The WNBA is still in tense negotiations with the WNBPA. But even after months of discussions with no progress, the league finally turned its attention back to basketball by officially unveiling its 2026 schedule. And Caitlin Clark is already making headlines. This season’s opening slate is expected to feature a marquee showdown between Clark and compatriot Paige Bueckers. Yet while this confrontation quickly became the talk of the town, it’s not the only Clark-related date that’s garnering attention.
In an effort to expand the WNBA’s footprint, this season will also feature two new franchises, the Portland Fire and the Toronto Tempo. So even with the expansion bringing new faces and storylines into the league, Clark’s influence is already shaping how the rest of the teams view the schedule.
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As soon as the schedule was released, new Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello wasted no time in identifying the games she was circling on the schedule. Brondello named three games she is most looking forward to with her new team.
“Number one – Phoenix for obvious reasons. It’s my off-season base,” she said. “My kids will be there. All my friends are there, I coached there. I won a championship there for eight years, so it’s always a fun city to visit and play basketball. (Second) New York. That’s where I coached before I came to Tempo, and I obviously just wanted to see the fans again. It’s a really great arena to play in and see the former players that I coached there. It’ll be special.”
While those two games are rooted in personal history, the third one she’s excited for stems from Caitlin Clark’s impact on the league.
“And then I have Indiana because everyone loves playing against Caitlin Clark, and I think they have a really big audience in that league as well. So you know, our players are going into a very loud arena. I think it’ll be fun,” she added.
While the Tempo women will play their very first game of the season against the Washington Mystics on May 8, the three games highlighted by Brondello are spread throughout the season:
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The Phoenix Mercury on May 19.
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The New York Liberty on June 3.
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Indiana Fever on June 16.
However, while these matches will provide their share of excitement, the match that fans are looking forward to remains the season opener.
Caitlin Clark vs. Paige Bueckers will set the tone for 2026
Last season, the Fever star was limited to just 13 games after a groin injury sidelined her for much of the year. As a result, the season opener between the Indiana Fever and Dallas Wings is about more than just two superstars; it’s a game where fans will get to see their favorite player back on the field after almost a year.
On Saturday, May 9, the Fever will host the Wings at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in a press conference at 1 p.m. ET. And while the excitement of seeing Clark in action again is surreal, this matchup marks a long-awaited battle between two rivals who have been at odds since their NCAA days.
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Although we got to see them face off last season, it was only one game before Clark had to sit out.
Mandatory Credits: Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
This game will also mark the first time since 2016 that Indiana and Dallas will meet on opening night.
Additionally, adding another layer of intrigue to the matchup, the Fever-Wings clash is expected to feature four consecutive No. 1 draft picks – Aliyah Boston (2023), Caitlin Clark (2024), Bueckers (2025) and Dallas’ top 2026 selection.
Last season’s opening match between Clark and Angel Reese generated massive viewership for the league. Now, once again with two elite guards and a rivalry that predates the WNBA, this is exactly the kind of moment the league wants to open its 30th season with.
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