or


[05/06/25 - 02:39 PM]
State Farm WNBA Friday Night Spotlight on ION to Tip Off May 16 with the Most Regular-Season Games on TV
The first game will see the regular season premiere of Paige Bueckers, selected No.1 overall by the Dallas Wings in the recent WNBA draft presented by State Farm, as the Wings host the Minnesota Lynx.
[via press release from Scripps]

State Farm(R) WNBA Friday Night Spotlight on ION to tip off May 16 with the most regular-season games on TV

ATLANTA, May 6, 2025 -- Scripps Sports today unveiled its broadcast plans for the 2025 WNBA season, where ION will set a new standard of weekly coverage for the league by broadcasting the most regular games of the season, 50 in total, as part of its State Farm(R) WNBA Friday Night Spotlight series.

The State Farm(R) WNBA Friday Night Spotlight showcases thrilling doubleheaders from across the league on Friday nights of the regular season. ION is one of the most-watched networks on television and is available on pay TV, connected TV, free ad-supported streaming platforms and over-the-air in more than 128 million homes.

"We're proud to be the home for women's sports and lead the way in the number of regular season WNBA games on television due to our nationwide multiplatform audience reach," said Brian Lawlor, president, Scripps Sports. "From new franchises entering the mix to the establishment and continuation of rivalries, there is a lot of buzz around the WNBA right now, and we are thrilled to have the chance to capture that energy through our coverage."

Among the WNBA on ION plans and highlights this season:

In the Studio

The WNBA on ION Studio Show, the first weekly game broadcast studio show dedicated to the WNBA, will return in 2025 and will again feature:

· 30-minute pre-game shows including player interviews, highlights from the week's games, spotlights on upcoming matchups on ION and in-depth feature stories from around the league.

· Halftime shows that break down games and provide insights from the studio host and analysts.

· Wrap-up/preview shows in between games.

Originating from Atlanta, the WNBA on ION Studio Show team features award-winning news and sports anchor Larry Smith as host, alongside analysts Autumn Johnson, the NCAA's lead personality covering women's basketball, and Meghan McKeown, basketball analyst for the Sun, NBC/Peacock, Big Ten Network, ESPN and FOX. Jay Hoover serves as studio show producer, with Nicole Denne as executive producer.

On the Court

The new WNBA season tips off on Friday, May 16, on ION and features a national doubleheader of debuts:

· The first game will see the regular season premiere of Paige Bueckers, selected No.1 overall by the Dallas Wings in the recent WNBA draft presented by State Farm(R), as the Wings host the Minnesota Lynx.

· The nightcap features the first-ever game of the league's newest franchise, the Golden State Valkyries, as they take on the Los Angeles Sparks.

Other WNBA on ION schedule highlights include:

· A'ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces hosting Kelsey Plum and the Los Angeles Sparks in Plum's return to Vegas for the first time since the blockbuster trade that sent her to L.A. (May 30).

· Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever facing off against Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings in a showdown of the most recent No.1 draft picks as the Fever visit Dallas (June 27).

· The WNBA going international as the Atlanta Dream and newest star Brittney Griner plays Skylar Diggins, Nneka Ogwumike and the Seattle Storm in Vancouver for the first regular season game ever played outside the United States (Aug.15).

· Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark going head-to-head as Reese's Chicago Sky takes on Clark's Indiana Fever (Sept. 5).

Growth Last Season

The return of the WNBA on ION follows a successful 2024 season where average viewership for the State Farm(R) WNBA Friday Night Spotlight increased by 133% over 2023 and attracted more than 23 million unique viewers across games and wrap shows.

To access complete details about the WNBA on ION, and find ION channel information, visit https://www.ionwnba.com/.

Follow @IONWNBA on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for future updates.

*Sources for data: Nielsen L+SD national panel one-minute qualifier for reach, average program performance 05/14/2024-09/13/2024; FAST - Roku, Samsung TV+, LG, Vizio, Xumo, Plex, Amazon Fire Channels, Pluto, CW and Tablo.

Scripps media contact: Jim Weiss, (770) 722-2142, Jim.Weiss@scripps.com

About ION

A leading general entertainment network, ION's lineup features major cable and broadcast shows, original series, live sports and special event programming. ION is part of The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP), a diversified media company focused on creating a better-informed world. As one of the nation's largest local TV broadcasters, Scripps serves communities with quality, objective local journalism and operates a portfolio of more than 60 stations in more than 40 markets.

About Scripps Sports

Scripps Sports serves professional and college sports leagues, conferences and teams with local market depth and national broadcast reach. Scripps Sports currently has partnerships with the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2024 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, the 2023 Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights, the new Utah Hockey Club, the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA and the NCAA's Big Sky Conference. Scripps Sports is a division of The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP), a Fortune 1000 American media company.





  [may 2025]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)




[09/10/26 - 01:01 PM]
Video: NBC Debuts Official Promo & Highlights Key Art for "One Chicago"
The franchise follows the professional and personal lives of first responders and public service workers who lays themselves on the line to save and protect the citizens of the Windy City.

[09/10/26 - 01:00 PM]
CBS Announces 2026 Premiere Dates and Milestones for the #1 Daytime Lineup
The network has held its spot as the highest-rated network in daytime for 40 consecutive seasons.
[09/10/26 - 12:03 PM]
Get Unprecedented Access Inside Las Vegas' Golden Nugget Casino in "Secret Life of a Vegas Casino" - Premieres Tuesday, September 29 on Discovery Channel
Just off the chaos of busy Fremont Street, cameras capture the real-life and often shocking moments that unfold around the clock: unruly guests, high-pressure special events and the relentless efforts required to keep thousands of people safe and entertained each day.

[09/10/26 - 11:06 AM]
Video: Tubi Drops Official Trailer for New Original Horror-Comedy Film "Buzzkill"
When a group of sorority sisters find themselves trapped with a vengeful killer, party-girl Nora (Siena Agudong) knows that the drunker she gets, the more her tipsy memories start revealing clues about who's murdering her friends.
[09/10/26 - 11:06 AM]
Ovation TV to Debut the U.S. Premiere of "Murdoch Mysteries" Season 20 on October 5
Set in Toronto at the dawn of the 20th century, the one-hour drama series explores the intriguing world of William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson), a methodical and dashing detective who pioneers innovative forensic techniques to solve some of the city's most gruesome murders.
[09/10/26 - 11:02 AM]
Wisconsin-Notre Dame on NBC & Peacock Is NBC Sports' Third-Most Watched Notre Dame Football Game Since 2005, Averaging 8.1 Million Viewers
The audience for the No. 4 Fighting Irish's 41-13 victory peaked at 9.7 million viewers in the second quarter (9:15-9:30 p.m. ET) as Notre Dame led 13-10.
[09/10/26 - 11:01 AM]
Video: "Prison Break: Black Creek" - Now in Production - Hulu
Welcome to Black Creek Penitentiary.
[09/10/26 - 11:01 AM]
HBO to Debut the Tony and Olivier Award-Winning Play "Oh, Mary!" in 2027
Cole Escola, Giles Terera, Bianca Leigh, Tony Macht and Michael Urie will star in the filmed adaptation.
[09/10/26 - 11:00 AM]
E!'s New Gilded Pleasure Is Here! "The Golden Life" Premieres Tuesday, October 20 at 10 PM ET/PT
Kelly Bensimon, Countess Luann De Lesseps, Dorinda Medley, Sonja Morgan, and Ramona Singer are bringing decades of friendship and feuds to sunny Palm Beach, FL, for a new start in the Sunshine State.

[09/10/26 - 10:31 AM]
Karen Kingsbury's "The Christmas Ring" to Premiere as Part of Great American Christmas 2026
Jana Kramer, Ben Hollingsworth, Kelsey Grammer, Megan Ashley Brown, and Jessie James Decker star in the project, which is based on the 2025 book of the same name.
[09/10/26 - 10:00 AM]
Video: Peacock Debuts Teaser, Key Art & First Look Images for "The Good Daughter"
Rose Byrne, Meghann Fahy, Brendan Gleeson, Olivia Williams, and Harper Steele star in the project, premiering November 12.
[09/10/26 - 10:00 AM]
Snoop Dogg to Host the "2026 MTV Video Music Awards" ("VMAs") Sunday, Sept. 27 on CBS
Snoop Dogg is a 13-time "VMAs" nominee, having won three awards.
[09/10/26 - 09:56 AM]
OWN's Hit Dating Series "Ready to Love" Heads to Chicago for an All-New Season Premiering Friday, October 2
The series follows a vibrant group of successful Black singles in their 30s and 40s as they navigate the excitement, challenges, and unexpected twists of finding lasting love in the Windy City.
[09/10/26 - 09:31 AM]
Sam Morril Returns to Netflix with a New One-Hour Stand-Up Special, "Incorrect"
The special premieres globally on September 29.
[09/10/26 - 09:09 AM]
Women's Flyweight Championship Headlines First-Ever UFC Main Card to Air Live on Both CBS and Paramount+
UFC 332: Silva vs. Wang takes place Saturday, October 3 at the Delta Center and for the first time, the entire main card will air on both CBS and Paramount+, beginning at a special start time of 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.