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Scripps Sports Expands on NWSL Success for 2025

Scripps Sports is excited to build on the achievements of the inaugural season of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) broadcast on ION. With more than 20 million unique viewers last season, the network is set to launch its new season coverage starting March 15, 2025. Alongside exciting game plans, Scripps has introduced a talented new studio team determined to elevate the audience experience.

A Fresh Start with New Faces

The new season will feature Seb Salazar and Kylen Mills as co-hosts, promising vibrant discussions surrounding the matches. Salazar brings substantial experience from his role at ESPN, where he frequently appears on the soccer program ESPN FC, while Mills, an Emmy-nominated broadcaster, has worked across prominent networks including FOX and NBC Sports. This duo's combined expertise is expected to enrich the coverage and provide deeper insights into the matches and player dynamics.

Brian Lawlor, president of Scripps Sports, expressed his enthusiasm about the new addition, stating, "Seb Salazar is an exceptional talent in soccer reporting, bringing a wealth of experience and deep-rooted passion for the game. Kylen Mills, with her impressive analyst experience and soccer background, will greatly contribute to our coverage."

In addition, the production team, led by Quinn Pacini, includes veteran producer Nicole Denne and new studio show producer Taylor Quellman. Together, they will ensure that the audience receives top-tier content and analysis throughout the season.

Enhanced Coverage and Match Highlights

The NWSL on ION will continue to feature thrilling matches every Saturday night, alongside comprehensive studio shows dedicated to post-match analysis and previews. These unique weekly studio shows aim to deepen the viewer's connection to the sport, spotlighting off-the-pitch stories from players and coaches across the league.

This upcoming season, the network is set to air 50 matches across 25 weeks, with match broadcasts featuring experienced play-by-play commentators. JP Dellacamera, with the nurturing insights provided by former U.S. Women's National Team goalkeeper Jill Loyden, will lead the first match. For the second matchup, Maura Sheridan takes the role of play-by-play announcer with former NWSL player Jordan Angeli serving as the analyst.

What to Expect:

Starting March 15, the season will kick off with a doubleheader featuring prominent players such as Ally Sentnor from Utah Royals FC facing off against Racheal Kundananji from Bay FC, followed by a matchup between Rose Lavelle and Lynn Williams with their respective teams. Additional highlights include:

• - A highly anticipated rematch of the 2024 Championship where Orlando will face Washington on April 19.
• - Special tripleheader coverage on June 14, featuring Angel City, Chicago, and Kansas City hosting consecutive matches.
• - Riveting rivalry matches as Bay FC clashes with Angel City along with other exciting lineups throughout the season.

NWSL's Growing Popularity

Last year's NWSL on ION's performance was remarkable, with data showing that it reached over 20.5 million total unique viewers. Additionally, ION managed to engage a female audience percentage that stood out as the highest amongst broadcast networks. Their unique viewer statistics, particularly for the P25-54 demographic, reached 57%, highlighting the positive response from the public. Together, they have done exceedingly well, with an average audience of 145,000 viewers per match, peaking at 234,000 during the Orlando-Kansas City game.

ION's broadcasts also accumulated over 3.6 million hours of viewing across various streaming platforms, including Roku and Amazon Fire TV Channels, showcasing the network's strong engagement dynamics.

For fans eager to catch every match, a detailed schedule for the season is available on the ION NWSL website.

Follow @IONNWSL on social media for future updates and more exciting announcements!

With such a strong start and promising developments, the 2025 NWSL season on ION appears set to make waves, and Scripps Sports aims to keep fans connected and engaged with women's soccer like never before.