WNBA, Versant Ink 11-Year Deal Making USA Network Home for 50+ Games

The WNBA and Versant on Tuesday announced an 11 year media rights agreement that will make USA Network the home for at least 50 WNBA games a season beginning with the 2026 campaign, including regular-season doubleheaders on Wednesday nights and select coverage of semifinals and the WNBA Finals in some years. The deal runs through 2036 and takes effect as Versant prepares to spin off NBCUniversal's cable networks, including USA, CNBC, MSNBC and others, a separation expected to be finalized near the end of 2025.

Under the agreement USA Network will expand the package it was slated to present under the WNBA's 2024 national media deals and will produce bespoke pregame and postgame studio programming for each broadcast night. USA is expected to field its own production team and commentators for the games. Some WNBA broadcasts will continue to air on the NBC broadcast network under the league's existing media contracts, meaning viewers will see coverage split between the two companies in seasons when Versant carries the Finals.

The arrangement adds a significant new partner for the league as it seeks to broaden national exposure. "Partnering with VERSANT and USA Network marks another...