In addition to the usual ESPN platforms, Caitlin Clark’s WNBA debut will get added exposure on Disney+. Plus: the long-running studio show NASCAR Race Hub is ending; Dale Earnhardt Jr. is officially moving to Amazon and WBD.
ESPN to stream Clark’s debut on ESPN+ and Disney+
ESPN plans to stream Tuesday’s WNBA Opening Night doubleheader — including the professional debut of Indiana Fever G Caitlin Clark — on both ESPN+ and Disney+, it was announced this week. The games will be the first traditional sportscasts to air on the Disney+ service, which has previously carried animated alternate presentations of NHL games. Linear coverage of the games will be available on ESPN2.
The full WNBA schedule can be viewed here.
NASCAR Race Hub ending next month
The long-running, daily FS1 studio show NASCAR Race Hub has been canceled and will air its final edition on June 11, Racer reported Wednesday. Race Hub, which debuted in 2009, was the final holdover from FS1 predecessor Speed Channel and is the only racing-focused studio show on a major network.
Race Hub is just the latest long-running studio show to meet its end. NFL Network is reportedly discontinuing its NFL Total Access studio show after a 20-year run.
Amazon, TNT, make Dale Jr. hire official
Former NBC NASCAR analyst Dale Earnhardt Jr. is joining incoming NASCAR rights partners Amazon and TNT Sports for next season, it was officially announced this week. The news was first reported months ago by The Athletic.
Earnhardt Jr., who left NBC ahead of this season, will continue to serve as an in-booth analyst. In addition, he will conduct interviews for a new Bleacher Report series in which he interviews guests as he drives them around whichever track TNT is visiting that week. He will also hold other, as-yet-unspecified roles for Amazon.
Amazon and TNT will begin carrying a combined ten Cup Series races per year next season.