ESPN to Air WNBA & NWSL Games on ‘Women’s Sports Sundays’ | 2026 Schedule Details

ESPN is fundamentally reshaping its summer programming schedule, pivoting away from a longstanding baseball tradition to spotlight the surging popularity of women’s sports. The network announced today, February 22, 2026, the launch of “Women’s Sports Sundays,” a primetime initiative dedicated to live games from the WNBA and NWSL.

The new weekly franchise will fill the Sunday night slot previously occupied by Major League Baseball, marking a significant shift in ESPN’s strategy as it seeks to capitalize on the growing audience and cultural impact of women’s professional sports. “Women’s Sports Sundays” will run for nine consecutive weeks, showcasing a total of 12 live games.

Rosalyn Durant, ESPN Executive Vice President of Programming & Acquisitions, emphasized the network’s commitment to elevating women’s sports. “Women’s sports are experiencing continued momentum and Women’s Sports Sundays is ESPN’s next step in meeting that demand,” Durant said. “This franchise is about more than showcasing games — it’s about building a consistent, high-profile destination that reflects the passion, excellence and cultural impact of women’s sports today, while giving athletes and leagues the stage they deserve.”

The move comes as both the WNBA and NWSL are experiencing significant growth in viewership and fan engagement. The NWSL saw a 22 percent increase in TV ratings from 2024 to 2025, culminating in a championship game that attracted nearly 1.2 million viewers. The WNBA, meanwhile, benefits from a new media rights deal that is injecting significant investment and exposure into the league.

That deal, an 11-year, US$75 billion agreement between the NBA and Amazon, ESPN, and NBC, allocates an estimated US$2.2 billion – or US$200 million annually – to WNBA game coverage. ESPN will air a minimum of 25 regular season contests, eight semi-final series games, and five WNBA Finals games over the lifetime of the contract. This commitment underscores the network’s belief in the league’s potential for continued growth.

Alongside the WNBA, the NWSL will also receive prominent placement within the “Women’s Sports Sundays” schedule. ESPN and ABC are set to broadcast 36 live NWSL games in 2026, including all eight matches on “Decision Day,” the league’s final regular season round. The network will also carry two NWSL quarterfinal games and one semi-final contest.

This expanded coverage builds upon existing initiatives designed to showcase women’s sports. The WNBA has long benefited from its “Friday Night Spotlight” series on ION, which averaged nearly 630,000 viewers per game in 2025. The NWSL has secured primetime slots on Amazon Prime Video on Friday nights and ION on Saturdays. LOVB, the professional women’s volleyball league, has also found success on USA Network with Wednesday night broadcasts, setting new league TV records and averaging 115,000 viewers.

The launch of “Women’s Sports Sundays” represents a broader trend of women’s professional sports leagues securing prominent, recurring primetime schedule slots on major broadcast, cable, and streaming networks. ESPN’s decision to replace its longstanding Sunday night MLB coverage with WNBA and NWSL games signals a clear recognition of the shifting landscape of sports viewership and the growing demand for women’s sports content.

The restructuring of ESPN’s Sunday night programming is not simply about adding women’s sports; it’s about establishing a consistent, high-profile platform that elevates the leagues and their athletes. By dedicating a primetime slot specifically to women’s sports, ESPN aims to cultivate a dedicated fanbase and solidify its position as a leading broadcaster of women’s athletics. The initiative is designed to be more than just a programming block, but a cultural event, inviting both longtime fans and newcomers into a reimagined summer primetime tradition.

The success of “Women’s Sports Sundays” will likely be measured not only in viewership numbers but also in its ability to deepen fandom and amplify the voices of the athletes and leagues driving the movement forward. ESPN’s investment in this franchise underscores its belief that women’s sports are not just a niche market, but a powerful and growing force in the world of sports entertainment.