Lynx to Tip-Off 13th Season at Target Center on Sunday, June 5 vs. Los Angeles Sparks

Lynx Open 2011 Season on the Road at Los Angeles on Friday, June 3

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Lynx today announced the team's schedule for the 2011 season. The Lynx and Los Angeles Sparks will tip-off the WNBA's 15th season on Friday, June 3 in Los Angeles at 9:30 p.m. The same two teams will meet two nights later on Sunday, June 5 at 2:30 p.m. as the Lynx open their 13th season of basketball at Target Center. The 2011 WNBA campaign consists of 34 regular-season contests (17 home/17 away) from June 3 through September 11.

The Lynx will play Western Conference teams Los Angeles (three times at home, two on the road) and Phoenix (three times on the road, two at home) five times each, and San Antonio, Seattle and Tulsa four times apiece, twice at home and twice on the road. Minnesota will play each Eastern Conference team (Atlanta, Chicago, Connecticut, Indiana, New York and Washington) twice, once at home and on the road. Minnesota's 2011 schedule features a national television appearance on Tuesday, August 2 vs. Phoenix.

Minnesota's 17-game home schedule features 10 weekend dates (4 - Friday, 3 - Saturday, 3 - Sunday) as well as four Tuesday games, one Wednesday matchup and two Thursday evening contests. For the ninth straight year, Minnesota will host one weekday afternoon game, a noon tipoff against the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday, July 13.

Highlights of the home portion of Minnesota's schedule also includes: 2010 Regular Season and Finals MVP Lauren Jackson and the 2010 WNBA Champion Seattle Storm will make two visits to Target Center (Saturday, July 16 and Friday, July 29); Candace Parker's Los Angeles Sparks will travel to Target Center Sunday, June 5, Tuesday, July 26 and Saturday, August 20; Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury will make two appearances in Minneapolis (Wednesday, July 13 and Tuesday, August 2); Janel McCarville's New York Liberty take on the Lynx at Target Center on Friday, September 2.

Minnesota plays consecutive games at home five times during the 2011 season, including a stretch of four of five at Target Center beginning with a Tuesday, July 26 contest vs. Los Angeles and ending with a Thursday, August 4 game vs. San Antonio. Following that, the Lynx will begin a stretch of three consecutive games on the road (August 7 at Los Angeles, August 9 at Phoenix and August 12 at Chicago). Minnesota's regular season home finale will be on Thursday, September 8 v s. Chicago. The Lynx have only one back-to-back set this year, when they play at Indiana on Friday, July 15 before playing Seattle at home on Saturday, July 16.

Season and group tickets for the 2011 season are now on sale. For information on ticket packages, call 612-673-8400, e-mail tickets@lynxbasketball.com, or visit the Lynx website at www.lynxbasketball.com.