• Loading stock data...
Monday, June 23, 2025

Even As Pacers Keep Winning, No Arena Conflict With Caitlin Clark, Fever

The Indiana Fever and Pacers both play in Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Professional basketball in Indiana hasn’t been this good in at least a decade.

The Pacers are fresh off a 20-point comeback in Game 2 against the Cavaliers to take a 2–0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals with the series headed to Indianapolis. They have a chance to make the conference finals in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2013 and 2014. 

The Fever, on the other hand, bolstered their roster around Caitlin Clark and are poised to challenge for a WNBA title. They last made the Finals in 2015.

However, the success of both franchises presents a potential logistical challenge. Both teams are owned by Pacers Sports & Entertainment and play their home games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis. The Fever’s regular season starts May 17 against the Chicago Sky, and a longer playoff run by the Pacers means their schedules will overlap.

The NBA has scheduled the Eastern Conference finals to run from May 21 to June 2, should the series reach seven games. (The league has noted that the start date for the conference finals could be moved to May 18 and 19 based on the results of the semifinals.) The NBA Finals are scheduled to start June 5 and could stretch to June 22. The Fever have seven home games from their season opener to June 22.

However, a Fever spokesperson told Front Office Sports via email that the organization does not expect this to be a problem: “Our regular-season schedule was built with the NBA/WNBA shared building in mind, and the league is familiar with how to schedule around the respective schedules. We don’t foresee any conflicts.”

Based on the current schedule released by the Fever and the NBA, there are no overlaps between Fever home games and the NBA’s Eastern Conference finals and Finals schedule. There are, however, a few close calls, including Game 4 of the NBA Finals scheduled for June 13 (likely an evening game because it’s a Friday) and a 12 p.m. ET contest between the Fever and New York Liberty on June 14. Both games will be broadcast on ABC.

The Pacers are still not expected to make the NBA Finals and remain sixth among the remaining eight teams in championship odds, according to FanDuel, despite their advantage over Cleveland. But considering how the team has overcome odds throughout this postseason run, a deeper push can’t be ruled out.

Golden State Conflict?

The Warriors are another team still alive in the NBA playoffs that shares a home with a WNBA counterpart: The Golden State Valkyries, who will start their inaugural season May 16.

The two teams play at the Chase Center, but they don’t currently have any overlapping games scheduled. However, there may be a conflict if the Warriors make the NBA Finals, as Game 6 is set for June 19—the same day the Valkyries host the Fever.

A source told FOS that these conflicts are common, and there is a contingency date ready should there be an overlap. That would, however, be an unfortunate game for the Valkyries to reschedule, given the demand for games against Clark and the Fever.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NBA Finals Game 7 Is Most-Watched Since 2019, but Series Drops 9%

Game 7 drew 16.35 million viewers, the most-watched NBA game since 2019.

NBA Conference Gap Wider Than Ever Amid Injuries to East’s Best

A team from the West has won the NBA title 17 times since 2000.

A’s Launch $1.75B Ballpark Build With Funding Puzzle Still Unsolved

Ground is broken in Las Vegas, but funding issues, Sacramento woes persist.

Featured Today

Mar 15, 2025; Fort Worth, TX, USA; UAB Blazers forward Yaxel Lendeborg (3) dribbles the ball upcourt against the North Texas Mean Green during the first half at Dickies Arena

NIL Is Shrinking the Pool of NBA Draft Entrants

Agents are now advising many players to stay in school.
Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter on the red carpet before the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field
June 21, 2025

‘More Is More’: The Elite Luxury Jewelers Decking Out Athletes

Meet the elite group of luxury designers crafting the biggest statement pieces.
Dec 5, 2024; Miami, FL, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino presents the FIFA Club World Cup trophy during the Club Word Cup draw at Telemundo Studios.
June 15, 2025

Revamped Club World Cup Is FIFA’s Billion-Dollar Gamble

The revamped soccer event debuts amid controversy.
Jun 10, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino stands during the anthem against the Switzerland during the first at Geodis Park
June 14, 2025

Gold Cup Is Complicated for USMNT—but U.S. Soccer Has Its Eyes on..

Uncertain tournament success isn’t fazing forward-looking U.S. soccer.
Jun 20, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; SL Benfica forward Evangelos Pavlidis (14) in action with Auckland City FC defender Christian Gray (4) during a group stage match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Inter&Co Stadium.

Day Jobs, Weekly Stipends: Behind the Club World Cup’s Only Amateur Team

“We’ve never been in this for the financial reward.”
June 22, 2025

Kevin Durant Traded to Houston in Blockbuster Deal

Houston was one of Durant’s preferred destinations.
June 22, 2025

Pacers Lose Haliburton in NBA Finals—and Possibly for a Season

Haliburton entered the game with a right calf strain he played Game 6 with.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Ted Leonsis unpacks basketball’s global rise, media rights, and portfolio ownership.
June 20, 2025

How Mark Walter’s Dodgers Playbook Could Rewrite Lakers’ Future

The owner’s tenure with the MLB club has been lined with success.
May 20, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; A reserved parking sign for ÒMr. Big TimeÓ located in Lot B before the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.
June 20, 2025

Dodgers, DHS At Odds Over Presence of Federal Agents in Parking Lots

The Dodgers and DHS have conflicting reports about what exactly happened.
June 20, 2025

Summer Soccer Fatigue? USMNT, Messi’s Inter Miami Draw Sparse Crowds

Neither team could sell out matches Thursday night.
Jun 13, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) drives to the hoop past Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8), guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and forward Chet Holmgren (7) during the third quarter of game four of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
June 18, 2025

Pacers, Fever Overwhelmed by Demand for Merch

“We have people waiting to get in the store at 10 in the morning.”