Mohegan — The Connecticut Sun will play two of their four nationally televised games at the Washington Mystics in a rematch of last season's WNBA Finals, according to the league's regular-season schedule announced Thursday.

The regular season has been expanded to 36 games (up from 34) and runs from Friday, May 15, to Sunday, Sept. 20. There will be a month-long break from Friday, July 10-Sunday, Aug. 16 due to players competing in the Summer Olympics in Japan.

Connecticut had one of the best seasons in franchise history last year as it finished with the league’s second-best overall record (23-11), coming as close as it's ever been to winning an elusive WNBA championship. The Sun led Washington with over seven minutes left in the final game of the best-of-five WNBA Finals before losing 89-78.

The Sun open their regular season against the New York Liberty at Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday, May 16. They'll play at Washington on Sunday, June 28 (ESPN2) and Sept. 20 (ABC).

Connecticut's other two nationally televised games are at the New York Liberty (Thursday, July 2, ESPN2) and at home against the Minnesota Lynx (Sunday, Aug. 16, ESPN).

The league has also introduced the Commissioner’s Cup in which 10 regular-season games per team count toward tournament play. Cup games will be the first home game and first road game each team plays against its five conference rivals, all completed before the Olympic break. The top team from each conference will play for the title and a special prize pool on Friday, Aug. 14, two days before the Olympic break ends.