Natasha Howard and Seattle Storm have WNBA spotlight

Seminoles.com

Florida State women’s basketball fans will have plenty of opportunities remaining to watch Seminole legend Natasha Howard on national television this season.

With the sports world slowly returning under new norms due to COVID-19, Howard’s Seattle Storm opened up the WNBA national telecast schedule last July 25 when it faced the New York Liberty on ESPN. The matchup featured the debut of 2020 No. 1 overall pick Sabrina Ionescu from the Liberty.

Overall, Howard and the Seattle Storm had 13 nationally televised games in the re-structured WNBA season, with five remaining through Sept. 11. The combination of networks includes ESPN, ESPN2, ABC and CBS Sports Network. Every WNBA game this season will be played within a bubble at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

All 12 teams were in action during the opening week, all aspects of the game and player outfitting are designed to affirm Black Lives Matter and honor victims of police brutality and racial violence.

“As we build on the momentum for women’s sports and the WNBA from last season, we’re incredibly grateful to our broadcast partners who have shown a continued commitment to bringing the WNBA to fans across the country on their biggest platforms,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “This 2020 WNBA season will truly be one unlike any other, and we’re looking forward to using our collective platform to highlight the tremendous athletes in the WNBA as well as their advocacy for social change.”

WNBA Tip-Off 2020 presented by AT&T also highlighted the league’s new social justice platform, The WNBA Justice Movement, with a special focus on the Black Lives Matter movement. During the initial national telecasts, team uniforms displayed Breonna Taylor’s name as WNBA players raise awareness and seek justice for the women and girls who have been the forgotten victims of police brutality and racial violence. Players individually have the option to continue to wear the placard with Breonna Taylor’s name for subsequent games. Additionally, throughout the season, players are wearing warm-up shirts that display “Black Lives Matter” on the front and “Say Her Name” on the back. “Black Lives Matter” is also prominently displayed on courts during games.

Howard is a two-time WNBA Champion who has elevated herself to being one of the league’s top players. She was named the 2019 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and was also an All-WNBA First Team player in the same season with the Storm. In 2018, she was the league’s most improved player. She is into her seventh season in the WNBA.

REMAINING SEATTLE STORM 2020 WNBA NATIONAL TELECAST SCHEDULE

Aug. 22 (Saturday), 6 PM ET – Seattle @ Las Vegas (CBSSN)

Aug. 27 (Thursday), 10 PM ET – Las Vegas @ Seattle (CBSSN)

Sept. 2 (Wednesday), 10 PM ET – Washington @ Seattle (CBSSN)

Sept. 9 (Wednesday), 10 PM ET – Dallas @ Seattle (CBSSN)

Sept. 11 (Friday), 10 PM ET – Seattle @ Phoenix (CBSSN)