-Brasby, according to E!.
Cable cutter? No problem. Below, we round up the best live TV streaming services that will let you watch the WNBA Finals Orange Carpet online. To make matters even better, some of them come with free trials attached.
How to Watch the 2026 WNBA Finals Orange Carpet Online for Free
E! will be handling the Orange Carpet coverage this evening, with the channel being carried by leading streaming platforms like DirecTV (our top recommendation), Sling, and Hulu + Live TV. Here’s how to sign up for a subscription ahead of the star-studded happening.
EDITOR’S CHOICE
DirecTV
E! is featured in all of DirecTV’s core packages, from Entertainment to the most comprehensive Premier option with 185-plus channels to its name. Be sure to take advantage of the platform’s generous, three-day trial to watch the WNBA Orange Carpet for free. Once the trial period ends, plans will start at $59.99 per month, courtesy of DirecTV’s $30-off deal on new users’ first month of membership.
ANOTHER OPTION
Sling
Sling is another streaming destination that you can use to watch E!’s “Live From the Orange Carpet: WNBA Finals” coverage. Specifically, the channel is found in its Blue and Orange & Blue packages, which start at $45.99 a month and $60.99 a month, respectively. Sports obsessives will be happy to know that Sling’s most popular channel bundles also carry the likes of FS1, NFL Network, and ESPN.
BEST FOR ENTERTAINMENT
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV recently got rid of its free trial, but signing up today will give you 50 percent off your first month — bumping the price down from the typical $89.99 to just $49.99. This is our go-to live TV streaming service for entertainment content, as it holds over 100 channels besides E! (such as ABC and Bravo). Of course, Hulu is also included, not to mention Disney+ and ESPN. Witnessing the ladies’ head-turning ‘fits with Hulu + Live TV’s help would be a wise choice indeed.
WNBA Finals Orange Carpet 2026: Date, Time
The WNBA Finals Orange Carpet proceedings will unfold on Monday, October 19, starting at 6 p.m. EST and running for approximately an hour — followed by Game 2 of the WNBA Finals. The Atlanta Dream will play against the Golden State Valkyries at San Francisco’s Chase Center.
WNBA Orange Carpet: More to Know
The WNBA Orange Carpet is a highly publicized, red carpet–style arrivals event that’s held right before marquee league events. Oftentimes, players’ ensembles take on an avant-garde and expressive quality, curated in collaboration with renowned designers and stylists.
2026 WNBA All-Star Weekend Orange Carpet arrivals on July 23, 2026.
Courtesy Geoff Stellfox, Catalina Fragoso/Getty Images
Per Front Office Sports, tonight’s broadcast marks the “first time E! has extended its arrivals coverage beyond traditional entertainment events,” which demonstrates how central the Orange Carpet has become to women’s basketball culture: successfully uniting passionate WNBA fans and eagle-eyed fashion observers alike.
The inaugural WNBA Orange Carpet occurred back in 2022. Since then, notable looks included Breanna Stewart’s Jay-Z x Yankees jacket; Angel Reese’s pink-on-pink getup, composed of a Coach varsity jacket and beaded handbag; A’ja Wilson’s strapless, embellished gown; Rae Burrell’s glossy leather coordinates from Diesel; and Paige Bueckers’ many stylish interpretations of menswear, complete with boxy blazers, silky ties, and other details.
Coach is the league’s official handbag partner, having entered into a multiyear agreement with the WNBA circa 2025. That being said, the athletes frequently clutch Coach purses on the Orange Carpet, from Reese’s custom creations to Flau’jae Johnson’s basketball charm–bedecked Tabby (you can buy the charm online at coach.com).
also gets a chance to shine on the Orange Carpet. We’ve been spotting classic Air Force 1s, minimalist mules, color-blocked loafers, moto boots, chic slingbacks, and everything in between on the players’ feet. Some also choose to spotlight their co-created sneakers and apparel for the occasion, which is exactly what Wilson did with her Nike A’Two line earlier this year.
Trying to tune in to the WNBA Finals Orange Carpet from home? Sign up for a DirecTV trial today.
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Meet the Author
Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on hype-generating fashion events worth streaming online.
