TNT Sports is breaking into the world of women’s basketball broadcasting.
After Caitlin Clark‘s first WNBA season was a smash success, TNT Sports is trying to get their hand in the cookie jar.
The WNBA just completed its most successful season in history[/caption]
TNT Sports is getting in on the action by broadcasting a new women’s basketball league[/caption]
The WNBA season is coming to a close, but TNT Sports is going to continue broadcasting women’s basketball via the new 3-on-3 basketball league Unrivaled.
Warner Bros. Discovery made an investment into the league alongside its broadcasting deal, giving it equity in the company.
The deal was brokered by former ESPN president John Skipper and former Turner chief David Levy and will see games broadcasted starting on January 17.
Games will run on TNT on Mondays and Fridays, with all games also streaming on Max.
Unrivaled has garnered a lot of buzz thanks in part to the hype around women’s basketball this year, but also because of the roster they are building.
WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier co-founded the league, and various other All-Stars will participate in the games.
All players will also receive equity in the league as part of their compensation.
The deal is massive for TNT, as it is a way for the network to retain basketball coverage even if they lose NBA rights after their lawsuit with the league.
“The history they have with basketball is second to none,” Unrivaled president Alex Bazzell told The Hollywood Reporter.
“Media rights is the end goal for every league, not just a startup League, that’s what pays the bills the most.”
TNT Sports have been seeking to add as many sports as possible to its roster in the wake of losing the NBA. They already added some college football and basketball this month.
“From the standpoint of timing is everything, it’s nice that ultimately, they’re building up their their sports portfolio,” Levy said.
Unrivaled is benefitting from having an established basketball broadcaster that they hope can grow the league.
“They know how to do studio shows better than anybody, in my opinion,” Levy said.
“So to be able to go back to that and bring this new league into that infrastructure while we’re producing the games, they’re going to give us some insight and some help.
WNBA All-Star rosters
THE 2024 WNBA All-Star game rosters have been announced, with Team WNBA set to face Team USA on July 20.
Team WNBA:
- DeWanna Bonner – Connecticut Sun
- Aliyah Boston – Indiana Fever
- Caitlin Clark – Indiana Fever
- Allisha Gray – Atlanta Dream
- Dearica Hamby – Los Angeles Sparks
- Brionna Jones – Connecticut Sun
- Jonquel Jones – New York Liberty
- Kayla McBride – Minnesota Lynx
- Kelsey Mitchell – Indiana Fever
- Arike Ogunbowale – Dallas Wings
- Nneka Ogwumike – Seattle Storm
- Angel Reese – Chicago Sky
Team USA:
- Napheesa Collier – Minnesota Lynx
- Kahleah Copper – Phoenix Mercury
- Chelsea Gray – Las Vegas Aces
- Brittney Griner – Phoenix Mercury
- Sabrina Ionescu – New York Liberty
- Jewell Loyd – Seattle Storm
- Kelsey Plum – Las Vegas Aces
- Breanna Stewart – New York Liberty
- Diana Taurasi – Phoenix Mercury
- Alyssa Thomas – Connecticut Sun
- A’ja Wilson – Las Vegas Aces
- Jackie Young – Las Vegas Aces
“We want to make sure those games fit culturally into their environment as well.”
“They get to help story tell outside the games… they have Bleacher Report and House of highlights under that umbrella,” Bazzell added.
“Hundreds of millions of social followers for us, that’s an additional way to tap into a fan base that we’re trying to garner so aside from just the dollars of investment, it was more about the alignment of the long-term growth of this property, not just looking at this as a transactional partnership, but more of everyone rowing in the same direction.”
The WNBA season is nearing its completion, with the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx competing in the finals currently.
The Liberty hold a 2-1 series lead over the Lynx.
TNT Sports gained equity in the new Unrivaled basketball league[/caption]
