Sports

Breaking down Lynx schedule

The Lynx have a grueling schedule at the end of the season, finishing with six of their last seven games on the road.

By Roman Augustoviz

May 1, 2012 at 12:13PM

May: Five games over last 11 days ... three at home, two away

Open season on national TV against Phoenix on Sunday, May 20; Mercury were eliminated by Lynx in two games in Western Conference finals; Diana Taurasi will have revenge on her mind. She is fun to watch and heckle.

The following Sunday, Seattle comes to visit. But Storm won't have Lauren Jackson because she will be with Aussies getting ready for Olympics. Still any team with Sue Bird can be a threat.

June: Nine well-spaced games, five at home, four away

Lynx have a five-day break in middle of month between away games in Tulsa and Phoenix, and three three-day breaks, the last to end the month.

Tough road games at Connecticut, Phoenix and Sattle. .... Also play Seattle and Phoenix at home.

Have ESPN game against Chicago at home at 11:30 a.m. Sat., June 23.

July: Five games in first 12 days of month before break starts for Summer Olympics in London, two home games, three away games

Oddest thing about this month's schedule is that four of five games start in the afternoon

Go into break with two home-and-home games with Tulsa over three days

August: Six games over last 15 days of month, four at home, two away

Easy home schedule with two games against Tulsa and one against Washington. Both those teams missed playoffs last season

Most interesting game is at Atlanta on Saturday, August 25. Lynx beat Dream in WNBA finals last season. Game will be on ESPN2 as will game before that at Seattle on August 21.

September: What a brutal closing schedule the Lynx have. After being off the first three days of this month, they play nine games in 20 days, three at home, six away

That's not the worst part. After playing Atlanta on home on Sept. 7, six of their last seven games are on the road. And they have to play three games on the road in four days to finish the season. That closing stretch begins with back-to-back games at Los Angeles and Phoenix on a Thursday and Friday, a day off, and a game at San Antonio on the last day of the regular season.

In the middle of the month is a home and homer series with Indiana on a Friday and Sunday. Fever are always tough.

GAMES BY DAY OF THE WEEK

Here is how the Lynx's 34-game schedule breaks down by the day of the week:

Sunday: eight

Monday: one

Tuesday: six

Wednesday: three

Thursday: five

Friday: seven

Saturday: four

The Lynx will play:

eight afternoon games, including one that starts at 11:30 a.m.