After making their first-ever WNBA playoffs appearance last season, the Utah Starzz are eager to begin their sixth season. And they'll do so earlier than they've ever played before, opening 2002 on Saturday, May 25, at the Minnesota Lynx.
The WNBA released its 32-game 2002 schedules Thursday, and the league will also open May 25, with its headliner game on NBC-TV, the New York Liberty at the Los Angeles Sparks.
The Starzz, who have played just one May date in their history, a May 30 win at Phoenix in 2001, will have their home opener on that same date in 2002, hosting the Portland Fire in the Delta Center. Six of Utah's 16 home dates will be on Friday or Saturday nights, and it will have two noon games, on Wednesday, June 11, against New York, and on Saturday, July 13, with Phoenix.
Utah will make three national TV broadcasts, on NBC at Sacramento on June 22, on ESPN at Houston on June 29 and on ESPN2 at Sacramento on Aug. 1.
With the league's opening day moved up three days from last year's May 28, WNBA playoffs will begin a little earlier, on Aug. 15.
Starzz season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (801) 325-STAR.