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