Breaking down the 2026 Indiana Fever schedule, released amid ongoing CBA negotiations
The Fever are slated to open the 2026 season Saturday, May 9 against Dallas — but the WNBA schedule remains tentative amid ongoing CBA talks.
The WNBA released its 2026 schedule this week.
For now, consider it a tentative — or hopeful — schedule, as the league remains in negotiations with the WNBAPA on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
At the moment, the status quo remains. There is a schedule in place, built around a 44-game regular season for each team, with the expectation that a new CBA will be reached in time to play it as scheduled.
The league has already pushed back the negotiation deadline twice. On Jan. 10, the WNBA issued the following statement:
The current Collective Bargaining Agreement has expired, and negotiations with the Women’s National Basketball Players Association remain ongoing. As the league experiences a pivotal time of unprecedented popularity and growth, we recognize the importance of building upon that momentum. Our priority is a deal that significantly increases player salaries, enhances the overall player experience, and supports the long-term growth of the league for current and future generations of players and fans.
Players have been vocal that their demands have not been met and that they are seeking more from the league.
The WNBA, meanwhile, must balance those demands with the long-term health and stability of the league. The league has yet to turn a profit, though a new television deal set to begin this upcoming season is expected to provide a financial boost.
But first, the league needs a season.
It also must conduct an expansion draft for two new teams — Toronto and Portland — followed by free agency, with a majority of players across the league set to hit the market.
The WNBA unveiled the 2026 schedule roughly two months later than last year, when it was announced on Cyber Monday.
“As we prepare to tip off the WNBA’s historic 30th season, this schedule reflects both how far the league has come and the momentum that continues to drive us forward,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
“From welcoming two new organizations in Toronto and Portland, to honoring our history with marquee matchups that connect the league’s first game to today’s stars, the 2026 season will celebrate the WNBA’s past, present, and future. With a record number of games, growing global reach, and unprecedented momentum, this milestone season will help define the next chapter of the WNBA.”
The 2026 season will be the second for Fever head coach Stephanie White and her staff, and the third season the WNBA experiences The Caitlin Clark experience.
Indiana is coming off a memorable 2025 season — remembered as much for its togetherness and resilience, and finishing one overtime period shy of the WNBA Finals, as it was for injuries, heartbreak, and one pain after another.
The Fever are scheduled to open the season at home against the Dallas Wings on Saturday, May 9, at 1 p.m. ET, though that date remains subject to change pending labor negotiations. They then travel west to face the Los Angeles Sparks on May 13 before returning home for a four-game homestand.
The Fever will close the regular season with three of its final five games at home. For the second consecutive year, their regular-season finale is against the Minnesota Lynx.
The Fever are no longer in rebuild mode and have increased their win total in each of the last three seasons:
2022: 5
2023: 13
2024: 20
2025: 24-20* not counting Commissioner’s Cup win
The schedule expanded from 40 to 44 games last season, and Indiana still managed to improve despite injuries. No player felt that more than Clark, who appeared in just 13 games after starting all 40 games the previous season.
Select single-game Fever tickets are now on sale.
The Fever will be off and in town for the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 24, with five days between games surrounding the event.
Now, as with each Pacers season, here’s a breakdown of the Fever’s schedule.
🏀 League-wide Notes
It will be the 30th season for the WNBA.
The regular season is tentatively set to run from May 8 through Sept. 24.
With Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire joining the league, there will be 15 teams.
They will play 44 games each.
There’s expected to be 200 of 330 games available on national TV or a streaming platform.
The 2026 All-Star game will be played at the United Center in Chicago on Saturday, July 25.
There will be a two-week pause, from Aug. 31 to Sept. 16, for the FIBA World Cup in Germany.
🗓️ Preseason Dates
Sat., April 25 at New York Liberty | 3 p.m. ET
Thu., April 30 v Dallas Wings | 7 p.m. ET
🏆 Commissioner’s Cup
The league will continue with its Commissioner’s Cup, which was won by the Fever last season in Minneapolis.
It includes a 49-game schedule stretching from June 1-17.
Each team plays one game against every team in the conference.
Teams in the East will play three at home and three on the road.
The Cup final will be held on Tuesday, June 30 — and hosted by the conference winner that has the best winning percentage in all regular season games played through June 17.
There will be a prize pool for the winning team, but it’s uncertain how much because there’s no CBA. Last year, the winning team shared $500,000, plus $120,000 in cryptocurrency from Coinbase.
Indiana’s six-game schedule, up from five games during the 2025 season:
June 4 v Atlanta Dream | 7 p.m. ET
June 6 at New York Liberty | 8 p.m. ET
June 8 at Washington Mystics | 8 p.m. ET
June 11 v Chicago Sky | 7 p.m. ET
June 13 at Connecticut Sun | 6 p.m. ET
June 16 v Toronto Tempo | 7 p.m. ET
Back-to-backs: 3
Ultimately, I hope the NBA and WNBA eventually eliminate back-to-backs. The Fever have three of them, one more than last season.
Two of them are both road games. One set is at home, part of a four-game homestand.
July 8-9: at Los Angeles, at Phoenix
July 17-18: v Seattle, v New York
Aug. 22-23: at New York, at Chicago
📺 National TV Games: TBD
The TV schedule will be announced later. Likely after an agreement on a new CBA has been reached and rosters are more understood.
Until free agency is held, most of the league is a free agent.
🏟️ Venue Change: 4
Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, and Toronto each moved games from their regular venue to one with a larger capacity. So all but seven Fever games are scheduled to be played in NBA arenas. For now.
The exceptions:
June 8 at Washington: CareFirst Arena
June 13 at Connecticut: Mohegan Sun Arena
June 20 at Atlanta: Gateway Center Arena
July 12 at Las Vegas: Michelob ULTRA Arena
Aug. 16 at Atlanta: Gateway Center Arena
Aug. 23 at Chicago: Wintrust Arena
Sept. 18 at Toronto: Coca-Cola Coliseum
*Notably, the Fever play in Las Vegas twice in a week. The first matchup is at T-Mobile Arena, but the second is at their usual arena inside Mandalay Bay. That second date, July 12, overlaps with NBA Summer League so there will be even more of a demand.
The Chicago Sky also moved one home game, but not the other. Aug. 8 is at the United Center, home of the Bulls, but Aug. 23 is at Wintrust Arena.
Toronto’s first-ever home game against the Fever is at Scotiabank Arena, home of the Raptors, on Aug. 18. But then they will play the next time at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
✈️ Road Trips: Three
The first two aren’t bad. But that last one is a real challenge.
Down south, up to Canada, down to Dallas, up to New York, over to Chicago. That’s a brutal one, especially so late in the season when you’re wanting to get to the finish line — and on to the playoffs.
After each one, they have at least several days between games.
July 5-12: Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas
July 28-Aug. 2: Seattle, Portland, Minnesota
Aug. 16-23: Atlanta, Toronto, Dallas, New York, Chicago
🏠 Longest Homestands: Four
The Fever are essentially at home for the first and last week of the regular season. They have two stretches with four consecutive home games.
May 9-13: Dallas, at Los Angeles, Washington, Seattle, Portland, Golden State
June 16-27: Toronto, Atlanta, at Atlanta, Phoenix, Phoenix, Los Angeles
July 15-22: Golden State, Seattle, New York, Connecticut
Aug. 28-Sept. 22: Connecticut, at Toronto, Washington, Minnesota
⭐️ Notable Home Games
Saturday, May 9: Season opener against the Dallas Wings — so the game will feature the last four No. 1 picks. Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and — TBD.
Wednesday, May 20: First meeting and home game with the Portland Fire.
Thursday, June 22: First of three meetings against the Chicago Sky. Last year, they met five times.
Tuesday, June 16: First meeting and home game with Toronto Tempo
Saturday, July 18: New York Liberty, under new head coach Chris DeMarco, visit.
Thursday, August 6: Only home game against Las Vegas Aces, who held off the Fever in overtime of the semifinals last postseason.
Tuesday, Sept. 22: Regular-season home finale against Minnesota.
📆 Games by day
Sunday: 7
Monday: 2 (none after June)
Tuesday: 5
Wednesday: 6
Thursday: 8
Friday: 7
Saturday: 9
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Very disappointed that there are home games in direct conflict with IMS activities. Same day as the Grand Prix, Sunday of Qualifying during Fast Six and Carb Day.