WNBA Unveils 2012 Game Schedule as part of WNBA Tip-Off presented by Boost Mobile

 Minnesota Begins Quest for Second Consecutive Championship May 20 on ABC 
 Game Schedule Will Break in Late July/Early August for 2012 Olympics in London 

NEW YORK, Jan. 19, 2012  The WNBA will tip off its 16th season as part of Boost Mobile WNBA Tip-Off 2012 on Friday, May 18, when two of the league's top stars square off as Candace Parker and the Los Angeles Sparks visit Sue Bird and the Seattle Storm. The defending WNBA champion Minnesota Lynx, led by 2011 Rookie of the Year Maya Moore and Finals MVP Seimone Augustus, begins its title defense when scoring champion Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury visit on Sunday, May 20, in a nationally televised game on ABC.

Showcasing the leagues most talented players and competitive rivalries, combined coverage of the WNBA regular season, Playoffs, and Finals on ABC, ESPN2 and NBA TV, the leagues 24-hour television network, will feature over 80 contests.

ESPN2 will air 11 regular-season games nationally throughout the season and cap the season with an expanded number of telecasts during the WNBA Playoffs presented by Boost Mobile. All games will be available in high definition and telecasts on ESPN and ESPN2 will be simulcast on ESPN3.

The 2012 WNBA season marks the fourth 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 will extend the leagues relationship with ESPN, which commenced in 1997, to 20 years.

NBA TV will broadcast more than 40 games throughout the regular season and provide additional post-season coverage. The networks popular GameTime will air after select games complementing the broadcast and providing highlights of the action. The NBA TV schedule will be announced at a later date.

As the WNBA heads into its 16th regular season, it will build on the positive momentum that saw a fifth consecutive year of league-wide attendance growth, the highest ESPN2 viewership since 2005, increased viewership during the WNBA Finals, and the 2011 signing of a landmark multiyear deal with Boost Mobile as the first league-wide marquee partner.

With as many as 20 WNBA players likely to represent their respective countries in a quest for the gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London (July 27-Aug. 12), the league has not scheduled any games between July 14-Aug. 15. Similar to the 2004 and 2008 seasons that also saw a break in the schedule for the Olympics, WNBA teams and players will remain active in their local communities during the hiatus. Players not competing in the Olympics will participate in a variety of community-based events and activities designed to give fans a unique opportunity to interact with their favorite WNBA teams.

Following the 2012 Summer Olympics, in which the United States looks to earn its fifth consecutive gold medal in womens basketball, the WNBA will tip off the second half of its season on Thursday, Aug. 16. The regular season schedule concludes on Saturday, Sept. 23, with the WNBA Playoffs presented by Boost Mobile scheduled to begin on Thursday, Sept. 27.

Other key television match-ups during the 2012 WNBA regular season will put MVPs and All-Stars front and center:

  • Parker, the WNBAs MVP and Rookie of the Year in 2008, will lead the Sparks (owners of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 WNBA Draft), into Phoenix to face Taurasi, the 2009 MVP, and the Mercury Saturday, June 23 (ESPN2, 8:00 p.m. ET)

  • A pair of star-laden teams will square off Tuesday, Aug. 21, when the Lynx, who return four All-Stars from last season (Moore, Augustus, Lindsay Whalen, and Rebekkah Brunson), visit Lauren Jackson, Bird and the Storm. (ESPN2, 10:00 p.m. ET)

  • The defending Eastern Conference champion Atlanta Dream and All-Star Angel McCoughtry, the leagues second-leading scorer last season, will look to exact a measure of revenge against the defending champion Lynx when Atlanta hosts Minnesota Saturday, Aug., 25 (ESPN2, 7:00 p.m. ET)

  • The last three league MVPs will be featured when the playoff races heat up in the closing weeks of the season. Jackson (the 2008 MVP) and the Storm travel to Indiana to face the Fever and reigning MVP Tamika Catchings Wednesday, Sep. 12 (ESPN2, 7:00 p.m. ET). Seattle then pays a visit to Taurasi (2009) and the Phoenix Mercury Saturday, Sep. 23, the final day of the regular season (ESPN2, 3:00 p.m. ET)

    • The 2012 WNBA regular season runs from Friday, May 18, to Sunday, September 23. The regular season and game telecast schedules follow.

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

    2012 WNBA Regular Season Schedule
    Day Date Visitor Home Local (Home) Eastern
    Fri.May 18, 2012Los AngelesSeattle7:00 PM10:00 PM
    Sat.May 19, 2012ConnecticutNew York4:00 PM4:00 PM
    Sat.May 19, 2012AtlantaIndiana7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Sat.May 19, 2012ChicagoWashington7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Sat.May 19, 2012San AntonioTulsa7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Sun.May 20, 2012PhoenixMinnesota11:30 AM12:30 PM
    Sun.May 20, 2012New YorkConnecticut5:00 PM5:00 PM
    Sun.May 20, 2012SeattleLos Angeles5:30 PM8:30 PM
    Tue.May 22, 2012MinnesotaNew York7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Tue.May 22, 2012PhoenixTulsa7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Thu.May 24, 2012Los AngelesMinnesota7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Fri.May 25, 2012San AntonioConnecticut7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Fri.May 25, 2012New YorkAtlanta7:30 PM7:30 PM
    Fri.May 25, 2012IndianaChicago7:30 PM8:30 PM
    Sat.May 26, 2012TulsaWashington7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Sat.May 26, 2012SeattleMinnesota7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Sat.May 26, 2012Los AngelesPhoenix7:00 PM10:00 PM
    Sun.May 27, 2012IndianaAtlanta3:00 PM3:00 PM
    Tue.May 29, 2012TulsaLos Angeles7:30 PM10:30 PM
    Wed.May 30, 2012MinnesotaWashington7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Wed.May 30, 2012ChicagoSan Antonio7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Thu.May 31, 2012PhoenixAtlanta7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Fri.June 1, 2012MinnesotaConnecticut7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Fri.June 1, 2012PhoenixSan Antonio7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Fri.June 1, 2012WashingtonChicago7:30 PM8:30 PM
    Fri.June 1, 2012TulsaSeattle7:00 PM10:00 PM
    Sat.June 2, 2012ChicagoAtlanta7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Sat.June 2, 2012New YorkIndiana7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Sun.June 3, 2012WashingtonConnecticut3:00 PM3:00 PM
    Sun.June 3, 2012TulsaPhoenix3:00 PM6:00 PM
    Sun.June 3, 2012IndianaNew York6:00 PM6:00 PM
    Sun.June 3, 2012San AntonioMinnesota6:00 PM7:00 PM
    Sun.June 3, 2012SeattleLos Angeles5:30 PM8:30 PM
    Tue.June 5, 2012AtlantaNew York7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Wed.June 6, 2012SeattleMinnesota7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Fri.June 8, 2012ConnecticutIndiana7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Fri.June 8, 2012New YorkWashington7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Fri.June 8, 2012San AntonioAtlanta7:30 PM7:30 PM
    Fri.June 8, 2012TulsaChicago7:30 PM8:30 PM
    Fri.June 8, 2012PhoenixLos Angeles8:00 PM11:00 PM
    Sat.June 9, 2012SeattleSan Antonio7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Sat.June 9, 2012MinnesotaTulsa7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Sun.June 10, 2012ChicagoNew York4:00 PM4:00 PM
    Sun.June 10, 2012AtlantaConnecticut5:00 PM5:00 PM
    Wed.June 13, 2012SeattleChicago7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Wed.June 13, 2012Los AngelesConnecticut8:00 PM8:00 PM
    Fri.June 15, 2012New YorkConnecticut7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Fri.June 15, 2012IndianaWashington7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Fri.June 15, 2012Los AngelesAtlanta7:30 PM7:30 PM
    Fri.June 15, 2012SeattleTulsa7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Fri.June 15, 2012MinnesotaPhoenix7:00 PM10:00 PM
    Sat.June 16, 2012ChicagoIndiana7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Sat.June 16, 2012Los AngelesSan Antonio7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Sun.June 17, 2012ConnecticutAtlanta3:00 PM3:00 PM
    Sun.June 17, 2012PhoenixTulsa3:00 PM4:00 PM
    Sun.June 17, 2012MinnesotaSeattle6:00 PM9:00 PM
    Mon.June 18, 2012WashingtonLos Angeles7:30 PM10:30 PM
    Tue.June 19, 2012New YorkAtlanta7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Tue.June 19, 2012IndianaConnecticut7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Wed.June 20, 2012WashingtonPhoenix7:00 PM10:00 PM
    Wed.June 20, 2012TulsaLos Angeles7:30 PM10:30 PM
    Thu.June 21, 2012ConnecticutIndiana7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Thu.June 21, 2012New YorkMinnesota7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Fri.June 22, 2012San AntonioSeattle7:00 PM10:00 PM
    Sat.June 23, 2012ChicagoMinnesota11:30 AM12:30 PM
    Sat.June 23, 2012Los AngelesPhoenix5:00 PM8:00 PM
    Sat.June 23, 2012IndianaTulsa7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Sun.June 24, 2012AtlantaNew York4:00 PM4:00 PM
    Sun.June 24, 2012San AntonioLos Angeles5:30 PM8:30 PM
    Sun.June 24, 2012WashingtonSeattle4:00 PM7:00 PM
    Tue.June 26, 2012IndianaAtlanta12:00 PM12:00 PM
    Tue.June 26, 2012SeattleWashington7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Tue.June 26, 2012Los AngelesTulsa7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Wed.June 27, 2012IndianaChicago11:30 AM12:30 PM
    Wed.June 27, 2012PhoenixMinnesota7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Thu.June 28, 2012Los AngelesSan Antonio11:30 AM12:30 PM
    Fri.June 29, 2012ConnecticutWashington7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Fri.June 29, 2012AtlantaTulsa7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Fri.June 29, 2012PhoenixChicago7:30 PM8:30 PM
    Sat.June 30, 2012SeattleNew York4:00 PM4:00 PM
    Sun.July 1, 2012MinnesotaSan Antonio2:00 PM3:00 PM
    Sun.July 1, 2012PhoenixWashington4:00 PM4:00 PM
    Sun.July 1, 2012SeattleConnecticut5:00 PM5:00 PM
    Sun.July 1, 2012AtlantaChicago5:00 PM6:00 PM
    Tue.July 3, 2012PhoenixSan Antonio7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Thu.July 5, 2012MinnesotaLos Angeles12:00 PM3:00 PM
    Thu.July 5, 2012San AntonioIndiana7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Fri.July 6, 2012San AntonioWashington7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Fri.July 6, 2012ConnecticutTulsa7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Fri.July 6, 2012New YorkChicago7:30 PM8:30 PM
    Sat.July 7, 2012ChicagoIndiana7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Sat.July 7, 2012ConnecticutMinnesota7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Sat.July 7, 2012SeattleLos Angeles7:00 PM10:00 PM
    Sat.July 7, 2012AtlantaPhoenix7:00 PM10:00 PM
    Sun.July 8, 2012WashingtonTulsa3:00 PM4:00 PM
    Sun.July 8, 2012San AntonioNew York4:00 PM4:00 PM
    Sun.July 8, 2012AtlantaLos Angeles5:30 PM8:30 PM
    Sun.July 8, 2012PhoenixSeattle6:00 PM9:00 PM
    Tue.July 10, 2012ConnecticutWashington11:30 AM11:30 AM
    Tue.July 10, 2012MinnesotaTulsa11:30 AM12:30 PM
    Tue.July 10, 2012New YorkIndiana12:00 PM12:00 PM
    Tue.July 10, 2012Los AngelesPhoenix12:30 PM3:30 PM
    Wed.July 11, 2012San AntonioChicago11:30 AM12:30 PM
    Wed.July 11, 2012AtlantaSeattle12:00 PM3:00 PM
    Wed.July 11, 2012WashingtonConnecticut7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Thu.July 12, 2012TulsaMinnesota12:00 PM1:00 PM
    Thu.July 12, 2012Los AngelesIndiana7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Fri.July 13, 2012WashingtonNew York12:00 PM12:00 PM
    Fri.July 13, 2012AtlantaSan Antonio7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Fri.July 13, 2012ConnecticutChicago7:30 PM8:30 PM
    Fri.July 13, 2012SeattlePhoenix7:00 PM10:00 PM
    Thu.August 16, 2012WashingtonIndiana7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Thu.August 16, 2012ConnecticutNew York7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Thu.August 16, 2012PhoenixSeattle7:00 PM10:00 PM
    Fri.August 17, 2012WashingtonMinnesota7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Fri.August 17, 2012San AntonioTulsa7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Fri.August 17, 2012AtlantaChicago7:30 PM8:30 PM
    Sat.August 18, 2012New YorkConnecticut7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Sat.August 18, 2012AtlantaIndiana7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Sat.August 18, 2012Los AngelesSeattle7:00 PM10:00 PM
    Sun.August 19, 2012ChicagoWashington4:00 PM4:00 PM
    Sun.August 19, 2012San AntonioPhoenix3:00 PM6:00 PM
    Sun.August 19, 2012TulsaMinnesota6:00 PM7:00 PM
    Tue.August 21, 2012TulsaConnecticut7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Tue.August 21, 2012New YorkChicago7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Tue.August 21, 2012WashingtonSan Antonio7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Tue.August 21, 2012MinnesotaSeattle7:00 PM10:00 PM
    Tue.August 21, 2012IndianaLos Angeles7:30 PM10:30 PM
    Wed.August 22, 2012ChicagoAtlanta7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Thu.August 23, 2012New YorkPhoenix7:00 PM10:00 PM
    Thu.August 23, 2012IndianaSeattle7:00 PM10:00 PM
    Thu.August 23, 2012San AntonioLos Angeles7:30 PM10:30 PM
    Fri.August 24, 2012AtlantaWashington7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Fri.August 24, 2012ChicagoTulsa7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Sat.August 25, 2012MinnesotaAtlanta7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Sat.August 25, 2012TulsaSan Antonio7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Sat.August 25, 2012IndianaPhoenix7:00 PM10:00 PM
    Sat.August 25, 2012New YorkLos Angeles7:30 PM10:30 PM
    Sun.August 26, 2012ChicagoConnecticut5:00 PM5:00 PM
    Sun.August 26, 2012New YorkSeattle6:00 PM9:00 PM
    Tue.August 28, 2012TulsaAtlanta7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Tue.August 28, 2012WashingtonIndiana7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Tue.August 28, 2012ConnecticutChicago7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Tue.August 28, 2012San AntonioMinnesota7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Thu.August 30, 2012WashingtonAtlanta7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Thu.August 30, 2012IndianaNew York7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Thu.August 30, 2012ConnecticutSan Antonio7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Thu.August 30, 2012Los AngelesTulsa7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Thu.August 30, 2012PhoenixSeattle7:00 PM10:00 PM
    Fri.August 31, 2012TulsaMinnesota7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Sat.September 1, 2012WashingtonNew York4:00 PM4:00 PM
    Sat.September 1, 2012ChicagoIndiana7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Sat.September 1, 2012San AntonioPhoenix7:00 PM10:00 PM
    Sun.September 2, 2012ConnecticutAtlanta3:00 PM3:00 PM
    Sun.September 2, 2012Los AngelesChicago5:00 PM6:00 PM
    Tue.September 4, 2012ConnecticutWashington7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Tue.September 4, 2012Los AngelesMinnesota7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Wed.September 5, 2012IndianaAtlanta7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Wed.September 5, 2012PhoenixNew York7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Thu.September 6, 2012TulsaSeattle7:00 PM10:00 PM
    Fri.September 7, 2012PhoenixConnecticut7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Fri.September 7, 2012Los AngelesWashington7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Fri.September 7, 2012ChicagoNew York7:30 PM7:30 PM
    Fri.September 7, 2012AtlantaMinnesota7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Fri.September 7, 2012IndianaSan Antonio7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Sat.September 8, 2012SeattleTulsa7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Sun.September 9, 2012MinnesotaSan Antonio2:00 PM3:00 PM
    Sun.September 9, 2012WashingtonAtlanta3:00 PM3:00 PM
    Sun.September 9, 2012Los AngelesNew York4:00 PM4:00 PM
    Sun.September 9, 2012ChicagoConnecticut5:00 PM5:00 PM
    Sun.September 9, 2012PhoenixIndiana6:00 PM6:00 PM
    Tue.September 11, 2012SeattleAtlanta7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Tue.September 11, 2012MinnesotaChicago7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Wed.September 12, 2012SeattleIndiana7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Wed.September 12, 2012WashingtonNew York7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Wed.September 12, 2012San AntonioTulsa7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Wed.September 12, 2012ConnecticutPhoenix7:00 PM10:00 PM
    Thu.September 13, 2012ChicagoLos Angeles7:30 PM10:30 PM
    Fri.September 14, 2012MinnesotaIndiana7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Fri.September 14, 2012AtlantaWashington7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Fri.September 14, 2012SeattleSan Antonio7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Fri.September 14, 2012TulsaPhoenix7:00 PM10:00 PM
    Fri.September 14, 2012ConnecticutLos Angeles8:00 PM11:00 PM
    Sun.September 16, 2012TulsaSan Antonio2:00 PM3:00 PM
    Sun.September 16, 2012New YorkWashington4:00 PM4:00 PM
    Sun.September 16, 2012ChicagoPhoenix3:00 PM6:00 PM
    Sun.September 16, 2012IndianaMinnesota6:00 PM7:00 PM
    Sun.September 16, 2012ConnecticutSeattle6:00 PM9:00 PM
    Tue.September 18, 2012New YorkSan Antonio7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Tue.September 18, 2012ChicagoSeattle7:00 PM10:00 PM
    Tue.September 18, 2012PhoenixLos Angeles7:30 PM10:30 PM
    Wed.September 19, 2012IndianaConnecticut7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Thu.September 20, 2012AtlantaChicago7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Thu.September 20, 2012New YorkTulsa7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Thu.September 20, 2012MinnesotaLos Angeles7:30 PM10:30 PM
    Fri.September 21, 2012IndianaWashington7:00 PM7:00 PM
    Fri.September 21, 2012MinnesotaPhoenix7:00 PM10:00 PM
    Fri.September 21, 2012San AntonioSeattle7:00 PM10:00 PM
    Sat.September 22, 2012TulsaNew York2:00 PM2:00 PM
    Sat.September 22, 2012WashingtonChicago7:00 PM8:00 PM
    Sun.September 23, 2012SeattlePhoenix12:00 PM3:00 PM
    Sun.September 23, 2012MinnesotaSan Antonio2:00 PM3:00 PM
    Sun.September 23, 2012AtlantaConnecticut5:00 PM5:00 PM
    Sun.September 23, 2012TulsaIndiana5:00 PM5:00 PM

    2012 WNBA National Television Schedule
    Day Date Visitor Home Local (Home) Eastern Network
    Sun.May 20, 2012PhoenixMinnesota11:30 AM12:30 PMABC
    Wed.June 13, 2012Los AngelesConnecticut8:00 PM8:00 PMESPN2
    Sat.June 23, 2012ChicagoMinnesota11:30 AM12:30 PMESPN
    Sat.June 23, 2012Los AngelesPhoenix5:00 PM8:00 PMESPN2
    Tue.June 26, 2012SeattleWashington7:00 PM7:00 PMESPN2
    Sat.July 7, 2012SeattleLos Angeles7:00 PM10:00 PMESPN2
    Thu.July 12, 2012Los AngelesIndiana7:00 PM7:00 PMESPN2
    Tue.August 21, 2012MinnesotaSeattle7:00 PM10:00 PMESPN2
    Sat.August 25, 2012MinnesotaAtlanta7:00 PM7:00 PMESPN2
    Wed.September 12, 2012SeattleIndiana7:00 PM7:00 PMESPN2
    Tue.September 18, 2012New YorkSan Antonio7:00 PM8:00 PMESPN2
    Sun.September 23, 2012SeattlePhoenix12:00 PM3:00 PMESPN2

    * Schedule subject to change