The WNBA returns next month. On Wednesday, CBS announced a “new long-term, multiplatform rights agreement” to air the league. There will be 20 regular-season games shown on the CBS Television Network and Paramount+. This is the most WNBA games the network has ever shown on TV.
Furthermore, the network is expanding its pregame, halftime, and postgame studio offerings to 10 games. Six of those will be on CBS/Paramount+, with a further four on CBS Sports HQ.
“The WNBA’s growth and cultural impact have never been stronger, and CBS Sports is proud to deepen our longstanding partnership with a league that continues to drive the evolution of women’s sports,” said Dan Weinberg, Executive Vice President, Programming, CBS Sports. “With our entire schedule of games on broadcast television, we are broadening the league’s reach and amplifying the WNBA’s momentum with best-in-class coverage that reflects the excellence of its athletes and resonates with fans.”
It’s a serious W for the W, and, I’d imagine, CBS.
Sky Should Follow CBS WNBA Commitment
Meanwhile, in the UK. Sky Sports has a deal to show the NBA and WNBA for the next 11 years. TNT Sports previously had the rights. There is also the league pass option, which gives you all the games for £29.99.
The Sky Sports deal is nothing to be sniffed at. However, while there is plenty of fuss being made about the return of the WNBA in the US, it does not feel quite the same in the UK. Of course, basketball, whichever sex is playing it, is nowhere near as big here as in the US. There is still over a month to go too, so perhaps attention will ramp up as we get closer to tip-off. The details remain quite tricky to find at the moment, though.
Sky Sports has an opportunity. With stars like Caitlin Clarke, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers, there is the chance to be part of the “cultural impact” Weinberg referenced in his statement. I hope they don’t miss it.
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