WNBA Season on ESPN Begins with Memorial Day Doubleheader

ESPN2 will showcase the new WNBA season-opening Memorial Day doubleheader on Monday, May 27, featuring the top four teams from the 2013 WNBA Draft when the Washington Mystics meet the Tulsa Shock at 3 p.m., followed by Chicago Sky at the Phoenix Mercury at 5 p.m.  As part of the presentation, ESPN will begin a season-long look at the transition from college to the WNBA with the and in-depth “3 to See” — Elena Delle Donne (Delaware to Chicago Sky), Skylar Diggins (Notre Dame to Tulsa Shock) and Brittney Griner (Baylor to Phoenix Mercury). Live microphones on select players will be used during both telecasts.

ESPN Classic will run a Memorial Day weekend marathon from games of the “3 to See’s” college careers. (See schedule below.)

Veteran play-by-play commentator Pam Ward returns with analyst Carolyn Peck and reporter LaChina Robinson to call the Mystics at Shock, while Ryan Ruocco joins ESPN’s WNBA coverage as a play-by-play voice this season, and will be paired with analysts Rebecca Lobo and reporter Holly Rowe for the Sky at Mercury telecast.

Sue Bird – seven-time WNBA All-Star and two-time WNBA Champion with the Seattle Storm – will join ESPN anchor Max Bretos in ESPN’s studio on Monday. Bird is sidelined for the 2013 season while recovering from left knee surgery.

Date	Time (ET)	Game	Networks
Mon, May 27	3 p.m.	Washington Mystics at Tulsa Shock Pam Ward, Carolyn Peck & LaChina Robinson	ESPN2
	5 p.m.	Chicago Sky at Phoenix Mercury Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo & Holly Rowe	ESPN2

ESPN Classic Memorial Day “3 to See” Marathon

Date	Time (ET)	Game
Sun, May 26	4 p.m.	2012 NCAA Women’s National Semifinal: Connecticut vs. Notre Dame Diggins 19 points leads ND to an 83-75 win
	6 p.m.	Connecticut at Notre Dame (2013) Diggins scores 29 points in ND’s 96-87 triple-overtime win
	8 p.m.	2013 NCAA Championship Second Round: Delaware vs. North Carolina Delle Donne nets 33 points in loss in final home game
	10 p.m.	2012 NCAA Women’s National Championship: Notre Dame vs. BaylorGriner has 26 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks in win
	Midnight	2012 NCAA Championship Second Round: Kansas vs. DelawareDelle Donne scores 34 points in loss
Mon, May 27	1:30 a.m.	Notre Dame at Tennessee (2013) Diggins has 33 points, five assists and four steals in victory
	3:30 p.m.	2012 CAA Championship: Drexel vs. Delaware Delle Donne dominates with 27 points and 10 boards in win
	7 a.m.	Connecticut at Baylor (2011) Griner leads with 25 points, nine rebounds and nine blocks in victory
	9 a.m.	Delaware at St. John’s (2013) Delle Donne tallies 29 points, 16 boards, two assists and two blocks in overtime win
	11 a.m.	2011 NCAA Women’s National Semifinal: Connecticut vs. Notre Dame Diggins nets 28 points in win over UConn and National Player of the Year Maya Moore
	1 p.m.	Baylor at Connecticut (2013) Griner scores 25 points in win, including 3,000th of her career

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