This past October, TNT Sports agreed to a media rights deal with Unrivaled to present live game coverage on TNT, truTV and Max. The three-on-three women’s basketball league was co-founded by WNBA players Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, and it will feature 30 players across six teams competing for the league championship. The league has received investments from David Levy, the former president of Turner Networks and current co-chief executive officer of Horizon Sports & Experiences, along with Meadowlark Media co-founder and president John Skipper. Live game action for the league will begin with a doubleheader from Medley, Fla. on Friday, Jan. 17.
Studio coverage surrounding live game broadcasts will include three-time WNBA champion and two-time league MVP Candace Parker and former WNBA All-Star Candace Parker serving as analysts, while Lauren Jbara will be the host. Lisa Leslie, four-time Olympic gold medalist and member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, will make special appearances and share her insights and perspectives. The team will return after the matchups conclude for postgame highlights and analysis from the TNT Sports studios.
“The additions of Candace, Renee, Lauren, and Leslie will jumpstart our exciting coverage with some of the best and biggest talent in the sport,” Craig Barry, executive vice president and chief content officer of TNT Sports, said in a statement. “Their transcendent knowledge of the game and scope of experience are going to bring this new league to life in important and unexpected ways.”
Throughout the season, broadcasters for matchups within this league will include play-by-play announcer Brendan Glasheen and analysts Lisa Leslie and Sarah Kustok. A rotation of experienced reporters will take part in the presentation as well, including Taylor Rooks, Allie LaForce, Stephanie Ready and Ros Gold-Onwude. The broadcasters will take part in more than 45 prime time regular-season matchups taking place three times a week across TNT Sports platforms. TNT Sports has also invested an undisclosed amount in Unrivaled as part of its partnership with the league.
“We’re thrilled to tip off our inaugural season with such legendary talent across all levels of the women’s basketball space,” Micky Lawler, commissioner of Unrivaled, said in a statement. “Their voices will bring much-needed analysis and perspective to the revolutionary version of basketball Unrivaled and TNT are bringing to fans this year.”
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