ION Doubles Down on Female Sports with ‘Sports Illustrated Women’s Games’

ION has become one of the most popular TV channels in America thanks to its mix of popular procedural dramas and women’s sports like the WNBA and NWSL. Now, the channel is partnering with Sports Illustrated to host a multi-day sports battle for the world’s best female athletes.

The SI Women’s Games will run October 28-November 2. “Team Americas” will battle “Team World” in basketball, gymnastics, tennis, flag football, volleyball, and combat sports. The athletes haven’t been announced yet.

“We’re proud to partner with Sports Illustrated, one of the most iconic brands in sports, to showcase and bring the compelling and exciting stories, athletes and events of the SI Women’s Games to every American household,”  said Brian Lawlor, president of Scripps Sports. “This is another milestone for Scripps Sports and ION as a premier destination for the best in women’s sports.”

In 2024, ION was the 10th most-watched TV channel in the U.S. You can watch it for free with streamers like Plex, Pluto TV, Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus, Sling Freestream, and Tubi. For premium live TV streamers, your options are DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Frndly TV, and YouTube TV

If you want to watch with an antenna, you can use ION’s channel finder to see your local option. ION is available in 37 of the top 50 U.S. markets.

TV viewership for women’s sports soared 131% in 2024. The WNBA is seeing explosive growth with superstars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, while the Olympics reignited interest in sports like women’s soccer, gymnastics, and track and field.

We’ve added the SI Women’s Games to Streaming Smarter’s Google Calendar. Access the calendar and add it to your personal calendar with this link.