Scripps’ foray into live sports will take another step this fall when it partners with Sports Illustrated to broadcast the SI Women’s Games, a new multi-day women’s sports competition featuring a number of high-profile athletes.
On Thursday, the competition revealed details for its Team Americas versus Team World format which will take place over the course of six days between October 28 and November 2. Each night, Team Americas and Team World will compete against each other in one sport. Below is the rundown of the schedule:
Tuesday, Oct. 28 @ 6pm PST: Flag Football
○ A three-game series between Team Americas and Team World
○ First two games will be shorter and worth one and two points
○ Third game is longer and worth three points
○ *Sudden-death playoff in the case of a tie
Wednesday, Oct. 29 @ 6pm PST: Combat Sports
○ 12 total matches between Team Americas and Team World
○ Six matches in judo by weight class
○ Six in wrestling by weight class
○ *Sudden death playoff in the case of a tie
Thursday, Oct. 30 @ 6pm PST: Volleyball
○ One best-of-five sets match, Team Americas vs. Team World
Friday, Oct. 31 @ 6pm PST: Gymnastics
○ Artistic Gymnastics: Floor, Beam and Uneven Bars
○ Rhythmic Gymnastics: Team and Individual
○ Trampoline: Both Individual and Synchronized
Saturday, Nov. 1 @ 2pm PST: Basketball
○ One full length game, 20-minute halves
○ Team Americas vs. Team World
Sunday, Nov. 2 @ 2pm PST: Tennis + Awards Ceremony
○ Each match will consist of an eight-game pro set
○ Americas 1 vs. World 1 (singles)
○ Americas 2 vs World 2 (singles)
○ Americas vs World (doubles)
Headlining the event will be athletes including tennis star Sloane Stephens, Mexican flag football quarterback Diana Flores, WNBA player Dearica Hamby, U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team player Jordyn Poulter, Olympic gymnast Jade Carey, British Olympian Bryony Page, freestyle wrestler Helen Maroulis, and Olympic silver medalist Raz Hershko.
Scripps’ Ion will broadcast the entirety of the competition across its linear and digital platforms. Ion has become a significant player in women’s sports, inking prominent media rights deals with the WNBA and NWSL in recent years.
The competition also marks an interesting turn for Sports Illustrated, which will try to leverage its brand to springboard an entirely novel athletics competition.
About Drew Lerner
Drew Lerner is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and an aspiring cable subscriber. He previously covered sports media for Sports Media Watch. Future beat writer for the Oasis reunion tour.