ESPN2 to Air WNBA Draft 2017 Presented by State Farm Live, Today
By: BWW
News Desk Apr. 13, 2017
Several of the top WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL prospects will gather at Samsung 837 in New York, for the 2017 WNBA DRAFT presented by State Farm on Thursday, April 13. Samsung 837, the brand's experiential flagship and cultural hub, is hosting draft for the first time. Airing in prime time for the fifth-straight year, coverage and analysis of the first round will begin at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2, followed by coverage of the second and third rounds on ESPNU starting at 8 p.m. WNBA DRAFT host Ryan Ruocco will be joined by analysts Rebecca Lobo and LaChina Robinson, and reporters Holly Rowe and Cassidy Hubbarth.
The San Antonio Stars hold the top pick in THE DRAFT after winning the WNBA DRAFT Lottery presented by State Farm, and also hold the No. 5 pick (from Phoenix). The rest of the top five are: No. 2 Chicago Sky; No. 3 Dallas Wings; and No. 4 Dallas Wings (from Los Angeles). Content will also be offered throughout the day across ESPN platforms, including SPORTSCENTER and espnW.com.Production Features
- ESPN will capture scenes highlighting the unique features of Samsung 837, which will provide an atmosphere unlike any other WNBA Draft;
- ESPN will have a camera feed from the San Antonio Stars War Room featuring interviews with new General Manager Ruth Riley and first-year Head Coach Vickie Johnson;
- "All-Access" pieces - ESPN will follow all invited draft prospects with a camera through the day, including the University of Washington's Kelsey Plum;
- Live interviews on the set will include Plum and three members from the NCAA National Champions from the University of South Carolina - Alaina Coates, Kaela Davis and Allisha Gray;
- Previews of the upcoming season will focus on 2015 WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne joining the Washington Mystics in the offseason, as well as analysis of the team(s) most likely to contend with defending champion Sparks and runner-up Minnesota Lynx.
espnW
- Mock Draft: Mechelle Voepel will offer her first-round predictions;
- Pre-draft profiles on the Stars, Wings and Sky, and what they might be looking to add Thursday;
- DraftCast will feature live chats, pick-by-pick analysis of each selection and a video player of the WatchESPN Draft livestream;
- espnW social channels will capture the sights and sounds of draft-day action with behind-the-scenes Instagram photos, Tweets and Facebook posts.
ESPN's coverage of the WNBA's 21st season will tip off Saturday, May 13, with the defending champion Los Angeles Sparks and Candace Parker hosting the Seattle Storm and Breanna Stewart at 5 p.m., on ESPN.
Image courtesy of ESPN
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