The E.W. Scripps Company is doubling down on its partnership with the WNBA, locking in a new multi-year agreement that keeps Friday night games on ION—and solidifies the network as a central pillar in the league’s media play.
Now entering its second full season carrying the WNBA Friday Night Spotlight, ION will continue to air 50 regular season games annually across its widely distributed platform footprint. The agreement extends a breakthrough collaboration that helped push WNBA visibility into record territory, with 2024 viewership up 133% year over year and more than 23 million unique viewers reached.
Friday nights aren’t just booked—they’re branded. ION has positioned itself not just as a carrier but a home, backing game coverage with WNBA on ION Studio, the league’s first weekly broadcast studio show. Available across pay TV, over-the-air, connected TV, and free ad-supported streamers, ION brings WNBA action into more than 128 million U.S. homes.
Strategically, the deal marks another win for Scripps Sports, which is rapidly scaling its national sports portfolio while leveraging its historic media reach. It also continues Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s push for broadcast consistency and mainstream exposure—pillars of the league’s broader growth plan as interest and ratings climb.
For ION, this isn’t a one-off—it’s a play for long-term sports relevance in a crowded linear landscape. With NBA media rights in flux and women’s sports finally getting primetime positioning, ION is staking out a lane built on consistency, access, and appointment-viewing strategy.
WNBA fans can catch games every Friday night throughout the season on ION, with full scheduling and streaming details available at IONWNBA.
