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Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky look to redeem themselves after tough season as WNBA releases 2026 schedule.
The Chicago Sky officially unveiled their 2026 schedule, and it outlines a season defined by travel, expansion-era matchups, and a calendar shaped by both global competition and labor negotiations. Coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign, All-Star forward Angel Reese and the Sky enter the league’s 30th season with a slate that offers no shortage of notable moments.
Here are three clear takeaways from what the schedule reveals about Chicago’s 2026 season.
1. The Season Opens on the Road and Stays There Early
Chicago’s season begins May 9 with a road matchup against the Portland Fire, marking the expansion franchise’s first official WNBA game since returning to the league. The opener also kicks off a road-heavy start that sends the Sky west to face Golden State Valkyries, Phoenix Mercury, and Minnesota Lynx before returning home.
The home opener comes May 20 at Wintrust Arena against the Dallas Wings, led by Paige Bueckers. By the time Chicago plays in front of its home crowd, the Sky will already have logged multiple long-distance trips and faced several playoff-caliber opponents.
The early schedule makes it clear: the opening month features heavy travel and competitive matchups rather than a gradual ramp-up.
2. Expansion Teams and Showcase Games Highlight the Middle Stretch
Expansion plays a central role throughout the calendar. Chicago faces both new franchises, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, multiple times, including the Sky’s first-ever regular-season game outside the United States in Toronto on June 7.
June also centers on Commissioner’s Cup play, as six games from June 2-17 count toward tournament standings.
Several high-profile home games also anchor the schedule. The Sky host the defending champion Las Vegas Aces and the Indiana Fever, led by star guard Caitlin Clark, in late June and August. Two of those matchups take place at the United Center, highlighting the league’s continued push into larger venues.
3. A Global Break Shapes the Final Month
The Sky’s regular season pauses from late August through mid-September for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin. After the break, Chicago returns with just four games remaining on the schedule.
The season concludes September 24 on the road against the Washington Mystics, closing a 44-game campaign spread across five months. Notably, Chicago has no back-to-back games on the schedule, a rarity that may help manage workload during a long season.
The Sky will be relying on Angel Reese to have a bounce back year after dealing with an injury riddled season that led her to only play in 30 of the 44 games last season. Despite the injuries, Reese did have a career year averaging 14.7 points, 12.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 45.8 percent from the field.
The Sky also have the 5th overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft via the Connecticut Sun that could net them a solid blue chip prospect to play alongside Reese.
All of this, of course, remains contingent on the league and players’ union finalizing a new collective bargaining agreement. Until then, the 2026 schedule offers a clear outline of what lies ahead, even if some uncertainty remains off the court.
Jalon Dixon Jalon Dixon is a multi-platform sports journalist and content creator specializing in NBA and WNBA coverage. He blends writing, podcasting, and video analysis to deliver accessible, in-depth perspectives on basketball and beyond. More about Jalon Dixon
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