WNBA on ESPN
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| WNBA on ESPN | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Genre | Sports |
| Running time | 120 minutes+ |
| Starring | Doris Burke Pam Ward Nancy Lieberman |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original channel | ESPN (1997 - present) ESPN2 (2002 - present) ESPN on ABC (2007 - present) |
The WNBA on ESPN refers to the presentation of Women's National Basketball Association games on the ESPN family of networks. Under the title of WNBA Tuesday, games are broadcast throughout the WNBA season on Tuesday nights, generally on ESPN2. During the WNBA Playoffs, select games air on ESPN or ESPN on ABC.
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[edit] Announcers
Play-by-play broadcasters for WNBA coverage on ESPN include Dave Pasch, Terry Gannon, Mark Jones and Linda Cohn. Pasch called the 2006 WNBA Finals for ESPN2, with lead analyst Doris Burke. Nancy Lieberman, the lead studio analyst, worked in the regular season with anchor Pam Ward, and in the Finals with Linda Cohn. Sideline reporters include Tina Dixon, Stephanie Ready, and Heather Cox.
[edit] Wired
One unique aspect of WNBA coverage on the ESPN family of networks is that many of the participants wear live microphones[1]. Staring with the 2003 WNBA All Star Game (which aired on ABC), most games televised have involved coaches, players and referees being wired for sound. On some occasions, the sound of players and coaches talking will overlap with commentary; also, on several occasions, ESPN has had to mute the sound because of expletives.
[edit] Controversy
During the 2006 WNBA Finals, Detroit Shock head coach Bill Laimbeer became irritated[2] by ESPN's coverage, quoted by the Detroit Free Press as saying:
| I just hear from our family and friends back home that, 'Boy, ESPN is killing you guys,' ... 'And (Nancy) Lieberman and Doris Burke are just trashing you left and right.' Not only me, but also some of our players on our ballclub. ... We're telling ESPN today to basically stick it. |
Laimbeer banned ESPN from the Shock locker room for Game 4 of the series, and also refused to wear a live microphone for that game (as had been the custom throughout the regular season and the playoffs).
[edit] References
| Eastern Conference | Western Conference |
|---|---|
| Charlotte Sting | Chicago Sky | Connecticut Sun | Detroit Shock | Indiana Fever | New York Liberty | Washington Mystics | Houston Comets | Los Angeles Sparks | Minnesota Lynx | Phoenix Mercury | Sacramento Monarchs | San Antonio Silver Stars | Seattle Storm |
| Defunct teams: Cleveland Rockers | Miami Sol | Portland Fire | |
| Media: WNBA on ESPN | List of WNBA Finals broadcasters | |
| Other Women's Leagues: National Women's Basketball League | Women's National Basketball League (Australia) | |
