ESPN has revealed its plans to shift from its current programming, specifically sunday night baseball and Women’s Sports Sunday, as reported by variety.
The network aims to include various women’s sports in its lineup, covering the WNBA, Women’s National Soccer League, women’s college basketball, and softball.
The announcement came officially on Thursday.
According to Michael McCarthy from Front Office Sports, “This move is happening as ESPN and Major League Baseball are approaching a split. They agreed to part ways on a substantial rights deal back in early February of last year. Subsequently, they negotiated a modified contract that encompasses a national midweek package and distribution rights to MLB.TV’s streaming service. The financials are similar, with ESPN committing around $550 million annually.”
ESPN sees the conclusion of its MLB contract as a chance to bring women’s sports to a larger audience.
“Sundays are prime for showcasing women’s sports, with plenty of programming available beyond peak hours,” noted Susie Piotrescu, the Vice President of Women’s Sports Programming. “We identified an opportunity to emphasize what we consider the ‘women’s sports season’ during the summer, focusing on our top women’s sports offerings.”
If you’re thinking this might be a short-lived initiative, you might want to reconsider. Rosalyn Durant, ESPN’s executive vice president of programming and acquisition, firmly stated that this new feature isn’t just a temporary venture.
“This is a definitive commitment and an ongoing effort,” she emphasized.
Durant expressed confidence that Women’s Sports Sunday will resonate with fans, as she feels people care more about the quality of the game rather than the gender of the athletes.
While some might argue about the limitations of focusing on a player like Caitlin Clark—considering her injury struggles and less impressive second season—it’s worth noting she remains a standout figure in women’s sports. But, basing an entire program around one athlete could be precarious.
Additionally, there are ongoing contract disputes in the WNBA that could complicate matters further.
Fans on social media have not held back in critiquing ESPN’s decision.
The inaugural match of NBC’s sunday night baseball is set for March 26th.
