The WNBA‘s 2026 schedule is already being impacted by Caitlin Clark‘s injury-riddled 2025 campaign.

The league plans to move 19 games to new, larger arenas in 2026 after doing so 15 times last season in an effort to capitalize on increased demand for select matchups.

The problem was, Clark battled groin injuries in 2025 that limited her to just 13 games while tanking ticket demand for her Indiana Fever.

As a result, the WNBA plans to move just four Fever games to larger arenas next season: Indiana’s July 5 matchup with the Las Vegas Aces will be played at Sin City’s T-Mobile Arena, the August 8 game with the Chicago Sky is going to tip-off at United Center, the Toronto Tempo will host Clark & Co. at Scotiabank Arena on August 20 and two days later, the Dallas Wings will face the visiting Fever at the American Airlines Center.

Despite Clark’s injury, the Fever were still the WNBA’s biggest draw in 2025, averaging 15,884 fans on the road. Many of the games moved to larger arenas still sold out, but did so prior to Clark’s groin injury.

Notably, the Sky plan to host the first two games of their season at United Center, where the NBA‘s Chicago Bulls play their home games.

Clark returned to the court last month to train with Team USA in Durham, North Carolina

Clark returned to the court last month to train with Team USA in Durham, North Carolina

A Fever spokesperson responded to the decision in a statement to Front Office Sports, saying the club ‘can’t speak to what other teams may do in terms of venue changes.’

Clark is about to enter her third season with the Indiana Fever and has brought with her the legion of fans she gained at the University of Iowa, where she became the all-time leading scorer in women’s college basketball.

She was an All-WNBA First Team pick as a rookie before battling various injuries in 2025. Clark’s swaggering presence and superb playmaking abilities have been a key contributor to the WNBA’s surge in viewership and attendance over the past two years.

The league’s entire 2026 season remains up in the air due to ongoing labor issues. The WNBA will begin its season on May 8, assuming the league and the players’ union can come to an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement.

Clark, who has quickly become one of the faces of the WNBA, understands the magnitude of how this CBA could shape the league going forward.

‘I think the most important thing for myself, thinking about these CBA negotiations — this is the biggest moment the WNBA has ever seen, and it’s not something that can be messed up,’ Clark told reporters before making her debut with the senior US women’s national team last month.    

‘And, you know, we’re going to fight for everything that we deserve, but at the same time, we need to play basketball. That’s what our fans crave … because you want the product on the floor, and at the end of the day, that’s how you make the money, that’s how you’re marketable. That’s what the fans get excited about. That’s what the fans want to show up for.’

An Indiana Fever fan is seen holding up a Lexie Hull jersey prior to a game in September

An Indiana Fever fan is seen holding up a Lexie Hull jersey prior to a game in September 

Teams will play 44 games over a five-month period with a 17-day break for the FIBA World Cup in early September. The league said last year that with the World Cup this season they would keep the schedule at 44 games despite adding two new teams in Portland and Toronto.

‘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,’ WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said.

‘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.’

By putting the schedule out now, teams can start selling ticket packages, book travel for away games – including charter flights – and secure arena dates.

‘Releasing the 2026 schedule is a key step as we prepare for the WNBA´s 30th season and allows teams, partners, broadcasters, and fans to begin the essential planning for the year ahead,’ a WNBA spokesperson said.

All but two teams have at least one back-to-back set of games. Overall, the average of games on consecutive nights is down from 2.4 per team in 2025 to 1.6 this year.

The WNBA hopes to expand the number of games teams play in future years, but that would come in a new CBA.