ION debuting brand new studio for NWSL, WNBA shows

WNBA and NWSL fans and audiences have been requesting more live shows featuring analysis, game breakdowns, player features, and more for years. Despite the growth in viewership, audience, and demand in women’s sports, broadcast media companies have been slow to fully invest in in-depth coverage.

Scripps Sports has taken a different approach by creating weekly studio shows for both the WNBA and the NWSL, now with all the studio bells and whistles they deserve.

Scripps Sports has designed and developed a studio/set specifically for all pregame, postgame, and in-between game shows for WNBA on ION (Friday nights) and NWSL on ION (Saturday nights). The studio features 4K monitors, a telestrator for live analysis, four unique positions, including a main sports desk for multiple production views, and a wall of four vertical monitors to highlight teams, matchups, and players.

ION is the first broadcast network to air a weekly studio show for the WNBA. Owned by The E.W. Scripps Company, the network is available for free over the air, on cable, and through connected TV platforms, making games accessible and easy to find for a growing women’s basketball audience. WNBA games featured on ION have exceeded viewership expectations, topping one million viewers for the first time in early June. The average viewership per game through July has been steady, doubling compared to the average viewership through July 2023.

While other networks lag behind in women’s sports coverage, Scripps is investing in a designated studio for its WNBA and NWSL coverage, along with knowledgeable and experienced women’s sports broadcasters.

“We are the first broadcast network to commit to weekly studio shows for the WNBA and the NWSL,” says Quinn Pacini, vice president, Scripps Sports broadcast operations. “We are excited to introduce a studio for delivering best-in-class studio shows, feature segments, and graphics packages to fans.”

Providing additional programming and investing in the delivery of that programming is a strong indicator of a network taking women’s sports seriously and understanding their value.

“This is another example of how strongly we believe in women’s sports and how committed Scripps Sports and ION are to providing special content, standout broadcast teams, and a state-of-the-art studio for the WNBA and NWSL,” says Brian Lawlor, president, Scripps Sports. “We’re proud to offer national studio shows on ION for both the WNBA and NWSL, reflecting a significant investment in storytelling capabilities.”

The WNBA Friday Night Spotlight, sponsored by State Farm, features Larry Smith as the host, Meghan McKeown and Autumn Johnson as analysts. The NWSL on ION team features Julie Stewart-Binks as the host, Darian Jenkins and Jessica McDonald as analysts. Nicole Denne serves as executive producer of both shows.

The WNBA returns Thursday, August 15 after a month-long hiatus due to the Olympic break. The new studio set will debut Friday, August 16 at 7 p.m. (Eastern Time). Get your popcorn ready.