FILE – In this Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, file photo, WNBA President Lisa Borders talks during a press conference prior to Game 1 of the WNBA basketball finals with the Minnesota Lynx against the Los Angeles Sparks in Minneapolis. The WNBA will stream 20 games a year over the next few seasons on Twitter in a deal announced Monday, May 1, 2017. “We are thrilled to bring live WNBA games to Twitter, which will allow us to further showcase our league to a global audience,” Borders said. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs, File)
NEW YORK — The WNBA will stream 20 games a year over the next few seasons on Twitter in a deal announced Monday night.
“We are thrilled to bring live WNBA games to Twitter, which will allow us to further showcase our league to a global audience,” WNBA President Lisa Borders said. “This partnership displays Twitter’s extraordinary commitment to women’s sports and the rising popularity of our athletes and our game.”
It’s the first women’s sport to be live-streamed on Twitter. The inaugural game will be the Dallas Wings against the Phoenix Mercury on May 14.
“We are thrilled to be a part of the WNBA’s first live stream on Twitter,” Dallas Wings president and chief executive officer Greg Bibb said.
“This historic partnership between the league and Twitter will allow our fans to engage with our brand in a new, exciting way and we look forward to our four games on this dynamic and interactive platform as well as all WNBA contests featured this season and beyond.”
The agreement also includes the WNBA joining Twitter’s Amplify program, which will include 40 highlight packages per week being featured across Twitter.
Streaming games on Twitter isn’t the only growth the WNBA is seeing this season. More games will be televised locally than last year.
“We are excited to help extend the reach of women’s sports around the world by collaborating further with the NBA to be the home of weekly live WNBA games for the next three seasons,” Twitter chief operating officer Anthony Noto said.
“The growing women’s basketball fanbase will be able to turn to Twitter to watch free games side by side with the real-time conversation.”
The games on Twitter are exclusive to the social media platform and aren’t on local or national TV. Twitter is paying the WNBA an undisclosed amount to stream the games.
The WNBA regular season tips off May 13.