It’s finally here! 2016 is the WNBA’s historic 20th season and the 20th season for the Phoenix Mercury, one of the original eight franchises in 1997.

But this is SO much more than just another WNBA season…

• Three-time champion, two-time Finals MVP, seven-time All-Star and former league MVP Diana Taurasi returns to the Mercury in 2016 after a one-season hiatus.
• Phoenix headlines “WNBA Tip-Off presented by Verizon,” opening the 2016 season in a nationally-televised match-up with the Lynx in Minnesota on Saturday, May 14.
• Phoenix will be featured on national television four times (ESPN/ESPN2); a broadcast schedule for all national NBA TV games and the Mercury’s local Fox Sports Arizona games will be released at a later date.
• Tickets for all 2016 regular-season Mercury home games go on sale, Friday, January 29.

If that doesn’t get you excited, here are five games you do NOT want to miss:

Friday, May 20 at home vs. Seattle | Tickets

Home opener.

The White Mamba returns.

Enough said.

You'll notice a brand new poster at @TSRarena during Suns games this season… pic.twitter.com/rRPqO1RUP4

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) October 28, 2015

Wednesday, May 25 at home vs. Minnesota | Tickets

Remember what happened the last time the Mercury played the Minnesota Lynx at Talking Stick Resort Arena?

Indeed, the Mercury will be out for redemption.

And we’ll need the X-Factor to look like this:

19-time Best Fans in the WNBA. Thank you. #XFactor pic.twitter.com/OJb1J0k1YH

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) September 27, 2015

Tuesday, June 21 on the road against Dallas | ESPN2

This marks the first game the Mercury will play against the Dallas Wings (formerly the Tulsa Shock).

All indications are that the Wings will be a solid team in 2016, especially with Skylar Diggins returning from injury. Couple that with facing a team with an entirely new look and logo should make for a fun, interesting game.

Friday, August 26 at home vs. Dallas | Tickets

The first game back after the Olympic break, and it’s at home.

The Mercury will certainly receive a hero’s welcome.

When in Rome… pic.twitter.com/aePsbNZloJ

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) October 7, 2015

Four-Game Home Stand, May 20 – May 31 | Tickets

The Mercury play four of their first six games at home from May 20 – May 31 against the Storm, Lynx, Mystics and Sun.

Before that, however, they play their first two games of the 2016 season on the road.

Come out and support the squad during the longest home stand of the season!