If you are frantically scrolling through your program guide or refreshing your favorite sports app to find what channel does the Indiana Fever play on tonight, I have some news that might be a little frustrating.
The Indiana Fever are not playing tonight, January 17, 2026.
Honestly, it's a super common mistake to go looking for the Fever this time of year, especially with how much Caitlin Clark has changed the way we all follow the WNBA. We've become so used to seeing her logo and those navy-and-gold jerseys everywhere that it feels like they should be on every single night. But we are currently deep in the "dark zone" of the basketball calendar.
The WNBA is a summer league. That means right now, the Fever players are either resting, training individually, or competing in off-season leagues like Unrivaled.
What Channel Does the Indiana Fever Play on Tonight: The Off-Season Reality
Basically, the WNBA season doesn't even tip off its preseason until May. If you're looking for the team to be together at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, you've got a few months of waiting left.
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Because it's January 2026, the league is technically in its free agency and contract negotiation period. Except, things are a bit messy right now. There is currently a moratorium on league business because the WNBA and the Players’ Association (WNBPA) missed their January 9 deadline to iron out a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
What does that mean for you? It means even the "off-court" action like big trades or free agent signings is temporarily on ice.
Where is Caitlin Clark Playing Right Now?
If you're asking about the Fever, you’re probably really asking where you can watch Caitlin Clark. She's been dealing with some nagging soft tissue injuries that limited her to 13 games in 2025, so her main focus lately has been getting back to 100% for the 2026 season.
However, there is women's pro basketball on TV tonight—it just isn't the Fever.
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- The Unrivaled League: This is the new 3-on-3 league founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier.
- Tonight's Matchups: You can catch Mist BC vs. Lunar Owls BC at 7:30 PM ET and Breeze BC vs. Vinyl BC at 8:45 PM ET.
- The Channel: These games are usually on truTV or streaming on Max.
While Clark isn't on the Unrivaled rosters for this season, many of her Fever teammates and WNBA rivals are. It’s the closest thing you’ll get to that Fever fix until the spring.
Decoding the 2026 Indiana Fever TV Schedule
When the season finally does start in May 2026, finding what channel does the Indiana Fever play on tonight is going to get a lot easier—and also a lot more complicated.
The Fever have become the "Dallas Cowboys" of the WNBA. They are almost always on national TV. Last season, they had 41 out of 44 games broadcast nationally. That’s a wild stat.
When things kick off in a few months, here is where you’ll need to look:
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- ION Television: They usually own Friday nights. If it's a Friday, check ION first.
- ESPN and ABC: These are for the "Game of the Week" style matchups, usually on weekends or Tuesday nights.
- Prime Video: Amazon has a heavy stake in the WNBA now, often carrying Thursday night exclusive games.
- Local Broadcasts (WTHR/WALV): If you live in the Indianapolis area, about 18 games will be "over-the-air" for free on local NBC or MeTV affiliates.
- Fever Direct: This is the team's own streaming service for local fans.
Why the 2026 Season is Different
There’s a lot of hype around this upcoming year. Caitlin Clark is entering her third season, and the roster is looking much different than it did during her rookie campaign.
The team has been working on defensive identity under assistant coach Briann January, trying to fix the "blown coverage" issues that haunted them last year. Plus, the league is expanding. With the Golden State Valkyries joining the mix, the schedule is denser and the competition is getting steeper.
Actionable Steps for Fever Fans
Since there isn't a game tonight, here is what you should do to stay ready for the 2026 tip-off:
- Download the WNBA App: Set the Indiana Fever as your "favorite team" to get an automatic notification the second the 2026 schedule is officially finalized and released.
- Check for the "Caitlin Clark 1" Release: Nike is slated to drop her signature shoe this spring. If you want to wear them to the first game, you'll need to be fast on the draw.
- Sync Your Calendar: Once the schedule drops, use a service like Stanza to sync the Fever games directly to your phone calendar. It will automatically list the channel for every game so you never have to search again.
- Watch the NCAA: If you just want to see high-level women's hoops tonight, check ESPN+. There is a huge slate of Top 25 college games happening right now, including Texas Tech and Baylor.
The Fever will be back on your screen soon enough. For now, the court is quiet, but the preparations for a 2026 championship run are well underway.