The NBA and NHL playoffs were set to resume Saturday. Plus: Major League Baseball’s postseason “bubble” is close to become a reality; the NWSL plans to come back with a “fall series” starting next week, and more.
NBA, NHL, WNBA, resume play
The NBA and NHL were set to resume their postseasons on Saturday after suspending play, while the WNBA resumed its season on Friday. The NBA and WNBA stopped play on Wednesday in a player-led demonstration against police bruality, while the NHL stopped play on Thursday in a show of support.
As a result of the pause in play, the first round of the NBA Playoffs is now scheduled to last as late as Wednesday (as opposed to Sunday), the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is scheduled to run as late as September 5 (as opposed to September 4) and the WNBA regular season is scheduled to run as late as September 13 (as opposed to September 12). [NBA, NHL 8.28, WNBA 8.28]
MLB playoff bubble a “fait accompli”
The prospect of Major League Baseball holding its postseason in neutral site “bubbles” is now a “fait accompli” per ESPN MLB reporter Jeff Passan, though nothing has been finalized. Appearing on Pat McAfee’s podcast Friday, Passan said the plan is for National League games to take place in Houston and Arlington, Texas and American League games in “perhaps” Los Angeles and San Diego. The World Series would then “in all likelihood” be played in Arlington.
The Athletic also reported MLB’s “bubble” plan on Friday, listing Anaheim as another potential location for AL games. Per that report, other regions are still in play and no sites have been determined for the new wild-card round. MLB Network’s Jon Heyman also reported similar details. [McAfee/Twitter 8.28, The Athletic 8.28, Heyman/Twitter 8.28]
NWSL coming back with “fall series”
The NWSL plans to resume play next Saturday with a “fall series” of 18 matches over seven weeks, it was announced this week. With SEC college football delayed until at least September 26, NWSL matches are set to air on the CBS broadcast network every Saturday in September. Per The Athletic, the CBS windows are set for 1:00 or 3:30 PM ET.
The NWSL was the first U.S. team sport to return from hiatus earlier this summer. Its month-long NWSL Challenge Cup included two CBS windows that became the two most–watched telecasts in league history. [NWSL 8.25, The Athletic 8.27]
Plus: ESPN CFB graphics, SNF open, UEFA
ESPN announced this week that it plans to debut a new graphics package and scorebug for its college football coverage, as well as an updated version of its theme song. The scorebug will be a traditional bar stretching across the bottom of the screen, rather than the mini-boxes ESPN has used on college games since 2014. The new look is set to debut on Saturday’s Austin Peay-Central Arkansas FCS Kickoff. … NBC’s Sunday Night Football music video open this season will include footage of fans recorded remotely from their homes. The open — again Carrie Underwood singing “Waiting All Day For Sunday Night” — was recorded sans the usual slew of extras. … With major conference college football delayed until later next month, ABC is scheduled to air a UEFA Nations League doubleheader next Saturday (Iceland-England at Noon ET and Portugal-Croatia at 2:30), per an advance ESPN schedule. ABC’s first college football windows are currently scheduled for September 19. [ESPN Front Row 8.26, NBC Sports PR 8.26, ESPN PR]
