Warner Bros. Discovery Sports has introduced its USMNT and USWNT commentators for games beginning in 2023. The announcement kicks off the broadcaster’s new deal with US Soccer, which runs through 2030.
Coverage begins on January 17 when USWNT takes on New Zealand in the first of two friendlies to follow. Those two games are followed in quick succession by USMNT friendlies against Serbia and Colombia. After that, some of the high-profile games on HBO Max and/or TNT include the SheBelieves Cup, the CONCACAF Nations League, and friendlies.
To introduce these and future games to soccer fans in 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery Sports has put out an interesting broadcast team, to say the least.
USMNT and USWNT commentators a mix of new and familiar names
Of all the talent Warner Bros. Discovery Sports has chosen for its coverage of US Soccer, there are two big surprises.
First, they named Luke Wileman as their lead commentator. Not well known to soccer fans outside of Canada’s Major League Soccer coverage, the Englishman has lived and worked in Canada since 2006. Before covering MLS for TSN for several years, Wileman worked at the BBC. Industry insiders say Wileman is a good hire, but in our opinion, the hire is certainly left field.
Second, Kyle Martino is back. The beloved football analyst who left NBC Sports under mysterious circumstances will be an analyst at Warner Bros. Discovery Sports.
Full USMNT and USWNT commentators
The signings Warner Bros Discovery Sports has made are a bit unconventional for soccer, but could be a breath of fresh air:
Sara Walsh (host/anchor): Walsh spent seven years with ESPN, including as the host of its flagship show SportsCenter. Best known for her NFL Network’s football coverage, Walsh has done football games for FOX Sports, along with NASCAR. She was a four-year starter on the soccer team at the University of North Florida, where she set the school record for goals scored in a single game.
Julie Foudy (Games Analyst): With ESPN no longer carrying US Women’s National Team soccer games, Foudy is a smart and logical hire from Warner-Discovery. Still listed in Warner-Discovery’s press release as a “current ESPN analyst,” they couldn’t have picked a better women’s soccer expert.
DaMarcus Beasley (match analyst): Having worked for FOX Sports during the World Cup and for CBS Sports on their soccer coverage, he’s another smart hire from Warner Bros-Discovery. With 126 caps for the USMNT, there’s room for Beasley to grow in his position and become a better expert. And he has the platform to do it.
Shannon Boxx (match analyst): With 195 caps for the USWNT, he’s shown it on the field, but it’ll be interesting to see how he does on camera. In addition to her 195 appearances with the USWNT, she played in four Women’s World Cups and won three Olympic gold medals.
Other announced talents
In addition to the aforementioned Wileman and Martino, the bookings made by Warner Bros. Discovery Sports give the station a lot of flexibility. For example, Luke Wileman as the main commentator and Sara Walsh as the presenter will be the mainstays. But then the announcer can choose between Martino, Beasley, Boxx and Foudy to see who would be better as co-commentator and in the studio. And that may change as your coverage evolves.
Warner Bros Discovery Sports (hopefully they pick a better and shorter name in the future) has hired a sideline reporter. It’s Melissa Ortiz, who is a familiar face on many broadcasts over the last 18 months, including FOX Sports (World Cup), fuboTV (CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers) and CBS Sports (women’s soccer).
As a player, Ortiz excelled on the Colombian Women’s National Team, helping the team qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015.
Upcoming matches on TV and streaming
Warner Bros-Discovery’s first broadcast of US Soccer debuts on HBO Max. First up are the USWNT games against New Zealand on January 17 and January 20 airing live on HBO Max. Then follows USMNT-Serbia on January 25 on HBO Max, and the January 28 game against Colombia on TNT.
