ESPN and ABC to Exclusively Air the 2023 WNBA Finals Presented by YouTube TV – Las Vegas Aces vs. New York Liberty Begins Sunday, October 8

ESPN and ABC will offer exclusive coverage of the 2023 WNBA Finals Presented by YouTubeTV, featuring the highly anticipated showdown – dubbed the “superteams” by pundits and fans – between defending champion Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty. Action for the best-of-five series tips off with Game 1 when two-time MVP A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces host two-time MVP Breanna Stewart and the New York Liberty, on Sunday, October 8, @ 3PM ET on ABC.

The 2023 edition of the WNBA Finals Presented by YouTube TV will mark the 27th consecutive season of WNBA Finals on ESPN platforms. ESPN Deportes will provide exclusive, Spanish-language coverage, starting with Game 1.

Games 2 and 3 of the Finals will air on Wednesday, October 11, and Sunday, October 15, respectively. The if-necessary games 4 and 5 will be played on Wednesday, October 18, and Friday, October 20.

ESPN’s team will be led by the main crew of veteran play-by-play commentator Ryan Ruocco, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers Rebecca Lobo and Holly Rowe — for their 11th season together. Andraya Carter will serve as sideline analyst.

WNBA Countdown Presented by Google will precede each WNBA Finals game from site. LaChina Robinson will host WNBA Countdown joined by Carter, as well as Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer Carolyn Peck and ESPN basketball analyst and Los Angeles Sparks Forward Chiney Ogwumike.

ESPN’s camera complement will consist of more than 20 cameras, providing coverage from every angle. The production will also be enhanced by in-game audio and other access-driven elements that highlight the players and coaches throughout the Finals. Carter will also utilize enhanced telestration from the sidelines, while Rowe will interview players after the first and third quarters.

Multiplatform Coverage

SportsCenter — ESPN’s flagship news program will cover the action through game highlights, analysis, and storytelling, including a Finals preview piece by Monica McNutt, live hits from WNBA Countdown and championship wrap-up with Lobo.

WNBA Hoop Streams Finals show will be hosted by Christine Williamson, alongside Terrika Foster-Brasby and Ros Gold-Onwude, and stream on the ESPN App, YouTube, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) ahead of Game 1 at 2:30PM Around the Rim, ESPN’s women’s basketball show hosted by Foster-Brasby and Robinson will have two Finals episode, airing on ESPN YouTube Channel Thursday, October 5 and Thursday, October 12.

ESPN.com’s Michael Voepel and Alexa Philippou will provide live, on-site coverage throughout the WNBA Finals, along with ESPN writer Kevin Pelton. Prior to Game 1, the trio will break down the championship match-up, debate the biggest questions heading into the series, and predict which team will win and who will be Finals MVP. Additional content includes player profiles, an in-depth piece by Pelton examining the trend and increasing number of former players as assistants and head coaches, and a piece from Voepel looks at the summer of the superteams.

ESPN Social will provide on-site coverage throughout the Finals. Custom images, player reaction, behind- the-scenes content and other social executions will be shared across ESPN’s various social platforms.

Andscape’s coverage of the WNBA Finals will feature Foster-Brasby taking a deep dive into the cultural atmosphere of the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty through a series of digital video content. She will explore how both franchises are led by prominent Black women and how those women have revamped the fan experience to incorporate Black culture and become two of the most popular venues in the WNBA. The series will drop to Andscape’s social platforms including Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Things to Know about the 2023 WNBA Finals Presented by YouTubeTV

The defending champion Las Vegas Aces are making their third Finals appearance in four seasons and look to become the first team since the Los Angeles Sparks of 2001 and 2002 to repeat as champions.

The New York Liberty, one of three original WNBA teams, is seeking its first WNBA championship in franchise history. The Liberty has reached the Finals for the fifth time overall and for the first time since 2002.

This marks the first time in WNBA Finals history that two former players will meet as head coaches – the NY Liberty’s Sandy Brondello and the Las Vegas Aces’ Becky Hammon.

Combined, the Aces and Liberty rosters account for 26 percent (7 of 27) of the WNBA’s regular-season MVP awards. Las Vegas’ Candace Parker, then a member of the Los Angeles Sparks, won in 2008 and 2013 and A’ja Wilson won in 2020 and 2022 with the Aces. New York’s Jonquel Jones, then with the Connecticut Sun, earned the honor in 2021 and Breanna Stewart took home the MVP trophy in 2018 (playing for the Seattle Storm) and this season with New York.

Combined, the Aces and Liberty rosters also include players with 17 WNBA championship rings led by four players who have each won two championships – Las Vegas’ Alysha Clark (2018 and 2020 with SEA), Chelsea Gray (2016 with LAS, 2022 with LVA) and Candace Parker (2016 with LAS, 2021 with CHI), and New York’s Breanna Stewart (2018 and 2020 with SEA). The players with one ring include the Aces’ Kierstan Bell, Sydney Colson, Kelsey Plum, Kiah Stokes, Riquna Williams, A’ja Wilson, and Jackie Young, all of whom were members of last year’s championship team, as well as the Liberty’s Stefanie Dolson (2021 with CHI) and Courtney Vandersloot (2021 with CHI).

The Liberty have never won a championship, but they have a lot of finals experience on their roster – Jonquel Jones (9 games), Breanna Stewart (6 games), Courtney Vandersloot (7 games), Stefanie Dolson (4 games)

The Liberty are the first team to reach the Finals after going under .500 in the prior season since the Storm in 2018, with Breanna Stewart notably being a part of both teams.

WNBA Finals Presented by YouTube TV Television Schedule

Date Time (ET) Matchup Network

Thursday, October 5 Around the Rim Terrika Foster-Brasby, LaChina Robinson ESPN YouTube Channel

Sun., October 8 2:30PM WNBA Countdown Presented by Google Robinson, Carolyn Peck, Chiney Ogwumike, Adraya Carter ABC 2:30PM WNBA Hoop Streams Finals Christine Williamson, Foster-Brasby, Ros Gold-Onwude ESPN App, YouTube, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) 3PM New York Liberty at Las Vegas Aces – Game 1 Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe, Andraya Carter ABC, ESPN App (in Spanish)

Wed., October 11 8PM WNBA Countdown Presented by Google Robinson, Peck, Ogwumike, Carter ESPN 9PM New York Liberty at Las Vegas Aces – Game 2 Ruocco, Lobo, Rowe, Carter ESPN, ESPN Deportes (in Spanish)

Thur., October 12 Around the Rim Christine Williamson, Foster-Brasby, Ros Gold-Onwude ESPN YouTube Channel

Sun., October 15 2:30PM WNBA Countdown Presented by Google Robinson, Peck, Ogwumike, Carter ABC 3PM Las Vegas Aces at New York Liberty – Game 3 Ruocco, Lobo, Rowe, Carter ABC, ESPN Deportes (in Spanish)

Wed., October 18 7:PM WNBA Countdown Presented by Google Robinson, Peck, Ogwumike, Carter ESPN 8PM Las Vegas Aces at New York Liberty – Game 4 Ruocco, Lobo, Rowe, Carter ESPN, ESPN Deportes (in Spanish)

Fri., October 20 8PM WNBA Countdown Presented by Google Robinson, Peck, Ogwumike, Carter ESPN 9PM New York Liberty at Las Vegas Aces – Game 5 Ruocco, Lobo, Rowe, Carter ESPN, ESPN Deportes (in Spanish)