Marquee Sports Network is expanding the scope of its coverage beyond the Chicago Cubs.
The network announced a multiyear broadcast partnership with the Sky to provide live television broadcasts of 16 games. All non-nationally televised games also will be available to stream through Marquee Plus via the app for authenticated Marquee subscribers.
Locally televised Sky games that conflict with Cubs games will be carried by WCIU-Channel 26 as well as Marquee Plus. Weigel Broadcasting, the parent company of The U and CW26, is slated to carry 14 Sky games this season, including the championship ring ceremony May 24 before the Sky play the Indiana Fever.
“On behalf of the Chicago Cubs organization, I’m so honored to announce this broadcast partnership with the WNBA Champion Chicago Sky,” Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts said in a statement. “We’re looking forward to a great partnership between the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Sky and Marquee”
The Sky broadcast team will consist of Lisa Byington (play-by-play), Jason Ross Jr. (play-by-play), Stephen Bardo (analyst) and Meghan McKeown (analyst).
The Sky open the season Friday at home against the Los Angeles Sparks. It will be the first Sky game to air on Marquee.
“This partnership with Marquee elevates the Chicago Sky fan experience in a way that has never been done before,” Sky President/CEO Adam Fox said in a statement. “Women’s basketball, particularly the Chicago Sky, is increasingly gaining attention and affinity, and Marquee’s commitment to women’s professional sports made this an easy partnership. With Marquee, as well as our continued relationship with WCIU-TV, fans will never miss a moment of the Sky’s title defense.”