Friday opener is 1st of 9 Mercury games on FOX Sports Arizona channels
Fresh off their third WNBA Championship, the Phoenix Mercury are back in action for 2015, starting Friday on FOX Sports Arizona Plus (click for channel listings). The Mercury will storm the court for their season opener against the San Antonio Stars, and coverage begins with their WNBA championship ring and banner ceremony at 6:30 pm. Tip-off follows at 7 p.m.
This will be the first of nine Mercury games televised on FOX Sports Arizona or FOX Sports Arizona Plus during the 2015 season. Kevin Ray returns for his 16th season of play-by-play alongside Hall-of-Famer Ann Meyers Drysdale.
The following six games will be broadcast on FOX Sports Arizona this season:
June 12: at Indiana, 4 p.m.
June 25: at San Antonio, 5 p.m.
July 14: vs. Atlanta, 7 p.m.
Aug. 12: vs. Seattle, 7 p.m.
Aug. 23: vs Minnesota, 3 p.m.
Sept. 2: vs. Washington, 12:30 p.m.
The following three games will be broadcast on FOX Sports Arizona Plus:
June 5: vs. San Antonio, 6:30 p.m.
June 27: at Minnesota, 5 p.m.
Aug. 2: at Atlanta, noon
The Mercury return just five players from their championship roster, supplemented by seven newcomers.
Returning from last season are center Brittney Griner, guard/forward DeWanna Bonner, forward Candice Dupree, forward Mistie Bass and guard Tiffany Bias.
Four WNBA veterans join the Mercury via free agency for the 2015 season. Guard Shameka Christon is a 10-year veteran, forward Monique Currie is a nine-year veteran, guard Leilani Mitchell is a six-year veteran and guard Noelle Quinn is an eight-year veteran.
The opening night roster includes three WNBA rookies: forward/center Cayla Francis (Australia), guard Alex Harden (Wichita State) and guard Tess Madgen (Australia). Francis and Madgen were each signed as free agents, while Harden was selected with the 18th overall pick in the 2015 WNBA Draft.
