ESPN is bringing back its original WNBA broadcast team for one night, and the reunion carries a clear sense of history. Robin Roberts and Geno Auriemma will call the New York Liberty vs. Dallas Wings game together, recreating the pairing that helped introduce the league to a national audience.
The special broadcast comes as the WNBA marks its 30th season, with Beth Mowins handling play-by-play and Holly Rowe joining as sideline reporter. ESPN says the presentation will air from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where the Liberty will face the Wings in a matchup built around two of the league’s biggest names.
How the broadcast will be presented
Coverage begins with WNBA Countdown at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by tipoff at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday night. Fans can watch on ESPN, in the ESPN App, and in the WNBA streaming hub.
| Broadcast Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Game | New York Liberty vs. Dallas Wings |
| Location | Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York |
| Countdown Show | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| Tipoff | 8 p.m. ET, Tuesday night |
| Viewing Options | ESPN, ESPN App, WNBA streaming hub |
The game also puts Paige Bueckers, the leading 2026 WNBA All-Star fan vote-getter, against Breanna Stewart, a two-time WNBA MVP and three-time league champion. Stewart is part of the Liberty team that claimed the 2026 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Why this pairing matters
Roberts and Auriemma were the voices on ESPN’s first-ever WNBA game on June 23, 1997, when the Liberty met the Los Angeles Sparks. Their return underlines how much the league has grown since that debut, and it gives longtime viewers a direct link to the WNBA’s earliest national broadcast moments.
Auriemma’s connection to the league goes beyond the booth. www.espn.com notes that his UConn women’s basketball program has produced 52 WNBA draft picks, the most of any school, including seven No. 1 overall selections.
| UConn WNBA Draft Note | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total WNBA draft picks produced by UConn | 52 |
| No. 1 overall selections from UConn | 7 |
| Examples named in the broadcast coverage | Breanna Stewart, Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd |
Among those No. 1 picks are Stewart, taken in 2016, along with Wings teammates Bueckers in 2025 and Azzi Fudd in 2026. ESPN’s WNBA hub also remains available for fans looking for the latest news, analysis, scores, stats, schedules, standings, and more.