WNBA, Versant Announce 11-Year Media Rights Contract to Broadcast Games on USA Network

The WNBA announced Tuesday it signed an 11-year media rights agreement with Versant starting with the 2026 season.

Under the terms of the deal, at least 50 games will be broadcast on USA Network. This will run in conjunction with the media rights contracts the WNBA secured in 2024.

"Partnering with VERSANT and USA Network marks another significant milestone for the WNBA's continued growth," commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. "As demand for women's basketball continues to rise, partnerships like this expand the visibility and accessibility of our game. By establishing a weekly primetime destination for fans, this agreement will showcase the excitement of the WNBA to more households than ever before and further elevate the incredible athletes in this league."

The NBA wrapped the WNBA into its media rights negotiations, so the two leagues share TV and streaming partners for the most part. The initial deals split nationally televised games between Disney (ABC, ESPN and ESPN2), NBC Universal (NBC, USA Network and Peacock) and Amazon (Prime Video).

The WNBA confirmed in June that its partnership with Scripps will continue into 2026 and beyond as well, ensuring the league will maintain a presence on ION.

Much like how the NFL handles the Super Bowl, WNBA semifinals and Finals games will rotate between the three companies from year to year. NBCU has the rights to seven semifinal series and three Finals.

"We're incredibly proud to expand our multi-year partnership with the WNBA," Versant president of sports Matt Hong said. "USA Network will be a destination for WNBA viewers all season long, as we showcase the star power across the league in our marquee Wednesday night doubleheaders and build toward the intensity of the WNBA Playoffs and WNBA Finals."

The Wednesday doubleheaders will include pre- and postgame shows to accompany the live games.

The Athletic's Richard Deitsch reported the financial details of Tuesday's annoucement are unclear but that Versant "is paying more in total than NBCU as part of this deal."

If nothing else, this brings more clarity to USA Network's role in coverage of the WNBA moving forward.

Renegotiating with Versant may have also been needed given its upcoming split from parent company Comcast. Most of the cable networks under the NBC Universal umbrella will be owned by Versant rather than NBC Universal/Comcast.