ESPN replacing 'Sunday Night Baseball' with WNBA, NWSL games

With "Sunday Night Baseball" moving to NBC this season, ESPN revealed Thursday it has elected to fill its premium Sunday slot with WNBA and NWSL games and ancillary coverage.

"Women's Sports Sundays" will debut in prime time this summer. ESPN said 12 live games and accompanying studio segments will air over nine weeks.

"Sunday Night Baseball" was a staple on ESPN for 36 years, but the network and MLB terminated their agreement three years before it was scheduled to end. NBC has committed to airing "Sunday Night Baseball" through at least 2028.

ESPN, meanwhile, believes it is catching two leagues on the rise.

"Women's sports are experiencing continued momentum, and 'Women's Sports Sundays' is ESPN's next step in meeting that demand," Rosalyn Durant, ESPN's executive vice president of programming and acquisitions, said in a statement.

"This franchise is about more than showcasing games -- it's about building a consistent, high-profile destination that reflects the passion, excellence and cultural impact of women's sports today, while giving athletes and leagues the stage they deserve."

Details about matchups and broadcast personnel will be announced at a later date.

More women's sports properties, including college basketball, could be added to the Sunday night slate in future seasons, according to Front Office Sports.

The NWSL season starts March 13 and continues into November. The league expanded to 16 teams with the additions of Boston Legacy and Denver Summit.

WNBA training camps are scheduled to open April 19 ahead of tip-off on May 8, but a labor impasse threatens to delay the start of the season. The collective bargaining agreement with the Women's National Basketball Players Association expired in January and negotiations about revenue sharing and salary structure have barely progressed.

--Field Level Media