US Edition
WNBA Fans Convinced About One Controversial Reality After ESPN Announces 'Women’s Sports Sundays' Decision
ESPN will air nine weeks of Sunday primetime games featuring top WNBA and NWSL matchups, aiming to build a lasting franchise for women's sports.
- Sunday primetime at ESPN will launch Women’s Sports Sundays, a hub for WNBA and NWSL match-ups replacing Sunday Night Baseball after last year’s MLB rights rework.
- A cross-company team of 60 ESPN staffers has been meeting regularly to devise Women’s Sports Sunday, while Disney worked for months building programming and wooing sponsors with the `Level Up` initiative.
- Sponsors and prior tests underpin the format, as ESPN plans nine weeks of Women’s Sports Sundays with bespoke studio programming and Ally’s 90% ad spend commitment likely supporting Sunday.
- Executives say they are `setting an expectation` and want the series to be a mainstay in sports fans’ plans, with hopes of running similar windows at other pivotal women’s sports times.
- With growing industry backing, Disney has worked months to woo sponsors through its `Level Up` initiative, while ESPN’s broad rights, including an eight-year NCAA pact, position it to expand women’s sports.
15 Articles
15 Articles
ESPN to debut women's sports block on Sundays
(Graphic courtesy ESPN) ESPN will launch a new weekly primetime franchise dedicated exclusively to women’s sports beginning in summer 2026, the company said this week, marking a significant expansion of its live event strategy around the WNBA and NWSL. The initiative, branded “Women’s Sports Sundays,” will run for nine consecutive weeks and feature 12 games in Sunday night windows across ESPN platforms. The package will center on top-tier Women’…
'BIG MISTAKE!!!' ESPN torched for going all in on 'Women's Sports Sunday' · American Wire News
ESPN’s woke approach to covering sports just got another boost, as the left-of-center network began promoting “Women’s Sports Sunday.” With America getting a full dose of women’s sports, whether they want it or not, ESPN will feature WNBA and NWSL games on Sunday nights in a timeslot that was slotted for “Sunday Night Baseball.” The timeslot became available after ESPN and MLB reportedly exercised a mutual opt-out after the network attempted to …
WNBA Fans Convinced About One Controversial Reality After ESPN Announces 'Women’s Sports Sundays' Decision
We’re still unsure whether the 2026 WNBA season will take place, even though league management has rolled out the official season calendar. Those tensions solely hinge on the basis (or lack thereof) of the league and the WNBPA finding common ground in its CBA negotiations. ESPN, however, seems all set for the upcoming season, as reflected in its latest broadcasting decision. And fans worried about the recent CBA counterproposal cannot help but r…
ESPN turning to ‘Women’s Sports Sundays’ as ‘Sunday Night Baseball’ replacement
The Worldwide Leader has figured out how to fill the empty program spot left by the departure of “Sunday Night Baseball.” ESPN will debut “Women’s Sports Sundays," featuring the top games in the WNBA and the NWSL, with the series running nine weeks and including 12 primetime games. It will begin this summer.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 46% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
