ESPN2 To Show 18 WNBA Regular Season Games

Starting this Saturday, the WNBA returns to the ESPN family of networks and ESPN2 will air 18 regular season games.

WNBA Season on ESPN2 Begins With the Defending Champion Phoenix Mercury vs.  L.A. Sparks May 15

Every Telecast in HD; All Games on ESPN3.com

ESPN2 will televise 18 regular season WNBA games, starting with the Los Angeles Sparks at the defending champion Phoenix Mercury Saturday, May 15, at 2 p.m. ET.  All telecasts will be seen on ESPN3.com and will be televised in high definition on ESPN2 HD.  ESPN networks have been televising the WNBA since 1997.

In addition, coverage of the postseason – the Eastern and Western Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals and WNBA Finals – will be on ABC and ESPN2, beginning Saturday, August 28, totaling up to 11 telecasts. 

ESPN will present the “WNBA vs. Team USA:  The Stars at the Sun” , which will showcase the world’s best female basketball players under one roof when the WNBA’s top talent faces the USA Basketball Women’s National Team on Saturday, July 10.  This special event, hosted by the WNBA and the Connecticut Sun, will take place at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.    

COMMENTATORS

Pam Ward, Terry Gannon and Dave Pasch will serve be the play-by-play announcers, working with analysts Carolyn Peck and Rebecca Lobo. Heather Cox and Lobo will serve as sideline reporters.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

• Six appearances by the defending champion Phoenix Mercury 2009 MVP Diana Taurasi.
• Six appearances by the Los Angeles Sparks, featuring Candace Parker, who was both MVP and Rookie of the Year in 2008.
• Phoenix at Tulsa on May 25. Tulsa, coached by Nolan Richardson, has added former Olympian and collegiate basketball star Marion Jones.
• Full access coverage with live mics on players/coaches/referees, exclusive locker room interviews, and above and below the rim cameras for select telecasts.
• WNBA Power Rankings from John Hollinger for ESPN.com, which will be automated for updates after every game.
• “Five Questions With…” video feature with Rebecca Lobo Game previews, recaps, stats and standings on ESPN.com.

• Live scores accessible via the ESPN mobile Web site, ScoreCenter and ScoreCenter XL.
• Video highlights, recaps, standings, statistics and features on ESPN Mobile.
• Additional live coverage for close to 10 games will be made available on ESPN Mobile TV.

2010 SCHEDULE

(all games on ESPN2 except as noted)   

Date	Time (ET)	Match-up
Sat, May 15	2 p.m.	Los Angeles at Phoenix
Tues, May 25	7 p.m.	Phoenix at Tulsa
Tues, June 1	7:30 p.m.	Phoenix at Minnesota
	9:30 p.m.	Atlanta at Seattle
Tues, June 29	7 p.m.	Indiana at Washington
Sat, July 3	5 p.m,	Seattle at Los Angeles
Tues, Jan. 6	8 p.m.	Connecticut at San Antonio
	10 p.m.	Phoenix at Los Angeles
Sat, July 10	3:30 p.m. (ESPN)	WNBA vs. USA Basketball: The Stars at the Sun
Tues, July 13	7 p.m.	Los Angeles at Tulsa
Tues, July 20	8 p.m.	New York at Connecticut
Thurs, July 22	7 p.m.	Los Angeles at Indiana
Tues, July 27	7:30 p.m.	San Antonio at New York
	9:30 p.m.	Phoenix at Seattle
Tues, Aug. 3	7:30 p.m.	Washington at Atlanta
Thurs, Aug. 5	10:30 p.m.	Connecticut at Seattle
Sat, Aug. 7	3 p.m.	Minnesota at Chicago
Tues, Aug. 10	8 p.m.	Phoenix at Chicago
	10 p.m.	Indiana at Los Angeles

That’s it.