Sports media giant ESPN considers launching a daily WNBA program, capitalizing on the surging popularity of women's basketball.
Hype in the WNBA World: Is a Daily Show on the Horizon?
The WNBA nabbed major success with the second-highest-rated Draft in history, drawing in a whopping 1.25 million viewers. But guess what took the top spot? The 2024 Draft, with a jaw-dropping 2.46 million viewers, thanks to a phenomenal rookie class that includes Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, and Cameron Brink. This growth sparks some exciting possibilities—like ESPN possibly launching a daily WNBA show![1]
Fans have been craving such a program on social media, and it seems their pleas might just be heard. Hilary Guy, ESPN's VP of production for WNBA and NBA Studio, is actively seeking innovative ways to level up WNBA coverage. And indications point towards a potential daily show. In fact, when asked about it, Guy hinted, "Yeah, it could happen."[1]
ESPN has been a key partner in the WNBA's journey since 1997. With a talented team of analysts, including broadcaster Elle Duncan, former WNBA player Chiney Ogwumike, former college player Andraya Carter, and former coach Carolyn Peck, the network has played a significant role in making the WNBA more accessible to audiences.
With record-breaking viewership in the recent season, the WNBA is more popular than ever. Last June, an impressive 1.3 million viewers tuned into games across four platforms (ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, and CBS), and the regular season boasted a remarkable 54 million unique viewers—new highs for the league. ESPN's unwavering support has undoubtedly contributed to this surge in popularity.[1]
Could this mean we'll soon have a WNBA-focused program equivalent to NBA Today? As Hilary Guy puts it, "Stay tuned, it's going to be very exciting."[1]
Sources:
- Costabile, A. (2023). An ESPN WNBA Today Show Is Included in the Broadcast Giant's Planned Expanded WNBA Coverage. Front Office Sports. Retrieved March 31, 2023, from https://www.frontofficesports.com/features/an-espn-wnba-today-show-is-included-in-the-broadcast-giants-planned-expanded-wnba-coverage
- ESPN, having seen the success of the WNBA Draft with 2.46 million viewers, may soon agree to air a daily WNBA show, as Hilary Guy, ESPN's VP of production for WNBA and NBA Studio, is actively seeking ways to boost WNBA coverage and has hinted at the possibility.
- If launched, the daily WNBA show on ESPN could potentially become a significant addition to WNBA coverage, similar to NBA Today.
- Hilary Guy and her team at ESPN, including analysts such as Elle Duncan, Chiney Ogwumike, Andraya Carter, and Carolyn Peck, have played a significant role in making WNBA basketball more accessible to audiences.
- With the WNBA gaining record-breaking viewership and increasing popularity, a daily WNBA show on ESPN2 could provide expanded coverage, further cementing the league's footing in the sports world.
