CNBC to simulcast 11 WNBA games this season
Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark dribbles down the court against Washington Mystics’ Cotie McMahon during halftime at CareFirst Arena in Washington on June 8, 2026.
Jess Rapfogel | Getty Images
WNBA expands coverage to CNBC.
CNBC-parent Versant The business news network on Wednesday announced it will simulcast 11 WNBA games this season. The matchups will also air on Versant’s USA Network.
Last September, Versant and the WNBA announced an 11-year media rights deal that includes both regular season and postseason games. As part of this agreement, USA Network will broadcast at least 50 games per year.
Coverage on CNBC begins Wednesday night with the defending champion Las Vegas Aces taking on the Phoenix Mercury at 10 p.m. This game is the second of a doubleheader with the New York Liberty and Chicago Sky starting at 8pm ET on USA Network.
According to US Sports President Matt Hong, the purpose of simulcasts is to ensure fans don’t miss any events. Since doubleheaders can sometimes go on for long periods of time, simulcasting will allow viewers to choose which game to watch if they conflict.
The simulcast will also introduce the WNBA to an affluent audience on CNBC, as the league seeks to capitalize on its growing popularity.
Wednesday also marks the first day that Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham will be a Versant athletic contributor. He will appear on the studio broadcast of both doubleheader games on both networks.
The simulcast deal marks a new chapter for CNBC, which is exploring new revenue streams and heading for a corporate exit from its former parent company. Comcast.
While CNBC previously carried Olympic events and occasional golf events, the WNBA simulcast adds more to live sports for the cable channel.
This could help Versant in future distribution deals with pay-TV providers. Versant is now negotiating these carriage deals on its own after previously tying its programming to NBCUniversal when it was part of Comcast.
Versant’s brands include digital platforms Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow and GolfPass, as well as MS Now, E!, SyFy and Oxygen.
The company has agreements with several other professional sports leagues, including NASCAR, PGA Tour, LPGA and Pac-12 football and basketball.
Disclosure: Versant is the parent company of CNBC.
