ESPN prepares for a WNBA season full of bells, whistles and talent

Network announces on-air talent and “production enhancements” for 2019

With the tip-off of the 2019 WNBA season just days away, ESPN released details about its plans for coverage Tuesday.

From an opening matchup featuring two three-time champions to the festivities of the All-Star Game, the network has a chance to quiet the complaints about the lack of sufficient media attention given to the league. Now, they just need to hope that the league’s star power doesn’t dim any further.

In the network’s press release, ESPN WNBA producer Rodney Vaughn promised to bring the league’s stories to the fans in innovative ways.

“ESPN will bring WNBA fans closer to the game, with various in-game access enhancements and, most importantly, document the spectacular play on the court,” he said. “I’m most excited to see this year’s deep rookie class, the combination of the Ogwumike sisters in Los Angeles and how Diana Taurasi will return from injury.”

Which games should you mark on your calendar?

In addition to the games being aired by CBS Sports Network and streamed on Twitter, ESPN will air a total of 16 regular season games. What five games should all fans watch, no matter who they root for?

Let’s take a look…

The bias towards West Coast games was not intentional, but it does show how many of the season’s major storylines will unfold in the Mountain and Pacific time zones.

• Opening night on the ESPN/ABC networks features a rematch of last year’s epic five-game semifinal between the Seattle Storm and the Phoenix Mercury. It’s also the night that the Storm will be holding the ring ceremony to celebrate their third title. How can you skip opening night between two three-time champions, even if both teams will be missing major stars due to injury? Settle down on Saturday, May 25 at 3:30 p.m. ET to watch the 2019 champs on ABC.
• The very next week, it’s another Phoenix Mercury game. This one isn’t about them, though. It’s the first chance to see No. 1 overall pick Jackie Young do her thing as a pro as the Las Vegas Aces travel to Phoenix. Depending on how things work out, it might be the first chance to see Liz Cambage in an Aces uniform, too. Tune in to ESPN2 at 10 p.m. ET on Friday, May 31.
• The next pick isn’t until Aug. 1, when the two teams most linked to Cambage face off in Los Angeles. The Aces and the Sparks will tip off on ESPN2 at 10 p.m. ET on a Thursday night. See how Young has developed over the season, how the Ogwumike sisters are enjoying their life as teammates, and how Kalani Brown is fitting in with L.A.
• Almost two weeks later, fans will finally get a rematch of last year’s final. On Aug. 14, the Seattle Storm will travel to the nation’s capital to take on the Washington Mystics. See if the Mystics can get some measure of revenge at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.
• The final recommendation features the same two teams as the first one. The Storm will travel to the desert to take on the Mercury on Sept. 3 at 10 p.m. ET. Why the same two teams? Well, for one, it was a great match-up last season no matter how many times it was played. For another, the Mercury should be at full strength by this point, with Diana Taurasi expected to return in mid-July. The game will air on ESPN2.

All-Star Weekend

ESPN and ABC will both air significant portions of All-Star Weekend festivities. Things will kick off on Friday, July 26 at 7 p.m. when ESPN brings the 2019 WNBA All-Star Special to the fans from the Mandalay Bay Center in Las Vegas. The special will feature skills contests and the three-point competition.

On July 27, the 2019 WNBA All-Star Game will be aired on ABC. The celebration of the league’s best will tip off at 3:30 p.m. ET from the Mandalay Bay Center.

More from Las Vegas Aces

• Aces Wild: Las Vegas wins first WNBA Championship over Sun
• The “Beautiful” bond between Becky Hammon and Gregg Popovich
• Sue Bird says goodbye as Las Vegas Aces advance to WNBA Finals
• 3 Must-watch matchups in Storm, Aces WNBA Playoffs series
• WNBA Playoff Preview: Las Vegas Aces vs. Phoenix Mercury

Bells, Whistles, and Legends

ESPN’s plans to engage the viewers include both knowledgeable broadcasters and a few production bells and whistles during the telecasts. Perhaps most interesting will be the addition will be two player mics for select games. All games will include mics on the coaches.

Coaching analysis will play an important part in the Washington Mystics-Atlanta Dream meeting on June 23. Rebecca Lobo and Kara Lawson will play the part of “Coaches on the Bench.” During the game, they will provide analysis of substitutions, play calls, and in-game adjustments to let viewers in on what goes through a coach’s mind as the competition unfolds on the court. Ryan Ruocco will join them for play-by-play duties.

On July 6 and Aug. 27, past champions will come together to help call the “Legends Games.” Legendary former teammates Cynthia Cooper-Dyke and Sheryl Swoopes will join forces once again. This time, though, it will be to call the Minnesota Lynx-Connecticut Sun contest in early July and the Los Angeles Sparks-Washington Mystics game later in the season. They will be joined by Pam Ward on play-by-play.

Full ESPN Schedule

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