Chicago Sun-Times

Sky strike deal with Marquee

- BY JEFF AGREST, STAFF REPORTER jagrest@suntimes.com | @jeffreya22

Marquee Sports Network has another tenant: the WNBA champion Sky.

The regional sports network, owned jointly by the Cubs and Sinclair, announced a multiyear agreement Monday to broadcast up to 16 Sky games, as well as to stream all non-exclusive games on the network’s app, which will be available to authentica­ted subscriber­s.

The Sky’s first game on Marquee will be their season opener at 7 p.m. Friday against the Sparks. The team will produce the broadcasts, which will be called by play-by-play voices Lisa Byington and Jason Ross Jr. and analysts Stephen Bardo and Meghan McKeown.

‘‘This partnershi­p with Marquee elevates the Chicago Sky fan experience in a way that has never been done before,’’ Sky president and CEO Adam Fox said in a statement. ‘‘Women’s basketball, particular­ly the Chicago Sky, is increasing­ly gaining attention and affinity, and Marquee’s commitment to women’s profession­al sports made this an easy partnershi­p. With Marquee, as well as our continued relationsh­ip with WCIU-TV, fans will never miss a moment of the Sky’s title defense.’’

Sky games that conflict with Cubs games on Marquee will air on WCIU-TV. The Sky have six games exclusive to ABC or ESPN. Of the other 30, Marquee and WCIU will carry 14 each, with two to be determined later. All of the non-exclusive games also will stream on Marquee’s app under the Marquee Plus tab, which will appear in the next few days.

The deal essentiall­y makes Marquee the Sky’s official streaming partner. It also includes additional digital coverage of the team on the network’s website.

‘‘Thanks to Adam Fox and the Chicago Sky organizati­on for their work in helping make this deal a reality,’’ Marquee Sports Network general manager Mike McCarthy said. ‘‘We look forward to not only broadcasti­ng their games on Marquee, but also sharing stories about their players and coaches and the organizati­on’s tremendous community work on our network.’’

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