ESPN to air WNBA Draft on main network after social media backlash

Thursday morning, ESPN announced that the  2020 WNBA Draft will go on as scheduled but a previously planned in-person draft will now take part remotely without players, fans or media in attendance. 

{RELATED: Here's how Sabrina Ionescu will be selected in the upcoming WNBA Draft]

However, the network also announced that the Draft will air on ESPN2... despite sports being canceled or suspended due to the coronavirus. 

When prior drafts aired on ESPN's secondary network, it made sense to do so due to ESPN airing the NBA games on their main network, but that season has been suspended until further notice.

Fans on social media felt that ESPN has no excuse to not air the draft on their flagship station with no competing events happening, including the presumed first overall selection, Sabrina Ionescu.

https://twitter.com/sabrina_i20/status/1243297732929794049

It wasn't the first time college basketball's all-time leader in triple-doubles has criticized the network for their treatment of women's sports coverage.

However, after the response from social media, ESPN has admitted their mistake and has chosen to now air it on ESPN, according to Dan Bernstein of the Sporting News.

After the change in tune, people gave credit where credit was due.

Oregon Ducks teammates Satou Sabally and Ruthy Hebard are also expected to be taken in the first round along with Ionescu. 

ESPN to air WNBA Draft on main network after social media backlash originally appeared on NBC Sports Northwest