Oxygen Media to Televise WNBA Games in 2002-03

NEW YORK, June 3, 2002 -- The WNBA is coming to Oxygen Media, it was announced today by Lydia Stephans, President and Executive Producer of Oxygen Sports, and Teri Schindler, Vice President of WNBA Broadcasting. The two-year agreement calls for Oxygen to televise a minimum of 11 WNBA games during the 2002 season and weekly games as well as playoff action during the 2003 season.

Oxygen will air its inaugural WNBA telecast on Tuesday, June 4, at 10 p.m. ET with coverage of the Minnesota Lynx at the Seattle Storm, a game that will feature the WNBA's No. 1 Draft pick Sue Bird. The network will televise WNBA regular season games in primetime on Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m. ET during the 2002 WNBA season.

Sue Bird is the Storm's second consecutive No. 1 pick. Jeff Reinking WNBAE/Getty Images

"The WNBA players are true Oxygen women," says Geraldine Laybourne, Chief Executive Officer, Oxygen Media. "Not only are they truly great athletes, but they are bold, funny, smart and extraordinary individuals who symbolize what Oxygen represents to viewers and what all women aspire to become."

"From the beginning, there has been a natural affinity for the WNBA among women, who make up a significant part of our fan base," says WNBA President Val Ackerman. "I can't think of a more effective way to extend our reach even further among females than to partner with Oxygen, whose mission is to address and respond to the issues and concerns of today's woman."

Beth Mowins and Debbie Antonelli will serve as the announcing team for the WNBA on Oxygen in 2002. Ms. Mowins has provided play-by-play for a variety of sports, including ESPN's telecasts of the WNBA regular season and playoffs as well as the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. In addition to Oxygen, Ms. Antonelli, who was the color analyst for the WNBA's Charlotte Sting for the past four seasons, has joined the announcing team for Fox Sports Net Midwest and WB4's regional coverage of the league's Indiana Fever.

"Oxygen Sports is proud to add the WNBA to its expanding roster of world-class sports telecasts," says Stephans. "Our commitment to women's sports remains strong. Our partnership with the WNBA, which features the best women's basketball talent in the world and athletes who have become households names to sports fans, is an exciting addition to our sports calendar."

Minnesota's Svetlana Abrosimova and Bird were teammates at the University of Connecticut. Doug Pensinger/Allsport

"We are excited to partner with Oxygen, a network that has many of the same values and goals of the WNBA," says Schindler. "Together, we will promote the image of athletic and accomplished women and provide inspirational role models for young girls."

Oxygen joins NBC, ESPN and ESPN2 in televising WNBA games this season.

Oxygen showcases events that feature the top female athletes in the world, competing in their respective sports. In addition to events from organizations like the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) and the WTA (Women's Tennis Association), the network recently signed a deal with the AVP (Association of Volleyball Professionals) to televise five of the seven women's AVP pro beach volleyball tournaments.

About the WNBA
The WNBA season tipped off its sixth season on May 25 during the Memorial Day weekend. The WNBA concluded the 2001 season by crowning a new champion for the first time in league history and recording the 10 millionth fan to attend a game since the league's inception. During the 2001 season, more than 2.5 million fans attended WNBA games, the most ever, and for the fifth straight season, WNBA regular season attendance averaged over 9,000 fans. The league's combined local, national and international television coverage reached nearly 60 million fans. WNBA programming is broadcast to 178 countries in 24 different languages. For more information, visit wnba.com.

About Oxygen Media
Oxygen Media is an integrated media brand that combines the best qualities of cable television and the Internet to serve women. Founded in 1998 by Geraldine Laybourne, Marcy Carsey, Tom Werner, Caryn Mandabach and Oprah Winfrey, Oxygen consists of web properties including Oxygen.com and Oprah.com, and a 24-hour cable network featuring music, talk, health, comedy, movies and sports. Oxygen currently reaches more than 40 million television households nationwide.

WNBA ON OXYGEN
SUMMER 2002 TELEVISION SCHEDULE

Date		Time		Game
Tue., June 4	10 p.m.		Minnesota Lynx at Seattle Storm
Tue., June 11	10 p.m.*		New York Liberty at Utah Starzz
Tue., June 18	10 p.m.		Los Angeles Sparks at Seattle Storm
Tue., June 25	10 p.m.		Washington Mystics at Sacramento Monarchs
Tue., July 2	10 p.m.*		Portland Fire at Cleveland Rockers
Tue., July 9	10 p.m.*		Seattle Storm at Houston Comets
Wed., July 17	10 p.m.*		Sacramento Monarchs at Miami Sol
Tue., July 23	10 p.m.*		Utah Starzz at Detroit Shock
Tue., July 30	10 p.m.		Indiana Fever at Sacramento Monarchs
Tue., August 6	10 p.m.*		Cleveland Rockers at Houston Comets
Tue., August 13	10 p.m.		Los Angeles Sparks at Phoenix Mercury
* Same Day Coverage
All Times ET