Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese could capitalize $550 million ESPN – MLB deal fallout

With a schedule opening up, ESPN can help Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese continue to push the WNBA towards the next level.

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese could capitalize $550 million ESPN – MLB deal fallout

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese taking WNBA to new heights could benefit ESPN

ESPN has opted out of its $550 million deal to air MLB games on Sunday nights. That means, next year onwards, the network is free to schedule all those Sunday Night games to other sporting events. With Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese pushing the WNBA to new heights, the network has a viable option.

Those MLB Sunday Night games start from late March. Over the past few seasons, ESPN has reduced its coverage of baseball on their other shows. Now the network has a unique opportunity to capitalize on something where they do not have to pay anything more.

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Late March, the network could focus on women’s college basketball as it heads into the final stages of March Madness. Those games are highly lucrative as the women’s game has started to break the mold when it comes to viewership, especially against the established men’s game.

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Then May onwards, ESPN has the option of showcasing the Stanley Cup playoffs. But around the same time, the WNBA season starts as Clark and Reese look to help the league take another step in its growth. This is where the network can do their part.

They have the liberty to flex their way for Sunday Night games. They can broadcast multiple games which otherwise would have gone to other networks. Those networks were benefitting from ESPN’s lack of focus towards the league so far.

If the network can ramp up its live game coverage and increase the discussions on their other shows, they could help the WNBA take precedence amongst viewers. Such increased coverage will then set them up for the finishing stretch in September and October.

WNBA playoffs featuring Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese will be a win-win for ESPN

By late August, their audience might have come to terms with the fact that the network is focusing on the WNBA. That could play greatly into their hands when the playoffs start mid-September. This season Caitlin Clark‘s Indiana Fever are heavily favored to fight for a title.

Angel Reese’s Chicago Sky just made a move that could help them return to the playoffs after missing out last season. Along with them, Cameron Brink and her Los Angeles Sparks have the tools in place for a postseason run.

If Paige Bueckers does end up with the Dallas Wings, her new teammates are well poised to help her get to the playoffs in her rookie season. All of that could greatly help ESPN get the upper hand over competing networks.

Last season, Clark’s game drew more than 1 million viewers at a time when NFL’s Brazil game was airing. That shows ESPN can go head-to-head with the NFL in playoff games that feature the Fever superstar. Even if they directly clash against the NFL, they have enough proof that they can still draw more viewers than they did showcasing MLB games.