WNBA Announces Disney Networks Broadcast Schedule for the 2022 Regular Season

– Schedule Features 25 Games during Regular Season to be Broadcast Nationally Across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 –

The WNBA has announced that the league’s 26^th regular season, set to tip off on Friday, May 6, will be highlighted by 25 national broadcasts during the regular season across ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2. During the upcoming season, the WNBA will partner with Google and Disney Networks to present up to a possible 52 games beginning with the regular season and extending through the recently-expanded postseason, which would include up to 27 games. 

The complete television and streaming schedule, including a combined 40 games on CBS Television Network and CBS Sports Network, as well as additional offerings from NBA TV, Prime Video, and Facebook Watch will be unveiled at a later date.

“ESPN has been a stalwart broadcast partner for the WNBA for 26 consecutive years, and we are grateful they, in partnership with Google are providing significant opportunities to view WNBA games in 2022,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “From tip-off weekend through our expanded postseason, ESPN and Google are continuing to serve our growing fan base and providing an enormous national platform for WNBA players and fans.”  

“When we became a WNBA Changemaker last year, our first goal was to increase the amount of women’s sports content available across broadcast and digital, and we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished so far in partnership with the WNBA and Disney,” said Joshua Spanier, Global Vice President of Marketing for Media, Google. “We look forward to working with them again this season as the Presenting Partner of the WNBA Playoffs to continue the push for equity and inclusion in women’s sports by giving fans – and advertisers – more opportunities to support and recognize these amazing athletes.”

The ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 broadcast schedule gets underway on Saturday, May 7, when reigning Kia WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones and fellow 2021 All-Stars DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones lead the Connecticut Sun into New York to take on the Liberty, led by Betnijah Laney, a 2021 All-Star, Sabrina Ionescu, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2020, and Michaela Onyenwere, the 2021 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year (ESPN, 6 p.m. ET).

“We are proud to continue our long-standing relationship with the WNBA, having been connected with the league since the very beginning of its 26-year history,” said Matt Kenny, vice president, programming and acquisitions. “We look forward to this season as we deepen our commitment with increased coverage of the newly expanded postseason.” 

The league’s opening weekend also includes a star-studded ESPN2 doubleheader on Sunday, May 8. Action tips off when the Washington Mystics, owners of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm, visit the Minnesota Lynx and two-time WNBA Finals MVP and 2021 Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Sylvia Fowles, who will be playing her 15^th and final season in the WNBA (8 p.m. ET). Following that game, the action shifts to Las Vegas where the Seattle Storm, featuring Sue Bird, the league’s all-time assists leader and 12-time All-Star selection entering her 19^th active season, and Jewell Loyd, a three-time WNBA All-Star, visit the Aces, who are under the direction of new Head Coach Becky Hammon and led by two-time All-Star and 2020 Kia WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson (10 p.m. ET).

The 2022 regular season will feature a record-high 36 games per team, providing fans greater opportunities to see the best players in the world compete at the highest level. Year two of Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase play also brings added incentive to the first half of the season for players and teams while offering fans conference rivalry competition through which to support their favorite teams.

At the conclusion of the 2022 regular season on Sunday, Aug. 14, the WNBA will implement its new postseason format announced in November. As part of its ongoing commitment to increase visibility and coverage of women’s sports, Google, a WNBA Changemaker and Presenting Partner of the WNBA Playoffs, and Disney will once again collaborate with the WNBA to broadcast additional games. Wall to wall coverage of the WNBA Playoffs presented by Google and the WNBA Finals presented by YouTube TV will feature up to a record 27 nationally-televised playoff games broadcast across ABC and ESPN networks. 

ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 REGULAR-SEASON BROADCAST SCHEDULE

Stay tuned to TheseUrbanTimes.com for all your WNBA news. Follow @eldorado2452 and @theseurbantimes on twitter and instagram for all your WNBA updates.