ION will make WNBA history on Friday, May 2, by airing the league’s first-ever nationally televised preseason games. The doubleheader will kick off another year of the State Farm® WNBA Friday Night Spotlight on ION for Scripps Sports.
The network announced the scheduled broadcast which opens with a matchup between the Dallas Wings and the Las Vegas Aces live from the University of Notre Dame’s Purcell Pavilion at Joyce Center in South Bend, Indiana. Notably, three WNBA All-Stars playing in the game — Jackie Young and Jewell Loyd of the Aces and Arike Ogunbowale of the Wings — are former Notre Dame college basketball stars.
Additionally, the game will feature the highly anticipated WNBA debut of Paige Bueckers, the No. 1 overall draft pick by the Wings in this year’s draft.
Following the first game, the action will continue as the Chicago Sky face off against the Brazilian National Team at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Louisiana State University’s campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Sky is led by WNBA All-Star Angel Reese, who helped LSU win a national championship in 2023. Furthermore, Reese’s teammate Kamilla Cardoso will take the court against the Brazilian national team she has represented internationally, while rookie Hailey Van Lith will make her return to LSU, where she competed during the 2023-24 season.
“ION is a proud home to the WNBA, and we couldn’t be happier to bring the entire country the league’s first two nationally televised preseason games in its history,” said Brian Lawlor, president of Scripps Sports. “These two unique and star-studded preseason matchups will help fans and viewers get excited about the upcoming season.”
Coverage will begin at 6 p.m. ET with the return of the WNBA on ION studio show. Host Larry Smith will be joined by analysts Autumn Johnson and Meghan McKeown to preview the matchups. Moreover, the preseason doubleheader marks the start of ION’s regular Friday night WNBA broadcasts, launching May 16.
Viewership for last season’s WNBA Friday Night Spotlight on ION rose by 133%, with more than 23 million unique viewers tuning in to games and studio shows.
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