WNBA's 2017 Season Tips Off May 13


– ESPN Coverage Starts with League MVP Nneka Ogwumike and Finals MVP Candace Parker
of Los Angeles Hosting Rookie of the Year Breanna Stewart and Seattle on Opening Day –

– WNBA Tip-Off Presented by Verizon Offers 16 Games over Nine Days –

NEW YORK, Nov. 29, 2016 – The WNBA will tip off its 21st season on Saturday, May 13, 2017, with three games, highlighted by the defending WNBA champion Los Angeles Sparks hosting the Seattle Storm at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN.  Los Angeles, led by 2016 WNBA regular-season MVP Nneka Ogwumike and Finals MVP Candace Parker, will receive its championship rings in a pregame ceremony, while Seattle will feature nine-time All-Star selection Sue Bird and reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year Breanna Stewart.

In the other opening-day matchups, the New York Liberty, led by former league MVP Tina Charles, will host the San Antonio Stars, owners of the top pick in WNBA Draft 2017 presented by State Farm (3 p.m. ET); and two-time WNBA scoring leader Angel McCoughtry and the Atlanta Dream will visit All-Stars Chiney Ogwumike and Alex Bentley and the Connecticut Sun (7 p.m. ET).

WNBA Tip-Off 2017 presented by Verizon will consist of 16 games over nine days (May 13-21), showcasing the home opener of every team.

Throughout the 2017 season, ESPN’s family of networks will air up to 29 games, including every game of the WNBA Playoffs and WNBA Finals presented by Verizon.  All ESPN telecasts will also be streamed live on WatchESPN and the ESPN app.  NBA TV will televise more than 40 games during the regular season.  The network’s schedule will be announced at a later date.

In addition, WNBA LEAGUE PASS will provide online and mobile viewing of live and archived WNBA games for the entire season with enhanced options such as multiple-game viewing and DVR functionality as well as box-score and play-by-play overlays.

2017 ESPN Broadcast Schedule

May 13 (Saturday), 5 PM ET — Seattle @ Los Angeles (ESPN)
May 18 (Thursday), 7 PM ET — Minnesota @ New York (ESPN2)
May 23 (Tuesday), 8 PM ET — Connecticut @ Minnesota (ESPN2)
May 30 (Tuesday), 7 PM ET — Los Angeles @ New York (ESPN2)
June 6 (Tuesday), 8 PM ET — Washington @ Dallas (ESPN2)
June 13 (Tuesday), 10 PM ET — Dallas @ Los Angeles (ESPN2)
June 23 (Friday), 8 PM ET — Washington @ Minnesota (ESPN2)
June 29 (Thursday), 8 PM ET — Seattle @ Connecticut (ESPN2)
July 6 (Thursday), 8 PM ET — Los Angeles @ Minnesota (ESPN2)
July 18 (Tuesday), 9 PM ET — Chicago @ Seattle (ESPN2)
July 22 (Saturday), 3:30 PM ET — WNBA All-Star Game 2017 (ABC)
July 25 (Tuesday), 8 PM ET — New York @ Minnesota (ESPN2)
August 3 (Thursday), 8 PM ET — Atlanta @ Minnesota (ESPN2)
August 10 (Thursday), 8 PM ET — Phoenix @ Dallas (ESPN2)
August 16 (Wednesday), 7 PM ET — Los Angeles @ Washington (ESPN2)
August 24 (Thursday), 9 PM ET — Los Angeles @ Phoenix (ESPN2)
August 27 (Sunday), 7 PM ET — Minnesota @ Los Angeles (ESPN2)

The 2017 WNBA regular season runs from Saturday, May 13 through Sunday, Sept. 3.  A complete game-by-game list is available at http://www.wnba.com/schedule/.

Last season the WNBA implemented a new, more balanced regular-season schedule, new rules for playoff qualification and a new postseason format.   Click here more information on the changes.