Semifinals Featuring Top Seeds Minnesota and Los Angeles Begin Tuesday, Sept. 12

ESPN’s live presentation of every game of the 2017 WNBA Playoffs presented by Verizon will begin Wednesday, Sept. 6, with a first-round, single-elimination doubleheader on ESPN2. Skylar Diggins-Smith and the Dallas Wings will visit Elena Delle Donne and the Washington Mystics at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the all-time WNBA assists leader Sue Bird and the Seattle Storm visiting the all-time WNBA scoring leader Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury at 10 p.m. Commentator Ryan Ruocco and analyst Rebecca Lobo will call the early game, with play-by-play commentator Pam Ward and analyst LaChina Robinson calling the second tilt.

Lobo, a former University of Connecticut, USA Basketball and WNBA star, will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 8, and ESPN’s WNBA Playoffs coverage on Sunday, Sept. 10, will include segments of her Hall of Fame speech. In addition, Mechelle Voepel will profile Lobo for espnW, including interviews with her former coach Geno Auriemma, family and more.

The 21st edition of the WNBA Playoffs marks the return of last year’s format that awards playoff spots to the eight teams with the highest winning percentages, regardless of conference, and seeded based on their record.

Production Enhancements

Every game of this year’s postseason will air on the ESPN networks. Additional highlights:

• Coaches will be mic’d up during the first and second rounds and semifinals of the Playoffs, while coaches and select players will be mic’d up during The Finals.
• Playoff studio analyst will include Chiney Ogwumike (CT Sun) & Katie Douglas – 14 Yr. WNBA Veteran, 2012 WNBA champion (Indiana)
• The 2017 WNBA Draft Lottery will air at halftime during ESPN2’s Playoffs coverage on Thursday, Sept. 14. The Draft Lottery will be hosted by Cassidy Hubbarth from ESPN’s Bristol, Conn., headquarters.

espnW

espnW.com will supplement ESPN’s schedule with comprehensive live coverage and analysis throughout the WNBA postseason by Mechelle Voepel. Additional highlights:

• Sean Hurd and Pat Borzi will provide additional game coverage;
• The WNBA Women’s Basketball Index will provide round-by-round analysis and data, updated by Riley Foreman from ESPN Stats & Info;
• Playoff game video highlights along with previews, postgame video and analysis;
• Postgame analysis from ESPN’s analysts.

Schedule:

* If necessary

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