Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx to Play for WNBA Title on ESPN & ESPN2

The defending WNBA champion Minnesota Lynx and the Indiana Fever will compete for the WNBA title in a best-of-five series beginning in Minneapolis on Sunday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The remainder of the series will be split between ESPN and ESPN2, including games two and five on ESPN. The WNBA Finals will also be available on computers at WatchESPN.com and on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.

Game/Studio Highlights:

· In addition to a live player interview going into halftime, a second player interview will be conducted with the opposing team heading into the second half.

· A new robotic camera on the sideline between the free throw line and center court will give a unique perspective for viewers.

· Rebecca Lobo will be the analyst on all five games, while Pam Ward will work game one and Terry Gannon games two through five.

· Cindy Brunson will host ESPN's studio coverage with analyst Carolyn Peck.

· Coaches and the head referee continue to wear mics during each game.

· Lady GaGa's "The Edge of Glory" music video will be used.

· Twelve cameras will be used throughout the WNBA Finals, including the roving floor (RF) camera on court during parts of the action that will give fans more access and a unique perspective.

espnW will be covering every angle of the WNBA Finals. Highlights:

· Analysis and player features for every game from writers Mechelle Voepel and Michelle Smith.

· Tweets from espnW writers, ESPN analysts and WNBA and WNBA.com staff will be included in WNBA Finals Live, a live online chat which will run from the opening tip to the final whistle of each contest.

· Indiana forward Tamika Catching will add to content through blog submissions.

· Minnesota's leader Taj McWilliams-Franklin, who turns 42 on Saturday, Oct. 20, discusses her career longevity and her balancing act of juggling motherhood with hoops.

A year removed from their first franchise WNBA title, the Lynx entered the 2012 playoffs as the top seed in the Western Conference with an overall record of 27-7. Veteran guard Seimone Augustus leads the team in points at 16.6 per game, while forward Maya Moore is averaging 16.4 points and 6.0 rebounds. The Lynx bested Seattle in the Western Conference Semifinals two games to one, followed by a two-game sweep of Los Angeles in the Western Conference Finals.

Indiana entered the 2012 WNBA playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 22-12 overall mark. In both the Eastern Conference Semifinals and the Finals, Indiana took both Atlanta and Connecticut, respectively, to three games before winning the deciding contest. Catchings leads the squad with 17.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.

WNBA Finals Schedule (schedule subject to change)

Date Time (ET) Game Network
Sun, Oct 14 8 p.m. Indiana at Minnesota
Pam Ward, Rebecca Lobo & Holly Rowe ESPN2 / WatchESPN
Wed, Oct 17 8 p.m. Indiana at Minnesota
Terry Gannon, Rebecca Lobo & Holly Rowe ESPN / WatchESPN
Fri, Oct 19 8 p.m. Minnesota at Indiana
Terry Gannon, Rebecca Lobo &
Holly Rowe or LaChina Robinson ESPN2 / WatchESPN
Sun, Oct 21 8 p.m. Minnesota at Indiana*
Terry Gannon, Rebecca Lobo & Holly Rowe ESPN2 / WatchESPN
Wed, Oct 24 8 p.m. Indiana at Minnesota*
Terry Gannon, Rebecca Lobo & Holly Rowe ESPN / WatchESPN

* if necessary