Sky to play L.A. Sparks at Sears Centre
The battle for WNBA Rookie of the Year honors between the top two prospects in the upcoming draft could begin in Hoffman Estates in May.
The Chicago Sky announced today it will play the Los Angeles Sparks in a pre-season game May 8 at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates.
The Sparks own the No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft, followed by the Sky at No. 2 overall. Former Naperville Central star Candace Parker of Tennessee is the likely selection by Los Angeles, while the Sky has been focusing on 6-foot-6 center Sylvia Fowles of Lousiana State University.
The Sky's home court at UIC Pavilion was unavailable for the game, so it was moved to the Sears Centre.
Both Fowles and Parker (6-foot-4) are All-American players and the only two female college players to dunk in a regular season game this year.
"What a great game this will be," said Sky CEO Margaret Stender. "Our fans will get their first look at two new WNBA players who will have a huge impact on our game and our league."
Tickets to the match-up at the Sears Centre Arena can be purchased through the Chicago Sky by calling 877-SKY-WNBA or at chicagosky.net. They can also be purchased at the Sears Centre Arena box office and at searscentre.com. Tickets are $131, $88, $47, $37, $24 and $16.
The Sky will tip-off its 2008 season May 17 at Seattle and will play their season home opener May 22 against the Sacramento Monarchs at 7 p.m. at the UIC Pavilion.
The Sky's first preseason game is April 30 at 7 p.m . against Seattle at the UIC Pavilion, followed by a May 3 preseason game at Milwaukee's Al McGuire Center against the Indian Fever, led by former Stevenson star Tamika Catchings.
2008 Sky schedule
All home games, unless otherwise noted, at UIC Pavilion, Chicago.
Preseason games
Apr. 30 vs. Seattle, 7 p.m.
May 3 vs. Indiana, 5 p.m., at McGuire Center, Milwaukee
May 8 vs. Los Angeles, 7 p.m., at Sears Center, Hoffman Estates
Regular season games
May 17 at Seattle 9 p.m.
May 22 vs. Sacramento 7 p.m.
May 29 vs. Minnesota 7 p.m.
Jun. 1 vs. Connecticut 4 p.m.
Jun. 3 vs. Los Angeles 7 p.m.
Jun. 6 at Atlanta 6:30 p.m
Jun. 7 vs. Atlanta 7 p.m.
Jun. 13 vs. Washington 7:30 p.m.
Jun. 18 at Los Angeles 9:30 p.m.
Jun. 20 at Phoenix 9 p.m.
Jun. 22 at Sacramento 8 p.m.
Jun. 26 vs. Phoenix 8 p.m.
Jun. 28 vs. Detroit 7 p.m.
July 1 at Minnesota 7 p.m.
July 2 at Indiana 6 p.m.
July 5 at Atlanta 6:30 p.m.
July 10 vs. San Antonio 6 p.m.
July 12 at Indiana 6 p.m.
July 13 vs. Atlanta 5 p.m.
July 16 at Detroit 11 a.m.
July 18 vs. Connecticut 7:30 p.m.
July 20 at Connecticut noon
July 22 vs. Indiana 7 p.m.
July 24 at San Antonio 11:30 a.m
July 26 at Houston 7:30 p.m.
Olympics break
Aug. 28 at New York 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 29 at Washington 6 p.m.
Aug. 31 vs. Detroit 5 p.m.
Sept. 4 vs. Seattle 7 p.m.
Sept. 5 at Connecticut 6 p.m.
Sept. 7 at New York noon
Sept. 9 vs. Washington 7 p.m.
Sept. 12 vs. New York 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 14 vs. Houston 3 p.m.