2021 WNBA schedule released as year set to tip off on Might 14

The WNBA will tip off its 25th period on May possibly 14 with teams returning to their residence arenas following a time in the bubble in Bradenton, Florida, the league declared on Tuesday.

All 12 groups will be in motion on the opening weekend, with two games featuring matchups between previous MVPs.

Each and every staff will enjoy 32 video games during the regular season, which is scheduled to end on September 19.

The league will go on hiatus from July 15 by way of August 11 to make it possible for players to get element in the Tokyo Olympics.

“As we idea-off this historic time with teams returning to participate in in their household marketplaces, we rejoice the impression the WNBA has manufactured on generations of young and diverse athletes and on sports and society given that 1997,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert explained.

“Jointly with our admirers and associates, we glimpse ahead to how the superb athletes of the WNBA will carry on to provide the ideal women’s basketball in the planet even though also driving change, striving for justice and equality, and impacting upcoming generations.”

Major off the time in the initially sport on May possibly 14 will be the New York Liberty and the No 1 total draft decide in 2020, Sabrina Ionescu, as they host the Indiana Fever at Barclays Heart in Brooklyn.

Other game titles that evening function the Connecticut Solar at Atlanta Dream, Phoenix Mercury at Minnesota Lynx, and the Dallas Wings at the Los Angeles Sparks.

Motion on May perhaps 15 contains a meeting concerning the Chicago Sky and Washington Mystics, showcasing previous MVPs Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne. It will be the debut with Chicago for Parker, formerly of the Sparks.

Soon after that game, former MVP Breanna Stewart and the Seattle Storm will host reigning MVP A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces. The Storm will acquire their WNBA championship rings in advance of the game.

The opening weekend will conclude on Sunday when the Mercury pay a visit to the Solar and the Liberty journey to facial area the Fever.