ESPN and Scripps Sports Network to show New York Heights vs San Francisco Firebells as Lisa Pride leads WPBL coverage
Match date:
New York Heights visit the San Francisco Firebells in the Women’s Pro Baseball League on Friday, 7 August 2026, with coverage available in the UK at 00:30 and broadcast through ESPN Unlimited, ESPN+ and the Scripps Sports Network. ESPN is the league’s national streaming home in the United States, while selected regular-season games are also simulcast on Scripps Sports Network, making this one of the easiest WPBL fixtures to follow on either side of the Atlantic.[2][4][7]
The game is listed on the WPBL schedule for Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois, and the league’s own schedule confirms the matchup between San Francisco and New York on August 7.[5][7] ESPN’s programming guide also places the game in its Thursday night window, showing the New York vs. San Francisco contest as part of the league’s early-season slate.[2] For international viewers, WPBL has said games are available on YouTube outside the United States, although the specific UK viewing option for this fixture may vary depending on platform rights and regional access.[7]
The broadcast team gives the matchup added appeal. Lisa Pride is listed as the main commentator, with Jenna Becerra alongside her as co-commentator and AJ Andrews reporting from the field. Andrews is a familiar name in baseball media, having built a profile as a former professional player and broadcaster covering the women’s game, which should help provide informed context on the sport’s first WPBL season.[7] Becerra brings playing experience too, adding to a commentary group that appears designed to balance analysis, storytelling and live detail.[7]
This is an important fixture in the WPBL’s inaugural campaign. The league was launched with four teams — the Boston Hunters, Los Angeles Queens, New York Heights and San Francisco Firebells — and is being staged at the neutral-site Robin Roberts Stadium throughout the 2026 season.[6][7] That setup has created a condensed, tournament-style feel, with the early schedule already generating strong interest as the sport’s professional women’s game returns to the United States after a long absence.[10]
San Francisco and New York have both already featured in the opening stretch of the competition, giving this meeting the feel of a meaningful early measuring stick rather than a novelty exhibition.[10] The Firebells’ debut win over Boston and the Heights’ role in the league opener have helped establish both clubs as central storylines in a season that is being closely followed by fans of women’s baseball in both the US and UK.[10]
From a television perspective, the presence of ESPN matters most. ESPN’s agreement with the WPBL makes it the league’s national streaming distributor for the 2026 season in the United States and U.S. territories, and it will also carry the postseason exclusively.[4] That means the Heights-Firebells game is part of a much broader launch for the league, with the broadcaster treating the WPBL as a major addition to its live women’s sport offering.[4]
For viewers seeking background on the wider league, the WPBL is a new professional competition founded by Justine Siegal and Keith Stein, and its inaugural season represents a landmark moment for women’s baseball in North America.[6] With a live broadcast team in place and a clear rights package across ESPN, ESPN+ and Scripps, the New York vs. San Francisco matchup is set to be one of the most accessible and watchable games in the league’s first month.WPBL schedule
Article generated: 7 August 2026, 00:30 GMT