2009 WNBA season tips off June 6
Published on December 18, 2008 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release
NEW YORK, Dec. 18, 2008 - The Women's National Basketball Association will tip off its 13th season on Sat., June 6 with a full slate of games on opening day. The WNBA season will begin when Candace Parker, Lisa Leslie and the Los Angeles Sparks host Katie Smith and the defending champion Detroit Shock at 2:30 p.m. ET on ABC. The San Antonio Silver Stars, owners of the best record in the league a season ago, will open the season by traveling to Phoenix to face the Mercury (10 p.m. ET).
The 2009 WNBA season will mark the first year of a new eight-year deal that allows ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 to televise games through the 2016 season. The agreement, officially announced in July 2007, will see the league receive a rights fee, a first for a U.S. professional women's team sports league. It also extends the WNBA's relationship with ESPN, which began with the league's inaugural season in 1997, to 20 seasons.
For the fourth consecutive year, ESPN2 will feature "WNBA Tuesdays" as the appointment viewing destination for WNBA fans. With games available in high definition, ESPN2 will televise "WNBA Tuesdays" throughout the 2009 regular season, beginning June 9 as Sue Bird and the Seattle Storm take on Tamika Catchings and the Indiana Fever. ESPN2 will also air two weekend games in 2009, including a rematch of last year's WNBA Finals on Aug. 29 as the Silver Stars host the Shock and a Western Conference showdown on Sept. 13 as the Mercury host the Sparks to close out the regular season. The WNBA concluded last season with a 19% increase in TV ratings and viewership.
Combined WNBA coverage on ABC, ESPN2 and NBA TV, the league's 24-hour television network, will broadcast 70 regular season contests.
Other key television matchups throughout the regular season include:
Diana Taurasi, Cappie Pondexter and the Phoenix Mercury going toe-to-toe with Becky Hammon, Sophia Young and the San Antonio Silver Stars on June 23 (ESPN2, 7:30 p.m. ET)
The Sacramento Monarchs hosting the Seattle Storm in a notable Western Conference game on July 9 (ESPN2, 9:00 p.m. ET)
Lindsay Whalen and the Connecticut Sun hosting the Sparks on July 14 (ESPN2, 7:00 p.m. ET)
Taurasi's return to Connecticut as the Sun host the Mercury on July 28 (ESPN2, 7:30 p.m. ET)
The Chicago Sky traveling to Los Angeles to face the Sparks on Aug. 25 (ESPN2, 10:00 p.m. ET), a contest that will feature two of the top rookies from a year ago, Sylvia Fowles of the Sky and Candace Parker of the Sparks.
The 2009 WNBA regular season runs from Sat., June 6 to Sun., Sept. 13, with the playoffs scheduled to begin on Wed., Sept. 16. The complete 2009 regular season and game broadcast schedules follow.
2009 WNBA Schedule
Day Date Visitor Home Local Eastern
Saturday June 6 Detroit Los Angeles 11:30 AM 2:30 PM
Saturday June 6 Seattle Sacramento 1:00 PM 4:00 PM
Saturday June 6 Washington Connecticut 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
Saturday June 6 Indiana Atlanta 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Saturday June 6 Chicago Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Saturday June 6 San Antonio Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Sunday June 7 Connecticut New York 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
Sunday June 7 Atlanta Washington 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
Sunday June 7 Minnesota Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Sunday June 7 Sacramento Seattle 6:00 PM 9:00 PM
Monday June 8 Los Angeles Detroit 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Tuesday June 9 Seattle Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Wednesday June 10 Washington Detroit 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Wednesday June 10 Los Angeles Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Wednesday June 10 New York Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Friday June 12 Los Angeles Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Friday June 12 Seattle Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Friday June 12 Atlanta Chicago 7:30 PM 8:30 PM
Friday June 12 Phoenix Sacramento 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Saturday June 13 New York San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Saturday June 13 Sacramento Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Sunday June 14 Atlanta Connecticut 3:00 PM 3:00 PM
Sunday June 14 Seattle Chicago 5:00 PM 6:00 PM
Tuesday June 16 Connecticut Chicago 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Tuesday June 16 Minnesota Sacramento 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Wednesday June 17 Minnesota Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Friday June 19 Chicago Connecticut 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Friday June 19 San Antonio New York 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Friday June 19 Washington Atlanta 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Friday June 19 Indiana Detroit 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Friday June 19 Los Angeles Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Friday June 19 Minnesota Seattle 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Saturday June 20 Chicago Washington 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Sunday June 21 San Antonio Connecticut 3:00 PM 3:00 PM
Sunday June 21 New York Atlanta 3:00 PM 3:00 PM
Sunday June 21 Detroit Indiana 6:00 PM 6:00 PM
Sunday June 21 Seattle Phoenix 4:00 PM 7:00 PM
Sunday June 21 Sacramento Los Angeles 6:30 PM 9:30 PM
Tuesday June 23 Chicago Atlanta 12:00 PM 12:00 PM
Tuesday June 23 Phoenix San Antonio 6:30 PM 7:30 PM
Tuesday June 23 New York Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Thursday June 25 Phoenix Washington 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Friday June 26 Indiana New York 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Friday June 26 Detroit Atlanta 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Friday June 26 Sacramento San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
2009 WNBA Schedule
Page 3
Day Date Visitor Home Local Eastern
Friday June 26 Los Angeles Seattle 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Saturday June 27 Atlanta Connecticut 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Saturday June 27 New York Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Saturday June 27 Washington Chicago 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Saturday June 27 Phoenix Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Sunday June 28 Sacramento Detroit 6:00 PM 6:00 PM
Sunday June 28 Seattle Los Angeles 6:30 PM 9:30 PM
Tuesday June 30 Minnesota Atlanta 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Tuesday June 30 Sacramento Chicago 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Tuesday June 30 Washington San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Wednesday July 1 Seattle Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Thursday July 2 Connecticut Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Thursday July 2 Detroit New York 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Thursday July 2 Sacramento Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Friday July 3 Washington Atlanta 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Friday July 3 Chicago San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Sunday July 5 Connecticut Detroit 6:00 PM 6:00 PM
Sunday July 5 Atlanta Indiana 6:00 PM 6:00 PM
Sunday July 5 Phoenix Los Angeles 6:30 PM 9:30 PM
Tuesday July 7 San Antonio Seattle 12:00 PM 3:00 PM
Tuesday July 7 Connecticut Atlanta 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Tuesday July 7 Washington Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Tuesday July 7 Chicago Sacramento 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Wednesday July 8 Chicago Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Thursday July 9 Los Angeles New York 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Thursday July 9 Sacramento Seattle 6:00 PM 9:00 PM
Friday July 10 San Antonio Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Friday July 10 Indiana Chicago 7:30 PM 8:30 PM
Saturday July 11 Detroit Connecticut 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Saturday July 11 Los Angeles Washington 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Saturday July 11 Atlanta New York 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Saturday July 11 Phoenix Sacramento 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Sunday July 12 Minnesota San Antonio 6:00 PM 7:00 PM
Sunday July 12 Chicago Seattle 6:00 PM 9:00 PM
Tuesday July 14 Los Angeles Connecticut 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Wednesday July 15 San Antonio Washington 11:30 AM 11:30 AM
Wednesday July 15 Chicago Indiana 1:00 PM 1:00 PM
Wednesday July 15 Atlanta Minnesota 12:00 PM 1:00 PM
Wednesday July 15 Sacramento Phoenix 12:30 PM 3:30 PM
Wednesday July 15 Detroit Seattle 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Friday July 17 Atlanta Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Friday July 17 Connecticut San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Friday July 17 Seattle Sacramento 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Friday July 17 Minnesota Los Angeles 7:30 PM 10:30 PM
Saturday July 18 New York Washington 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Saturday July 18 Detroit Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
2009 WNBA Schedule
Page 4
Day Date Visitor Home Local Eastern
Sunday July 19 Indiana Connecticut 3:00 PM 3:00 PM
Sunday July 19 Atlanta New York 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
Sunday July 19 San Antonio Chicago 5:00 PM 6:00 PM
Sunday July 19 Minnesota Seattle 5:00 PM 8:00 PM
Sunday July 19 Detroit Sacramento 6:00 PM 9:00 PM
Tuesday July 21 Indiana Washington 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Wednesday July 22 Atlanta Detroit 12:00 PM 12:00 PM
Wednesday July 22 New York Chicago 11:30 AM 12:30 PM
Wednesday July 22 Sacramento Connecticut 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Wednesday July 22 Minnesota Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Wednesday July 22 Los Angeles Seattle 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Thursday July 23 Indiana San Antonio 11:30 AM 12:30 PM
Thursday July 23 Chicago Washington 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Thursday July 23 Sacramento New York 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Sunday July 26 Phoenix New York 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
Sunday July 26 Sacramento Washington 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
Tuesday July 28 Washington Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Tuesday July 28 Phoenix Connecticut 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Tuesday July 28 Los Angeles Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Tuesday July 28 Seattle San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Wednesday July 29 Los Angeles Chicago 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Thursday July 30 San Antonio Sacramento 11:30 AM 2:30 PM
Thursday July 30 Connecticut Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Thursday July 30 Washington New York 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Thursday July 30 Phoenix Atlanta 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Friday July 31 Minnesota Detroit 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Saturday August 1 New York Atlanta 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Saturday August 1 Connecticut Chicago 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Saturday August 1 Phoenix Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Saturday August 1 Los Angeles Sacramento 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Saturday August 1 San Antonio Seattle 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Sunday August 2 Indiana Washington 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
Sunday August 2 Connecticut Detroit 6:00 PM 6:00 PM
Tuesday August 4 San Antonio Los Angeles 12:00 PM 3:00 PM
Tuesday August 4 New York Detroit 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Tuesday August 4 Phoenix Seattle 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Wednesday August 5 Chicago Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Thursday August 6 Atlanta San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Thursday August 6 Seattle Los Angeles 7:30 PM 10:30 PM
Friday August 7 Detroit Washington 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Friday August 7 Connecticut Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Friday August 7 New York Sacramento 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Saturday August 8 Chicago Atlanta 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Saturday August 8 Indiana Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Saturday August 8 New York Seattle 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Sunday August 9 Washington Connecticut 3:00 PM 3:00 PM
Sunday August 9 Chicago Detroit 6:00 PM 6:00 PM
2009 WNBA Schedule
Page 5
Day Date Visitor Home Local Eastern
Sunday August 9 San Antonio Minnesota 5:00 PM 6:00 PM
Sunday August 9 Indiana Los Angeles 6:30 PM 9:30 PM
Tuesday August 11 Detroit Washington 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Tuesday August 11 Sacramento San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Tuesday August 11 New York Los Angeles 6:00 PM 9:00 PM
Thursday August 13 Seattle Connecticut 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Thursday August 13 Detroit Atlanta 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Thursday August 13 Indiana Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Thursday August 13 San Antonio Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Friday August 14 Connecticut Washington 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Friday August 14 Chicago New York 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Friday August 14 Sacramento Los Angeles 7:30 PM 10:30 PM
Saturday August 15 Seattle Atlanta 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Saturday August 15 Detroit Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Saturday August 15 Minnesota Chicago 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Saturday August 15 Phoenix San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Saturday August 15 Los Angeles Sacramento 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Sunday August 16 New York Washington 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
Tuesday August 18 Seattle Detroit 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Tuesday August 18 Phoenix Chicago 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Tuesday August 18 Washington Los Angeles 7:30 PM 10:30 PM
Wednesday August 19 New York Connecticut 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Thursday August 20 San Antonio Atlanta 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Thursday August 20 Indiana Sacramento 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Friday August 21 Connecticut New York 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Friday August 21 Los Angeles San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Friday August 21 Washington Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Saturday August 22 Minnesota Connecticut 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Saturday August 22 Detroit Chicago 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Saturday August 22 Washington Sacramento 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Saturday August 22 Indiana Seattle 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Sunday August 23 Los Angeles Atlanta 3:00 PM 3:00 PM
Sunday August 23 Minnesota New York 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
Sunday August 23 San Antonio Detroit 6:00 PM 6:00 PM
Tuesday August 25 Detroit Connecticut 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Tuesday August 25 Sacramento Atlanta 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Tuesday August 25 Chicago Los Angeles 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Tuesday August 25 Washington Seattle 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Thursday August 27 San Antonio Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Thursday August 27 Atlanta Detroit 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Thursday August 27 Connecticut Seattle 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Thursday August 27 Phoenix Los Angeles 7:30 PM 10:30 PM
Friday August 28 Sacramento Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Friday August 28 New York Chicago 7:30 PM 8:30 PM
Saturday August 29 Detroit San Antonio 2:00 PM 3:00 PM
Saturday August 29 Sacramento Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Saturday August 29 Connecticut Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
2009 WNBA Schedule
Page 6
Day Date Visitor Home Local Eastern
Saturday August 29 Atlanta Seattle 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Sunday August 30 Chicago New York 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
Sunday August 30 Minnesota Washington 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
Sunday August 30 Connecticut Los Angeles 6:30 PM 9:30 PM
Tuesday September 1 Seattle New York 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Tuesday September 1 Phoenix Detroit 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Tuesday September 1 Minnesota San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Tuesday September 1 Connecticut Sacramento 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Tuesday September 1 Atlanta Los Angeles 7:30 PM 10:30 PM
Wednesday September 2 Phoenix Indiana 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Thursday September 3 Seattle Washington 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Friday September 4 New York Connecticut 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Friday September 4 Indiana Detroit 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Friday September 4 Washington Chicago 7:30 PM 8:30 PM
Friday September 4 Atlanta Sacramento 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Saturday September 5 Seattle Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Saturday September 5 Los Angeles San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Saturday September 5 Atlanta Phoenix 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Sunday September 6 Washington Indiana 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
Sunday September 6 Chicago Detroit 6:00 PM 6:00 PM
Tuesday September 8 Indiana New York 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Tuesday September 8 San Antonio Los Angeles 7:30 PM 10:30 PM
Wednesday September 9 Detroit Minnesota 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Thursday September 10 New York Detroit 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Thursday September 10 Indiana Chicago 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Thursday September 10 San Antonio Sacramento 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Thursday September 10 Phoenix Seattle 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Friday September 11 Connecticut Atlanta 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Friday September 11 Minnesota Los Angeles 7:30 PM 10:30 PM
Saturday September 12 Atlanta Washington 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Saturday September 12 Detroit Chicago 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Saturday September 12 Seattle San Antonio 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Sunday September 13 Indiana Connecticut 3:00 PM 3:00 PM
Sunday September 13 Los Angeles Phoenix 12:00 PM 3:00 PM
Sunday September 13 Washington New York 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
Sunday September 13 Minnesota Sacramento 6:00 PM 6:00 PM
2009 WNBA Schedule
Page 7
2009 WNBA National Television Schedule
Day Date Eastern Local Away Home Network
Saturday June 6 2:30 PM 11:30 AM Detroit Los Angeles ABC
Tuesday June 9 7:00 PM 7:00 PM Seattle Indiana ESPN2
Tuesday June 23 7:30 PM 6:30 PM Phoenix San Antonio ESPN2
Tuesday June 30 7:00 PM 7:00 PM Minnesota Atlanta ESPN2
Thursday July 9 9:00 PM 6:00 PM Sacramento Seattle ESPN2
Tuesday July 14 7:00 PM 7:00 PM Los Angeles Connecticut ESPN2
Thursday July 23 7:00 PM 7:00 PM Chicago Washington ESPN2
Tuesday July 28 7:30 PM 7:30 PM Phoenix Connecticut ESPN2
Tuesday August 4 7:30 PM 7:30 PM New York Detroit ESPN2
Tuesday August 11 9:00 PM 6:00 PM New York Los Angeles ESPN2
Tuesday August 25 10:00 PM 7:00 PM Chicago Los Angeles ESPN2
Saturday August 29 3:00 PM 2:00 PM Detroit San Antonio ESPN2
Sunday September 13 3:00 PM 12:00 PM Los Angeles Phoenix ESPN2
* schedule subject to change
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from December 18, 2008
- Mercury release 2009 schedule - Phoenix Mercury
- Chicago Sky Announce 2009 Schedule - Chicago Sky
- Fever Announce 2009 Schedule - Indiana Fever
- Minnesota Lynx Open 2009 WNBA Regular Season vs. Chicago Sky on June 6 - Minnesota Lynx
- Monarchs Fans To Enjoy More Western Conference Rivalry Games At Arco Arena In 2009 - Sacramento Monarchs
- Storm To Celebrate 10th Anniversary Season In 2009 - Seattle Storm
- Connecticut Sun Announce 2009 Schedule - Connecticut Sun
- Silver Stars Announce 2009 Schedule - San Antonio Stars
- Detroit Shock Scheduled To Tip Off 2009 Season On June 6 - Detroit Shock
- Dream Tips Off 2009 Season June 6 - Atlanta Dream
- 2009 Washinton Mystics Schedule Released - Washington Mystics
- 2009 WNBA season tips off June 6 - WNBA
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