Indiana Fever Face Extra Challenge with 2026 WNBA Schedule

Every WNBA season presents its own set of unforeseen hurdles. But the Indiana Fever can brace for one challenge right from the jump. On Wednesday, the WNBA released the full 2026 schedule, which remains at 44 games for a second consecutive season. The regular season is slated to begin on May 8, though the league and WNBPA have yet to reach a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The schedule includes a 17-day pause in early September for the FIBA World Cup. That's led to a more jam-packed schedule than usual, and Indiaan is one of a select few teams that will bear the brunt. The Fever's schedule includes three sets of back-to-backs in 2026, tied for the most in the WNBA. The Las Vegas Aces, New York Liberty, and Golden State Valkyries are the only other teams with three. Ten of the league's 15 teams have no more than one back-to-back; the Dallas Wings and Chicago Sky have none. Granted, every team will have to contend with a slightly condensed schedule, and it's not exactly unfamiliar territory for Indi