Reigning WNBA Champions tip off Opening Night presented by Swedish on Saturday, May 15 vs. Las Vegas at Angel of the Winds Arena
SEATTLE — The Seattle Storm announced the schedule for the 2021 regular season presented by Symetra on Tuesday, beginning its WNBA title defense with a Finals rematch against the Las Vegas Aces at Noon on Saturday, May 15, at Angel of the Winds Arena.
Opening Night presented by Swedish will feature a celebration of the franchise’s fourth WNBA title including the presentation of the Baron championship rings.
The Storm’s 32-game regular season schedule features 16 home games, which will all be played at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington as renovations to Climate Pledge Arena continue through the fall. Seattle played seven games in Everett during the 2019 season, posting a 6-1 record in those contests.
Broadcast information for the games will be available at a later date.
Among the marquee matchups on the slate for the Storm:
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Seattle opens the season with back-to-back games against 2020 WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson, UW grad Kelsey Plum, and the rest of the Las Vegas Aces on May 15 (12 p.m.) and 18 (8 p.m.) in the Aces lone regular season trip to Seattle. The games are a rematch of the 2020 WNBA Finals won by the Storm in a historic series sweep, culminating in a 33-point, Game 3 victory—the largest margin of victory ever in a WNBA Finals game.
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The Storm open the season with seven of its first nine games at home. After hosting the Aces and a quick trip to Minnesota and Dallas, Seattle opens a five-game homestand beginning with a showdown against DeWanna Bonner and the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday, May 25 at 7 p.m.
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That homestand features a contest between the only two current WNBA franchises with four championships, as the Storm host Minnesota on Friday, May 28 at 7 p.m. The lone meeting between the two in Seattle features two teams which have combined to win seven of the last 11 WNBA titles.
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Future Hall of Famer Candace Parker and the Chicago Sky play a pair of games in Seattle in August in the team’s only trip to the Northwest. The Sky, whose lineup also includes local product and Gonzaga grad Courtney Vandersloot (Kent, WA), take on the Storm on Friday, Aug. 27 (7 p.m.) and Sunday, Aug 29 (4 p.m.).
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The 2019 WNBA Champs led by two-time MVP Elena Delle Donne play a pair of Tuesday contests in Seattle, battling the Storm on Tuesday, June 22, and again on Tuesday, Sept. 7. Both games tip at 7 p.m.
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Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner and the Phoenix Mercury make two trips to Seattle. The first is the final game before the Olympic break as the Storm hosts Phoenix on Sunday, July 11 at 3 p.m. Seattle then wraps up the regular season against the Mercury, celebrating Fan Appreciation Night on Friday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m.
Seattle returns a key trio from its 2020 championship team: Sue Bird, who returns for her 20th season with the Storm; 2020 Finals MVP Breanna Stewart; and two-time All-Star guard Jewell Loyd. The Storm added three forwards this offseason via free agency and trades: Katie Lou Samuelson, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, and Candice Dupree. Dupree, who is entering her 16th season in the WNBA, ranks third among active players in career points (6,728) and ranks second behind Bird in games played (468). Head Coach Dan Hughes—the WNBA’s all-time leader in games coached—returns to the sideline after missing the 2020 season due to health concerns.
The Storm continue to work closely with the WNBA, Washington state and the Snohomish Health District to determine the guidelines for safely allowing fans at Angel of the Winds Arena this season. Further details regarding fan attendance will be available soon.
—— StormBasketball.com ——