ESPN has announced its full schedule of Women’s Sports Sundays broadcasts, featuring TJ Maxx as the title sponsor of the programming. With ESPN losing its Sunday Night Baseball package, the network pivoted to a landmark embracing of women’s sports in primetime windows.
What We Know: ESPN debuts Women’s Sports Sundays on June 21, replacing Sunday Night Baseball with a nine-week primetime franchise. The block runs across ESPN, ESPN2, Disney+, and ESPN Deportes through August 16. Twelve live events are scheduled, featuring WNBA and NWSL matchups with stars including Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, Angel Reese, and Trinity Rodman.
What The Data Says: (ESPN Women’s Sports Sundays Schedule)
| Date | Time (ET) | Game |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, June 21 | 7 p.m. | WNBA Countdown |
| Sun, June 21 | 8 p.m. | New York Liberty vs. Los Angeles Sparks |
| Sun, June 28 | 6:30 p.m. | WNBA Countdown |
| Sun, June 28 | 7 p.m. | New York Liberty vs. Golden State Valkyries |
| Sun, July 5 | 6:30 p.m. | WNBA Countdown |
| Sun, July 5 | 7 p.m. | Indiana Fever vs. Las Vegas Aces |
| Sun, July 12 | 6:30 p.m. | WNBA Countdown |
| Sun, July 12 | 7 p.m. | Chicago Sky vs. Dallas Wings |
| Sun, July 19 | 6:30 p.m. | WNBA Countdown |
| Sun, July 19 | 7 p.m. | Connecticut Sun vs. Phoenix Mercury |
| Sun, July 26 | 8 p.m. | Women’s Sports Sundays Studio Show |
| Sun, July 26 | 9 p.m. | Angel City FC vs. Racing Louisville FC (NWSL) |
| Sun, Aug. 2 | 6:30 p.m. | WNBA Countdown |
| Sun, Aug. 2 | 7 p.m. | Connecticut Sun vs. Dallas Wings |
| Sun, Aug. 2 | 9 p.m. | Denver Summit vs. Boston Legacy (NWSL) |
| Sun, Aug. 9 | 6:30 p.m. | WNBA Countdown |
| Sun, Aug. 9 | 7 p.m. | Golden State Valkyries vs. Los Angeles Sparks |
| Sun, Aug. 9 | 9 p.m. | Seattle Reign FC vs. Angel City FC (NWSL) |
| Sun, Aug. 16 | 4:30 p.m. | WNBA Countdown |
| Sun, Aug. 16 | 5 p.m. | Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream |
| Sun, Aug. 16 | 7 p.m. | Portland Fire vs. Phoenix Mercury |
| Sun, Aug. 16 | 9 p.m. | Angel City FC vs. Washington Spirit (NWSL) |
What They Said: Danielle Brown, Senior Vice President, Sports and Streaming Brand Solutions, Disney Advertising: “The momentum behind women’s sports has created new opportunities for brands to engage with fans in meaningful and authentic ways. Women’s Sports Sundays is designed to showcase the very best of women’s sports in a dedicated primetime environment, and we’re thrilled to team up with TJ Maxx to help bring that vision to life. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to investing in women’s sports and creating experiences that resonate with audiences across ESPN and Disney’s platforms.”
Susie Piotrkowski, ESPN Vice President, Women’s Sports Programming & espnW: “Women’s sports continue to experience extraordinary growth. Women’s Sports Sundays reflects ESPN’s continued commitment to giving fans a dedicated destination for the biggest matchups, brightest stars and most compelling stories across women’s sports. We are bringing together elite competition across multiple leagues, world-class production and the reach of The Walt Disney Company, in a way no one other partner is able.”
What Remains Unclear: Specific commentator assignments and any additional coverage details haven’t been announced yet.
What It Means: ESPN is making a significant structural bet on women’s sports in primetime. It will be interesting to see if the viewership interest in women’s sports follows the audience to Sunday night’s on ESPN. ESPN was able to secure more WNBA product than NWSL product, despite the viewership success of the FIFA World Cup. Also, only two appearances by Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever is a little under what I felt ESPN could draw. However, the franchise isn’t a one-off event — it’s a branded, sponsored, multi-platform commitment. If ratings deliver, this summer could permanently reshape how ESPN programs its Sunday nights.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
