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WNBA Draft

WNBA Draft

Wnba_draft_2023_241x208
  • Premiered: 
    April 20, 2001
    (Click date to see TV listings for that day)

  • Network: ESPN2
  • Category: Series
  • Genre: Special, Annual
  • Type: Live Action
  • Concept: 
    Draft for WNBA Basketball 
  • Subject Matter: Sports
  • Tags: basketball

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Plot Synopsis

Each year since 1997, the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) has held its annual WNBA DRAFT, allowing teams to select eligible college players in an order based on record and the results of a draft lottery. All round o the WNBA DRAFT are held on a single day. First held on April 18, 1997, Tina Thompson was the first No. 1 draft pick, selected by the Houston Comets. The 2001 WNBA DRAFT, held on Friday, April 20 at the NBA Entertainment studios in Secaucus, New Jersey, was the first draft to air on national television, as ESPN2 and NBA TV simulcast the first round, while only NBA TV covered the remaining three rounds. During this telecast and other early drafts, all picks were made via conference call with team representatives. From 2001 through 2012, the WNBA DRAFT was held during the afternoon (Eastern Time), with the first round televised by an ESPN channel and later rounds broadcast by NBA TV. Since 2013, the WNBA DRAFT has usually been held during primetime (Eastern Time), with the first round broadcast by ESPN2 and rounds 2 and 3 televised by ESPNU, but in 2015 the second and third rounds were streamed on ESPN3.
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On Monday, April 10, 2023 from 7-9pm ET/4-6pm PT, ESPN presented live coverage of all three rounds of the 2023 WNBA DRAFT from New York City's Spring Studios. Ryan Ruocco once again hosts on site, joined by analysts Rebecca Lobo and LaChina Robinson, and reporter Holly Rowe. Lobo and Robinson breakdown the picks with reaction and analysis, while Rowe interviews members of the 2023 draft class once they are selected. ESPN's telecast has cameras inside seven team draft rooms: Indiana, Minnesota, Dallas, Atlanta, Washington, Los Angeles and Seattle -- all of whom have a First Round pick. Additionally, ESPN has live coverage from the Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx official Watch Parties.

Cast

Settings

  • NBA Entertainment Studios (1997-2005, 2009 & 2010) - Secaucus, New Jersey USA
  • Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (2006) - Boston, Massachusetts USA
  • The Renaissance Hotel (2007) - Cleveland, Ohio USA
  • The Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club (2008) - Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida USA
  • ESPN Studios (2011-2013, 2020 & 2021) - Bristol, Connecticut USA
  • Mohegan Sun Arena (2014-2016) - Uncasville, Connecticut USA
  • Samsung 837 (2017) - Manhattan, New York USA
  • Nike New York Headquarters (2018 & 2019) - Manhattan, New York USA
  • Spring Studios (2022 & 2023) - Manhattan, New York USA

Firsts, Lasts & Notable Notes

  • April 15, 2013: First time WNBA Draft is televised during prime time.