2011 WNBA Season Tips Off June 3

2011 marks the WNBA's 15th season

NEW YORK, Dec. 22, 2010 � The WNBA will tip off its 15th season on Friday, June 3, with the Minnesota Lynx visiting the Los Angeles Sparks, highlighted by the return of All-Star Candace Parker. The defending WNBA champion Seattle Storm, along with reigning MVP Lauren Jackson and All-Star Sue Bird, begins its title defense when it hosts league scoring champion, Diana Taurasi, and the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday, June 4, in a nationally-televised game on ABC.

For the sixth consecutive year, ESPN2 will feature �WNBA Tuesdays� as the viewing destination for basketball fans. �WNBA Tuesdays� begin June 14, as Coach Nolan Richardson and the Tulsa Shock tip off against 2010 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Tamika Catchings and the Indiana Fever. ESPN2 will air a number of other primetime games throughout the summer and cap the season with an expanded number of telecasts during the WNBA Playoffs and Finals. All games will be available in high definition and ESPN and ESPN2 games will be simulcast on ESPN3.com.

The 2011 WNBA season marks the third year of the league�s eight-year deal that allows ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 to televise games through 2016. The agreement provides the WNBA a rights fee, a first in U.S. women�s professional sports league history, and extends the league�s relationship with ESPN, which commenced in 1997, to 20 years.

As the WNBA heads into its 15th regular season, it will build on the positive momentum that saw a fourth consecutive year of league wide attendance growth, a 36 percent increase in average playoff attendance, along with higher gate receipts and TV viewership.

Combined WNBA coverage on ESPN2 and NBA TV, the league�s 24-hour television network, will feature over 70 contests.

Other key television match-ups throughout the 2011 WNBA regular season include:

  • The defending Eastern Conference champion Atlanta Dream and Angel McCoughtry host Crystal Langhorne, Alana Beard and the Washington Mystics in a conference rivalry game on Thursday, June 9 (ESPN2, 7:00 p.m. ET)
  • Marking the 15th anniversary of the WNBA�s inaugural game, Cappie Pondexter and the New York Liberty tip off against Tina Thompson and the Sparks on Tuesday, June 21 (ESPN2, 10 p.m. ET)
  • 2010 WNBA Rookie of the Year, Tina Charles, Renee Montgomery and the Connecticut Sun host the Sparks on Tuesday, June 28 (ESPN2, 8:00 p.m. ET)
  • In a battle of All-Star duos, the Minnesota Lynx, led by Lindsay Whalen and Seimone Augustus, host the Mercury with Diana Taurasi and Candice Dupree on Tuesday, Aug. 2 (ESPN2, 8:00 p.m. ET)
  • The Storm hosts the Sparks in a Western Conference matchup featuring two of the world�s premier front court players in Candace Parker and Lauren Jackson on Sunday, August 28 (ESPN2, 9:00 p.m. ET)

    The 2011 WNBA regular season runs from Friday, June 3 to Sunday, September 11. The 2011 WNBA regular season and game telecast schedules follow.

    Month-by-Month Regular Season Schedule | Team-by-Team | Full Regular Season | Television Schedule

    2011 WNBA Regular Season Schedule
    Day Date Visitor Home Local (Home) Eastern
    Fri. June 3, 2011 Minnesota Los Angeles 7:30 PM 10:30 PM
    Sat. June 4, 2011 Phoenix Seattle 12:00 PM 3:00 PM
    Sat. June 4, 2011 Washington Connecticut 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Sat. June 4, 2011 Chicago Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Sat. June 4, 2011 Tulsa San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Sun. June 5, 2011 New York Atlanta 3:00 PM 3:00 PM
    Sun. June 5, 2011 Los Angeles Minnesota 2:30 PM 3:30 PM
    Tue. June 7, 2011 Tulsa Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Thu. June 9, 2011 Washington Atlanta 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Thu. June 9, 2011 Minnesota Seattle 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
    Fri. June 10, 2011 New York Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Fri. June 10, 2011 San Antonio Tulsa 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Fri. June 10, 2011 Connecticut Chicago 7:30 PM 8:30 PM
    Fri. June 10, 2011 Phoenix Los Angeles 7:30 PM 10:30 PM
    Sat. June 11, 2011 Indiana New York 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Sat. June 11, 2011 Chicago Washington 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Sat. June 11, 2011 Atlanta San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Sun. June 12, 2011 Tulsa Connecticut 3:00 PM 3:00 PM
    Tue. June 14, 2011 Tulsa Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Tue. June 14, 2011 Atlanta New York 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Thu. June 16, 2011 Connecticut Washington 7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Fri. June 17, 2011 Atlanta Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Fri. June 17, 2011 New York Chicago 7:30 PM 8:30 PM
    Fri. June 17, 2011 San Antonio Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
    Fri. June 17, 2011 Indiana Seattle 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
    Sat. June 18, 2011 Washington Tulsa 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Sun. June 19, 2011 Chicago Connecticut 1:00 PM 1:00 PM
    Sun. June 19, 2011 Minnesota Atlanta 3:00 PM 3:00 PM
    Sun. June 19, 2011 Indiana Phoenix 3:00 PM 6:00 PM
    Sun. June 19, 2011 Seattle Los Angeles 5:30 PM 8:30 PM
    Tue. June 21, 2011 Chicago Atlanta 12:00 PM 12:00 PM
    Tue. June 21, 2011 Indiana Washington 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Tue. June 21, 2011 Phoenix San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Tue. June 21, 2011 Seattle Tulsa 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Tue. June 21, 2011 New York Los Angeles 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
    Thu. June 23, 2011 New York Tulsa 11:30 AM 12:30 PM
    Thu. June 23, 2011 Connecticut Chicago 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Fri. June 24, 2011 Phoenix Atlanta 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
    Fri. June 24, 2011 Los Angeles San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Fri. June 24, 2011 Minnesota Seattle 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
    Sat. June 25, 2011 Connecticut Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Sat. June 25, 2011 Phoenix Chicago 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Sun. June 26, 2011 San Antonio Atlanta 3:00 PM 3:00 PM
    Sun. June 26, 2011 Los Angeles New York 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
    Sun. June 26, 2011 Tulsa Washington 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
    Sun. June 26, 2011 Indiana Minnesota 6:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Tue. June 28, 2011 Phoenix Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Tue. June 28, 2011 San Antonio Chicago 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Tue. June 28, 2011 Los Angeles Connecticut 8:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Thu. June 30, 2011 New York Atlanta 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
    Thu. June 30, 2011 Minnesota Tulsa 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Fri. July 1, 2011 San Antonio New York 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Fri. July 1, 2011 Seattle Connecticut 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
    Fri. July 1, 2011 Chicago Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
    Sun. July 3, 2011 Seattle Washington 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
    Tue. July 5, 2011 Seattle Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Tue. July 5, 2011 Washington Chicago 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Tue. July 5, 2011 Los Angeles Phoenix 6:00 PM 9:00 PM
    Fri. July 8, 2011 New York San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Fri. July 8, 2011 Phoenix Tulsa 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Sat. July 9, 2011 Washington Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Sat. July 9, 2011 Atlanta Chicago 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Sat. July 9, 2011 Connecticut Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Sat. July 9, 2011 Los Angeles Seattle 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
    Sun. July 10, 2011 Chicago New York 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
    Sun. July 10, 2011 Tulsa Phoenix 3:00 PM 6:00 PM
    Tue. July 12, 2011 Washington Seattle 12:00 PM 3:00 PM
    Tue. July 12, 2011 Los Angeles San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Wed. July 13, 2011 Atlanta New York 12:00 PM 12:00 PM
    Wed. July 13, 2011 Tulsa Chicago 11:30 AM 12:30 PM
    Wed. July 13, 2011 Phoenix Minnesota 12:00 PM 1:00 PM
    Wed. July 13, 2011 Connecticut Indiana 1:00 PM 1:00 PM
    Thu. July 14, 2011 Seattle San Antonio 8:00 PM 9:00 PM
    Fri. July 15, 2011 Minnesota Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Fri. July 15, 2011 Connecticut New York 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Fri. July 15, 2011 Los Angeles Tulsa 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Fri. July 15, 2011 Washington Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
    Sat. July 16, 2011 Chicago Atlanta 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
    Sat. July 16, 2011 Seattle Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Sun. July 17, 2011 Tulsa New York 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
    Sun. July 17, 2011 Indiana Connecticut 5:00 PM 5:00 PM
    Sun. July 17, 2011 Washington Los Angeles 5:30 PM 8:30 PM
    Mon. July 18, 2011 San Antonio Los Angeles 7:30 PM 10:30 PM
    Tue. July 19, 2011 Indiana Atlanta 12:00 PM 12:00 PM
    Tue. July 19, 2011 Seattle Chicago 6:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Tue. July 19, 2011 New York Connecticut 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
    Wed. July 20, 2011 Atlanta Washington 11:30 AM 11:30 AM
    Wed. July 20, 2011 Minnesota Phoenix 12:30 PM 3:30 PM
    Thu. July 21, 2011 Chicago Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Thu. July 21, 2011 San Antonio Seattle 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
    Tue. July 26, 2011 San Antonio Washington 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Tue. July 26, 2011 Connecticut Chicago 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Tue. July 26, 2011 Los Angeles Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Tue. July 26, 2011 Atlanta Tulsa 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Tue. July 26, 2011 Seattle Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
    Thu. July 28, 2011 Phoenix San Antonio 11:30 AM 12:30 PM
    Thu. July 28, 2011 Los Angeles Atlanta 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Thu. July 28, 2011 Washington New York 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Thu. July 28, 2011 Indiana Connecticut 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
    Thu. July 28, 2011 Chicago Tulsa 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Fri. July 29, 2011 Indiana Washington 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Fri. July 29, 2011 Seattle Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Sat. July 30, 2011 Phoenix New York 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Sat. July 30, 2011 Los Angeles Chicago 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Sat. July 30, 2011 Seattle Tulsa 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Sun. July 31, 2011 Minnesota San Antonio 2:00 PM 3:00 PM
    Sun. July 31, 2011 Atlanta Connecticut 5:00 PM 5:00 PM
    Sun. July 31, 2011 Los Angeles Indiana 6:00 PM 6:00 PM
    Tue. August 2, 2011 New York Atlanta 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
    Tue. August 2, 2011 Phoenix Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Tue. August 2, 2011 San Antonio Seattle 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
    Wed. August 3, 2011 Connecticut Los Angeles 12:00 PM 3:00 PM
    Thu. August 4, 2011 Chicago New York 12:00 PM 12:00 PM
    Thu. August 4, 2011 San Antonio Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Fri. August 5, 2011 Indiana Tulsa 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Fri. August 5, 2011 Connecticut Seattle 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
    Sat. August 6, 2011 New York Washington 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Sat. August 6, 2011 Tulsa San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Sun. August 7, 2011 Seattle Atlanta 3:00 PM 3:00 PM
    Sun. August 7, 2011 Connecticut Phoenix 3:00 PM 6:00 PM
    Sun. August 7, 2011 Indiana Chicago 5:00 PM 6:00 PM
    Sun. August 7, 2011 Minnesota Los Angeles 5:30 PM 8:30 PM
    Tue. August 9, 2011 San Antonio Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Tue. August 9, 2011 Atlanta Washington 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Tue. August 9, 2011 Chicago Connecticut 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
    Tue. August 9, 2011 Seattle New York 8:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Tue. August 9, 2011 Minnesota Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
    Tue. August 9, 2011 Tulsa Los Angeles 7:30 PM 10:30 PM
    Thu. August 11, 2011 San Antonio Connecticut 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
    Thu. August 11, 2011 Atlanta Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
    Thu. August 11, 2011 Tulsa Seattle 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
    Fri. August 12, 2011 New York Washington 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Fri. August 12, 2011 Minnesota Chicago 7:30 PM 8:30 PM
    Fri. August 12, 2011 Phoenix Los Angeles 7:30 PM 10:30 PM
    Sat. August 13, 2011 Washington Connecticut 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Sat. August 13, 2011 New York Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Sat. August 13, 2011 Atlanta Seattle 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
    Sun. August 14, 2011 Chicago San Antonio 2:00 PM 3:00 PM
    Sun. August 14, 2011 Tulsa Minnesota 6:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Tue. August 16, 2011 Washington New York 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Tue. August 16, 2011 Minnesota Connecticut 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
    Tue. August 16, 2011 Indiana San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Tue. August 16, 2011 Seattle Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
    Tue. August 16, 2011 Atlanta Los Angeles 7:30 PM 10:30 PM
    Thu. August 18, 2011 Connecticut New York 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Thu. August 18, 2011 Minnesota Washington 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Thu. August 18, 2011 Indiana Los Angeles 7:30 PM 10:30 PM
    Fri. August 19, 2011 Connecticut Atlanta 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
    Sat. August 20, 2011 Chicago Washington 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Sat. August 20, 2011 Los Angeles Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Sat. August 20, 2011 San Antonio Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
    Sat. August 20, 2011 New York Seattle 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
    Sun. August 21, 2011 AtlantaConnecticut 5:00 PM 5:00 PM
    Sun. August 21, 2011 Washington Indiana 6:00 PM 6:00 PM
    Sun. August 21, 2011 Los Angeles Tulsa 6:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Tue. August 23, 2011 Los AngelesWashington 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Tue. August 23, 2011 Atlanta Chicago 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Tue. August 23, 2011 Minnesota Tulsa 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Tue. August 23, 2011 New York Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
    Tue. August 23, 2011 San Antonio Seattle 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
    Thu. August 25, 2011 Tulsa Seattle 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
    Fri. August 26, 2011 Phoenix Connecticut 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
    Fri. August 26, 2011 San Antonio Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Fri. August 26, 2011 Washington Chicago 7:30 PM 8:30 PM
    Fri. August 26, 2011 Tulsa Los Angeles 7:30 PM 10:30 PM
    Sat. August 27, 2011 Atlanta Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Sun. August 28, 2011Minnesota San Antonio 2:00 PM 3:00 PM
    Sun. August 28, 2011 Connecticut Tulsa 3:00 PM 4:00 PM
    Sun. August 28, 2011 Phoenix Washington 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
    Sun. August 28, 2011 New York Chicago 5:00 PM 6:00 PM
    Sun. August 28, 2011 Los Angeles Seattle 6:00 PM 9:00 PM
    Tue. August 30, 2011 Chicago New York 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Tue. August 30, 2011 Indiana Atlanta 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
    Tue. August 30, 2011 Washington Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Tue. August 30, 2011 Connecticut San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Tue. August 30, 2011 Phoenix Tulsa 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Tue. August 30, 2011 Seattle Los Angeles 7:30 PM 10:30 PM
    Thu. September 1, 2011 Atlanta Washington 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Thu. September 1, 2011 Phoenix San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Fri. September 2, 2011 Washington Atlanta 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
    Fri. September 2, 2011 Indiana Connecticut 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
    Fri. September 2, 2011 New York Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Fri. September 2, 2011 Seattle Tulsa 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Sat. September 3, 2011 Seattle San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Sat. September 3, 2011 Los Angeles Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
    Sun. September 4, 2011 Tulsa Atlanta 3:00 PM 3:00 PM
    Sun. September 4, 2011 Minnesota New York 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
    Sun. September 4, 2011 Connecticut Washington 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
    Sun. September 4, 2011 Indiana Chicago 5:00 PM 6:00 PM
    Tue. September 6, 2011 Connecticut Atlanta 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
    Tue. September 6, 2011 San Antonio Los Angeles 7:30 PM 10:30 PM
    Wed. September 7, 2011 Washington Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Thu. September 8, 2011 Chicago Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Thu. September 8, 2011 Tulsa Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
    Fri. September 9, 2011 Indiana New York 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Fri. September 9, 2011 Phoenix Seattle 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
    Fri. September 9, 2011 Tulsa Los Angeles 7:30 PM 10:30 PM
    Sat. September 10, 2011 Washington San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
    Sat. September 10, 2011 Chicago Los Angeles 7:30 PM 10:30 PM
    Sun. September 11, 2011 New York Connecticut 1:00 PM 1:00 PM
    Sun. September 11, 2011 Atlanta Indiana 5:00 PM 5:00 PM
    Sun. September 11, 2011 Minnesota Phoenix 3:00 PM 6:00 PM
    Sun. September 11, 2011 San Antonio Tulsa 6:00 PM 7:00 PM
    Sun. September 11, 2011 Chicago Seattle 6:00 PM 9:00 PM


    2011 WNBA National Television Schedule
    Day Date Visitor Home Local (Home) Eastern Network
    Sat. June 4, 2011 Phoenix Seattle 12:00 PM 3:00 PM ABC
    Thurs. June 9, 2011 Washington Atlanta 7:00 PM 7:00 PM ESPN2
    Tues. June 14, 2011 Tulsa Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM ESPN2
    Tues. June 21, 2011 Phoenix San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM ESPN2
    Tues. June 21, 2011 New York Los Angeles 7:00 PM 10:00 PM ESPN2
    Tues. June 28, 2011 Los Angeles Connecticut 8:00 PM 8:00 PM ESPN2
    Tues. July 5, 2011 Los Angeles Phoenix 6:00 PM 9:00 PM ESPN2
    Thurs. July 14, 2011 SeattleSan Antonio 8:00 PM 9:00 PM ESPN2
    Tues.July 19, 2011 Seattle Chicago 6:00 PM 7:00 PM ESPN2
    Tues.August 2, 2011 Phoenix Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM ESPN2
    Tues. August 9, 2011 Seattle New York 8:00 PM 8:00 PM ESPN2
    Wed. August 23, 2011 New York Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM ESPN2
    Sun. August 28, 2011 Los Angeles Seattle 6:00 PM 9:00 PM ESPN2
    * Schedule subject to change