What’s Trending: 20th Season Tip Off, This Is SportsCenter and More

Mon, May 9, 2016, 10:15 PM

What’s Trending brings you the the top 10 things you need to know, listen to and/or watch in the past and upcoming week. It’s your one-stop shop for all things W, from which teams/players are on a roll to what the league’s superstars are up to off the court.

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Here’s What’s Trending on May 9, 2016:

#WNBA20: Landmark 2016 Season Tips Off Saturday

On Saturday night the WNBA will kickoff it’s historic 20th season with a full-slate of action starting at 6 PM ET. The Mercury-Lynx matchup on ESPN (7 PM ET) will headline WNBA Tip-Off presented by Verizon as Diana Taurasi makes her much-anticipated return to Phoenix while the Lynx start their title defense.

Also, reigning MVP Elena Delle Donne will begin her 2016 campaign against the rebuilt Connecticut Sun (8 PM ET).

#WatchMeWork: They’re Ready; Are You?

#MediaDay: Teams Get Set for 2016

There’s work to be done before the action can get underway on the court. Teams held their respective media days where they debuted new jerseys and answered questions from the press on the upcoming season.

2016 Previews: A Look at All 12 Teams

#TogetherWeRise: Stewart’s Career Begins with Great Expectations 

First overall pick Breanna Stewart made her WNBA debut on Wednesday and tallied 11 points, and 8 rebounds. Stewie will make her regular season debut on Sunday evening (5 PM ET) when the Storm travel to Los Angeles to take on the Sparks inside the Staples Center.

#WNBARooks: Class of 2016 Look to Make Instant Impact

Stewart wasn’t the only highly touted rookie to make her WNBA debut this past week. Second overall pic, Moriah Jefferson saw her first action with the Stars while 3rd and 4th overall picks, Morgan Tuck and Rachel Banham, donned their Sun uniforms for the first time in their careers.

#ThisIsSportsCenter: Brittney Griner Appears in ESPN Spot

The WNBA saw its second athlete featured in a “This is SportsCenter” commercial when Mercury superstar Brittney Griner appeared alongside ESPN anchor Stan Verrett and the Rutgers University Scarlet Knight for a tongue-in-cheek discussion on defense. Griner follows in the footsteps of Candace Parker, who starred in a 2010 spot.

#MVP: Delle Donne Returns to Delaware, Ready for an Encore

For the third straight year Elena Delle Donne and the Chicago Sky played their preseason home-opener at EDD’s alma mater, the University of Delaware. This year her return was extra special as she is the reigning MVP.

#ClosingBell: WNBA at the New York Stock Exchange

On Friday, new WNBA President Lisa Borders, along with league staff and players Morgan Tuck and Epiphanny Prince, rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange. In addition to closing the world’s largest stock market they also got a picture with Buzz Aldrin, the first man to walk on the moon.

#SnapchatTakeover: Inside Training Camp

All preseason long one WNBA player from every team has taken over the league’s Snapchat account to provide some candid, behind-the-scenes moments from what goes on at training camp. This past week Chiney Ogwumike of the Conneticut Sun highlighted the all-access series.

#JrWNBAWeek: May 7-15

The WNBA is all about fan engagement, and in celebration of the league’s 20th season they hosted 20 youth basketball camps around the country. Each team along with the Hornets, Cavaliers, Warriors, Trail Blazers and Wizards welcomed the next generation of ballers into skill-based clinics to learn alongside professionals and hear from WNBA President Lisa Borders.

https://twitter.com/WNBAPrez/status/729786025212579845

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