Games To Watch For: Western Conference

The Shock finished with a record of 1-22 against Western Conference teams in 2011 with their only win coming on the road against the Los Angeles Sparks in late August. While Seattle, Phoenix and San Antonio are likely to field similar teams in 2012, the Los Angeles Sparks and Minnesota Lynx should be even better in the new year as they hold the first and third overall picks in the 2012 WNBA Draft this spring. Find out when these teams visit the BOK Center in 2012 below:

View the Shock’s Complete 2012 Schedule

Minnesota Lynx
2011 Record: 0-4

The WNBA Champion Minnesota Lynx had an almost perfect run in the 2011 playoffs (7-1 record) en route to their first championship in franchise history. The balanced Lynx attack led by Lindsay Whalen and WNBA Finals MVP Seimone Augustus will be aided in 2012 by the likely on-court improvements of 2011 Rookie of the Year Maya Moore, fourth overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft Amber Harris and the third overall pick in the 2012 WNBA Draft (pick acquired from the Washington Mystics). See the balanced attack of the defending champions play at the BOK Center on June 9 and July 10.

SEATTLE STORM
2011 Record: 0-5

Center Lauren Jackson has publicly stated that she will remain in Australia for the first part of next season in order to train with her national team for the 2012 Olympics. A veteran Storm team was accustomed to playing without Jackson in 2011 who missed 21 games due to hip injury. Sue Bird enters her 11th season in the league, all with the Seattle Storm and will lead the Storm in Tulsa on June 15 and September 8.

PHOENIX MERCURY
2011 Record: 0-4

Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury finally overcame the Seattle Storm last year, defeating them Game Three of the first round of the playoffs at Key Arena. Phoenix remains the only Western Conference team that the Shock have yet to beat in their two years in Tulsa. After acquiring poing guard Temeka Johnson from Phoenix, will this be the year the Shock overcome Taurasi and the Mercury? Find out at the BOK Center on May 22 and June 17

SAN ANTONIO SILVER STARS
2011 Record: 0-4

University of Oklahoma standout and sixth overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft Danielle Robinson had a stellar rookie season for San Antonio as she was named to the All-Rookie team alongside fellow Big 12 standout Danielle Adams. In an overtime win against the Shock in the final regular season game in 2011, Robinson posted a career-high 36 points on 14-of-19 from the field in front of many of her faithful fans in Tulsa. Robinson along with veterans Becky Hammon and Ruth Riley return to the BOK Center in 2012 on May 19, August 17 and September 12.

LOS ANGELES SPARKS
2011 Record: 1-3

The Tulsa Shock ended their 20 game losing streak on August 28 against the Sparks last year on the strength of Sheryl Swoopes’ game-winning shot as time expired. The Shock are likely to face a much different Sparks team in 2012 as a healthy Candace Parker will be joined by the first overall pick in the 2012 WNBA Draft. A healthy parker plus a mix of veterans and young players may catapult the Sparks back in the playoff picture in 2012. Watch Parker and Sparks at the BOK Center on June 26 and August 30.

For more news and updates, join the Tulsa Shock Facebook page and follow the Shock on Twitter @TulsaShock
[View the Shock’s Complete 2012 Schedule ]