By Delorean Fleetwood
Fort Wayne, IN: The WMLIS announced on July 7th that the Fort Wayne Fever would be joining the WMLIS for the upcoming 2026-27 season. If the moniker “Fort Wayne Fever” sounds familiar, you are not having a Mandela moment (Fruit of the Loom Cornucopia, anyone?).
FORT WAYNE FEVER PDL
The original Fort Wayne Fever played in USL League Two from 2003-2009 back when it was called the Premier Development League. The original Fever made the playoffs just once (2004) and only made the Conference Semifinals. The team played their matches on the campus of what was then IPFW (Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne, now simply known as PFW). The team drew a grand total of 3668 fans, for an overall average of 524, though they did draw an average of 924 in 2009 before shuttering. The team would merge with Citadel FC in 2013 to become Fort Wayne United (later known as the FWU FC Gryphons) and see the female squad play in United Women’s Soccer before folding after 2019.
But wait, what about the Sentinels?
HEATING UP
Fortunately, for everyone that may have asked if the Fever are a brand a new team devoid of the likes of Carmen Sweigard and her sister Rachael, that won’t be the case.
While my attempts to reach out to the Commissioner were unanswered, I can confirm after reaching out to Carmen Sweigard herself, this is a simple rebranding of the Sentinels. The same players you know and love, representing the finest of Fort Wayne during the cold harsh northeast Indiana winters, will be back this year.
With any potential confusion ultimately cleared up, the Fort Wayne Fever will look to make a dent in the East Conference of WMLIS in 2026-27. But as we all know, the Big Blue Machine, led by Stephanie Nunez in Chicago, are still the team to beat out East.
Look for the Fever to continue their winning ways this season in 26-27.
Before we go, I wish to extend a special congratulations to Rachael Sweigard, who married on June 26th. I genuinely extend my own heartfelt happiness to the happy couple and wish Rachael and her husband a long happy life together.
For more info regarding the Fever and the rest of the WMLIS head to wmlis.soccershift.com for all the latest updates and highlights.
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