ESPN’s NCAA Women’s Basketball Commentator Line-Up Heightened with New Roles

November 3, 2016

ESPN Images: https://bit.ly/WBB2016-17
2016-2017 ESPN Women’s College Basketball Schedule

Maria Taylor elevated to ESPN studio host in regular season and for NCAA Women’s Championship
Andy Landers joins Big Monday studio coverage; signs contract extension with ESPN
Big Monday coverage to include Dave O’Brien, Doris Burke, Kara Lawson and Beth Mowins

A talented roster of women’s college basketball commentators will heighten ESPN’s women’s college basketball coverage this year—featuring 140 matchups across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, Longhorn Network and SEC Network.

Commentator Highlights

Maria Taylor makes her debut as the ESPN studio host for Big Monday throughout the regular season with analysts Andy Landers and Rebecca Lobo, and will also host SEC Network studio on Thursdays. She will join Landers and Lobo as the host during network’s exclusive coverage of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship. Kara Lawson will join the team throughout the season and for the Women’s Final Four.
Big Monday games will see the commentator teams of Lawson with Beth Mowins or Dave O’Brien with Doris Burke
Deb Antonelli, who signed a new multi-year agreement with ESPN, will work with newly-hired Courtney Lyle on Thursday SEC Network games, and will also call games on ESPN2.
Antonelli, Doris Burke, Gail Goestenkors, who signed a new agreement, and Lawson will serve as ESPN game analysts for several games throughout the season.
Pam Ward will serve as a play by play commentator for games on ESPN2 during the regular season
SEC Network boasts more than 70 games on ESPN’s network dedicated to the Southeastern Conference, with Landers returning after signing a new contract extension with ESPN.
- Nell Fortner will appear in studio on Thursdays with Landers and Taylor
- Monday games will be called by Brenda VanLengen and Carol Ross, who have both signed new contract extensions
- SEC game coverage to include analysts Antonelli, Goestenkors, Fortner, Landers and Ross, and play by play commentators Lyle, Paul Sunderland, VanLengen and Ward
O’Brien returns to call the Women’s Final Four with Burke and Holly Rowe.
Additional contributors include LaChina Robinson, Katie Smith and Steffi Sorensen.
Brooke Weisbrod will continue as a regular contributor on ESPNU’s coverage.
Roy Philpott will serve as a play by play commentator for several games during the regular season.
Alex Loeb expands Longhorn Network hosting role to include play by play commentary for several matchups on LHN throughout the season with Fortner or Fran Harris.
espnW writer Charlie Creme will expand his duties, contributing to ESPNU studio coverage and the SEC Tournament.

espnW

A comprehensive two-week season preview October 31-November 11 will include a preseason top-25 poll, preseason All-America teams, preseason Bracketology and a ranking of the top 25 players in the nation.
Writers Mechelle Voepel, Graham Hays and Charlie Creme, as well as analyst Lobo, will write in-depth profiles of some of the nation’s top teams, players and coaches throughout the season.
Prior to each Big Monday game, espnW.com will offer an updated Bracketology segment from Creme and a game preview for that night’s matchup, as well as postgame coverage with video analysis.
For the fifth consecutive season, espnW will name a national player of the week each Monday.

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