Ten upcoming 2020 WNBA regular seasons games will stream on Twitter, the league announced Monday. The deal marks the fourth straight year the WNBA will be available on the platform.
The broadcasts will be exclusive to Twitter and feature “alternative” commentators including basketball analysts LaChina Robinson and Ros Gold-Onwude. The streams will include integration of Twitter content, allowing for direct fan interaction with the on-air talent.
“WNBA fans on Twitter are passionate about their hoops — and these hyper-engaged fans continue to fuel an increased popularity of the league,” said TJ Adeshola, Twitter’s head of sports partnerships. “The W has been a top sports partner of ours for many years and we’re pumped to offer live WNBA games, with a Twitter twist, to basketball fans across the globe. Whether it’s a smooth step-back 3-pointer or compelling commentary on social justice, one thing is for sure — the conversation around WNBA players, teams and their fans is happening on Twitter.”
The following games will stream on Twitter:
- Wednesday, Aug. 12 : Atlanta Dream at Seattle Storm, 10 p.m. ET
- Friday, Aug. 14 : Connecticut Sun at Chicago Sky, 7 p.m. ET
- Wednesday, Aug. 19 : Phoenix Mercury at Los Angeles Sparks, 10 p.m. ET
- Friday, Aug. 21 : Los Angeles Sparks at Atlanta Dream, 7 p.m. ET
- Sunday, Aug. 23 : Atlanta Dream at Minnesota Lynx, 4 p.m. ET
- Sunday, Aug. 30: Connecticut Sun at Washington Mystics, 4 p.m. ET
- Thursday, Sept. 3 : Las Vegas Aces at Connecticut Sun, 8 p.m. ET
- Friday, Sept. 4 : Chicago Sky at Washington Mystics, 7 p.m. ET
- Saturday, Sept. 5 : New York Liberty at Phoenix Mercury, 8 p.m. ET
- Sunday, Sept. 6: Dallas Wings at Washington Mystics, 4 p.m. ET
The 2020 WNBA “bubble” season is underway in Bradenton, Fla. at IMG Academy. It includes a 22-game schedule for all 12 teams.
In addition to Twitter, WNBA games are also airing on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, CBS Television Network, CBS Sports Network, NBA TV and WNBA League Pass, as well as select regional sports networks. In July, ESPN added 13 more games to what was already slated to be its largest WNBA offering ever across its networks.
The WNBA is drawing increased buzz this season as its players have been at the forefront of social justice causes. The league announced it would dedicate the bubble season to raising awareness about social causes, including the creation of a social justice council, and other efforts include warm-ups with the messages “Say Her Name” and “Black Lives Matter.”
Last week, players began wearing shirts to support Raphael Warnock, the democratic political opponent of Atlanta Dream co-owner Senator Kelly Loeffler, who has been outspoken against the Black Lives Matter movement.
The season opener between the Los Angeles Sparks and Phoenix Mercury was the most-watched WNBA opener since 2012, ESPN said. Viewership was up 20% from the league’s first game in 2019.
Regular-season play is currently scheduled to conclude on Saturday, Sept. 12, and be followed by a traditional playoffs format.
