2016 WNBA Semifinals Tip Off with Doubleheader on ESPN2, Today

Four teams remain as the 2016 WNBA Playoffs semifinals tip off Wednesday, Sept. 28, with a doubleheader on ESPN2 beginning at 8 p.m. as the eighth-seeded Phoenix Mercury visit the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the best-of-five series. Ryan Ruocco and analyst Rebecca Lobo will call the series, with Holly Row reporting during Game 3 of the series. At 10 p.m., the No. 2-seed Los Angeles Sparks will host the No. 4-seed Chicago Sky. Pam Ward and analyst LaChina Robinson will call the action in the series, with Rowe reporting during Game 1 of the series.

Every game day of the semifinals will feature a doubleheader, with Games 3 showcased on ESPN beginning at 3 p.m. with the Los Angeles-Chicago series, followed by the Minnesota-Phoenix series at 5 p.m. Also, the coaches of each team will be mic'd during the games. On Wednesday, Sept. 28, Washington Mystics head coach Mike Thibault will join ESPN's studio coverage, while the Dallas Wings' Skylar Diggins and the Connecticut Sun's Morgan Tuck will feature in the studio on Sunday, Oct. 2. In addition, every game of this year's postseason will feature an open showcasing a new single by recording artist Mary J. Blige, Strength of a Woman. During the WNBA Finals, clips from Blige's upcoming promotional music video for the song will be incorporated into teases during the telecasts.

The 2017 WNBA DRAFT Lottery presented by State Farm will air at halftime during the Phoenix-Minnesota coverage on Wednesday. THE DRAFT Lottery will be hosted by Doug Kezirian. The four teams that did not qualify for the playoffs this season - Connecticut Sun (Los Angeles owns Connecticut's pick due to a prior trade), Dallas Wings, San Antonio Stars and Washington Mystics - will be looking to secure the top pick in the 2017 WNBA DRAFT next April.

Schedule:

Date	Time (ET)	Game / Commentators	Network
Wed, Sep 28	8 p.m.	WNBA Semifinals, Game 1 Phoenix Mercury at Minnesota Lynx Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo	ESPN2
	10 p.m.	WNBA Semifinals, Game 1 Chicago Sky at Los Angeles Sparks Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson, Holly Rowe	ESPN2
Fri, Sep 30	8 p.m.	WNBA Semifinals, Game 2 Phoenix Mercury at Minnesota Lynx Ruocco, Lobo	ESPNEWS
	10 p.m.	WNBA Semifinals, Game 2 Chicago Sky at Los Angeles Sparks Ward, Robinson	ESPNEWS
Sun, Oct 2	3 p.m.	WNBA Semifinals, Game 3 Los Angeles Sparks at Chicago Sky Ward, Robinson	ESPN
	5 p.m.	WNBA Semifinals, Game 3 Minnesota Lynx at Phoenix Mercury Ruocco, Lobo, Rowe	ESPN
Tue, Oct 4	TBD	WNBA Semifinals, Game 4** Minnesota Lynx at Phoenix Mercury Ruocco, Lobo	ESPN2
	TBD	WNBA Semifinals, Game 4** Los Angeles Sparks at Chicago Sky Ward, Robinson	ESPN2
Thu, Oct 6	TBD	WNBA Semifinals, Game 5** Phoenix Mercury at Minnesota Lynx Ruocco, Lobo	ESPN2
	TBD	WNBA Semifinals, Game 5** Chicago Sky at Los Angeles Sparks Ward, Robinson	ESPN2

** If necessary

Image courtesy of ESPN press

To post a comment, you must register and login.