Downloadable ESPN Images: http://bit.ly/WNBA2015

Returning Group Veteran Commentators on Telecasts

ESPN2 will debut its schedule of WNBA games Sunday, June 14, with a doubleheader showcasing the league champions from the past three seasons: Indiana Fever (2012 champions) against the Chicago Sky (a 2014 finalist) at 1 p.m., followed by the Minnesota Lynx (2013 champions) at the Phoenix Mercury (2014 champions at 3 p.m. The doubleheader is the culminating event of the WNBA Tip-Off 2015 presented by Boost Mobile, which featured 24 overall games beginning June 5.

ESPN, ESPN2 and WatchESPN will carry 11 regular-season games, in addition to ABC’s presentation of the Boost Mobile WNBA All-Star 2015 game Saturday, July 25, from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. ESPN networks will also have extensive coverage of the WNBA Playoffs and Finals presented by Boost Mobile.

The defending WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury appear on the schedule six times, including three home games. The Chicago Sky – led by All-Stars Elena Delle Donne and recent roster addition Cappie Pondexter – have four appearances. The Minnesota Lynx – anchored by Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus, Rebekkah Brunson and Lindsay Whalen, and the Los Angeles Sparks – led by new head coach Brian Agler, each have three televised games.

ESPN Content Highlights

• Ryan Ruocco will return to ESPN’s WNBA coverage as a play-by-play voice. He can also be heard daily as co-host of Ruocco and Rothenberg on ESPN New York 98.7 FM.
• Ruocco will be paired with analyst and former WNBA star Rebecca Lobo, as well as reporter Holly Rowe on select games.
• Veteran play-by-play commentator Pam Ward will team with analyst Carolyn Peck.
• LaChina Robinson will work as a reporter on select games.
• The song “Rule the World” by Walk off the Earth will be used as the theme song throughout the network’s regular-season schedule.
• “Need to See” – a specialty brand focusing on top players in the league and their impact throughout the season.

espnW

• espnW’s 2015 season preview June 1-5 will include expert picks, conference predictions and player and team analysis of what the season holds, as well as espnW’s preseason MVP and All-WNBA first and second teams.
• Preseason features include defending champion Phoenix Mercury, reigning MVP Maya Moore of the Minnesota Lynx, the New York Liberty, the Seattle Storm and the Chicago Sky’s Elena Delle Donne.
• Weekly columns from writers Mechelle Voepel and Michelle Smith, as well as additional coverage from Kate Fagan and other espnW voices.
• Video highlights, analysis and the occasional blog from top WNBA players.

ESPN Digital

• WatchESPN – available to 93 million households nationwide via an affiliated video provider – will carry every WNBA regular-season game this season.
• WatchESPN is accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, and streamed on televisions through Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 or Xbox One to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.
• Select games are also available on ESPN3 via WatchESPN.
• Live scores, news, alerts and video clips accessible across platforms via espnW.com as well as the new ESPN.com and ESPN app.

In October 2014, the NBA and ESPN announced an extension of the relationship between the WNBA and ESPN. Under the terms of the new deal, WNBA games will continue to be televised on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC through the 2025 season. ESPN also will have enhanced in-progress highlight rights for the WNBA on digital and linear platforms. The deal extends the league’s relationship with ESPN, which commenced in 1997, to 29 years.

2015 WNBA ESPN/ESPN2/ABC Schedule (subject to change)

2015 WNBA ESPN3 Schedule (subject to change)*

* – aired locally by Regional Sports Networks (RSN); local blackouts may apply

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