PHOENIX -- The two-time WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury, presented by Casino Arizona and Talking Stick Resort, today announced the teamâs 34-game regular season schedule for 2014, the 18th season for the Mercury, one of the leagueâs original eight franchises. Single-game tickets will go on sale at noon Friday. Season tickets, ticket packs and All-Star ticket packs are now available.
Coming off its fourth Western Conference Finals trip in the last five seasons, Phoenix will tip-off the quest for its third WNBA championship on Saturday, May 17, hosting the rival Seattle Storm at US Airways Center. The Mercuryâs 34-game slate runs through August 17 and gives Phoenix fans 17 regular season opportunities to see a loaded roster that includes six-time All-Star Diana Taurasi and 2013 No. 1 overall pick and rookie All-Star starter Brittney Griner.
For a second consecutive season, the Mercury will appear on national television six times, the most of any team in the league (Minnesota, Los Angeles, Chicago will also appear six times). Tilts against West rivals Seattle (June 3 at Phoenix, July 22 at Seattle), the Los Angeles Sparks (July 6 at Los Angeles, July 29 at Phoenix) and Minnesota Lynx (June 15 at Minnesota) will all be nationally televised, as well as a visit from the Washington Mystics (July 15 at Phoenix). The leagueâs NBA TV slate and the Mercuryâs local Fox Sports Arizona schedule will both be announced at a later date.
The Mercuryâs 34-game schedule will be played over 93 days and this season will feature four back-to-back sets, the clubâs most in a single season since the 2006 campaign. Phoenix opens with a back-to-back set, hosting Seattle and then traveling to Los Angeles to take on the Sparks on May 18 at Staples Center. The Mercury will close the season playing four games in six days, a rigorous stretch that includes two back-to-back sets and four games in four different cities: Aug. 12 at New York, Aug. 13 at Atlanta, Aug. 16 vs. Los Angeles, and Aug. 17 at Seattle.
Four of Phoenixâs first five games will be played at US Airways Center, and six of the clubâs final 11 regular season games will be played at home. Nine of the Mercuryâs 17 home games overall will be played on the weekend, including three Friday night contests, five Saturday night tilts and one Sunday afternoon game.
Phoenix will be tested early with a season-long five-game road trip from June 6-15 that will see the club visit the Tulsa Shock (June 6), San Antonio Silver Stars (June 7), Washington (June 10), Connecticut Sun (June 12) and Minnesota (June 15). It will be the Mercuryâs longest road trip since 2009.
And, donât forget, the WNBAâs annual midseason showcase game returns to the desert this summer as the Mercury and US Airways Center host Boost Mobile WNBA All-Star 2014 on July 19 at 12:30 p.m.
Find the Mercury's full schedule here.
