The reigning WNBA Champions tip-off Opening Day presented by Swedish on Saturday, May 25 vs. Phoenix at Angel of the Winds Arena
SEATTLE – The Seattle Storm today announced the regular season schedule for the upcoming 2019 season. The team will begin its title defense facing the Phoenix Mercury at Angel of the Winds Arena on Saturday, May 25 at 12:30 p.m. on ABC. Opening Day presented by Swedish will feature a ring ceremony celebrating the franchise’s third WNBA title.
The 2019 campaign includes 34 regular season games from May 25 to September 8. Due to KeyArena renovations, the Storm will host five regular season games at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington; all other home games will be played at the University of Washington’s Alaska Airlines Arena. Beginning January, Storm 360 Members will have priority on the best seat locations at Angel of the Winds Arena. These seats will be comparable to those that they have already selected at Alaska Airlines Arena.
The Saturday, May 25 home opener is a rematch of the Storm’s thrilling 2018 semifinal series vs. Phoenix. Sporting a facemask to protect the broken nose that she suffered in Game 4, Sue Bird scored 14 points in the fourth quarter of the winner-take-all Game 5 to clinch the Storm’s third appearance in the WNBA Finals. Bird, the league’s all-time leader in assists (2,831) and games played (508), will begin her 17th WNBA season facing former UConn teammate Diana Taurasi, the WNBA’s all-time leader in points (8,549), field goals (2,721) and 3-point field goals (1,102).
The Storm’s 20th WNBA season is highlighted by many other exciting matchups:
- The Storm will host three-time WNBA All-Star Game MVP Maya Moore and the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday, June 4 at 7 p.m. at Angel of the Winds Arena. Last season, Breanna Stewart joined Minnesota’s Sylvia Fowles (2017) as two of only six players in WNBA history to win regular season MVP and Finals MVP honors in the same year.
- Seattle welcomes two-time WNBA MVP Candace Parker and 2016 WNBA MVP Nneka Ogwumike on Friday, June 21 with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. in Everett. This season the Storm will attempt to become the first team to successfully defend the WNBA Championship since the Sparks won their second straight title in 2002.
- The Storm will make its debut at the University of Washington’s Alaska Airlines Arena on Sunday, June 23 at 4 p.m. vs. Indiana. Including Seattle’s 2010 and 2018 titles, the first four Storm home games will feature five teams that have combined to win the last 10 WNBA Championships.
- Kids Day will commence Wednesday, July 3 at noon as the Storm hosts the New York Liberty at Alaska Airlines Arena.
- University of Washington graduates Sami Whitcomb and the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer Kelsey Plum will face off at Alaska Airlines Arena when the Las Vegas Aces visit Seattle on Friday, July 19 at 7 p.m. It will mark the Storm’s final home game before WNBA All-Star 2019 on Saturday, July 27 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
- The 2018 Finals rematch vs. Elena Delle Donne and the Washington Mystics is set for 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 2 at Angel of the Winds Arena.
- Fan Appreciation Night will take place on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 4 p.m. at Alaska Airlines Arena vs. the Atlanta Dream.
In addition to Sue Bird, Seattle will welcome back its core, including 2018 WNBA MVP and Finals MVP Breanna Stewart, the league’s second-leading scorer last season at 21.8 points per game; 2018 WNBA Most Improved Player Natasha Howard; and 2018 All-Star guard Jewell Loyd. The WNBA’s all-time leader in games coached, Dan Hughes enters his second season at the helm of the Storm.
ABC will televise two Storm games, beginning with the Saturday, May 25 home opener at 12:30 p.m. vs. Phoenix, followed by the Sunday, June 16 matchup at Mohegan Sun Arena, with a 3:30 p.m. local tip-off vs. Connecticut. ESPN2 will also carry three Storm games: Tuesday, July 23 at Las Vegas (7 p.m. local); Wednesday, Aug. 14 at Washington (8 p.m. local); and Tuesday, Sept. 3 at Phoenix (7 p.m. local). Seattle’s local broadcast and preseason schedules will be announced at a later date.
Raise the trophy with the Storm in 2019 with a Storm 360 Membership, available now by calling (206) 217-WNBA (9622). For priority on ticket packages and group experiences, please call 206-217-WNBA (9622) to place a $100 deposit.
—— StormBasketball.com ——