The 2024 WNBA season tips off on May 14, and ESPN is going all-out for the league’s opener. Per a Friday release, the network “will utilize a WNBA Finals-level production setup” for the Indiana Fever’s game, and Caitlin Clark’s WNBA debut, with the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday.
The game, which will stream on both ESPN+ and Disney+, begins at 7:30 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes. ESPN’s top WNBA broadcast team of Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, and Holly Rowe will be on the call.
The elevated production details for the game include “multiple camera angles, including Below and Above the Rim Cam viewing options, roving RF handheld cameras, and player mics.”
WNBA Countdown returns before the Fever game at 7 p.m. ET. Another edition airs at 9:30 p.m. ET following its conclusion and before the Phoenix Mercury-Las Vegas Aces game, which begins at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN2. LaChina Robinson, Monica McNutt, and Carolyn Peck will be on set.
The Mercury-Aces game in the second half of the Opening Night doubleheader will be called by Tiffany Greene, Debbie Antonelli, and Angel Gray.
ABC also airs a doubleheader on Saturday, May 18. WNBA Countdown begins the day at 12:30 p.m. ET, featuring Elle Duncan, Chiney Ogwumike, and Andraya Carter. At 1 p.m. ET, the New York Liberty host the Fever, while the Aces host the Los Angeles Sparks at 3 p.m. ET. Game broadcasters for Saturday’s games have yet to be announced.
Prime Video will also air one of Clark’s games during opening week. The streamer will air the Liberty-Fever matchup, Clark’s home debut, with coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 16. Prime will be live and on-site from Indiana, featuring Robinson and Renee Montgomery as host and analyst, respectively.
As for NBA TV, it will miss out on Caitlin Clark’s first week, airing its first Fever game (against the Aces) on Saturday, May 25 at 9 p.m. ET. The network airs an evening doubleheader during opening week, with the Dallas Wings-Chicago Sky game beginning at 8 p.m. and the Atlanta Dream-Mercury game starting at 10 p.m. ET.
[ESPN]
About Joe Lucia
I hate your favorite team. I also sort of hate most of my favorite teams.