2024 AT&T WNBA ALL-STAR GAME TO FEATURE USA BASKETBALL WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM VS. TEAM WNBA!

– AT&T WNBA All-Star Game Set for Saturday, July 20 in Phoenix –

– STARRY® WNBA 3-Point Contest and Kia WNBA Skills Challenge to Take Place Friday, July 19 –

NEW YORK, March 20, 2024 – The WNBA announced today that the 2024 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game will feature a matchup between the WNBA All-Stars who comprise the USA Basketball Women’s National Team versus the remaining WNBA All-Stars. The league’s 20th All-Star Game will be played on Saturday, July 20 (5:30 p.m. PT/8:30 p.m. ET) at Footprint Center in Phoenix, home of the three-time WNBA champion Phoenix Mercury, and air on ABC.

This marks the second time that the AT&T WNBA All-Star Game will feature the USA Basketball vs. Team WNBA format. On July 14, 2021, Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale scored a game-high 26 points to lead Team WNBA to a 93-85 win over the USA Basketball Women’s National Team in Las Vegas ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. Ogunbowale, then a first-time All-Star, was named MVP.

In addition to celebrating the send-off of WNBA players selected to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics, the AT&T WNBA All-Star Game will be the centerpiece of two full days packed with WNBA activities.  Additional events will include ESPN’s presentation of the STARRY® WNBA 3-Point Contest and the Kia WNBA Skills Challenge on Friday, July 19 (6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET) at Footprint Center.

Phoenix also will be the site of the third annual WNBA Live presented by U.S. Bank. The league’s two-day fan festival, which will celebrate the intersection of the WNBA, fashion, music and culture, will take place at the Phoenix Convention Center from July 19-20.

Details regarding the selection of the All-Stars will be provided at a later date.  The USA Basketball Women’s National Team will compete for an historic eighth consecutive gold medal in Paris this summer.

Information on tickets to the 2024 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game and to the STARRY® WNBA 3-Point Contest and the Kia WNBA Skills Challenge at Footprint Center can be found at wnbaexperiences.com and here.

A New Arena for MMA: Bellator Champion Series signs US broadcast with Warner Bros. Discovery

From SHO to HBO Photo: Bellator X

Warner Bros. Discovery Secures Exclusive U.S. Rights To Professional Fighters League’s New Bellator Champions Series

In a groundbreaking move that marks a new era for mixed martial arts (MMA) broadcasting, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) have inked an exclusive U.S. media rights agreement to bring the Bellator Champion Series to the forefront of sports entertainment. This partnership heralds the debut of the Bellator Champion Series, set to launch this Friday, March 22, promising to deliver a high-voltage mix of combat prowess and showmanship.

Image: PFL PR

Streaming exclusively on Max, Bellator Championship Series finds a home for fight enthusiasts in the US to view these events, accessible across all subscription plans. The inaugural season will unfold over eight events, each a global spectacle featuring world-ranked fighters and two title bouts, ensuring non-stop action and high stakes.

The series premiere at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland, sets the stage for what is to be an international tour de force, with subsequent events like the Bellator Champions Series Paris at the Accor Arena. These events are more than mere competitions; they are showcases of regional pride and fighting spirit, with heroes of various nations battling it out for world championship glory.

Image: PFL PR

Expanding the Reach: TNT Sports and TruTV

Further amplifying the reach of Bellator, TNT Sports will broadcast a comprehensive suite of Bellator content throughout the year. This is not TNT's first foray into martial arts broadcasting as it aired One Championship cards. "One on TNT" aired in April of 2021.

This time, the "TNT Sports on truTV" programming block, will feature a robust lineup of fights, ensuring that the adrenaline of the arena is just a remote click away for fans.

Behind the Scenes: Max Docuseries

Complementing the live-action are two all-access docuseries premiering on Thursday, March 21. 'Fight Camp Confidential' and 'Fight Week' offer unprecedented glimpses into the lives of the fighters, from the grueling training camps to the final moments before stepping into the ring. These series promise to humanize the warriors, adding depth to the spectacle of the fights.

A Treasure Trove of MMA History

Max subscribers are in for a treat, with access to a treasure trove of over 300 past events and 3,000 fights, including legendary figures like Kimbo Slice and "Rampage" Jackson, and the journey of Bellator's own stars such as AJ McKee and Michael "Venom" Page. This extensive library serves not only as entertainment but as a chronicle of the sport's evolution.

Executives Weigh In

Peter Murray, CEO of the Professional Fighters League, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, emphasizing the significance of the Bellator Champions Series in meeting the insatiable demand for premium MMA content. Similarly, Josh Walker, Chief Financial & Strategy Officer at Warner Bros. Discovery Streaming, highlighted the strategic addition of the Bellator Champions Series to WBD's content portfolio, enhancing their offering with the excitement of live MMA.

Image: PFL PR

Conclusion

As the Bellator Champion Series prepares for its grand opening, it stands as a testament to the growing appeal of MMA and the vision of organizations like PFL and WBD. This alliance is more than a broadcast deal; it is a commitment to delivering high-quality, accessible MMA content to fans across the United States, enriching the sports broadcasting tapestry with the raw intensity and passion of the Bellator Champion Series.

DiJonai Carrington and Jen Rizzotti Join NBC Sports Boston and the Boston Celtics for All-Female Broadcast!

In Celebration of Women's Empowerment Month ;Boston, MA (March 18, 2024) - Today, the Connecticut Sun is teaming up with NBC Sports Boston and the Boston Celtics for an all-female broadcast of the Celtics' game against the Detroit Pistons at TD Garden.

Connecticut Sun guard-forward DiJonai Carrington will serve as a game analyst alongside NBC Sports' Zora Stephenson (play-by-play), NBC Sports Boston's Abby Chin (game analyst), and ESPN's Kayla Burton (in-game reporter).

Connecticut Sun president Jen Rizzotti will serve as studio analyst, joining NBC Sports Boston's Amina Smith (studio host) and Connecticut Sun broadcast analyst, Boston Celtics scout and Maine Celtics assistant general manager, Ashley Battle (studio analyst) for Celtics Pregame Live, Celtics Halftime Live and Celtics Postgame Live.

Fans can tune in to watch this broadcast on NBC Sports Boston or the NBC Sports app. Coverage of the game begins at 7:00 PM EST with Celtics Pregame Live, tip-off is at 7:30 PM EST, and coverage concludes with Celtics Postgame Live immediately following the game.

The Sun will make another appearance at TD Garden on Tuesday, August 20 at 7:00 PM EST, as the team will host the first-ever WNBA game at the storied arena against the Los Angeles Sparks. Tickets are now on sale.

The Connecticut Sun's Home Opener will be against the Indiana Fever on Tuesday, May 14 at 8:00 PM EST. Individual tickets and season tickets are on sale now.

Established in 2003, the Connecticut Sun is a professional women’s basketball team in the Women’s National Basketball Association that takes residence at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. For more information or to purchase season tickets, visit www.connecticutsun.com or call 1-877-SUN-TIXX.