TNT Sports signs WNBA deal
TNT Sports and WNBA have recently revealed a partnership that will span over several years, bringing WNBA matches to viewers in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Fans can catch a minimum of 16 regular WNBA games every season, both live and on-demand, through TNT Sports and discovery+. The league features 12 teams battling it out to become the WNBA Champion. TNT Sports’ coverage of the WNBA begins on May 15th (BST). The game will feature last year’s runners-up, the New York Liberty. The team is led by the 2023 MVP, Breanna Stewart, 2021 league MVP, Jonquel Jones, and 2023 All-WNBA Second Team pick, Sabrina Ionescu. They will face off against the Washington Mystics, who boast two-time WNBA All-Star, Ariel Atkins, and 2023 WNBA All-Defensive First Team pick, Brittney Sykes, in the nation’s capital.
TNT Sports is going to show WNBA games on weekends in the evening during the regular season. Not only will they show regular season games, but they will also show special games from the WNBA Playoffs, WNBA Finals, and the yearly WNBA All-Star Game.
To enhance the live coverage of games, TNT Sports' digital and social channels will also give fans access to weekly WNBA highlights during the league season.
According to Trojan Paillot, SVP Sports Rights Acquisitions and Syndication at Warner Bros Discovery Europe, they are very happy to be showcasing the talented athletes of the WNBA starting with the 2024 season. This new addition further enhances their collection of women’s sports which already includes the Premiership Women’s Rugby, UEFA Women’s Champions League football, and Women’s UFC in the United Kingdom and Ireland. By broadcasting the WNBA, they are taking a step towards representing the diversity of their audience while also complimenting their existing basketball rights such as the NBA.
The WNBA's Chief Growth Officer, Colie Edison, expressed her excitement about the joint venture with TNT Sports to spread the excitement of the WNBA to UK and Ireland fans. The growing popularity of women's basketball in the area means that fans will be able to keep up with their favorite WNBA teams and players throughout the season.
During the month of October in 2023, TNT Sports and the NBA made a deal to work together for several years. Through this partnership, fans in the United Kingdom and Ireland will have access to over 250 live games and various other NBA programs. This will include the exciting Emirates NBA Cup (which was formerly named the In-Season Tournament), the NBA Playoffs, the Finals, and the NBA All-Star game.
