A new deal will see every game of the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) broadcast live on 9Now and ESPN.
The two-year-deal will make the women’s league more accessible to fans and bring new audiences to the game. The deal includes the broadcasting of 92 regular season games and the entire final series.
It also includes a weekly match of the round, which will be aired on 9Go!, and a dedicated WNBL Hub, which includes replays, mini matches and highlights.
On top of this, ESPN on Disney+ will have all WNBL games available live and on demand. Meanwhile, ESPN will air more than 80 games from the upcoming season on ESPN/ESPN2 Network including Kayo, Foxtel and Fetch in Australia and Sky in New Zealand.
WNBL CEO Jennie Sager said the new deal will bring returning and new audiences to WNBL.
“The momentum and hunger for basketball is undeniable, with 1 in 5 girls now playing basketball in Australia. Our new broadcast deals are our answer to that momentum with more games easily accessible, helping young athletes see the pathways to playing pro and showing the incredible talent we have in this country,” Sager said.
“We’re proud to partner with Nine and ESPN – broadcasters who not only understand and embrace our vision but are actively helping us build the future of the game.”
The upcoming WNBL season kicks off on 18 October.
Every game also will streamed live and free via the WNBL’s website and app, making the games more accessible than ever.
Managing Director of Streaming and Broadcast at Nine, Amanda Laing said: “At Nine we’re committed to delivering world-class sport to all Australians, while giving our sports partners a powerful platform to grow their audiences. We’re delighted to extend our partnership with the WNBL for a further two years, with every game available live and free on 9 Now.”
“The WNBL now sits alongside Nine Group’s unrivalled line-up – from the Olympics and Grand Slam Tennis to the NRL, English Premier League, Rugby Union, and the Swimming and Athletics World Championships. Fans can enjoy the very best of women’s basketball in on destination, as we support the next generation of Opals and watch all our athletes build towards the LA 2028 Summer Olympics on Nine.”
Kylie Watson-Wheeler, Head of ESPN Asia Pacific and Senior Vice President and Managing Director at The Walt Disney Company Australia and New Zealand, she was thrilled to continue as broadcast partner of the WNBL and have every single game live on ESPN.
“The WNBL continues to gain popularity and draw in new, highly engaged audiences, and we’re excited they can cheer on their favourite teams with live matches in prime time every Tuesday night on ESPN and also available any time on Disney+.”
Feature image: WNBL CEO Jennie Sager.