KEY INFORMATION:
Tournament Level: Premier Mandatory
Prize Money: $6,314,605
Draw Size: 96 main draw (32 byes)/48 qualifying
Main Draw Ceremony: Monday, March 7, 3pm PST
Qualifying Dates: Monday, March 7 – Tuesday, March 8
First Day of Main Draw: Wednesday, March 9
Singles Final: Sunday, March 20, 11am PST
Doubles Final: Saturday, March 19, NB 4pm PST

MUST FOLLOW SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS:
@WTA
@WTA_Insider – WTA Insider, Senior Writer Courtney Nguyen
@BNPPARIBASOPEN – official tournament handle
Get involved in conversations with the official hashtags, #BNPPO16 and #WTA.

TOURNAMENT NOTES:
· Simona Halep bids to become only the second player (after Martina Navratilova, in 1990-91) to defend the Indian Wells title.
· There have been eight different champions in the past eight years in Indian Wells. There are seven returning champions in the field this year – Halep (2015), Victoria Azarenka (2012), Caroline Wozniacki (2011), Jelena Jankovic (2010), Ana Ivanovic (2008), Daniela Hantuchova (2007, 2002) and Serena Williams (1999, 2001).
· Twelve months ago, Williams returned to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden after a 14-year break. This time around, sister Venus will join her in the draw for the first time since 2001.
· Maria Sharapova is the only high-profile absentee, missing out due to a nagging forearm injury.
· In doubles, World No.1s Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza play their first event since having their 41-match winning streak ended in Doha. Their first event (and first title) together came at last year’s tournament.
· For the rest of the major storylines ahead of Monday’s draw, read the WTA Insider Notebook.

WILDCARDS:
Samantha Crawford (USA), Lauren Davis (USA), Daniela Hantuchova (SVK), Jamie Loeb (USA), Alison Riske (USA), Shelby Rogers (USA), Heather Watson (GBR), Zhang Shuai (CHN) 

WITHDRAWALS:
Maria Sharapova (left forearm), Alizé Cornet (back), Mona Barthel (illness), Karin Knapp (right knee), Ajla Tomljanovic (shoulder)