WNBA Phoenix Mercury

Phoenix Mercury Announces 2016 Schedule

January 28, 2016 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Phoenix Mercury News Release


PHOENIX - The three-time WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury, presented by Casino Arizona and Talking Stick Resort, today announced the regular season schedule for 2016, the historic 20th season in league and franchise history. Coming off the first consecutive 20-win seasons in team history and the club's sixth Western Conference Finals appearance in the last seven seasons, the Mercury will return Diana Taurasi, the greatest player in the women's game, after a one-year hiatus. Phoenix headlines "WNBA Tip-Off presented by Verizon," opening its 34-game schedule in a nationally-televised marquee meeting with rival Minnesota on Saturday, May 14, in Minneapolis; the Mercury's 2016 home opener is slated for Friday, May 20 vs. Seattle at Talking Stick Resort Arena.

The Mercury's 2016 schedule runs from May through September and includes a one-month break (July 24 - August 23) for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The schedule gives The X-Factor, the WNBA's best fans now for 20 seasons, 17 regular-season opportunities to see a talented roster led by 2014 WNBA Coach of the Year Sandy Brondello that includes seven-time WNBA All-Star Taurasi and a trio of 2015 WNBA All-Stars including Brittney Griner, Candice Dupree and DeWanna Bonner.

The Mercury will appear on national television four times in 2016. Phoenix opens the season on ESPN2 in the aforementioned tilt with Minnesota, and will also be featured on Tuesday, June 21 at Dallas, Sunday, August 28 vs. Los Angeles, and Tuesday, September 6 at Atlanta. The league's NBA TV slate and the Mercury's local FOX Sports Arizona schedule will both be announced at a later date.

The Mercury's 34-game schedule will be played over 128 days (including the Olympic Break) and will feature two back-to-back sets. Phoenix will play its last game before the Olympic Break on July 19 vs. Chicago and return August 26 vs. Dallas. Ten of the Mercury's 17 home games overall will be played on the weekend, including four Friday night contests, two Saturday night tilts and four Sunday games. Six of the last eight regular season games will be on the road including the 2016 regular season finale on September 18 at San Antonio. Monday through Saturday Mercury home games start at 7 p.m., all Sunday games start at 3 p.m., except for August 28 (6 p.m.) due to national television. The annual matinee home game is scheduled for Wednesday, July 13 at 12:30 p.m. vs. Washington.

The 2016 WNBA schedule will feature a new "balanced" format where every team will play 10 opponents three times and one opponent four times- regardless of conference.

Tickets for the Phoenix Mercury home opener on Friday, May 20, and the other 16 Mercury regular season home games go on sale JANUARY 29 at NOON by calling 602-252-WNBA or by visiting PhoenixMercury.com.

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