The ion will continue to broadcast regular-season games on Friday night after the league and scripts reach the deal of media rights.
The terms of the deal – which will be effective for the 2026 season – was not disclosed.
WNBA Commissioner Kathy Angelbert said in a statement, “This new multi-year-old agreement reflects increasing stimulation around the league and increasing demand for WNBA Games.” “Through Scripps’ ion network Friday night doubleheaders, we will continue to display the world -class talent of WNBA athletes for nationwide and more fans.”
Ion began to broadcast the WNBA game on Friday night in 2023, priced at $ 13 million annually with an early three -year agreement between ion.
This season on its early Fridays, the first film of former Uconn star Paige Beukers with Dallas Wings attracted 639,000 audiences on an average, and according to the athletic, league debut of Golden State Volcaries attracted 581,000 viewers on an average.
According to SportsMediawatch, the 30 May match -up between Indiana fever and Connectic Sun is 851,000 viewers, on average, it is the most viewed WNBA game without Cetleen Clarke in the history of the network. By the end of May, ion increased the average audience number 39 percent from 550,000 to an average of 550,000.
The WNBA also broadcast the game on the CBS and has an 11 -year media rights package with Disney, NBC and Amaconon which is effective at an average of $ 200 million per year on the next season.
According to Front Office Sports, members of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) were reportedly not included in the conversation with the scrips.
Commissioner Angelbert was first represented in the table for such discussions for the Sangh of the players, which was accepted by a union source, “unprecedented”, but said that WNBPA could “hope” in future conversation, according to front office sports.
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