ESPN Women’s College Basketball Announcers Unveiled

ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3 – which will combine for a record 130 women’s basketball games during the 2011-12 season and feature many of the top programs in the nation – returns a top caliber lineup of commentators featuring several new assignments.

New This Year:

• While maintaining her sideline reporting duties, Rebecca Lobo will have a more consistent presence as an analyst throughout the season.
• Beth Mowins, Pam Ward and Brenda VanLengen will be the primary play-by-play announcers on ESPN and ESPN2 telecasts this season, giving a consistent female voice all season. VanLengen moves over to the play-by-play role after working as an analyst in previous years.

ESPN2’s Big Monday Presented by Bud Light:

• The duo of Ward and Lobo will call two Big Monday games in January, all at 7 p.m. ET – No. 19 North Carolina at No. 4 Connecticut on Jan. 16 and UConn at No. 8 Duke on Jan. 30
• Beginning in February, Mondays will feature doubleheaders, with Lobo and Ward moving to the 9 p.m. window. A new announcing team of Mowins and analyst Stephanie White will pair up for the 7 p.m. game.
• The Final Four announcing team of Dave O’Brien and Doris Burke will reunite for two Big Monday games – No. 3 Tennessee at No. 2 Notre Dame on Jan. 23 (7 p.m.) and the Irish at No. 4 Connecticut on Feb. 27 (9 p.m.), as well as select games throughout the season. Ward and White will call the No. 1 Baylor at No. 6 Texas A&M game at 7 p.m.

ESPN & ESPN2’s Studio Coverage:

• Kara Lawson and Carolyn Peck will be in studio for halftime, pre- and post-game coverage during ESPN and ESPN2’s Sunday and Monday night windows.

ESPNU & ESPN Regional Television (ERT):

• Anne-Marie Anderson, Doug Bell and Sam Gore will call play-by-play on most ESPNU telecasts.
• Analysts Kayte Christensen, LaChina Robinson, Maria Taylor, Abby Waner and Brooke Weisbrod will handle the majority of ESPNU games.
• Bob Picozzi will call BIG EAST Network games with Robinson. Cara Capuano with pair with Waner on SEC Network games.

Analysts Working Men’s and Women’s Games:

• Burke, Lawson and Peck return to ESPN’s women’s games, while also working men’s basketball telecasts. In addition to Big Monday and select other games, Burke will work on Thursday and Saturday BIG EAST men’s telecasts. Lawson will continue her women’s basketball studio coverage, while working primarily on men’s SEC Network telecasts as well as select contests across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. Peck will also work studio coverage with Lawson, and call select men’s and women’s games throughout the season.

ESPN’s 2011-12 women’s basketball schedule Details:

• Record-high 130 games on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3, plus expanded coverage on ESPN FULL COURT
• 95 games during the regular season on the networks and coverage from 13 conference tournaments
• 41 matchups on ESPNU, including 23 regular-season matchups and home of the Maggie Dixon Classic
• 35 games on ESPN2, including the State Farm Tip-Off Classic as part of the College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon Presented by Disney Destinations, Jimmy V Women’s Classic Presented by Corona Extra, Big Monday Presented by Bud Light and Play 4Kay
• 50 exclusive games on ESPN3, featuring 10 teams ranked in the preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll
• 22-of-25 teams from the preseason poll, including the top 19 teams
• 56 games with at least one ranked team and 34 games when both teams are ranked
• First-ever women’s game aired on ESPN 3D as part of Big Monday Presented by Bud Light and Play 4Kay – No. 15 Kentucky at No. 3 Tennessee on Monday, Feb. 13
• Championship Week Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods featuring 13 conferences over 24 games
• Live coverage of ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3 game action online at WatchESPN.com

Select 2011-12 Women’s Basketball Talent Assignments (Schedule subject to change)

** - regionalized coverage; additional commentator assignments will be announced prior to each game

ESPN’s coverage of the 2012 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship, including schedule and talent, will be released in March in conjunction with the exclusive live announcement of the 64-team field as part of Selection Monday on March 12, at 7 p.m. on ESPN.  

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