The 2012 WNBA schedule is out, which means it's time to circle some dates on the calendar for the games you can't wait to see.
Because we understand it would be difficult to watch all 204 games on the schedule, here are 10 must-see games (in chronological order) to get you started.
1. Opening Night
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The WNBA will tip off its 16th season on Friday, May 18, when two of the league’s biggest stars square off as Candace Parker and the Los Angeles Sparks visit Sue Bird and the Seattle Storm. The game also offers the first look at No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 Draft, held by the Sparks.
2. Title Defense Begins
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The defending WNBA champion Minnestoa Lynx, led by 2011 Rookie of the Year Maya Moore and Finals MVP Seimone Augustus, begins its title defense when scoring champion and WNBA all-time great Diana Taurasi leads the Phoenix Mercury into town on Sunday, May 20, in a nationally televised game on ABC.
3. Set the Scoreboard on Fire!
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The top two scoring teams in the league from last season meet for their first of two meetings in 2012. The Mercury led the league in scoring for the fifth consecutive season (88.97 points per game) last year, while the Dream were next, at 82.50 points a night. The top two individual scorers will also be on display as the Mercury’s Taurasi meets the Dream’s Angel McCoughtry, who lost the tightest scoring race in league history last year, falling behind Taurasi by less than one-tenth of a point (21.63 ppg vs. 21.56 ppg).
4. Geno-Bowl
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Husky Nation will be on full display on June 1 as the Lynx – featuring reigning Rookie of the Year Maya Moore and fellow UConn alum Charde Houston – visit the Connecticut Sun and their quintet of Huskies – Tina Charles, Asjha Jones, Renee Montgomery, Kalana Greene and Jessica Moore.
5. The MVP in Primetime
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Reigning MVP Tamika Catchings makes her 2012 national TV debut as her Indiana Fever host 2008 MVP Candace Parker and the Los Angeles Sparks. Be sure to catch Parker and Catchings - two of the most versatile players in the WNBA – as they show off their complete arsenal of skills on ESPN.
6. Battle of the Bigs
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On the final night before the Olympic break, two of the top centers in the WNBA – Connecticut’s Tina Charles and Chicago’s Sylvia Fowles – meet in the first of four matchups this season. If you want to see post moves, blocked shots and one of the year’s best rebounding battles, be sure to tune in. Also check out Swin Cash, whom Chicago acquired by trade during the offseason, in action for the Sky. Will Cash’s championship experience (two titles in Detroit, one in Seattle) help lift the ever-improving Sky to their first-ever playoff appearance?
7. West Coast All-Stars
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A pair of star-laden teams square off Tuesday, Aug. 21, when the Lynx, who return four All-Stars from last season (Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus, Lindsay Whalen, and Rebekkah Brunson), visit Lauren Jackson, Sue Bird and the Storm. This game also features a matchup of the top two defensive teams from 2011, as the Storm led the league allowing just 69.85 points per game, while the Lynx took second at 73.62 points.
8. The Duel - Can I get an encore?
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Remember that time when Seimone Augustus and Angel McCoughtry went off against each other in the WNBA Finals, with Angel scoring 38 points and Seimone netting 36 and the win? Yeah, that was awesome. With Augustus coming off her first healthy season in years and McCoughtry fresh off two straight sweeps in the Finals, expect the scoring machines to put on another show in their first meeting since the Lynx took down the Dream in three games for their first title.
9. Elite Guard Play
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Two of the best guards in WNBA history – San Antonio’s Becky Hammon and New York’s Cappie Pondexter, who were both selected as part of the WNBA’s top 15 players in league history – meet in Newark in a game likely to have playoff implications. Last season, the Silver Stars and Liberty were the four seeds in their respective conferences and should be in the middle of the playoff race when these teams tangle with just five days left in the regular season.
10. Playoff Preview?
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The Phoenix Mercury and Seattle Storm have met in the Playoffs for the past two seasons -- 2011 Conference Semis (PHX won), 2010 Conference Finals (SEA won). Will a third meeting be coming up? Judging by the talent on both teams, it’s a safe bet. Get a preview of a potential playoff matchup on ESPN, airing live on the final day of the regular season.
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