The Liberty’s 2017 campaign officially tips off on Saturday, May 13, when the Libs host the San Antonio Stars at The Garden at 3 p.m. New York plays five times during the month of May, during what figures to be a month full of tough tests right off the bat.
After a two-game home stand against San Antonio and Minnesota, New York hits the road to face Phoenix and Seattle before heading home to host the defending champion Los Angeles Sparks. All told, four of the Liberty’s first five opponents were in the playoffs last season, including both teams that reached the finals in the Sparks and Lynx. Lots to look forward to early in the season for Liberty fans.
Home (3) Away (2)
Games against 2017 WNBA Playoff teams: 4
Combined 2016 record of opponents: 93-77 (.547)
Longest home stand: 2 games
Longest road trip: 2 games
TIPOFF
The 2017 season will officially tipoff against the San Antonio Stars at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, May 13, at 3 p.m. Coincidentally, New York’s home debut and finale both come against the Stars. This will be the head coaching debut for Liberty all-time great and Ring of Honor Member Vickie Johnson, who was tabbed as the Stars’ head coach during the offseason.
EARLY TESTS
After facing the Stars, the rest of New York’s opponents in the opening month of the season are all playoff teams from a year ago, which includes Los Angeles and Minnesota who reached the WNBA Finals.
ESPN2
New York will play one nationally televised game in 2017, which will come when it hosts the Minnesota Lynx at The Garden on Thursday, May 18.
HEADING WEST
The Liberty will break up its three home games with a two-game trip out west to face the Phoenix Mercury and Seattle Storm. With the WNBA’s new balanced cross conference schedule, this will be the first of two planned trips to both the Mercury and Storm, locales that will be re-visited in July.
NOTES
• San Antonio owns the No. 1 pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft, so this could mark the regular season debut for one of the league’s newest stars.
• The game against Los Angeles on May 30 is the 1st of five straight home games for the Liberty, its longest home stretch of the season, which continues into the 2nd week of June.
• New York has won three of its last four home openers, including its last two.
• The Liberty will open a season against the San Antonio Stars for the 1st time in its history.