Sky, Lynx set to open WNBA preseason

The WNBA will prepare for its 14th season by 15 preseason games in 13 cities, including four games between WNBA teams and the China and Poland National Teams.

The Chicago Sky will have the honor of opening the WNBA preseason on April 30 with an 11 a.m. matinee against the Minnesota Lynx at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minn.

The Sky's first preseason game in its new home, Allstate Arena, will be May 6 with a return match against the Lynx.

The Los Angeles Sparks will be the first team to face the China National Team when the teams tip off at Viejas Arena in San Diego, Calif on May 1. The China National Team will also match up against the San Antonio Silver Stars on May 4 at the McDermott Center in San Antonio and the Phoenix Mercury on May 8 at the US Airways Center.

The Connecticut Sun will also face an international foe when the team hosts the Poland National Team on May 7 at Mohegan Sun Arena.

WNBA teams will play five games in non-WNBA arenas, highlighted by the Atlanta Dream, with former University of Tennessee stars Chamique Holdsclaw and Michelle Snow, squaring off against the Washington Mystics at the Hooper Eblen Center in Cookeville, Tenn., on May 9. In another game in a non-WNBA market, the Sparks and Silver Stars will meet on the campus of Long Beach State University in California.

The 2010 WNBA regular season begins May 15 when the WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury and Diana Turausi host the Los Angeles Sparks and Candace Parker at 3 p.m. on ESPN2.

Here is the Sky's preseason schedule:

April 30: at Minnesota, 11 p.m. at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minn.

May 6: vs. Minnesota, 11:30 a.m. at AllState Arena in Rosemont.

May 7: at Indiana, noon at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

May 10: vs Indiana, 11:30 a.m. at AllState Arena.

The Sky will open the regular season on May 15 at Connecticut. The Sky will be on the road for 5 of its first 7 games, with the home opener on May 22 against Indiana at 7 p.m.