Expanded 36-game season begins May 15 at the University of Washington’s Alaska Airlines Arena
SEATTLE – Announced today, the Seattle Storm will tip off a new era in 2020 with the expansion of the WNBA regular-season schedule to a 36-game slate (18 home and 18 away). From May 15 to Sept. 20, Seattle will face Western Conference powerhouses Phoenix, Los Angeles and Las Vegas four times, while playing all other opponents three times.
“The transformative collective bargaining agreement and expansion to a 36-game season signals the positive trajectory of our league,” said Storm CEO and General Manager Alisha Valavanis. “We are eager to carry this momentum into this season of Storm basketball.”
For the second straight year, Seattle will host its long-time rival Phoenix Mercury on two occasions: first on May 19 and again on Sept. 13, with the latter meeting nationally broadcast on ABC. The ESPN family of networks will carry three more Storm games: June 2 at Washington (ESPN2), June 23 at Dallas (ESPN2) and Aug. 25 vs. Minnesota (ESPN2). The Storm’s remaining slate of broadcast affiliate details and streaming options will be announced at a later date.
Seattle’s most decorated professional franchise will begin its quest to reclaim the WNBA title on May 15 when the Storm welcomes the Dallas Wings to Alaska Airlines Arena for Opening Night presented by Swedish. The Storm will embark on its 21st season bolstered by the return of 2018 WNBA MVP and Finals MVP Breanna Stewart and the WNBA all-time assists leader Sue Bird after both were sidelined in 2019 to due injury. The Storm’s core also features reigning Defensive Player of the Year Natasha Howard; respective All-Defensive First and Second Team honorees Jordin Canada and Alysha Clark; and 2019 All-Star starting guard Jewell Loyd.
Due to construction of the New Arena at Seattle Center, the Storm will host 10 games at the University of Washington’s Alaska Airlines Arena prior to the league-wide break for the 2020 Olympic Games, and will resume play at Angel of the Winds Arena on Aug. 16 against the Las Vegas Aces. Battling for postseason positioning, the Storm will conclude the season with a critical five-game home stand in Everett, Wash., featuring three of last season’s semifinalists.
What to Watch For
- The Storm takes on the WNBA all-time scoring leader Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury twice in a three-day span, visiting Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum on May 17 before clashing in the Pacific Northwest on May 19.
- Winners of the 2018 WNBA title, Seattle will host last season’s WNBA Finalists – including two-time WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne – in consecutive home games on May 27 (Connecticut) and May 29 (Washington).
- The Storm celebrates summer break with Kids Day presented by Alaska Airlines on July 1 with an early tip-off vs. the Chicago Sky at Alaska Airlines Arena.
- Former University of Washington guards Sami Whitcomb and NCAA all-time scoring leader Kelsey Plum go head to head on their alma mater’s court when the Las Vegas Aces visit Alaska Airlines Arena on May 31.
- The New York Liberty, who hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft, visit Seattle on June 27 for Pride Night.
- The final home game prior to the month-long Olympic break, Seattle squares off against the Indiana Fever on July 5. Stewart and Team USA assistant coach Dan Hughes will join co-captain Bird and those called to represent the national team in Tokyo. Bird is bidding to become the first women’s basketball player to win five Olympic gold medals.
- After eliminating Minnesota in the first round of the 2019 postseason, the Storm welcomes Rookie of the Year Napheesa Collier and the four-time champion Lynx to the Pacific Northwest on July 3 (Alaska Airlines Arena) and Aug. 25 (Angel of the Winds Arena).
- Seattle will close out its 2020 regular-season campaign with Fan Appreciation Night slated for Sept. 20 against Candace Parker and the Sparks.
Introduced this season, The Commissioner’s Cup will designate the first home game and first road game against each team’s five conference rivals as Cup games. The teams with the best Cup records from each conference will meet in The Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game, which does not count towards each team’s regular-season record. The Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game is tentatively scheduled to be played on Friday, Aug. 14 at a site to be announced, two days before regular-season play resumes on Aug. 16 following the Olympic break.
Primed to return to the hardwood stronger than ever, the Storm invites you to be a part of the 2020 season with a Storm 360 Membership, mini-plan or group experience. Secure the best seats and deepest ticket saving while enjoying exclusive member benefits – including playoff priority – and be a part of the best home court advantage in the WNBA by calling (206) 217-WNBA (9622) or visiting www.StormBasketball.com.
To view the full home schedule, please click here. Additional theme nights will be announced at a later date.