Wizards 2025-2026 Schedule Release: Key Matchups and What to Look Forward to
The wait is over—Washington’s roadmap for the 2025–26 season is finally here. With a young roster hungry to prove itself and a coaching staff focused on building a winning culture, the Wizards’ newly released schedule offers plenty of storylines to circle in red. From early-season tests against Eastern Conference contenders to marquee national TV games and revenge opportunities against old rivals, this year’s slate isn’t just a list of dates—it’s a blueprint for how the team’s next chapter could unfold. Let’s take a closer look at what this season might bring and what fans should watch for.
The Wizards’ season tips off on October 22nd with a road matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks, followed by their home opener against the Charlotte Hornets. For Washington, the key this year will be avoiding another sluggish start. Last season, they managed just two wins in their first twenty games, many of which were lopsided losses. This time around, fans should hope not only for more competitive outings but also for six to eight wins in that opening stretch. While that might sound optimistic, the roster now boasts more experience, stronger veteran leadership, and greater overall talent than in the past two seasons. With promising young players like Tre Johnson and Bilal Coulibaly leading the charge, there’s genuine reason for optimism.
Some of the most important early-season matchups for the Wizards include their home opener against Charlotte—one of two teams they swept last season—and games against squads like Chicago, Toronto, and Brooklyn. These are teams Washington should realistically be able to compete with and potentially take a win or two from. Another set of key contests comes during the In-Season Tournament, where the Wizards face Cleveland on November 7th, Toronto on November 21st, Atlanta on November 25th, and Indiana on November 28th. This stretch represents an opportunity to capture their first In-Season Tournament win since the competition’s inception, having gone winless in the first two years of the event.
With limited national TV exposure—only two games are scheduled for national broadcast so far—the Wizards will have few opportunities to showcase their growth and talent to a wider audience. The best way to demonstrate progress will be through their record in the early portion of the season. While fans should expect a better showing than last year, the team still retains a top-eight protected first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft via Phoenix. The goal is to achieve measurable improvement while still securing that lottery pick if the Wizards finish in the bottom eight of the standings. An expectation of 22–23 wins seems reasonable, though another challenging season likely awaits Wizards fans.
