WNBA AND FACEBOOK’S OCULUS TIP OFF PARTNERSHIP WITH 20-GAME REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE

NEW YORK, Aug. 19, 2020 – The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and Oculus from Facebook, a leading virtual reality platform, will tip off the newly-announced, multiyear partnership that makes Oculus an Official Marketing Partner and the first-ever Virtual Reality Headset Partner of the league with a 20-game regular season schedule on Oculus Venues and Facebook Watch.

As part of the new partnership, Oculus will also make live WNBA games available in 2D throughOculus Venues on Oculus Quest and Oculus Go headsets, while streaming games on Facebook Watch, beginning tonight when the Dallas Wings meet the Minnesota Lynx at 9:00 p.m. ET.

“We are excited to partner with Facebook and Oculus to provide fans a new and truly immersive experience to view WNBA games this season and beyond,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.  “Providing more opportunities to view WNBA games on innovative platforms will drive expanded coverage to our growing fan base, and combined with our other broadcast partners, will help sculpt the future landscape of the fan experience.”

Facebook’s schedule tips off Wednesday, Aug. 19, when the Dallas Wings, led by Arike Ogunbowale, coming off a 33-point performance in a win on Sunday, meet 2019 WNBA Rookie of the Year Napheesa Collier and the Minnesota Lynx. The schedule also features Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner and Skylar Diggins-Smith and the Phoenix Mercury taking on A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 9:00 p.m., and a battle of MVPs when 2018 WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart and the Seattle Storm meet two-time WNBA MVP Candace Parker and 2016 WNBA MVP Nneka Ogwumike and the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday, Sept. 4 at 10:00 p.m.

“When we discussed WNBA marketing opportunities, we wanted to make sure that our investment helped connect the league with its current and future generation of fans,” said Rob Shaw, Facebook Director of Sports Media and League Partnerships. “This sponsorship achieves that, as people around the world will now be able to experience and engage with the WNBA and its incredible players like never before on Oculus and Facebook Watch.”

As an Official Marketing Partner of the WNBA, Oculus will become an associate partner of the WNBA’s Believe in Women platform.  In addition, Oculus will have a presence during the league’s 24^th season in Bradenton, Florida at IMG Academy, the Official Home of the 2020 WNBA season, which features a 22-game schedule for each of WNBA’s 12 teams and will include Oculus signage throughout the site.

In addition to Facebook, WNBA games are available this season on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, CBS Television Network, CBS Sports Network, NBA TV, WNBA League Pass and Twitter, as well as select regional sports networks.  Regular-season play is currently scheduled to conclude on Saturday, Sept. 12, and be followed by a traditional playoffs and Finals format.