Indiana Fever Fans Anticipate Long Wait for 2026 WNBA Season

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Indiana Fever fans will have to wait over seven months to see their team compete again, as the 2026 WNBA schedule remains in limbo. The league is yet to finalize dates due to negotiations surrounding a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). However, expectations suggest the season will kick off around mid-May, similar to past years.

If everything stays on schedule, the Fever’s 2026 regular season could begin on May 17, 2026. This would be 229 calendar days since Indiana’s last match, a playoff loss to the Las Vegas Aces in Game 5 of the semifinals. Fans are eager to see how the team evolves during this extended break.

For star player Caitlin Clark, the wait is even more significant. Since her last game on July 15, 2025, where she suffered a groin injury that ended her season prematurely, Clark has been sidelined for 306 days by the time the 2026 season begins. The extended gap between her appearances is a source of frustration for both her and her supporters.

Despite the wait, Clark managed to find some competitive outlet at “The Annika,” an LPGA Pro-AM golf event in Florida, earlier this week. She shared highlights on her Instagram account, showcasing her enjoyment at the event while expressing gratitude to her sponsors and teammates.

“Had a blast running it back for year 2,” Clark wrote in her recent post, which also featured two of her teammates from the Fever, Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham, who were her caddies during the golf outing. Fans are hopeful that Hull and Cunningham will re-sign with the Fever as free agents this winter, paving the way for all three to play in 2026.