The WNBA returns to the networks of ESPN on Memorial Day with a double header to kick off the season. The WNBA itself kicks off it's TV coverage on Friday, May 24 with a game on NBA TV and Fox Sports Southwest. However that doesn't stop ESPN from getting everyone pumped up for the upcoming season. Here's the press release they issued today regarding the 2013 WNBA season.
2013 14-Game WNBA Regular-Season Schedule Begins Monday with Memorial Day Doubleheader
Return of WNBA All-Star Game on ABC
ESPN2 and
ABC will combine to present 14 regular-season WNBA games, including the
addition of a new opening-weekend ESPN2 Memorial Day doubleheader. .
The games will feature the top four teams from the 2013 WNBA Draft
presented by State Farm on Monday, May 27, when the Washington Mystics
meet the Tulsa Shock at 3 p.m. ET, followed by Chicago Sky at the
Phoenix Mercury at 5 p.m. ESPN will take an in-depth look at the
transition from college to the WNBA of the network’s season-long
campaign focusing on the “3 to See” of Elena Delle Donne (Delaware to
Chicago Sky), Skylar Diggins (Notre Dame to Tulsa Shock) and Brittney
Griner (Baylor to Phoenix Mercury).
ESPN Classic will run a Memorial Day weekend marathon from games of the “3 to See’s” college careers (schedule below).
After a one-year hiatus due to the London Olympics, the Boost Mobile
WNBA All-Star Game returns on Saturday, July 27, at 3:30 p.m. on ABC
from Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn.
Commentators
Ryan Ruocco joins ESPN’s WNBA coverage as a play-by-play voice. He can also be heard on ESPN New York 98.7 FM’s “Stephen A. Smith & Ryan Ruocco” weekdays from 1-3 p.m.
Ryan Ruocco joins ESPN’s WNBA coverage as a play-by-play voice. He can also be heard on ESPN New York 98.7 FM’s “Stephen A. Smith & Ryan Ruocco” weekdays from 1-3 p.m.
Veteran play-by-play commentator Pam Ward returns, along with analysts Rebecca Lobo and Carolyn Peck. Holly Rowe and LaChina Robinson will work as a reporter on select games.
Sue Bird –
seven-time WNBA All-Star and two-time WNBA Champion with the Seattle
Storm – will be part of ESPN’s studio coverage on select games,
including the opening day doubleheader. Bird is sidelined for the 2013
season while recovering from left knee surgery.
ESPN Coverage Highlights
ESPN will continue to enhance its production and commitment to the sport through access to WNBA teams, players and coaches.
ESPN will continue to enhance its production and commitment to the sport through access to WNBA teams, players and coaches.
- Live microphones will be worn by players during select games, in addition to using mics on coaches as in past seasons
- Special mini-cameras worn by referees during select games
- Look Ins with new level of access to practices, shoot around and locker rooms pregame and during half time
- Virtual graphics package will be introduced throughout the season
- The new WNBA brand identity will be incorporated into the ESPN’s coverage with new animation and graphics
Schedule Highlights
- Following the Memorial Day telecasts, ABC and ESPN2 will telecast a pair of matchups featuring the last three WNBA Most Valuable Players – 2009 MVP Diana Taurasi and the Mercury will visit 2011 MVP Tamika Catchings and the Indiana Fever on Saturday, June 8, on ABC and the Connecticut Sun, led by last year’s MVP Tina Charles, will tip off against the Fever Wednesday, June 12 on ESPN2
- Brittney Griner – the 2013 top draft pick – and the Mercury will appear six times on ESPN networks this season including the ABC telecast against the Fever on Saturday, June 8 and five additional occasions on ESPN2
- ESPN2 will feature a rematch of the 2011 WNBA Finals presented by Boost Mobile when the Atlanta Dream, led by All-Star Angel McCoughtry, visits the Minnesota Lynx, led by All-Stars Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus and Lindsay Whalen on Tuesday, July 9
- The Shock hosts the Los Angeles Sparks in a nationally televised clash of Western Conference foes on ESPN2 on Thursday, July 11
- Each of the final seven ESPN2 telecasts will feature former league MVPs, with a pair of MVPs going head-to-head Thursday, July 18 when Phoenix (Taurasi, 2009) visits Los Angeles (Candace Parker, 2008)
- The defending Western Conference champion Lynx will try to get revenge against the Fever, the 2012 WNBA Finals presented by Boost Mobile champions, when it hosts Indiana on Saturday, Aug. 24 on ESPN2
- Season preview showcasing expert picks, team-by-team breakdowns and analysis of what the season holds
- Weekly columns and online chats from writers Mechelle Voepel and Michelle Smith
- Total Access with the Phoenix Mercury featuring a behind-the-scenes look at the season including stories, blogs, video and photo galleries
- Blogs from WNBA players: Kelsey Bone (New York); Tamika Catchings (Indiana); Tina Charles (Connecticut); Elena Delle Donne (Chicago); Brittney Griner and other Mercury players; Ivory Latta (Washington); Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta); Maya Moore (Minnesota); Candace Parker (L.A.) and Candice Wiggins (Shock)
ESPN Digital Platforms
- WatchESPN will carry every WNBA regular-season game available on ESPN2 this season
- Additional live coverage for select games available on ESPN Mobile TV
- Live scores accessible via the ESPN mobile Web, ScoreCenter and ScoreCenter XL
- WNBA game alerts and video clips on ESPN Mobile
ESPN2 will showcase the majority of the 2013 WNBA postseason. The
WNBA Finals presented by Boost Mobile begin on Sunday, Oct. 6 for a
best-of-five series.
The WNBA and ESPN have been affiliated for 17 years, dating back to the league’s inaugural season in 1997, and recently extended the relationship six years through the 2022 season.
For the third straight year and first-ever primetime telecast, ESPN
held the WNBA Draft at its headquarters in Bristol, Conn., on Monday,
April 15. The live telecast of the Draft took place in the ESPN Studio E
– home to Mike & Mike in the Morning, Sunday NFL Countdown and a variety of other ESPN shows.
2013 WNBA Regular-Season Schedule (subject to change)
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Networks |
| Mon, May 27 | 3 p.m. | Washington Mystics at Tulsa Shock Pam Ward, Carolyn Peck & LaChina Robinson |
ESPN2 |
| 5 p.m. | Chicago Sky at Phoenix Mercury Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo & Holly Rowe |
ESPN2 | |
| Sat, June 8 | 3:30 p.m. | Phoenix Mercury at Indiana Fever Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo & Holly Rowe |
ABC |
| Wed, June 12 | 8 p.m. | Connecticut Sun at Indiana Fever Pam Ward & Carolyn Peck |
ESPN2 |
| Tue, June 25 | 8 p.m. | Phoenix Sun at San Antonio Silver Stars Pam Ward & Carolyn Peck |
ESPN2 |
| Tue, July 2 | 8 p.m. | Tulsa Shock at Connecticut Sun | ESPN2 |
| Tue, July 9 | 9 p.m. | Atlanta Dream at Minnesota Lynx | ESPN2 |
| Thu, July 11 | 9 p.m. | Los Angeles Sparks at Tulsa Shock | ESPN2 |
| Thu, July 18 | 10 p.m. | Phoenix Mercury at Los Angeles Sparks | ESPN2 |
| Tue, July 23 | 7 p.m. | New York Liberty at Indiana Fever | ESPN2 |
| Sat, July 27 | 3:30 p.m. | Boost Mobile WNBA All-Star Game (Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Conn.) |
ABC |
| Tue, Aug 6 | 10 p.m. | Seattle Storm at Phoenix Mercury | ESPN2 |
| Tue, Aug 20 | 10 p.m. | Los Angeles Sparks at Seattle Storm | ESPN2 |
| Sat, Aug 24 | 7 p.m. | Indiana Fever at Minnesota Lynx | ESPN2 |
| Wed, Sep 11 | 8 p.m. | Phoenix Mercury at Chicago Sky | ESPN2 |
ESPN Classic Memorial Day “3 to See” Marathon
| Date | Time (ET) | Game |
| Sun, May 26 | 4 p.m. | 2012 NCAA Women’s National Semifinal: Connecticut vs. Notre Dame Diggins 19 points leads ND to an 83-75 win |
| 6 p.m. | Connecticut at Notre Dame (2013) Diggins scores 29 points in ND’s 96-87 triple-overtime win |
|
| 8 p.m. | 2013 NCAA Championship Second Round: Delaware vs. North Carolina Delle Donne nets 33 points in loss in final home game |
|
| 10 p.m. | 2012 NCAA Women’s National Championship: Notre Dame vs. Baylor Griner has 26 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks in win |
|
| Midnight | 2012 NCAA Championship Second Round: Kansas vs. Delaware Delle Donne scores 34 points in loss |
|
| Mon, May 27 | 1:30 a.m. | Notre Dame at Tennessee (2013) Diggins has 33 points, five assists and four steals in victory |
| 3:30 p.m. | 2012 CAA Championship: Drexel vs. Delaware Delle Donne dominates with 27 points and 10 boards in win |
|
| 7 a.m. | Connecticut at Baylor (2011) Griner leads with 25 points, nine rebounds and nine blocks in victory |
|
| 9 a.m. | Delaware at St. John’s (2013) Delle Donne tallies 29 points, 16 boards, two assists and two blocks in overtime win |
|
| 11 a.m. | 2011 NCAA Women’s National Semifinal: Connecticut vs. Notre Dame Diggins nets 28 points in win over UConn and National Player of the Year Maya Moore |
|
| 1 p.m. | Baylor at Connecticut (2013) Griner scores 25 points in win, including 3,000th of her career |
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