The WNBA on CBS is an American television sports presentation show broadcast by CBS. It premiered on May 25, 2019. The consist of branding used for presentation of Women's National Basketball Association.
Background Terms of the deal On April 22, 2019, CBS Sports Network and the WNBA struck a deal to televise 40 games in primetime and on weekends during the 2019 season. The games broadcast on CBS from local broadcasts already airing on the WNBA's streaming site, WNBA League Pass.
Production Initially, most games were broadcast via clean feeds provided by the league and the home team's regional broadcaster. Beginning in the 2024 season, the games carried on the CBS network are now produced in-house by CBS Sports, with the clean feed productions now used solely for games on CBS Sports Network.
Schedules The 2021 season had 100 games broadcast on national networks, including 40 on CBS networks. On June 19, 2021, CBS broadcast a WNBA game between the Connecticut Sun and Chicago Sky with Lisa Byington providing the play-by-play and Lisa Leslie providing analysis. On June 26, 2021, CBS broadcast a game between the Washington Mystics and Dallas Wings.
The remaining national broadcast schedule for the 2022 season was released in April and May 2022—including two regular season games on CBS as well 38 on CBS Sports Network.
2024 was the first year of new a two-year deal with CBS Sports. Also in 2024, CBS Sports aired 20 regular-season games, with eight airing on CBS and 12 airing on CBS Sports Network.
For the 2025 season, CBS announced that it would be airing at least two regular season games in prime time involving the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever on June 7 and August 9. They will air six games during daytime and 12 on CBS Sports Network.
On March 25, 2026, it was announced that for the 2026 WNBA season, CBS would be a part of new multi year deal with the league to where they would air 20 games, all on the main CBS broadcast network. None however, are scheduled to air on CBS Sports Network for this season.
Commentators
Current Play-by-play Jordan Kent Chris Lewis Ed Cohen Jack Gordon
Color analysts Isis Young Debbie Antonelli Julianne Viani Braen Stephanie Ready
Sideline reporter Tiffany Blackmon AJ Ross Chris Williamson Hailey Sutton
Former Play-by-play Anne Marie Anderson Jon Bloom Krista Blunk Pat Boylan John Brickley Cindy Brunson Lisa Byington Andy Demetra Paul Dottino Dick Fain Marney Gellner Brendan Glasheen Michael Grady Angel Gray Tiffany Greene Rahshaun Haylock Bob Heussler Alan Horton Tom Leander Sloane Martin Meghan McPeak Jeff Munn Jason Ross Jr. Sean Salisbury Matt Schumacker Chris Shearn Zora Stephenson Ron Thulin
Color analysts Kim Adams Debbie Antonelli Stephen Bardo Ashley Battle Tully Bevilaqua Rushia Brown Allie Clifton Jordan Cornette Ros Gold-Onwude Bria Goss Sarah Kustok Lisa Leslie Nancy Lieberman Meghan McKeown Ann Meyers Drysdale Mary Murphy Lea B. Olsen Raegan Pebley Carolyn Peck LaChina Robinson Leah Secondo Sheryl Swoopes Mike Trudell Charli Turner Thorne Tabitha Turner Julianne Viani Scott Williams Christy Winters-Scott Elise Woodward
Sideline reporters Patricia Babcock-McGraw Robyn Brown Tina Cervasio Katie Engleson Terrika Foster-Brasby Maggie Hale ShaVonne Herndon Kelsie Kasper Nikki Kay Kristen Lago Meg McDonald Dan Nolan Piper Shaw Mike Trudell Kirsten Watson
Viewership The two games on CBS on June 19 and June 26, 2021 averaged about 427,000 and 567,000 viewers respectively.
For 2024, CBS Sports enjoyed its most watched regular season ever for the WNBA. CBS Sports average 1.10 million viewers. That's up by 86% from the previous year.
The most watched game in WNBA on CBS history is the June 16, 2024 contest between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever, which averaged 2.25 million viewers.
See also Women's National Basketball Association - Media coverage Sports broadcasting contracts in the United States
References
External links