· Warner Bros. Discovery Sports (US)
National Soccer Hall of Famers Julie Foudy, DaMarcus Beasley & Shannon Boxx Plus Former USMNT Star Kyle Martino to Serve as Analysts
Veteran Soccer Broadcaster Luke Wileman to Provide Play-By-Play, with Sara Walsh as Studio Host & Melissa Ortiz as Reporter
Warner Bros. Discovery Sports has announced its talented and accomplished roster of commentators ahead of the launch of its U.S. Soccer coverage – which kicks off with HBO Max’s first-ever domestic live sports coverage – on Tuesday, Jan. 17, featuring the U.S. Women’s National Team traveling to face the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup co-host New Zealand at 10 p.m. ET. HBO Max will also present the follow up match between the USA and New Zealand live from Auckland on Friday, Jan. 20, at 10 p.m. ET.
WBD Sports’ well-regarded and diverse lineup of analysts will feature three National Soccer Hall of Famers – Julie Foudy, DaMarcus Beasley and Shannon Boxx – along with former USMNT player and popular American soccer personality Kyle Martino.
WBD Sports’ commentator roster will also include other experienced soccer voices – both domestic and international – with various ties to the beautiful game.
An award-winning soccer commentator with more than 25 years of experience of calling international soccer, Luke Wileman will serve as TNT and HBO Max’s lead play-by-play voice for U.S. Soccer. A veteran of numerous FIFA World Cups, including this year’s event in Qatar, Wileman has called many of the world’s biggest soccer showcases. He is a two-time Canadian Screen Awards winner for Best Sports Play-By-Play and has been the leading voice of soccer in Canada for more than a dozen years. Wileman began his career with the BBC, including three years as the play-by-play voice of Leeds United.
Four-time Emmy Award-winning sports broadcast Sara Walsh will host WBD Sports’ studio coverage of U.S. Soccer. Currently a host for NFL Network, Walsh previously spent seven years with ESPN, including as anchor of its flagship program SportsCenter. Walsh has covered USWNT, USMNT and MLS games for FOX Sports, along with the NFL and NASCAR. She was a four-year starter on the University of North Florida soccer team, where she set the school record for goals scored in a single game.
Versatile soccer broadcaster Melissa Ortiz will serve as a reporter for TNT and HBO Max. Previously, she has worked as a host, studio analyst, commentator and sideline reporter for FOX Sports, ESPN and fuboTV. Last month, she served as a FIFA World Cup digital analyst and host in Qatar. As a player, Ortiz was a standout for the Colombian Women’s National Team, helping the team qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015. She was an award-winning soccer star throughout her four years at Lynn University.
WBD Sports and the U.S. Soccer Federation are in the first of an eight-year multimedia rights agreement which made TNT and HBO Max the exclusive English-language home to more than 20 Women’s and Men’s National Team matches every year. High profile matches will include the SheBelieves Cup, CONCACAF Nations League and top-flight National Team friendlies.
Further programming, production and scheduling details will be announced soon.
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