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WNBA Los Angeles Sparks

Sparks, Lisa Leslie To Open 2008 Season With Five-Game Trip

December 13, 2007 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Los Angeles Sparks News Release


LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Sparks, highlighted by the return of Lisa Leslie to the hardwood, will tip-off their 2008 WNBA season with a five-game trip, starting May 17 in Phoenix, airing at 12:30 p.m. PT on ABC. The Sparks return home to STAPLES Center for their home opener on June 6 at 7:30 p.m. with a rematch against the Mercury.

The 2008 Sparks schedule features a total of 34 regular-season games, 17 of which will take place on Lisa Leslie Court at STAPLES Center between May and September. The Sparks will play in-conference rivals three or four times in the regular season and out-of-conference foes on two occasions.

"We are committed to the fans of L.A. to bring the highest level of play to the court for 2008," said co-owner Kathy Goodman. "With Lisa Leslie back and the number-one draft pick, this schedule provides a great opportunity to fire-up old rivalries and ignite new ones."

The new WNBA franchise in Atlanta will begin play in 2008, bringing to 14 the total number of teams. The yet-to-be-named Atlanta team will compete in the Eastern Conference with the Connecticut Sun, Chicago Sky, Detroit Shock, Indiana Fever, New York Liberty and Washington Mystics, while the Houston Comets, Sparks, Minnesota Lynx, Phoenix Mercury, Sacramento Monarchs, San Antonio Silver Stars and Seattle Storm square off in the Western Conference.

With more than 25 players expected to compete during the 2008 Olympic Summer Games in Beijing, China (Aug. 8-24), the league has not scheduled any games between July 28 - Aug. 27. Instead, the WNBA season will be extended by three weeks, so WNBA players can represent their home countries in the 2008 Games. WNBA teams and players will remain active in the communities while on hiatus from regular-season action. Sparks 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.

The second half of the season will tip-off on Aug. 28 as the Sparks host the Monarchs at STAPLES Center at 7:30 p.m. The regular-season schedule concludes Sept. 14 with the playoffs scheduled to begin on Sept. 18.

With combined coverage on ABC and ESPN2, next year will feature 21 national telecasts. ESPN2 will once again be the source of appointment viewing for WNBA fans next season as the third consecutive year of "WNBA Tuesdays" gives fans the opportunity to watch WNBA action on nine Tuesday nights throughout the regular season. ESPN's long-term commitment to the WNBA was extended last summer for an additional eight years, through the 2016 season, which will mark 20 years of the WNBA on ESPN. The WNBA's relationship with ESPN began with the league's inaugural season in 1997.

Rounding out the broadcast schedule, NBA TV, the league's 24-hour television network, will televise 70 regular- season contests.

Fans purchasing Sparks Holiday Packages receive 2008 season tickets, an invitation to an exclusive meet & greet reception with Lisa Leslie, and a picture that she will autograph. Full season ticket packages start at $120 per seat for 16 home games. Orders by Dec. 20, 2007 will be gift wrapped. For Sparks' season ticket information, call 1-877-44-SPARKS.

The complete 2008 Sparks' regular season and national broadcast schedule follows.

2008 LOS ANGELES SPARKS SCHEDULE^

*** (all times local) ***

DATE OPPONENT TIME

May Sat. 17 AT Phoenix 12:30 pm

Sun. 25 AT Atlanta 3:00 pm

Thu. 29 AT Indiana 7:00 pm

Sat. 31 AT Washington 3:30 pm

Jun.Tue. 3 AT Chicago 7:00 pm

Fri. 6 Phoenix 7:30 pm

Wed. 11 Detroit 7:30 pm

Fri. 13 Connecticut 7:30 pm

Sat. 14 AT Sacramento 7:00 pm

Wed. 18 Chicago 7:30 pm

Fri. 20 AT San Antonio 7:00 pm

Sun. 22 Indiana 6:30 pm

Tue. 24 Seattle 12:30 pm

Thu. 26 Washington 7:30 pm

Jul.Tue. 1 New York 7:30 pm

Thu. 3 Minnesota 7:30 pm

Sun. 6 Phoenix 6:30 pm

Wed. 9 Houston 7:30 pm

Thu. 10 AT Sacramento 6:00 pm

Sat. 12 AT Seattle 7:00 pm

Mon. 14 San Antonio 7:30 pm

Thu. 17 AT Phoenix 7:00 pm

Sat. 19 AT Houston 7:30 pm

Tue. 22 AT Detroit 7:00 pm

Thu. 24 AT Connecticut 7:00 pm

Fri. 25 AT New York 7:30 pm

Sun. 27 AT Minnesota 5:00 pm

Aug.Thu. 28 Sacramento 7:30 pm

Sat. 30 San Antonio 7:30 pm

Sep.Mon. 1 Minnesota 7:30 pm

Fri. 5 AT San Antonio 7:00 pm

Sat. 6 AT Houston 7:30 pm

Thu. 11 Atlanta 7:30 pm

Sun. 14 Seattle 2:00 pm

^ schedule subject to change

3-3-3

Sparks announce 2008 WNBA schedule

2008 Los Angeles Sparks National Television Schedule*

Day Date Eastern Local Away Home Network

Saturday May 17 3:30 PM 12:30 PM Los Angeles Phoenix ABC

Saturday May 31 3:30 PM 3:30 PM Los Angeles Washington ABC

Thursday July 10 9:00 PM 6:00 PM Los Angeles Sacramento ESPN2 #

Tuesday July 22 7:00 PM 7:00 PM Los Angeles Detroit ESPN2

Sunday September 14 5:00 PM 2:00 PM Seattle Los Angeles ESPN2

# ESPN2 will televise one game on this day

* schedule subject to change

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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