WNBA Finals 2024: ESPN Wraps Exhilarating Regular Season, Playoffs With Two Best Records in Championship Series Network rolls with onsite productions in New York and Minnesota By Kristian Hern ndez, Senior Editor
Friday, October 11, 2024 - 3:22 pm
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
The Minnesota Lynx played spoiler and defeated the New York Liberty in overtime to tie the largest comeback win in WNBA Finals history at 18 points - and that was Game 1. ESPN is ready for much more of the same in this best-of-five series that features teams with the best two records in the regular season. Fans watching from home get to enjoy enhanced coverage of this championship because of the special bond between the network's production and operations teams.
I've been at ESPN for 20 years and have never been more impressed with the team covering the WNBA, says Kate Leonard, coordinating producer, ESPN. Everyone has been focused on this historic season, so I can't say enough about their hard work and commitment.
Heightened Production Quality: Cinematic Angles, Onsite Editions of WNBA Countdown The production level is always kicked up a notch for the WNBA Playoffs and is ratcheted up even further for the Finals. This 1080p production, which debuted last year, deploys the broadcaster's best technological workflows and resources.
Barclays Center hosted Game 1 of the 2024 WNBA Finals on Thursday, Oct. 10.
For the WNBA Finals, says Adam Bryant, lead game director, ESPN, we have several production highlights to enhance the viewing experience. Our extensive camera setup allows multiple angles, replays, and unique shots, while virtual graphics will provide dynamic stats, player highlights, and immersive storytelling elements.
In the lower bowl, live game action is covered by more than 20 cameras. The total comprises a handful of specialty cameras: four high-speed cameras for slow-motion replay, customary above-the-rim robotics, and a shallow-depth-of-field camera provided by Faction Media roaming the court during game stoppages. The high-speed cameras, including the Sony HDC-4800, were critical in reviewing a last-second foul by Minnesota's Napheesa Collier that allowed New York's Breanna Stewart to make one of two free throws and force an extra period of play.
Four high-speed cameras, including a Sony HDC-4800, provide stunning images and slow-motion replay during the WNBA postseason.
Along with a shallow-depth-of-field camera, fans will be brought into the huddle and listen to each team's strategy via mics on players and coaches. In Game 1, Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello and guard Sabrina Ionescu and Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve and guard Courtney Williams were miked.
Fans receive expert analysis from ESPN's marquee studio show, WNBA Countdown. Its star-studded team - host LaChina Robinson and analysts Carolyn Peck, Chiney Ogwumike, and Andraya Carter - will be onsite at either Barclays Center or Target Center for the length of the series. Elle Duncan will have hosting duties for Sunday's Game 2 in Brooklyn. Host Sam Ravech will split his time between two digital-centric programs: WNBA Hoop Stream with analyst Ari Chambers on YouTube and WNBA the Wrap-Up with appearances by analysts Maria Marino, Monica McNutt, and Chambers on the ESPN App, YouTube, and Facebook. The trio of play-by-play announcer Ryan Ruocco, analyst Rebecca Lobo, and reporter Holly Rowe will call each game.
A shallow-depth-of-field camera captures cinematic shots near the court.
As for storylines, the key to a compelling broadcast during the playoffs is understanding what information fans are interested in. The most complex part is not being entirely sure who the two teams will be in the finals with little time to rehearse the talking points. One team, the New York Liberty, made quick work of the back-to-back champions Las Vegas Aces in four semifinal games. The Minnesota Lynx, on the other hand, had to win Game 4 over the Connecticut Sun on the East Coast to force a Game 5 at home on Oct. 8. With not much turnaround time, ESPN followed the Lynx from Minneapolis to Brooklyn, NY, on Oct. 9 for the first game of the championship series on Oct. 10. Lead Game Producer Ian Gruca had to keep his eyes on the already clinched Liberty and the two teams battling it out on the other side of the bracket.
We spent a lot of time discussing and preparing storylines for all potential scenarios, he says. When you're a sports fan, you always hope it goes to all five games and comes down to the buzzer to determine a champion, but we strive to be prepared for the storylines that we know and react in real time to the developing storylines on the court.
Atlantic Avenue Return: Ops Crew Benefits From Two Straight Years in Brooklyn ESPN will have a slight case of d j vu during the WNBA Finals: Barclays Center hosted Games 3 and 4 of last year's title bout. If the Sun defeated the Lynx in one of the two remaining games in this year's semifinals, there was the potential for producing Games 3 and 4 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT - which is 63 miles southwest of ESPN headquarters in Bristol, CT. This would have permitted a greater number of staffers to work the games and be able to easily drive back to the Bristol facility, but the Lynx won two straight and made that a moot point. Besides, Barclays Center is within driving distance of Bristol and is a familiar environment for this slate of games.
Returning to Brooklyn for a second straight season has certainly provided advantages, says Catherine Chalfant, manager, remote production operations, ESPN. We have the added benefit of having many team members who were part of ESPN's Women's Final Four coverage in Minnesota in 2022. Familiarity with producing championships in both venues helps streamline logistics an
North America Stories
28/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
28/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
28/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
28/01/2026
Boston Conservatory Orchestra Premieres a New Piano Concerto by Peter and Leonar...
27/01/2026
L-R: Jonathan Cuchacovich, Sonia Kennebeck, Alan Fischer, Daeil Kim, Andrew Sta...
27/01/2026
Nielsen will continue to drive growth and provide local audience measurement
in...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Amagi Media Labs Limited, the only cloud-native SaaS provider offering end-to-end solutions across live production, content preparation, distribution, and monet...
27/01/2026
Miri Technologies Inc. today unveiled its V410 live 4K video encoder/decoder for streaming, IP-based production workflows and AV-over-IP distribution. Designed ...
27/01/2026
The Paul E. Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell in Massachusetts has chosen Ikegami cameras for incorporation into its broadcast-quality television production facili...
27/01/2026
SipRadius, specialists in secure, low latency media transport, will show the pro AV community its end-to-end solution for high quality content distribution and ...
27/01/2026
Hiltron will highlight the fruits of its 45-plus years of experience in satellite communications system integration and product development at the annual GovSat...
27/01/2026
Klvr will demonstrate how its Charger Pro solution is delivering cost reduction and performance benefits for live entertainment and pro AV markets at ISE 2026 (...
27/01/2026
Amino, a global media technology leader in enterprise video and digital signage, today announced that its Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2026 booth (4N700) wil...
27/01/2026
ANI, India's leading news agency and a major content provider across the Asia Pacific region, today announced a significant expansion of its long standing p...
27/01/2026
Independent analysis confirms faster encoding, lower CPU usage, and improved perceptual quality compared to CBR and CRF
VisualOn, a leader in multimedia playba...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Back to All News
When It Feels Real, Is It Still a Lie? The Art of Sarah' ...
27/01/2026
Back to All News
That Night premiering on Netflix March 13
Entertainment
27 January 2026
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
DOWNLOAD THE KEY ART
DOWNLO...
27/01/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Revealed the Future of Mexican Stories Coming in 2026
Entertainment
27 January 2026
GlobalMexico
Link copied to clipboard
Among t...
27/01/2026
Back to All News
Four New Japan Titles Announced for 2026: Viral Hit', On...
27/01/2026
Back to All News
What's Next on Netflix from Japan: Expanding the Possibili...
27/01/2026
AI, graphics and virtual software power new production capabilities...
26/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
26/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
26/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
26/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
26/01/2026
Advanced Systems Group (ASG) today announced an exclusive partnership with Nu Studio, the company behind the first modular, portable studio designed for immersi...
26/01/2026
OpenDrives, the leader in high-end video data management and workflow solutions, today announced an add-on investment to its previous funding rounds, led by IAG...
26/01/2026
SmallHD today announced a major update to its award-winning PageOS software, introducing Fleet Control, Portrait Mode, expanded Camera Control features, and Dow...
26/01/2026
Whether rigging a PTZ on a truss, sliding a Blackmagic camera across a mezzanine railing, or capturing the mayhem from inside a drum, Filipic delivers visuals t...
26/01/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Unveils Official Trailer for Salvador
Entertainment
26 January 2026
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
DISCOVER THE TRAILER
DO...
26/01/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Presents Our 2026 Series and Films and Announces New Projects
Entertainment
26 January 2026
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
...
26/01/2026
Back to All News
Made in Louisiana: People We Meet on Vacation' Lights Up New Orleans
Emily Bader and Tom Blyth film on Royal Street in New Orleans' ...
26/01/2026
LinkedIn Gives Professionals the Edge with Verified Skills and Tools to Navigate the Job Search Show Proficiency of AI Tools such as Descript, Lovable, Relay.ap...
26/01/2026
Alfalite, Brainstorm, Dejero, Domo Broadcast Systems, FOR-A, KitPlus, Ontario So...
26/01/2026
Tyngsboro, Mass. - January 26, 2026 - Broadcast Pix is excited to exhibit at the Alliance for Community Media West Region Conference and Trade Show, taking plac...
25/01/2026
Back to All News
Sins of Kujo' Premieres April 2: Teaser Trailer, Art and ...
24/01/2026
Masami Kawai Selected as the 2026 Merata Mita Fellow; Isabella Madrigal and Tsanavi Spoonhunter Named 2026 Graton Fellows During Native Forum Celebration in Par...
24/01/2026
The MC-55A Peregrine aircraft will give the Royal Australian Air Force information superiority and serve as strategic assets for future Australian Defence Force...
24/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
24/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
24/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
23/01/2026
WWE's Virtual Production Playbook: How the Professional Wrestling Super Powe...
WNBA Finals 2024: ESPN Wraps Exhilarating Regular Season, Playoffs With Two Best Records in Championship Series Network rolls with onsite productions in New York and Minnesota By Kristian Hern ndez, Senior Editor 
