2021 WNBA Season
As originally written by Desmond Hobson (aka BW Barefoot)
The WNBA released the schedule for its 25th season of play on Apr. 14.
Teams resumed playing home and road schedules; however, the number of games for each team dropped from the pre-pandemic number of 36 to 32 and some games were played in series formats to reduce travel. In addition, there were no contests between July 14 and August 11 due to the "2020" Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Four teams changed home venues at some point before or during the season:
*Atlanta Dream - entire season at Gateway Center Arena, moved from State Farm Arena
*New York Liberty - entire season at Barclays Center, from Westchester Civic Center
*Los Angeles Sparks - returned to Staples Center after Olympic break, had been at Los Angeles Convention Center
*Indiana Fever - moved to Indiana Farmers Coliseum after first three home games at Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Two other venues had name changes:
*Las Vegas Aces - to Michelob Ultra Arena from Mandalay Bay Events Center
*Phoenix Mercury - to Phoenix Suns Arena, then to Footprint Center, from Talking Stick Resorts Arena
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In May, the WNBA struck a deal with Prime Video for exclusive broadcasts of 10 games in the new Commissioners' Cup and 17 in total. All other deals from 2020 (ABC/ESPN, ViacomCBS, Facebook, Twitter) were the same. The Commissioners' Cup was a 60-game mini-season with total prize money of $500,000 on the line. Cup games are listed with an asterisk.
Regular season
Friday 5/14
*Indiana @ New York, 7:00, NBA TV - Chris Shearn, Julianne Viani
*Connecticut @ Atlanta, 7:30, Twitter - Frank Hanrahan, Christy Winters-Scott
*Phoenix @ Minnesota, 9:00, CBS SN - Sloane Martin
*Dallas @ Los Angeles, 10:30, Facebook - Rahshaun Haylock, Ros Gold-Onwude
Saturday 5/15
*Chicago @ Washington, 1:00, ABC - Tiffany Greene, LaChina Robinson, Kim Adams
*Las Vegas @ Seattle, 3:00, ABC - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
Sunday 5/16
*New York @ Indiana, 2:00, CBS SN - Pat Boylan, Tully Bevilaqua
Phoenix @ Connecticut, 7:00, CBS SN - Brendan Glasheen, Kim Adams, Robyn Brown
Tuesday 5/18
Minnesota @ New York, 7:00, ESPN3 - Chris Shearn, Julianne Viani
Phoenix @ Washington, 8:00, ESPN2 - Tiffany Greene, LaChina Robinson, Kim Adams
Las Vegas @ Seattle, 10:00, ESPN2 - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
Wednesday 5/19
*Chicago @ Atlanta, 7:00, Facebook - Angel Gray, LaChina Robinson
*Indiana @ Connecticut, 7:00, CBS SN - Brendan Glasheen, Kim Adams, Robyn Brown
Thursday 5/20
*Seattle @ Minnesota, 8:00, NBA TV - Sloane Martin
Friday 5/21
*Atlanta @ Indiana, 7:00, Twitter - Kevin Danna, Angel Gray
Connecticut @ Phoenix, 10:00, Facebook - Tom Leander, Ann Meyers-Drysdale
*Los Angeles @ Las Vegas, 10:30, CBS SN - Anne Marie Anderson, Carolyn Peck
Saturday 5/22
*Seattle @ Dallas, 8:00, Facebook - Ron Thulin, Raegan Pebley
Sunday 5/23
*New York @ Chicago, 1:00, ESPN - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo
*Washington @ Indiana, 1:00, ESPN3 - Pat Boylan, Bria Goss
Connecticut @ Las Vegas, 6:00, Facebook - Anne Marie Anderson, Carolyn Peck
Monday 5/24
Dallas @ New York, 7:00, Twitter - Angel Gray, Christy Winters-Scott
Tuesday 5/25
*Atlanta @ Chicago, 8:00, CBS SN - Lisa Byington, Meghan McKeown
Connecticut @ Seattle, 10:00, CBS SN - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward
Wednesday 5/26
*Las Vegas @ Phoenix, 10:00, CBS SN - Tom Leander, Ann Meyers-Drysdale
Friday 5/28
*Washington @ Connecticut, 7:00, Facebook - Brendan Glasheen, Kim Adams, Robyn Brown
Los Angeles @ Chicago, 8:00, CBS SN - Lisa Byington, Meghan McKeown
*Minnesota @ Seattle, 10:00, CBS SN - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward
Indiana @ Las Vegas, 10:30, Twitter - Angel Gray, Christy Winters-Scott
Saturday 5/29
*Atlanta @ New York, 2:00, Prime - Chris Shearn, Julianne Viani
Sunday 5/30
Los Angeles @ Chicago, 3:00, Facebook - Lisa Byington, Meghan McKeown
Tuesday 6/1
Las Vegas @ Connecticut, 7:00, ESPN3 - Brendan Glasheen, Dani Klupenger, Robyn Brown
*Los Angeles @ Dallas, 8:00, ESPN3 - Ron Thulin, Raegan Pebley
Phoenix @ Chicago, 8:30, ESPN - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo
Indiana @ Seattle, 10:30, ESPN2 - Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson
Thursday 6/3
Chicago @ Phoenix, 10:00, CBS SN - Tom Leander, Ann Meyers-Drysdale
Friday 6/4
Atlanta @ Minnesota, 8:00, Facebook - Sloane Martin, Lea B. Olsen
*Dallas @ Seattle, 10:00, Prime - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward
Saturday 6/5
Las Vegas @ Washington, 1:00, ABC - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo
Chicago @ Los Angeles, 3:00, ABC - Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson, Kim Adams
Tuesday 6/8
Minnesota @ Washington, 7:00, Twitter - Tiffany Greene, Angel Gray
*Dallas @ Phoenix, 10:00, CBS SN - Jeff Munn, Ann Meyers-Drysdale
Wednesday 6/9
*Indiana @ Chicago, 8:00, CBS SN - Matt Schumacker, Meghan McKeown
Thursday 6/10
Los Angeles @ Washington, 7:00, CBS SN - Meghan McPeak, Christy Winters-Scott
Friday 6/11
Seattle @ Atlanta, 7:00, CBS SN - Angel Gray, LaChina Robinson
Saturday 6/12
*Chicago @ Indiana, 1:00, Prime - Pat Boylan, Bria Goss
Sunday 6/13
Seattle @ Connecticut, 2:00, Facebook - Brendan Glasheen, Kim Adams, Robyn Brown
*Washington @ Atlanta, 3:30, NBA TV - Angel Gray, LaChina Robinson
Tuesday 6/15
Chicago @ Minnesota, 9:00, ESPN2 - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo
New York @ Las Vegas, 10:00, ESPN3 - Anne Marie Anderson, Carolyn Peck
Wednesday 6/16
*Phoenix @ Los Angeles, 10:30, Prime - Rahshaun Haylock, Ros Gold-Onwude
Thursday 6/17
Seattle @ Indiana, 7:00, Facebook - Pat Boylan, Tully Bevilaqua
*Minnesota @ Dallas, 8:00, CBS SN - Ron Thulin, Raegan Pebley
*Connecticut @ Chicago, 8:00, Twitter - Tiffany Greene, Angel Gray
New York @ Las Vegas, 10:00, CBS SN - Anne Marie Anderson, Carolyn Peck
Friday 6/18
Phoenix @ Los Angeles, 10:30, CBS SN - Rahshaun Haylock, Ros Gold-Onwude
Saturday 6/19
Connecticut @ Chicago, 2:00, CBS - Lisa Byington, Lisa Leslie
Sunday 6/20
New York @ Los Angeles, 4:00, ESPN - Pam Ward, Rebecca Lobo
Tuesday 6/22
*Chicago @ New York, 7:00, Prime - Chris Shearn, Julianne Viani
Thursday 6/24
Dallas @ Indiana, 7:00, CBS SN - Pat Boylan, Bria Goss
Chicago @ New York, 7:00, Twitter - Christy Winters-Scott, Carla McGhee
Friday 6/25
*Las Vegas @ Minnesota, 8:00, Facebook - Sloane Martin, Lea B. Olsen
Saturday 6/26
Washington @ Dallas, 1:00, CBS - Lisa Byington, Lisa Leslie
Sunday 6/27
*Seattle @ Las Vegas, 4:00, ESPN - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
*Los Angeles @ Phoenix, 6:00, Facebook - Tom Leander, Ann Meyers-Drysdale
Tuesday 6/29
*Connecticut @ Washington, 7:00, ESPN2 - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
New York @ Atlanta, 7:00, ESPN3 - Angel Gray, Tabitha Turner
Wednesday 6/30
Chicago @ Dallas, 8:00, CBS SN - Ron Thulin, Raegan Pebley
*Minnesota @ Phoenix, 10:00, CBS SN - Tom Leander, Ann Meyers-Drysdale
*Las Vegas @ Los Angeles, 10:30, Prime - Rahshaun Haylock, Ros Gold-Onwude
Thursday 7/1
*Connecticut @ Indiana, 7:00, Prime - Pat Boylan, Bria Goss
Friday 7/2
Chicago @ Dallas, 8:00, CBS SN - Ron Thulin, Raegan Pebley
Las Vegas @ Los Angeles, 10:00, CBS SN - Rahshaun Haylock, Ros Gold-Onwude
Atlanta @ Seattle, 10:00, Twitter - Christy Winters-Scott, Debbie Antonelli
Saturday 7/3
*Washington @ New York, 1:00, CBS SN - Paul Dottino, Ashley Battle
Connecticut @ Indiana, 1:00, NBA TV - Pat Boylan, Bria Goss
Minnesota @ Phoenix, 10:00, Facebook - Jeff Munn, Ann Meyers-Drysdale
Sunday 7/4
Atlanta @ Las Vegas, 6:00, NBA TV - Anne Marie Anderson, Carolyn Peck
*Seattle @ Los Angeles, 9:00, NBA TV - Rahshaun Haylock, Ros Gold-Onwude
Monday 7/5
Dallas @ New York, 7:00, Facebook - Michael Grady, Ashley Battle
Wednesday 7/7
*Dallas @ Minnesota, 8:00, ESPN2 - Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson
*Phoenix @ Las Vegas, 10:00, Prime - Anne Marie Anderson, Carolyn Peck
*Los Angeles @ Seattle, 10:00, CBS SN - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward
Friday 7/9
*Atlanta @ Connecticut, 7:00, CBS SN - Brendan Glasheen, Kim Adams, Robyn Brown
*New York @ Indiana, 7:00, NBA TV - Pat Boylan, Bria Goss
*Seattle @ Phoenix, 9:00, ESPN - Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson, Holly Rowe
*Minnesota @ Las Vegas, 10:30, ESPN3 - Anne Marie Anderson, Carolyn Peck
Saturday 7/10
*Washington @ Chicago, 8:00, Prime - Lisa Byington, Meghan McKeown
Sunday 7/11
*Las Vegas @ Dallas, 1:00, ABC - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
*Indiana @ Atlanta, 5:00, Facebook - Angel Gray, unknown
*Phoenix @ Seattle, 6:00, CBS SN - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward
Wednesday 7/14
All-Star Game: WNBA vs. U.S. national team (Las Vegas), 7:00, ESPN - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
Coverage also included a three-point shooting contest at halftime with Ruocco, LaChina Robinson, Angel McCoughtry
Thursday 8/12
*Connecticut vs. Seattle (Phoenix), 8:00, Prime - Lisa Byington, Lisa Leslie
Cup championship game
Sunday 8/15
Seattle @ Chicago, 4:00, ABC - Pam Ward, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
Connecticut @ Dallas, 4:00, ESPN3 - Ron Thulin, Raegan Pebley
Atlanta @ Phoenix, 6:00, CBS SN - Jon Bloom, Ann Meyers Drysdale
New York @ Minnesota, 7:00, Facebook - Sloane Martin, Lea B. Olsen
Tuesday 8/17
Minnesota @ Connecticut, 7:00, Prime - Brendan Glasheen, Rebecca Lobo, Robyn Brown
Dallas @ Chicago, 8:00, CBS SN - Matt Schumacker, Meghan McKeown
Washington @ Las Vegas, 10:00, CBS SN - Anne Marie Anderson, Carolyn Peck
Indiana @ Phoenix, 10:00, Facebook - Jon Bloom, Ann Meyers Drysdale
Atlanta @ Los Angeles, 10:30, NBA TV - Rahshaun Haylock, Ros Gold-Onwude
Wednesday 8/18
Seattle @ New York, 8:00, CBS SN - Paul Dottino, Ashley Battle
Thursday 8/19
Minnesota @ Connecticut, 7:00, NBA TV - Brendan Glasheen, Rebecca Lobo, Robyn Brown
Washington @ Phoenix, 10:00, Twitter - Monica McNutt, Christy Winters-Scott
Atlanta @ Los Angeles, 10:30, NBA TV - Rahshaun Haylock, Ros Gold-Onwude
Friday 8/20
Seattle @ New York, 7:00, Prime - Chris Shearn, Julianne Viani
Indiana @ Dallas, 8:00, CBS SN - Ron Thulin, Raegan Pebley
Saturday 8/21
Phoenix @ Atlanta, 12:00, ESPN2 - Ryan Ruocco, LaChina Robinson, Holly Rowe
Minnesota @ Chicago, 8:00, NBA TV - Lisa Byington, Meghan McKeown
Sunday 8/22
Los Angeles @ New York, 2:00, ESPN3 - Chris Shearn, Ashley Battle
Seattle @ Washington, 3:00, ESPN - Tiffany Greene, LaChina Robinson
Tuesday 8/24
Seattle @ Minnesota, 7:00, ESPN2 - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
Chicago @ Atlanta, 7:00, ESPN3 - Angel Gray, Tabitha Turner-Wilkins
Las Vegas @ Connecticut, 7:00, ESPN3 - Brendan Glasheen, Monica McNutt, Robyn Brown
Los Angeles @ Washington, 7:00, ESPN3 -Meghan McPeak, Christy Winters-Scott
Wednesday 8/25
Phoenix @ New York, 7:00, NBA TV - Michael Grady, Ashley Battle
Thursday 8/26
Las Vegas @ Atlanta, 7:00, NBA TV - Angel Gray, LaChina Robinson
Dallas @ Washington, 7:00, Prime - Meghan McPeak, Christy Winters-Scott
Friday 8/27
Phoenix @ New York, 8:00, CBS SN - Zora Stephenson, Ashley Battle
Chicago @ Seattle, 10:00, NBA TV - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward
Saturday 8/28
Las Vegas @ Indiana, 1:00, NBA TV - Pat Boylan, Bria Goss
Los Angeles @ Connecticut, 7:00, NBA TV - Brendan Glasheen, Kim Adams, Robyn Brown
Dallas @ Washington, 7:00, Facebook - Meghan McPeak, Christy Winters-Scott
Sunday 8/29
Chicago @ Seattle, 6:00, Facebook - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward
Tuesday 8/31
Los Angeles @ Indiana, 7:00, Twitter
Connecticut @ Washington, 7:00, NBA TV
New York @ Minnesota, 8:00, Prime
Chicago @ Phoenix, 10:00, NBA TV
Thursday 9/2
Atlanta @ Dallas, 8:00, Facebook
Los Angeles @ Minnesota, 8:00, NBA TV
Chicago @ Las Vegas, 10:00, NBA TV
New York @ Seattle, 10:00, Prime - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward
Saturday 9/4
Phoenix @ Indiana, 1:00, NBA TV
Washington @ Minnesota, 8:00, NBA TV
Sunday 9/5
Las Vegas @ Chicago, 3:00, ABC - Pam Ward, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
Atlanta @ Dallas, 4:00, CBS SN
Monday 9/6
Phoenix @ Indiana, 7:00, NBA TV
Tuesday 9/7
Connecticut @ Dallas, 8:00, Prime
Washington @ Seattle, 10:00, CBS SN
Wednesday 9/8
Phoenix @ Atlanta, 7:00, NBA TV
Minnesota @ Las Vegas, 9:00, ESPN2
Thursday 9/9
Connecticut @ Los Angeles, 10:30, NBA TV
Friday 9/10
Atlanta @ Washington, 7:00, NBA TV
Indiana @ Minnesota, 8:00, Twitter
Sunday 9/12
Washington @ Chicago, 3:00, ABC - Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson, Holly Rowe
Indiana @ Minnesota, 7:00, NBA TV - Sloane Martin, Lea B. Olsen
Monday 9/13
Dallas @ Las Vegas, 3:00, NBA TV
Tuesday 9/14
Atlanta @ Indiana, 7:00, NBA TV
Wednesday 9/15
New York @ Connecticut, 7:00, CBS SN
Thursday 9/16
Los Angeles @ Atlanta, 7:00, Prime
Friday 9/17
Minnesota @ Indiana, 7:00, CBS SN
Washington @ New York, 7:00, Twitter
Las Vegas @ Chicago, 8:00, NBA TV
Phoenix @ Seattle, 10:00, NBA TV - Dick Fain, Elise Woodward
Sunday 9/19
Atlanta @ Connecticut, 1:00, NBA TV
Las Vegas @ Phoenix, 3:00, ABC - Pam Ward, Rebecca Lobo, Ros Gold-Onwude
Minnesota @ Washington, 3:00, ESPN3 - Meghan McPeak, Christy Winters Scott
Los Angeles @ Dallas, 5:00, NBA TV
Indiana @ Chicago, 6:00, CBS SN
Playoffs
Thursday 9/23
1st rd.: 7 Dallas @ 6 Chicago, 8:00, ESPN2 - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
1st rd.: 8 New York @ 5 Phoenix, 10:00, ESPN2 - Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson, Ros Gold-Onwude
Sunday 9/26
2nd rd.: 5 Phoenix @ 4 Seattle, 3:00, ABC - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
2nd rd.: 6 Chicago @ 3 Minnesota, 5:00, ESPN2 - Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson, Ros Gold-Onwude
Tuesday 9/28
Semi. G1: 6 Chicago @ 1 Connecticut, 8:00, ESPN2 - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
Semi. G1: 5 Phoenix @ 2 Las Vegas, 10:00, ESPNU/ESPN2 - Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson, Ros Gold-Onwude
Network switched at 10:46
Thursday 9/30
Semi. G2: Chicago @ Connecticut, 8:00, ESPN2 - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
Semi. G2: Phoenix @ Las Vegas, 10:00, ESPN2 - Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson, Ros Gold-Onwude
Sunday 10/3
Semi. G3: Connecticut @ Chicago, 1:00, ESPN - Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson, Ros Gold-Onwude
Semi. G3: Las Vegas @ Phoenix, 3:00, ABC - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
Wednesday 10/6
Semi. G4: Connecticut @ Chicago, 8:00, ESPN - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
Semi. G4: Las Vegas @ Phoenix, 10:00, ESPN - Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson, Ros Gold-Onwude
Friday 10/8
Semi. G5: Phoenix @ Las Vegas, 9:00, ESPN2 - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Ros Gold-Onwude
Sunday 10/10
Final G1: 6 Chicago @ 5 Phoenix, 3:00, ABC - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Ros Gold-Onwude
Wednesday 10/13
Final G2: Chicago @ Phoenix, 9:00, ESPN - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe, Ros Gold-Onwude
Friday 10/15
Final G3: Phoenix @ Chicago, 9:00, ESPN2 - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe, Ros Gold-Onwude
Sunday 10/17
Final G4: Phoenix @ Chicago, 3:00, ESPN - Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe, Ros Gold-Onwude