Versant, the media company that is set to house NBCUniversal’s cable television networks, has agreed a new rights deal for its USA Network channel to air North America’s top-tier Women’s National Basketball League (WNBA).
The new deal comes a year after the WNBA struck an 11-year rights deal with NBCUniversal, alongside Disney and Amazon, which included a slate of games being aired on sports-oriented USA Network.
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However, a few months later, the NBCU announced its plans to spin off its cable networks, including USA Network, into a separate company named Versant.
Ahead of its split, Versant has now struck its own separate deal with the WNBA to ensure the league will air on the USA Network from 2026 to 2036.
Versant’s deal sees the number of games on USA Network increase to 50 per year, including regular-season matches, some postseason games, and the finals in select years.
NBCUniversal’s original deal would have seen the slate of 50 matches spread across its NBC channel, streaming service Peacock, and USA Network. NBC and Peacock will still retain the games they agreed to show as part of last year’s deal.
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By GlobalDataFor the years that Versant airs the finals, beginning with 2026, the games will be split between Versant on USA Network and NBCU on NBC.
Versant said USA Network’s coverage will be anchored by Wednesday night doubleheaders, with each broadcast night to include dedicated pre-game and post-game studio programming.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said: “Partnering with Versant and USA Network marks another significant milestone for the WNBA’s continued growth.
As demand for women’s basketball continues to rise, partnerships like this expand the visibility and accessibility of our game.
“By establishing a weekly primetime destination for fans, this agreement will showcase the excitement of the WNBA to more households than ever before and further elevate the incredible athletes in this league.”
Versant joins Disney and Amazon, part of the original 11-year rights deal, and Scripps, which recently reached a new multi-year agreement to air regular-season games on Friday nights on ION.
Other NBCU cable networks due to join USA Network under the Versant umbrella include CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY, and Golf Channel. Last month, Versant secured rights for USA Network to air League One Volleyball games on Wednesday nights in a multi-year deal starting in January 2026.
Matt Hong, Versant’s head of sports, said: “USA Network will be a destination for WNBA viewers all season long, as we showcase the star power across the league in our marquee Wednesday night doubleheaders and build toward the intensity of the WNBA Playoffs and WNBA Finals.”
