USA Sports announces studio host ahead of WNBA’s debut season on USA Network

by January 22, 2026

written by January 22, 2026

The foundation for the WNBA’s next television era is officially in place. As the league prepares for its debut season on a new national platform, USA Sports is finalizing key elements of its broadcast plans well ahead of tipoff.

With fan interest and commercial momentum continuing to rise, USA Sports has selected Elle Duncan as the studio host for its WNBA coverage on USA Network, according to Sports Business Journal. The network is investing early.

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As the WNBA enters this new broadcast chapter, USA Network is positioning itself to be a serious long-term home rather than a temporary stop with Duncan’s entry.

The renowned host, Lauren “Elle” Duncan, was born on April 12, 1983, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, and began her media career in the early 2000s.

She got her start in Atlanta radio before moving into television. She worked in various on-air roles, including sideline reporting for the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and hosting sports shows on regional networks.

In 2016, she joined ESPN as an anchor on ‘SportsCenter’, and became a familiar face on one of the most-watched sports news programs in the country. Duncan’s work for the women’s basketball studio includes WNBA coverage and NCAA Women’s college basketball.

And notably, after nearly a decade with ESPN, Duncan departed in late 2025 to join Netflix’s expanding sports coverage, where she is expected to be a lead host for live events and sports programming.

And now, per reports, she will lead pregame, halftime, and postgame shows throughout the season for USA Sports while becoming the primary voice guiding viewers through USA Network’s WNBA broadcasts.

The hire is part of NBCUniversal’s broader media rights agreement that brings regular-season WNBA games to USA Network beginning in 2026. Along with live games, the network plans consistent studio programming to support marquee matchups and broaden audience engagement.