WNBA expansion fuels more arena shifts. Discover why the Indiana Fever's relocated games are notably decreasing this season.
The WNBA will stage more regular-season games in alternate venues this year, leaning on expansion and market reach rather than a single marquee draw to fuel the increase.
The league’s schedule, released Wednesday, lists 19 games that will be played outside teams’ primary home arenas, four more than last season. The rise reflects a league that has grown more comfortable using larger buildings or neutral markets to test demand and broaden visibility.
The biggest driver is Toronto. The Tempo, one of two new franchises joining the league alongside Portland, will host five games away from Coca-Cola Coliseum. Two of those games will be played in Montreal and two in Vancouver, signaling an early effort to establish a national footprint across Canada rather than concentrating solely on one city.
By contrast, the Indiana Fever — and Caitlin Clark in particular — are tied to fewer venue changes than a year ago. Only four of Indiana’s road games have been moved to larger arenas this season. Those dates include stops in Las Vegas on July 5, Chicago on Aug. 8, Toronto on Aug. 18 and Dallas on Aug. 20.
That marks a notable decline from last season, when nine Fever road games were shifted. Chicago and Dallas each cut their total in half, while Washington, Connecticut and Atlanta — all of which moved games against Indiana last year — have no such changes on the upcoming schedule.
The reduction does not reflect waning interest. Indiana remained the league’s top road draw last season, averaging 15,884 fans per away game, comfortably ahead of the rest of the league. Every Fever road game moved to a larger arena sold out, with tickets gone before the season began.
Availability, however, shaped the context. Clark appeared in just 13 games last season and played in only three of the nine relocated road contests. One of those came in mid-July against Connecticut at Boston’s TD Garden, where she suffered a groin injury late in the game and missed the remainder of the season.
Some teams face different considerations altogether. Franchises such as New York, Phoenix, Minnesota and Golden State already play in NBA-sized arenas, eliminating the need to relocate games to accommodate demand. Portland, entering the league this season, joins that group.
The schedule also leaves room for change. Venue decisions are not always finalized when the initial slate is released. Last year, Chicago and Atlanta announced moves weeks — and in some cases months — after the schedule became public, with Dallas following shortly thereafter. Similar adjustments remain possible before the season begins.
Beyond individual games, broader uncertainty still hangs over the league calendar. Negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement have yet to be completed, raising questions about whether the 2026 season will begin on time.