2013 SCHEDULE
May 25: at Atlanta...Cox-3, 6 p.m.
May 27: Wash....ESPN2-26, 2 p.m.
May 31: at New York...6:30 p.m.
June 2: at Chicago...5 p.m.
June 7: at Seattle...9 p.m.
June 8: at L.A. ...9:30 p.m.
June 14: Minnesota...7 p.m.
June 16: Phoenix...3:30 p.m.
June 20: Chicago...11:30 a.m.
June 22: Seattle...7 p.m.
June 23: at Minnesota...6 p.m.
June 28: at Indiana...6 p.m.
June 30: at Washington...3 p.m.
July 2: at Conn...ESPN2-26, 7 p.m.
July 11: L.A...ESPN2-26, 8 p.m.
July 13: Minnesota...7 p.m.
July 17: at Seattle...2 p.m.
July 19: Connecticut...7 p.m.
July 21: Atlanta...3:30 p.m.
July 25: Indiana...11:30 a.m.
Aug. 2: Los Angeles...7 p.m.
Aug. 4: at S. Antonio...Cox-3, 3:30 p.m.
Aug. 9: at Phoenix...9 p.m.
Aug. 11: at Phoenix...Cox-3, 5 p.m.
Aug 16: at Minnesota...7 p.m.
Aug. 20: Phoenix...7 p.m.
Aug. 23: San Antonio...7 p.m.
Aug. 25: at Los Angeles...7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30: San Antonio...7 p.m.
Sept. 1: New York...3:30 p.m.
Sept. 6: Los Angeles...7 p.m.
Sept. 8: at San Antonio...3:30 p.m.
Sept. 12: Seattle...7 p.m.
Sept. 14: at Seattle...9 p.m.
THREE STORYLINES
A work in progress?
It's a squad of intriguing talents, Skylar Diggins and Liz Cambage being chief among them. But it's still 11 women learning to play together for the first time, so expect some growing pains. Only five players were here last season, and only Jennifer Lacy, Kayla Pedersen and Tiffany Jackson-Jones played the last time Cambage was in Tulsa. The good news is that all of the holdovers seem to embrace the team concept, and newcomers Diggins and Candice Wiggins are self-professed chemistry builders.
What would make this season a success?
After the 2011 debacle, any sign of improvement would have been enough in 2012. By that measure, Tulsa succeeded. The 9-25 record represented a six-game turnaround from the year before. The next step would be to contend for a playoff spot, and that means not losing the first nine games, as the Shock did in 2012. Qualifying for the playoffs isn't an absolute necessity, but being in the hunt seems doable. Along with nine wins in 2012, the Shock lost seven times by seven points or fewer - all winnable games. Sixteen wins would have gotten Tulsa into the playoffs.
How does the Western Conference shake out?
In a recent poll, WNBA general managers favored Phoenix, with No. 1 draft pick Brittney Griner, for the league title. Minnesota, Candice Wiggins' former team, retains the veteran core that won a championship in 2011 and finished runner-up last year. Los Angeles is led by one of the league's best all-around players (Candace Parker) and 2012's rookie of the year (Nneka Ogwumike). Seattle is without former all-stars Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson, both recovering from surgeries. That could leave Tulsa battling San Antonio and former OU standout Danielle Robinson for the final Western Conference playoff berth.
