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The schedule was released on Thursday. We're eager to look ahead and project some of the more interesting games in the upcoming season, since the schedule wraps up before the World Cup in September in Australia.
Between now and the season opener on May 6, there are a lot of things that can happen. We might get a couple of announcements about retirement or at least one more year from certain players. The New York Liberty and the Phoenix Mercury have vacancies.
The landscape will change when teams can negotiate with eligible players on Jan. 15 and sign them on Feb. 1 as it did last season, when the Chicago Sky signed former Los Angeles Sparks player and eventual winner of the 2021 NBA Championship, Candace Parker.
There will be trades. The draft in April is expected to bring more players who can make an immediate impact.
The 26th season of the league will begin in a few weeks. There are 10 games to keep an eye on.
The Los Angeles Sparks are playing the Chicago Sky.
May 6, 8 p.m. The time is later.
After winning her second title last season, the 37 year old has shown no signs of slowing down. She will face her former teammates in the opening game of 2022. Los Angeles will be eager to prove that last season's rare playoff miss was not a sign of weakness.
The Seattle Storm are playing the Phoenix Mercury.
May 11, 10 pm. The time is later.
Will Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi return?
We have to wait and see if Bird and Taurasi will continue their Hall of Fame careers for at least one more year. The Mercury will have a new coach in place, as Sandy Brondello is out after eight seasons.
The Minnesota Lynx are playing the Los Angeles Sparks.
May 17, 10:30 p.m. The time is later.
The rivalry between these two teams is one of the best in the league. After an injury-plagued 2020 season, Sylvia Fowles returned strong in 2021, and won the WNBA's Defensive Player of the Year award for the fourth time.
The Phoenix Mercury are playing the Chicago Sky.
May 31, 8 p.m. The time is later.
We'll be watching the Mercury a lot early on, including the second game of the 2021. The Mercury were very disappointed after the Game 4 loss that cost them the title.
Sky at Connecticut Sun.
June 10, 7 pm. It's going to happen.
The Sun felt the same way after they lost to Chicago in the semifinals. The Sky just got their first title, and maybe that can serve as inspiration for Connecticut, which is still looking for its first title.
The New York Liberty are playing the Atlanta Dream.
June 24, 7:30 p.m. The time is later.
The Dream had a difficult season that included star Chennedy Carter being suspended for most of it. The teams will have new coaches in the year 2022. Wright is a former player of the Dream. We are waiting for news of the replacement for Walt Hopkins, who left the Liberty after two seasons. How will they look in the future?
The Minnesota Lynx are playing the Las Vegas Aces.
July 3 is a public holiday. The time is later.
A'ja Wilson and the Aces were defeated in the semifinals by Phoenix. Las Vegas will be eager to prove it is a contender again. Napheesa is pregnant with her first child in May, so we'll see if she returns to action in 2022.
New York Liberty is playing Washington Mystics.
July 21, 11:30 a.m. The time is later.
The Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. was the former home of the Mystics before they moved to the Entertainment & Sports Arena. Will Elena Delle Donne return to the roster after missing the entire 2020 season because of back issues? Will New York have Asia Durr, who missed both seasons because of long-haul COVID-19 effects?
Atlanta Dream has Indiana Fever.
August 3, 7 p.m. The time is later.
Hold on, you say. The teams that finished 11th and 12th last season are going to be a "Must-watch" match-up in August. Let's be optimistic, it's December. We're excited about the possibility of the first and second picks going to the Dream and the Fever.
The Dallas Wings are playing the Phoenix Mercury.
Aug. 12 at 10 p.m. The time is later.
The Wings made the playoffs in the year 2021, falling to the eventual champion Sky, and Arike Ogunbowale is one of the league's most exciting players to watch. Will the Wings have a fully heathy Satou Sabally all season? Are they ready to take that next step? Will Phoenix look for another chance at a strong run in the playoffs?
