In a significant programming shift, ESPN unveiled on Thursday its plan to retire Sunday Night Baseball in favor of a new series titled Women’s Sports Sundays, slated to commence this summer. This transition underscores the network’s intensified focus on elevating women’s sports through prime-time broadcasts.
Elevating Women’s Professional Sports on National Television
The forthcoming series will feature a curated selection of 12 premier matchups from both the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), spread across a concentrated nine-week schedule. ESPN characterizes this initiative as “a bold commitment to incomparable competition, consistency and storytelling,” aiming to build a renewed summer tradition that appeals both to devoted followers and those newly engaging with women’s sports.
By replacing a long-standing baseball broadcast with dedicated coverage of women’s athletics, ESPN acknowledges the burgeoning momentum within these leagues, positioning Women’s Sports Sundays as a platform that not only showcases high-caliber contests but also embraces diverse narratives within the sporting world.