NEW YORK – With its 28th season set to tip off on Tuesday, May 14, the WNBA today announced the return of the Tip-Off Test Drive presented by CarMax in addition to an expansive array of content offerings and new features on the WNBA App, the league’s global digital platform.
For the second consecutive season, the Tip-Off Test Drive presented by CarMax will provide fans an opportunity to unlock the action with complimentary preview access to WNBA League Pass, the league’s direct-to-consumer offering that provides access to live out-of-market games.
Fans can take advantage of the initial free preview window from May 14-21 and stream up to 13 games, live or on-demand, for free in the “Watch” tab of the WNBA App with no subscription or credit card information required. Fans will also have additional opportunities to take the Test Drive by CarMax during other select stages of the 2024 season.
In addition, CarMax, the nation’s largest retailer of used cars and a WNBA Changemaker partner focused on driving the WNBA’s overall brand awareness and building the brand of its players, has assembled an all-WNBA athlete roster in its latest sports campaign: “Never Settle”.
The spots will feature some of the WNBA’s greatest current and former stars, including long-time CarMax athlete and four-time WNBA Champion Sue Bird, the league’s career assists leader who was named to a record 13 WNBA All-Star Games. New to the CarMax spots are two-time WNBA All-Star Sabrina Ionescu, two-time WNBA All-Star and current ESPN basketball analyst Chiney Ogwumike, and two-time league MVP and two-time WNBA champion A’ja Wilson. The campaign will air during WNBA and NBA games with the first spot launching tomorrow and two more this summer.
“We are incredibly proud to be a longtime partner of the WNBA and a Changemaker, especially during this pivotal and well-deserved moment in women’s sports,” said Sarah Lane, SVP, Chief Marketing Officer at CarMax. “With record-breaking viewership of women’s basketball, there is no better time to spotlight an all-WNBA roster of athletes in our campaign. These elite athletes, who have never settled in their career, are the perfect talent to show customers that they should never have to settle in their car shopping process and that they don’t have to with CarMax.”
The 24/7 home for WNBA coverage and access, the award-winning WNBA App, redesigned in 2023 with a sleek new look, customized features, and compelling short-form video content and storytelling, was developed as an enhanced all-in-one source for fans, offering real-time news, stats, score updates and standings, all designed for WNBA fans to keep up with the league and deepen their connection to the game and to their favorite teams and players.
“Year two of the reimagined WNBA App will provide fans of the W with an even more accessible, engaging and immersive experience and signifies the ongoing transformation of the league’s digital platforms into the ultimate destination for women’s basketball,” said Colie Edison, Chief Growth Officer, WNBA. “Coming off a 2023 season in which the App experienced triple digit growth year over year in terms of downloads, we are poised to deliver an increasingly unique experience highlighted by advanced features and expanded content offerings that make the App the one stop shop for unmatched coverage of the WNBA.”
Beginning with the regular season, the WNBA App’s offerings will include the following series that provide fans with exclusive access to the teams and players they love, from on-court analysis to behind-the-scenes stories.
- YEAR 1 will follow a group of WNBA rookies throughout the season as they navigate a year of firsts in the league, taking fans behind-the-scenes in the life of a rookie.
- OFF TOP will return for its third season with host Ari Chambers facilitating lively conversations with WNBA teammates, who share candid perspectives and stories from their experiences as part of the league’s 144 players.
- Game of the Week will break down the must-watch national game of a given week from all angles.
- But First… will present a fresh take on the headlines and provide need-to-know information for the week ahead.
- Fans also can expect additional original series to drop throughout the season and beyond, with all episodes available on the WNBA App and WNBA YouTube channel.
Positioned alongside compelling short-form, behind-the-scenes video and highlights via social-style vertical videos, offerings such as polls, brackets, trivia and more, will again make the WNBA App the destination for W fans.
In addition to the content offerings, new features of the WNBA App include:
- A customized, re-skinned homepage featuring unique, all-access content around the WNBA’s key moments and tentpole events such as the WNBA Tip-Off presented by CarMax, the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Final presented by Coinbase, the AT&T WNBA All-Star Game, the WNBA Playoffs presented by Google, and the WNBA Finals presented by YouTube TV.
- A new game day primer highlighting teams’ projected starters, storylines and up-to-date injury reports, as well as ticket information and details on “Where to Watch” the action.
- The ability for fans to connect even further with the WNBA community and directly share in-app videos with their friends and family via social media or text message.
- Upgraded notification settings and real-time alerts that deliver fans the latest information and the updates most relevant to them as soon as it becomes available. This includes “Game Reminders” with tune-in prompts before big matchups and “Close Game” alerts for key moments in hotly contested games.
