WNBA broadcasts will have two more new voices in 2026.
The league is adding multiple new broadcast partners as it kicks off an 11-year media rights deal valued at $2.2 billion, and that means new talent on the new networks, starting with Sophie Cunningham. The still-active seven-year WNBA veteran will be a part of USA Sports’ WNBA coverage in addition to playing this season, she announced Wednesday on Instagram.
Advertisement
Cunningham is set to participate in USA Network’s studio coverage when it doesn’t interfere with her playing schedule. She will also contribute to USA Sports’ digital and social platforms.
Cunningham, who is a free agent after spending the 2025 season with the Indiana Fever, is the only active player commentating on the WNBA. On the NBA side, Draymond Green was part of Turner Sports’ NBA coverage during the 2024-25 season while he was playing, but that arrangement ended when Turner stopped carrying the league’s games.
Unrivaled has also had active players serve as commentators during games, including the StudBudz (Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman) and Monique Billings during the 2026 season.
Advertisement
Cunningham previously did studio work for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns while playing for the Mercury. She also talks about the WNBA on her podcast “Show Me Something.”
Another new, but familiar, voice on WNBA coverage is Sue Bird. The Hall of Famer will join NBC Sports in May as a studio analyst, the network announced Wednesday.
Bird will also host a series of feature stories during the season, with portions of them airing on television and streaming on Peacock and other digital platforms, according to the network.
“I’m so excited to get to tell those stories in real time, dig into the details and give fans a different perspective on everything that makes the WNBA such a special and entertaining league,” Bird said in a statement.
Advertisement
Bird wears many hats in the women’s basketball space, including managing director of USA Basketball. It’s worth noting that her counterpart on the men’s side, Grant Hill, is also an NBA commentator.
Bird is also a minority owner of the Seattle Storm, although that conflict of interest doesn’t appear to interfere since Atlanta Dream part-owner Renee Montgomery is a regular participant on WNBA broadcasts, including as a studio analyst for USA Network for the 2026 season.
The WNBA season tips off on May 8 and will include the Toronto Tempo’s debut against the Washington Mystics. The 2026 season is 44 games long.
— Andrew Marchand contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
WNBA, Sports Business
2026 The Athletic Media Company
