WNBA Finals Goes Hollywood With ‘Orange Carpet’ Show

Game 2 of the WNBA Finals is getting some Hollywood flair thanks to E! and USA Network. 

E! and USA Network, both Versant-owned channels, are teaming up to produce a one-hour, red carpet-style pregame show ahead of Game 2 on Monday night, marking the first time E! has extended its arrivals coverage beyond traditional entertainment events. “Live From the Orange Carpet: WNBA Finals” will air simultaneously on both channels beginning at 6 p.m. ET. 

A live panel featuring comedian Wanda Sykes, WNBA legend Tina Thompson, and WNBA player stylist Brittany Hampton will anchor the special. Canadian actress Lilly Singh—who joined the Toronto Tempo ownership group last year—will host. 

“We’re now the pre-pre-show, so we’ll talk about a lot of fun things—the culture, the personalities, the looks,” Singh told Front Office Sports. E!’s usual red carpet shows are famous for their “glam cams” that document attendees’ hair, makeup, and outfits. The WNBA “has a lot of really heavy hitters when it comes to fashion,” Singh said. “Not only are women amazing athletes, but we also serve looks, and I’m so excited to spotlight that.”

The WNBA first rolled out its orange carpet during All-Star Weekend in 2022 to give players a chance to showcase their personal style, and it has since become a fixture of the league’s draft night. Monday night’s show takes the concept a step further.

It’s a fitting treatment for a series that features Angel Reese—a known fashionista and the league’s most-followed player on social media—as well as the Valkyries, which lead the WNBA in nearly every major business metric, from ticket sales to overall valuation. (Plus, Valkyries fans have embraced the team’s violet colors with enough enthusiasm to become style icons in their own right.) But Christian McLaughlin, Versant’s SVP of live entertainment, told FOS that “Live From the Orange Carpet” was in the works “well before” the Finals matchup was set. 

Singh aims to reach a wide audience with the show, but also hopes it signals a shift for long-time WNBA fans. “For the fans that have been watching for years and years, I want this to feel like ‘Oh, the way the sport is being packaged is evolving.’ Now there’s a pre-show, and a pre-pre-show, and a panel—all these things that maybe didn’t exist not that long ago,” she said. “There’s more programming and more commentary than ever. This is just the latest proof that the way [the WNBA] is being talked about has evolved.” 

If there was ever a time to experiment with WNBA programming, it’s now. The league continues to grow its ratings and attendance; the first round of the playoffs delivered record viewership.

The Valkyries took a 1–0 lead in the Finals, beating the Dream 68–64 on Saturday. Game 2 tips off at 8 p.m. ET Monday, after the Orange Carpet and WNBA on USA pregame shows at 6 p.m. ET and 7 p.m. ET, respectively.

If the special is a success, more crossover programming could be on the way across Versant properties..

“The key is finding the right moments—where the energy, personalities and culture around a sport lend themselves to a fun, live experience that feels authentic to both audiences,” McLaughlin told FOS. “We’ll continue looking for similar opportunities across our portfolio.”