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For Immediate Release
ESPN PR
September 15, 2009
860-766-2000

ESPN2 to Provide Extensive Coverage of WNBA Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals and WNBA Finals; Coverage Begins Wednesday, Sept. 16

For photos of ESPN’s WNBA commentators, please click here.

ESPN2 will tip off its coverage of the 2009 WNBA Playoffs on Wednesday, Sept. 16, with action from the Eastern and Western Conference Semifinals. Out of the East, the defending WNBA champion Detroit Shock will take on the Atlanta Dream, who will be making their first WNBA playoff appearance. In addition, on Thursday, Sept. 17, the Indiana Fever will go head to head with the Washington Mystics. In the West, the Seattle Storm will take on the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday, while the Phoenix Mercury will play defending Western Conference champion San Antonio Silver Stars on Thursday. The best-of-three Conference Semifinal games will conclude with potential Game 3 matchups on Sunday, Sept. 20, and Monday, Sept. 21, all on ESPN2. 

 

Also, ESPN2 and ESPN360.com will air Game 1 of the Eastern and Western Conference Finals, respectively, on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET. The networks will also air the best-of-five WNBA Finals, which will begin Tuesday, Sept. 29, with a potential Game 4 and Game 5 on Wednesday, Oct. 7, and Friday, Oct. 9. WNBA Finals coverage will be supplemented by WNBA Shootaround, a pregame studio show.

 

All playoff games (up to 15) will be produced in high definition and will also be simulcast on ESPN360.com, ESPN’s broadband sports network. This will be the first time every postseason WNBA game is televised in high definition on ESPN2 HD.

 

During the WNBA Conference Semifinals, Carolyn Peck, Nancy Lieberman and Doris Burke will serve as the primary analysts and will be joined by play-by-play announcers Pam Ward, Terry Gannon, Bob Wischusen and Dave Pasch and sideline reporters Rebecca Lobo and Heather Cox. 

 

The WNBA’s regular season on ESPN2 (13 telecasts) concluded with an average of 269,000 viewers, up 8% vs. last season (248,000 viewers). In addition, regular-season games on ESPN2 saw increases in key demographics, including men 18-34 (+9%), men 18-49 (+14%) and men 23-54 (+23%).

 

2009 WNBA Playoff and WNBA Finals Schedule (Subject to change)

 

Date

Time (ET)

Matchup

Network

Wed, Sep 16

8 p.m.

Eastern Conference Semifinals: Atlanta at Detroit

Pam Ward Nancy Lieberman and Rebecca Lobo

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

 

10 p.m.

Western Conference Semis: Seattle at Los Angeles

Terry Gannon, Carolyn Peck and Heather Cox

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Thur, Sep 17

7 p.m.

Eastern Conference Semis: Indiana at Washington

Bob Wischusen, Nancy Lieberman and Rebecca Lobo

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

 

9 p.m.

Western Conference Semis: Phoenix at San Antonio

Dave Pasch, Doris Burke and Heather Cox

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Sun, Sep 20

3 p.m.

Eastern Conference Semis: Detroit at Atlanta *

Pam Ward Nancy Lieberman and Rebecca Lobo

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

 

5 p.m.

Western Conference Semis: LA at Seattle *

Terry Gannon, Carolyn Peck and Heather Cox

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Mon, Sep 21

8 p.m.

Eastern Conference Semis: Washington at Indiana *

Bob Wischusen, Nancy Lieberman and Rebecca Lobo

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

 

10 p.m.

Western Conference Semis: San Antonio at Phoenix *

Dave Pasch, Doris Burke and Heather Cox

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Wed, Sep 23

8 p.m.

Eastern Conference Finals (TBD)

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

 

10 p.m.

Western Conference Finals (TBD)

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Tue, Sep 29

7:30 p.m.

WNBA Finals Game #1 (TBD)

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Thu, Oct 1

7:30 p.m.

WNBA Finals Game #2(TBD)

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Sun, Oct 4

3:30 p.m.

WNBA Finals Game #3 (TBD)

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Wed, Oct 7

7:30 p.m.

WNBA Finals Game #4 * (TBD)

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com  

Fri, Oct 9

7:30 p.m.

WNBA Finals Game #5 * (TBD)

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

 

* - If necessary

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