2016 WNBA Season
As originally written by BWBarefoot
The Women's National Basketball Association held its 20th season in 2016.
Opening night was May 14, highlighted by Phoenix (Brittney Griner) at Minnesota (Maya Moore). ESPN, which has a contract to show games through 2025, showed 32 regular-season games, the playoffs, and the Finals. Of the regular-season contests, 14 were on ESPN2 and 18 will be on ESPN3.
NBA TV aired 40 games, which simulcast local station feeds and were blacked out in the participants' territories.
WNBA League Pass (formerly Live Access) carried games not shown on ESPN2 or NBA TV away from home markets for a fee. Also, Monumental Sports Network streamed Mystics home games in the greater Washington, D.C. area not seen on "regular" TV.
A couple of additional notes:
*The league stayed at 12 teams, but there was a relocation as the Tulsa Shock became the Dallas Wings. The team plays its home games on the campus of the University of Texas at Arlington.
*Because of a conflict with the Summer Olympics, there was no All-Star Game this year. Instead, the league shut down between July 23 and Aug. 25.
*The playoff format underwent a significant change. The eight qualifying teams played a staggered format, with one bye for the third- and fourth-place teams and two byes for the top two teams. They were seeded regardless of conference.
Regular Season
Saturday 5/14:
6:00 - Dallas @ Indiana, ESPN3 - Pat Boylan
7:00 - New York @ Washington, ESPN3 - Frank Hanrahan, Christy Winters-Scott
MSG (Mike Crispino, Julianne Viani) delayed at 9:30
7:30 - Phoenix @ Minnesota, ESPN - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
8:00 - Atlanta @ San Antonio, ESPN3 - Andrew Monaco, Bob Weiss
8:00 - Connecticut @ Chicago, ESPN3 - Eric Collins, Stephen Bardo
WMEU-CD delayed, time not available
Sunday 5/15:
5:00 - Seattle @ Los Angeles, TWCSN - Jim Watson, Mary Murphy, Kelli Tennant
5:00 - Dallas @ New York, MSG - Mike Crispino, Julianne Viani
Friday 5/20:
7:00 - Los Angeles @ Washington, TWCSN - Jim Watson, Dave Miller
7:00 - Atlanta @ Indiana, FS SE/FS IN - Chris Denari, Debbie Antonelli
Saturday 5/21:
6:00 - Los Angeles @ New York, TWCSN - Jim Watson, Dave Miller
8:30 - San Antonio @ Dallas, FS SW/NBA TV - Ron Thulin, Raegan Pebley
Sunday 5/22:
3:00 - Chicago @ Atlanta, FS SE/NBA TV - Bob Rathbun, LaChina Robinson, Angel Gray
7:00 - Minnesota @ Seattle, KZJO1 - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward, Michelle Ludtka
Tuesday 5/24:
11:00AM - Atlanta @ New York, MSG/NBA TV - Mike Crispino, Julianne Viani
8:00 - Los Angeles @ Chicago, ESPN2 - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
Wednesday 5/25:
10:00 - Minnesota @ Phoenix, FS AZ+/FS N - Kevin Ray, Ann Meyers-Drysdale
Thursday 5/26:
10:00 - Washington @ Seattle, KZJO - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward, Michelle Ludtka
Friday 5/27:
8:30 - Atlanta @ Dallas, KTXD/NBA TV - Ron Thulin, Raegan Pebley
Saturday 5/28:
10:00 - Connecticut @ Seattle, WCCT - Bob Heussler, Kara Wolters; KZJO - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward, Michelle Ludtka
Sunday 5/29:
3:00 - Indiana @ Atlanta, FS SE/NBA TV - Bob Rathbun, LaChina Robinson, Angel Gray
4:30 - Chicago @ Dallas, KTXD - Ron Thulin, Raegan Pebley
Tuesday 5/31:
8:00 - Minnesota @ New York, ESPN2 - Pam Ward, Carolyn Peck, LaChina Robinson
10:00 - Connecticut @ Phoenix, WCCT - Kevin Ray, Ann Meyers-Drysdale
Wednesday 6/1:
7:00 - Seattle @ Indiana, FS Indiana - Chris Denari, Debbie Antonelli
Friday 6/3:
7:30 - New York @ Indiana, MSG - Mike Crispino, Julianne Viani; WNDY - Chris Denari, Tully Bevacqua
8:30 - Washington @ Chicago, WMEU-CD - Eric Collins, Stephen Bardo, Patricia Babcock-McGraw
10:00 - Phoenix @ Seattle, KZJO - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward, Michelle Ludtka
Saturday 6/4:
8:00 - Dallas @ Minnesota, FS SW+/FS North - Marney Gellner, Lea B. Olsen
8:00 - Los Angeles @ San Antonio, TWCSN - Jim Watson, Dave Miller
Sunday 6/5:
3:00 - Minnesota @ Atlanta, FS SE - Bob Rathbun, LaChina Robinson, Angel Gray
7:00 - New York @ Seattle, MSG; KZJO - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward, Michelle Ludtka
Tuesday 6/7:
8:00 - Phoenix @ Minnesota, FS North+/NBA TV - Marney Gellner, Lea B. Olsen
10:00 - New York @ Los Angeles, ESPN2 - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Carolyn Peck, Holly Rowe
Viewers in Pirates territory saw this game on ESPN2 from the beginning. All others started on ESPNEWS with ESPN2 joining in progress after Mets vs. Pirates MLB.
Wednesday 6/8:
8:30 - Washington @ Dallas, KTXD - Ron Thulin, Raegan Pebley
Thursday 6/9:
10:00 - San Antonio @ Phoenix, FS SW/FS AZ - Kevin Ray, Ann Meyers-Drysdale
Friday 6/10:
7:00 - Chicago @ Indiana, WNDY - Chris Denari, Tully Bevacqua
7:30 - Minnesota @ Atlanta, FS North+/FS SE - Bob Rathbun, LaChina Robinson, Angel Gray
Saturday 6/11:
8:00 - New York @ San Antonio, MSG - Mike Crispino, Julianne Viani; FS SW - Andrew Monaco, Bob Weiss
8:30 - Los Angeles @ Dallas, KTXD - Ron Thulin, Raegan Pebley
Sunday 6/12:
3:00 - Connecticut @ Atlanta, WCCT/FS SE - Bob Rathbun, LaChina Robinson, Angel Gray
6:00 - Seattle @ Indiana, FS Indiana/NBA TV - Chris Denari, Debbie Antonelli
Tuesday 6/14:
7:00 - Washington @ Connecticut, ESPN3 - Bob Heussler, Debbie Fiske
7:00 - Dallas @ New York, MSG Plus/ESPN3 - Mike Crispino, Julianne Viani
8:00 - Indiana @ Minnesota, ESPN2 - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
8:00 - Seattle @ San Antonio, ESPN3 - Andrew Monaco
10:30 - Chicago @ Los Angeles, TWCSN - Jim Watson, Mary Murphy, Kelli Tennant
Thursday 6/16:
7:00 - New York @ Connecticut, MSG Plus - Mike Crispino, Julianne Viani
8:30 - Seattle @ Dallas, FS Southwest - Ron Thulin, Raegan Pebley
Friday 6/17:
7:30 - Chicago @ Atlanta, FS SE - Bob Rathbun, LaChina Robinson, Angel Gray
10:30 - Phoenix @ Los Angeles, TWCSN - Jim Watson, Mary Miller, Kelli Tennant
Saturday 6/18:
10:00 - Dallas @ Phoenix, FS SW/FS AZ/NBA TV - Kevin Ray, Ann Meyers-Drysdale
Sunday 6/19:
2:00 - New York @ Indiana, MSG - Mike Crispino, Julianne Viani; WNDY/NBA TV - Chris Denari, Tully Bevacqua
7:00 - Minnesota @ Seattle, KZJO - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward, Michelle Ludtka
Tuesday 6/21:
3:30 - Minnesota @ Los Angeles, TWCSN/NBA TV - Jim Watson, Mary Murphy, Kelli Tennant
8:00 - Phoenix @ Dallas, ESPN2 - Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson
8:00 - San Antonio @ Chicago, ESPN3 - Lisa Byington, Stephen Bardo
WMEU-CD delayed, time not available
Wednesday 6/22:
12:00 - New York @ Atlanta, MSG - Mike Crispino, Julianne Viani; FS South - Bob Rathbun, LaChina Robinson, Angel Gray
7:00 - Indiana @ Washington, WNDY - Chris Denari, Tully Bevacqua
Thursday 6/23:
8:30 - San Antonio @ Dallas, FS SW - Ron Thulin, Raegan Pebley
Friday 6/24:
8:00 - Los Angeles @ Minnesota, TWCSN - Jim Watson, Krista Blunk
10:00 - Connecticut @ Seattle, KZJO - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward, Michelle Ludtka
Saturday 6/25:
8:30 - Indiana @ Dallas, FS SW+/FS IN/NBA TV - Ron Thulin, Raegan Pebley
Sunday 6/26:
3:00 - Phoenix @ New York, MSG/NBA TV - Mike Crispino, Rosalyn Gold-Onwude
5:00 - Connecticut @ Los Angeles, WCCT/TWCSN/NBA TV - Jim Watson, Krista Blunk
Tuesday 6/28:
10:00 - Dallas @ Los Angeles, ESPN2 - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
10:00 - Atlanta @ Seattle, ESPN3 - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward
Wednesday 6/29:
8:00 - New York @ Minnesota, MSG - Mike Crispino, Rosalyn Gold-Onwude
10:00 - Connecticut @ Phoenix, FS AZ/NBA TV - Kevin Ray, Ann Meyers-Drysdale
Thursday 6/30:
3:30 - Atlanta @ Los Angeles, TWCSN/NBA TV - Jim Watson, Mary Murphy, Kelli Tennant
10:00 - Dallas @ Seattle, KCPQ-DT22 - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward, Michelle Ludtka
Friday 7/1:
7:00 - San Antonio @ Indiana, FS Indiana - Chris Denari, Debbie Antonelli
8:00 - Washington @ Chicago, WMEU-CD - Lisa Byington, Patricia Babcock-McGraw
Saturday 7/2:
8:00 - San Antonio @ Minnesota, FS SW/FS North - Marney Gellner, Lea B. Olsen
8:30 - Connecticut @ Dallas, WCCT/FS SW - Ron Thulin, Raegan Pebley
Sunday 7/3:
5:00 - New York @ Los Angeles, MSG - Mike Crispino, Rosalyn Gold-Onwude; TWCSN - Jim Watson, Mary Murphy, Kelli Tennant
6:00 - Phoenix @ Atlanta, FS SE - Bob Rathbun, LaChina Robinson, Angel Gray
Tuesday 7/5:
7:00 - Seattle @ Atlanta, ESPN3 - Bob Rathbun, LaChina Robinson, Angel Gray
8:00 - Chicago @ Minnesota, ESPN2 - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
8:30 - Phoenix @ Dallas, KTXD - Ron Thulin, Raegan Pebley
Wednesday 7/6:
7:00 - Seattle @ New York, MSG Plus - Mike Crispino, Julianne Viani
10:30 - Indiana @ Los Angeles, TWCSN - Jim Watson, Mary Murphy, Kelli Tennant
Thursday 7/7:
7:00 - Minnesota @ Connecticut, WCCT - Bob Heussler, Debbie Fiske
Friday 7/8:
7:30 - Dallas @ Atlanta, FS SW+/FS SE - Bob Rathbun, LaChina Robinson, Angel Gray
8:30 - New York @ Chicago, MSG; WMEU-CD/NBA TV - Lisa Byington, Stephen Bardo, Patricia Babcock-McGraw
Sunday 7/10:
3:00 - San Antonio @ New York, MSG - Mike Crispino, Julianne Viani
6:00 - Phoenix @ Chicago, WMEU-CD - Lisa Byington, Stephen Bardo, Patricia Babcock-McGraw
7:00 - Washington @ Los Angeles, TWCSN - Jim Watson, Mary Murphy, Kelli Tennant
7:00 - Indiana @ Seattle, KZJO - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward, Michelle Ludtka
Wednesday 7/13:
11:00AM - Atlanta @ New York, MSG - Mike Crispino, Julianne Viani
12:30 - Los Angeles @ Chicago, NBA TV - Lisa Byington, Stephen Bardo, Patrick Babcock-McGraw; TWCSN - Jim Watson, Mary Murphy (off-monitor)
3:30 - Washington @ Phoenix, FS Arizona - Kevin Ray, Ann Meyers-Drysdale
Friday 7/15:
7:00 - Atlanta @ Indiana, WNDY - Chris Denari, Tully Bevacqua
8:00 - New York @ Minnesota, MSG - Mike Crispino, Julianne Viani
8:30 - Dallas @ Chicago, WMEU-CD - Lisa Byington, Stephen Bardo, Patricia Babcock-McGraw
10:00 - Washington @ Seattle, KZJO - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward, Michelle Ludtka
Sunday 7/17:
3:00 - Los Angeles @ Atlanta, TWCSN - Jim Watson, Mary Murphy; FS SE/NBA TV - Bob Rathbun, LaChina Robinson, Angel Gray
3:00 - Connecticut @ New York, MSG - Mike Crispino, Julianne Viani
4:30 - Minnesota @ Dallas, KTXD - Ron Thulin, Raegan Pebley
7:00 - Chicago @ Seattle, KZJO/NBA TV - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward, Michelle Ludtka
Tuesday 7/19:
8:00 - Los Angeles @ Indiana, ESPN2 - Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson
Wednesday 7/20:
11:30AM - New York @ Washington, MSG
12:30 - Connecticut @ Dallas, FS SW/NBA TV
3:00 - San Antonio @ Seattle, KZJO/NBA TV - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward, Michelle Ludtka
Thursday 7/21:
11:00AM - Indiana @ New York, MSG/NBA TV
Friday 7/22:
7:00 - Los Angeles @ Washington, TWCSN - Jim Watson, Mary Murphy
8:00 - Seattle @ Minnesota, FS North+/NBA TV - Marney Gellner, Lea B. Olsen
8:30 - Connecticut @ Chicago, WMEU-CD - Lisa Byington, Stephen Bardo, Patricia Babcock-McGraw
Friday 8/26:
8:00 - New York @ San Antonio, MSG - Mike Crispino, Rosalyn Gold-Onwude; NBA TV - Andrew Monaco
8:30 - Atlanta @ Chicago, WMEU-CD - Lisa Byington, Stephen Bardo, Patricia Babcock-McGraw
10:00 - Los Angeles @ Seattle, TWCSN - Jim Watson, Mary Murphy; KZJO/NBA TV - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward, Michelle Ludtka
Saturday 8/27:
7:00 - Washington @ Indiana, FS Indiana/NBA TV - Chris Denari, Debbie Antonelli
Sunday 8/28:
3:00 - Connecticut @ Atlanta, WCCT/FS SE/NBA TV - Bob Rathbun, Angel Gray
4:30 - Chicago @ Dallas, KTXD - Ron Thulin, Raegan Pebley
7:00 - Seattle @ Minnesota, ESPN2 - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo
7:00 - San Antonio @ Washington, ESPN3 - Frank Hanrahan, Christy Winters-Scott
9:00 - Los Angeles @ Phoenix, ESPN2 - Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson, Holly Rowe
Tuesday 8/30:
7:00 - Phoenix @ Indiana, WISH-TV/NBA TV - Chris Denari, Tully Bevacqua
Wednesday 8/31:
10:00 - Dallas @ Seattle, KZJO/NBA TV - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward, Michelle Ludtka
Thursday 9/1:
7:00 - New York @ Indiana, MSG - Mike Crispino, Rosalyn Gold-Onwude; FS Indiana/NBA TV - Chris Denari, Debbie Antonelli
8:00 - Los Angeles @ San Antonio, TWCSN - Jim Watson, Mary Murphy
Friday 9/2:
8:30 - Los Angeles @ Dallas, TWCSN - Jim Watson, Mary Murphy; KTXD - Ron Thulin, Raegan Pebley
8:30 - Seattle @ Chicago, WMEU-CD/NBA TV - Lisa Byington, Stephen Bardo, Patricia Babcock-McGraw
Saturday 9/3:
6:00 - Phoenix @ New York, MSG - Mike Crispino, Rosalyn Gold-Onwude
Sunday 9/4:
4:30 - Washington @ Dallas, KTXD/NBA TV - Ron Thulin, Raegan Pebley
6:00 - Seattle @ Atlanta, FS SE - Bob Rathbun, LaChina Robinson, Angel Gray
6:00 - San Antonio @ Chicago, WMEU-CD - Lisa Byington, Stephen Bardo, Patricia Babcock-McGraw
7:00 - Indiana @ Los Angeles, TWCSN/NBA TV - Jim Watson, Mary Murphy, Kelli Tennant
7:00 - Connecticut @ Minnesota, WCCT/FS North - Marney Gellner, Lea B. Olsen
Tuesday 9/6:
10:00 - Minnesota @ Los Angeles, ESPN2 - Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson, Holly Rowe
Wednesday 9/7:
7:00 - Seattle @ New York, MSG - Mike Crispino, Rosalyn Gold-Onwude
Thursday 9/8:
10:30 - Atlanta @ Los Angeles, TWCSN - Jim Watson, Mary Murphy, Kelli Tennant
Friday 9/9:
7:00 - Chicago @ Indiana, FS Indiana - Chris Denari, Debbie Antonelli
7:30 - Connecticut @ New York, MSG - Mike Crispino, Rosalyn Gold-Onwude
Sunday 9/11:
4:30 - New York @ Dallas, MSG; KTXD/NBA TV - Ron Thulin, Raegan Pebley
6:00 - Atlanta @ Phoenix, FS SE/FS AZ+ - Al McCoy, Ann Meyers-Drysdale
7:00 - Los Angeles @ Seattle, TWCSN - Jim Watson, Mary Murphy; KZJO/NBA TV - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward, Michelle Ludtka
Tuesday 9/13:
7:00 - Indiana @ Connecticut, ESPN3 - Bob Heussler, Debbie Fiske
7:00 - Washington @ New York, ESPN3 - Mike Crispino, Rosalyn Gold-Onwude
7:00 - San Antonio @ Atlanta, ESPN3 - Bob Rathbun, LaChina Robinson, Angel Gray
8:00 - Minnesota @ Chicago, ESPN2 - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
10:30 - Phoenix @ Los Angeles, TWCSN/NBA TV - Jim Watson, Mary Murphy, Kelli Tennant
Thursday 9/15:
7:00 - Washington @ Atlanta, FS SE/NBA TV - Bob Rathbun, LaChina Robinson, Angel Gray
Friday 9/16:
7:00 - Minnesota @ Indiana, WNDY - Chris Denari, Tully Bevacqua
8:30 - New York @ Chicago, MSG - Mike Crispino, Rosalyn Gold-Onwude; WMEU-CD/NBA TV - Lisa Byington, Stephen Bardo, Patricia Babcock-McGraw
10:30 - San Antonio @ Los Angeles, TWCSN/NBA TV - Jim Watson, Mary Murphy, Kelli Tennant
Saturday 9/17:
8:00 - Atlanta @ Minnesota, FS SE/FS North+/NBA TV - Marney Gellner, Lea B. Olsen
Sunday 9/18:
4:00 - Dallas @ Indiana, ESPN2 - Chris Denari?
4:00 - Connecticut @ Washington, ESPN3 - Frank Hanrahan, Christy Winters Scott
4:30 - Phoenix @ San Antonio, ESPN3 - Andrew Monaco
7:00 - Chicago @ Seattle, KZJO/NBA TV - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward, Michelle Ludtka
1Listed as "JoeTV" in official schedule
2Listed as "ThisTV" in official schedule
Playoffs
First round (single elimination)
Wednesday 9/21:
6:00 - 8 Phoenix @ 5 Indiana, ESPNEWS - Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson
8:00 - 7 Seattle @ 6 Atlanta (Georgia Tech), ESPNEWS - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
Second round (single elimination)
Saturday 9/24:
7:00 - 8 Phoenix @ 3 New York, MSG/NBA TV - Mike Crispino, Rosalyn Gold-Onwude
Sunday 9/25:
1:00 - 6 Atlanta @ 4 Chicago, ESPN2 - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
Semifinals (best-of-5)
Wednesday 9/28:
8:00 - G1: 8 Phoenix @ 1 Minnesota (St. Paul, MN), ESPN2 - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo
10:00 - G1: 4 Chicago @ 2 Los Angeles (Long Beach, CA), ESPN2 - Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson, Holly Rowe
Friday 9/30:
8:00 - G2: 8 Phoenix @ 1 Minnesota (St. Paul), ESPNEWS - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo
10:00 - G2: 4 Chicago @ 2 Los Angeles, ESPNEWS - Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson
Sunday 10/2:
3:00 - G3: 2 Los Angeles @ 4 Chicago, ESPN - Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson
5:00 - G3: 1 Minnesota @ 8 Phoenix, ESPN - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
Tuesday 10/4:
8:00 - G4: 2 Los Angeles @ 4 Chicago, ESPN2 - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
WNBA Finals (best-of-5)
Sunday 10/9:
3:00 - G1: 2 Los Angeles @ 1 Minnesota, ABC - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, LaChina Robinson
Tuesday 10/11:
8:00 - G2: 2 Los Angeles @ 1 Minnesota, ESPN2 - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
Friday 10/14:
9:00 - G3: 1 Minnesota @ 2 Los Angeles (USC), ESPN2 - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, LaChina Robinson
Sunday 10/16:
8:30 - G4: 1 Minnesota @ 2 Los Angeles, ESPN - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
Thursday 10/20:
8:00 - G5: 2 Los Angeles @ 1 Minnesota, ESPN2 - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe