The WNBA releases 2020 regular season schedule and introduces Commissioner’s Cup tournament
The WNBA announced an expanded regular season, an increase to 36 games, beginning in 2020. This marks the first increase in games since 2003. The schedule this summer will also see an increase in the number of games televised on ABC. The regular season kicks off on Friday, May 15, 2020, and ends Sunday, Sept. 20
Schedule Highlights
- The regular season includes two more games over previous seasons
- Each team will play 18 home games and 18 road games.
- The WNBA regular season tips off on Friday, May 15 with three games: the Minnesota Lynx at the Chicago Sky, the Atlanta Dream at the Indiana Fever and the Dallas Wings at the Storm.
- ESPN networks will present 17 regular-season telecasts, including five games on ABC – up from three last season.
- ESPN will televise two regular-season games and ESPN2 will air 10. ESPN networks will also present up to 19 playoff games.
- A complete list of telecasts to air on NBA TV and CBS Sports Network in the United States and on Sportsnet and TSN in Canada will be announced at a later date.
- The schedule of WNBA games to be streamed on Twitter as well as those available on WNBA League Pass will also be announced at a later date.
- All 12 teams will be in action on the last day of competition before the Olympic break (Friday, July 10), on the first day of regular-season games after the Olympic break (Sunday, Aug. 16), and again on the final day of the regular season (Sunday, Sept. 20).
Commissioner’s Cup Details
- The new Commissioner’s Cup will consist of designating a portion of regular-season games – 10 games per team – as counting towards Cup play.
- The team from each conference with the top record in designated “Cup games” will then compete for The Commissioner’s Cup title and a special prize pool.
- Cup games will be the first home game and first road game each team plays against its five conference rivals, all completed from May 15 – July 10 before the WNBA takes a month-long break while many WNBA players participate in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
- The Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game is tentatively scheduled to be played on Friday, Aug. 14, two days before regular-season play resumes on Sunday, Aug. 16 following the Olympic break.
ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 Telecasts
Sat. May 16: Los Angeles @ Washington 4:00 pm ET on ESPN
Tue. June 2: Seattle @ Washington 8:00 pm ET on ESPN2
Sat. June 6: Phoenix @ Las Vegas 3:00 pm ET on ABC
Sun. June 7: Los Angeles @ Minnesota 3:00 pm ET on ABC
Tue. June 16: Phoenix @ New York 8:00 pm ET on ESPN2
Tue. June 16: Las Vegas @ Los Angeles 10:00 pm ET on ESPN2
Tue. June 23: Seattle @ Dallas 8:00 pm ET on ESPN2
Tue. June 23: Phoenix @ Los Angeles 10:00 pm ET on ESPN2
Sat. June 27: Chicago @ Las Vegas 4:00 pm ET on ESPN2
Sun. June 28: Connecticut @ Washington 3:00 pm ET on ESPN2
Thur. July 2: Connecticut @ New York 8:00 pm ET on ESPN2
Sun. Aug. 16: Minnesota @ Connecticut 12:00 pm ET on ESPN
Tue. Aug. 25: Los Angeles @ Chicago 8:00 pm ET on ESPN2
Tue. Aug. 25: Minnesota @ Seattle 10:00 pm ET on ESPN2
Sun. Sept. 6: Washington @ Phoenix 3:00 pm ET on ABC
Sun. Sept. 13: Phoenix @ Seattle 3:00 pm ET on ABC
Sun. Sept. 20: Connecticut @ Washington 3:00 pm ET on ABC
2020 WNBA Opening Weekend
Fri. May 15: Atlanta @ Indiana 7:00 pm ET
Fri. May 15: Minnesota @ Chicago 8:00 pm ET
Fri. May 15: Dallas @ Seattle 10:00 pm/ET
Sat. May 16: New York @ Connecticut 7:00 pm ET
Sat. May 16: Los Angeles @ Washington 4:00 pm ET
Sat. May 16: Chicago @ Atlanta 8:00 pm ET
Sun. May 17: Los Angeles @ New York 6:00 pm ET
Sun. May 17: Indiana @ Minnesota 6:00 pm ET
Sun. May 17: Dallas @ Las Vegas 3:00 pm ET
Sun. May 17: Seattle @ Phoenix 3:00 pm ET
