WNBA Phoenix Mercury C Brittney Griner's return to the league will be “broadcast on ESPN as the first of 25 regular season WNBA games to air on ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC in the upcoming season,” according to Jeremy Cluff of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. The Mercury's season opener against the Sparks on May 19 also will “air on ESPN Plus.” The game will be “one of four nationally televised games” for the Mercury, with the team's home opener against the Sky on May 21 also set to “air on ESPN” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/8).
NEW YORK'S FINEST: In N.Y., Fiifi Frimpong noted the Liberty will be “featured the most on ESPN networks” with nine “national broadcasted” games. The Liberty headlining the ESPN programming is a "result of eyeballs being glued to the franchise following an offseason that turned the team into a juggernaut.” F Breanna Stewart and G Courtney Vandersloot were “added in free agency to a roster that already included” G Sabrina Ionescu. In addition, the team also acquired F Jonquel Jones via trade from the Sun to "complete the New York superteam.” The Liberty’s first game on ESPN networks will be “Stewart’s return to Seattle on May 30” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/8).
