More Indiana Fever games are set to be available to more fans.

Indiana Fever player Caitlin Clark inside of a television, as if the thumb is from the point of view of someone watching an Indiana Fever game on television

TEGNA Inc. and the Indiana Fever announced an expansive broadcast partnership that will bring Fever games to an unprecedented number of households across the country. The collaboration, which includes 11 additional markets joining TEGNA’s Indianapolis NBC affiliate, WTHR, marks a milestone in the promotion of the WNBA and women’s sports on broadcast television.

The expanded footprint of this partnership means that 17 Fever games will now be available for free over-the-air viewing in 12 markets, reaching approximately 4.6 million homes. This move comes in response to the growing anticipation surrounding the Fever’s upcoming season, fueled in large part by the arrival of No. 1 overall draft pick Clark and 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston.

Rick Fuson, Pacers Sports and Entertainment CEO, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating in a press release, “This is a pivotal moment for our Fever team and women’s basketball, more broadly, and this groundbreaking partnership with TEGNA will ensure more fans than ever will be able to watch this historic season.”

Brad Ramsey, TEGNA’s senior vice president of media operations, echoed Fuson’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of making WNBA games accessible to a wider audience.

“We could not be more excited to make these exciting WNBA games available to more fans, in more homes, across more markets, including Caitlin Clark’s home state of Iowa,” Ramsey said.

With a staggering 36 of the Fever’s 40 games set to be televised nationally, the team is poised to capture the attention of basketball fans across the country. The extensive coverage highlights a growing interest in women’s basketball and the potential impact of players like Clark on the sport’s popularity.

Indiana Fever vs. Las Vegas Aces matchup one of the 17 games

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts after scoring during the second half against the Dallas Wings.© Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Notably, this partnership reflects a concerted effort to increase coverage of women’s sports, with stations owned by Gray Television, Sinclair, Nexstar Media Group, Inc., Coastal Television Broadcasting Group and Weigel Broadcasting Co. also airing Fever games.

The 17 games are:

Thurs., May 16 vs. Liberty, 7 p.m. ET
Wed., May 22 @ Storm, 10 p.m. ET
Sat., May 25 @ Aces, 9 p.m. ET
Thurs., May 30 vs. Storm, 7 p.m. ET
*Sat., June 1 vs. Sky, 1 p.m. ET (subject to change)
Sun., June 2 @ Liberty, 7 p.m. ET
Mon., June 10 @ Sun, 7 p.m. ET
Thurs., June 13 vs. Dream, 7 p.m. ET
Sun., June 23 @ Sky, 6 p.m. ET
Thurs., June 27 @ Storm, 10 p.m. ET
Wed., July 10 vs. Mystics, 12 p.m. ET
Mon., August 26 @ Dream, 7:30 p.m. ET
Wed., September 4 vs. Sparks, 7 p.m. ET
Sun., September 8 vs. Dream, 4 p.m. ET
Wed., September 11 vs. Aces, 7 p.m. ET
Sun., September 15 vs. Wings, 3 p.m. ET
Thurs., September 19 @ Mystics, 7 p.m. ET

The Fever’s regular season schedule promises a series of exciting matchups, including games against the reigning champions, the Las Vegas Aces, on May 25 and Sept. 11, and other top teams in the league. With the spotlight firmly on rising star Clark, anticipation for the upcoming season is at an all-time high.

The Fever’s first regular-season game against the Connecticut Sun May 14th will mark the beginning of what is shaping up to be an exciting journey for the team and its fans. All eyes will be on Clark and her fellow teammates as they aim to make their mark in the WNBA. With broadcast partnerships like the one inked with TEGNA, the stage is set for women’s basketball to reach new heights of popularity and visibility.