Sky to open 2023 season on road May 19 against Lynx

The WNBA’s 27th season and the Sky’s 18th tips off May 19, and it’s going to be record-breaking. Teams will play a 40-game schedule in 2023, the most in league history.

The Sky will open their season with road games against the Lynx at 7 p.m. May 19 and the Mercury on May 21 (time to be determined) before returning to Chicago for their home opener at 7 p.m. May 26 against the Mystics.

‘‘I want to start the season against whoever is the projected No. 1 team,’’ Sky forward Kahleah Copper said before the schedule was released Wednesday. ‘‘The competitor in me, that’s who I want.’’

After winning the 2022 WNBA championship with a core that is signed through the 2023 season, that No. 1 team is the Aces. Copper and the Sky will have to wait until June 11 before they get an opportunity to avenge their 1-3 record last season against the reigning champs, which included a 93-83 loss in the Commissioner’s Cup final.

Coach/general manager James Wade and the Sky won’t see a rematch of the 2022 semifinals against the Sun until June 25, when the teams square off in Connecticut in the first of four matchups. The Sky will conclude the regular season on the road Sept. 10 against the Sun, who will be playing their first season under coach Stephanie White after Curt Miller was hired by the Sparks during the offseason.

Another notable matchup for the Sky comes June 3 — one of their six Friday home games — against the Liberty, whom they eliminated in the first round of the 2022 playoffs. The Commissioner’s Cup break will be Aug. 14-16, with the game scheduled for Aug. 15. The 10 designated Cup games will be played from the start of the season until July 12.

The 2023 All-Star Game is scheduled for July 15. A host city for the game, which was played in Chicago last season, hasn’t been determined. Principal owner Michael Alter and the Sky have expressed interest in hosting the game again in 2023.

The WNBA will release its broadcast and streaming schedule at a later date.