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WNBA Chicago Sky

Chicago Sky partners with 1690 WVON, announces broadcast team

May 17, 2007 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Chicago Sky News Release


Chicago, May 17, 2007 - The WNBA Chicago Sky today announced a partnership with WVON as the official radio broadcaster for the 2007 basketball season, beginning with the season opener against the New York Liberty at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, May 20 at 3pm CDT. The Sky also announced its 2007 television broadcast team.

"We are very pleased and excited to be carrying the Chicago Sky on 1690 WVON. This is a great opportunity for both the station and this up-and-coming professional franchise to really make an impact in the Chicago market," said Jerry Riles, program director for AM1690. "Sky games are fun and exciting and 1690 WVON plans to bring all that excitement to the city all summer long."

Chicago-native Les Grobstein will provide the play-by-play. Grobstein is the Chicago reporter for ABC Radio Sports and AP radio, and has called play-by-play for the UIC Flames basketball and hockey for fourteen years. UIC Pavilion is like home for Grobstein; he has called more games there than any other broadcaster. Joining Grobstein at the color analyst microphone is former University of Illinois star Tauja Catchings. Catchings is a graduate of Lincolnshire Stevenson High School and the Tribune and Sun Times Illinois High School player of the Year in 1996.

Eric Collins returns for his second season calling play-by-play for the Sky's televised games. Collins also calls college football, basketball and softball play-by-play for ABC Sports and ESPN. New to the television broadcast team and joining Collins as the TV color analyst is WNBA Legend and former Sky guard, Nikki McCray. McCray began her basketball career in the American Basketball League and later joined the Washington Mystics and the WNBA in 1998. She also played for the Indiana Fever, Phoenix Mercury, and San Antonio Silver Stars. She retired last season while playing for the Sky.

"We are thrilled to be working with Chicago icon WVON," said Margaret Stender, Sky CEO. "Sky fans can now catch all of our away games and home games when they can't make it out to UIC Pavilion. And our broadcast teams are a unique combination of radio and TV experience and women's basketball experience and perspective."

This season, WVON will broadcast all 34 Sky home and away games. WTTW will televise eight regular season Sky home games, WCIU will televise five regular season home games, and ESPN2 will televise the July 10 away game against the 2006 WNBA Champion Detroit Shock on ESPN2.

The Chicago Sky opens the regular season at home on May 22 against the Los Angeles Sparks. The Sky is the newest of 13 teams in the WNBA, the longest-running women's professional sports league in the world. The Sky celebrated it inaugural season in 2006. For more information, visit www.chicagosky.net.

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