August 5, 2026
First Episode of NASCAR AMERICANA - a Three-Part Docuseries Exploring NASCAR's Unique Place in the American Story – Premieres on USA Network this Friday Following Iowa Corn 350 Post-Race Show
WNBA Wednesday Night Doubleheader Features Seattle Storm at New York Liberty (7 p.m. ET on USA Network), Followed by Los Angeles Sparks at Chicago Sky (9 p.m. ET on USA Network and CNBC)
Sophie Cunningham Joins USA Sports’ Studio Coverage on Wednesday as Athlete Contributor; Pre-Game Coverage Begins at 6:30 p.m. ET on USA Network
STAMFORD, Conn. – August 5, 2026 – USA Network’s live sports coverage this week is highlighted by the start of USA Sports’ NASCAR Cup Series coverage this Sunday, Aug. 9, with the Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway at 3:30 p.m. ET, and a Wednesday night WNBA doubleheader beginning tonight at 7 p.m. ET with Breanna Stewart and the New York Liberty hosting the Seattle Storm.
USA Sports kicks off its coverage of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series this weekend with the Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol, airing live on USA Network on Sunday, Aug. 9 starting at 3:30 p.m. ET. Pre-race coverage on Countdown to Green begins at 3 p.m. ET.
This is the first race of USA Sports’ NASCAR coverage in 2026, which includes 14 races of the 2026 Cup Series season and includes full coverage of “The Chase,” with USA Sports producing 10 races on USA Network and four on NBC, including the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race in Miami in November.
Long-time motorsports play-by-play commentator Leigh Diffey will lead USA Sports’ NASCAR broadcasts alongside “The Mayor” Jeff Burton, who was recently elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, as well as Steve Letarte, former crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr. And Jeff Gordon.
Marty Snider will host USA Sports’ Countdown to Green pre-race coverage starting at 3 p.m. ET and the post-race show alongside Burton, Letarte, and NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett. Snider, Kim Coon and Dave Burns will report from pit road along with 2011 Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne who makes his debut with USA Sports this season.
In addition to his work on pit road, Bayne will also serve as USA Sports’ pace car analyst, a new broadcast innovation this season in which Bayne will report live from the pace car leading to the green flag and ahead of pivotal restarts throughout the season. USA Sports’ pace car analyst role marks the latest fan-first broadcast innovation from USA Sports’ production team, which introduced enhancements such as burnout interviews, radio-style broadcasts at road course races, extended post-race shows, and “My Track My Roots,” highlighting grassroots racing across the country.
Following Sunday’s post-race coverage, USA Sports will premiere the first episode of NASCAR AMERICANA on USA Network. The three-part limited documentary series explores NASCAR’s unique place in the American story and is produced by the critically acclaimed makers of The Last Dance and OJ: Made in America and executive produced by Peyton Manning and Omaha Productions.
USA Sports’ WNBA coverage on Wednesday begins with the WNBA on USA Pregame Show presented by Ford at 6:30 p.m. ET featuring host Elle Duncan alongside analysts Chamique Holdsclaw and Edona Thaqi. Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham will make her third appearance for USA Sports as an athlete contributor to Wednesday night’s studio coverage.
The doubleheader then begins with Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and the Liberty (17-13) hosting Flau'jae Johnson and the Storm (6-25) on USA Network at 7 p.m. ET as Meghan McPeak (play-by-play), Amy Audibert (analyst) and Terrika Foster-Brasby (courtside reporter) will call the game live from Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
The second leg of Wednesday’s doubleheader features the Los Angeles Sparks (11-17) visiting the Sky at 9 p.m. ET on USA Network as Kate Scott (play-by-play), Sarah Kustok (analyst) and Paris Lawson (courtside reporter) will call the game from Wintrust Arena. USA Sports will also simulcast Wednesday’s Sparks-Sky game (and all second games of doubleheaders this season) on CNBC, making sure viewers don’t miss a moment of the action.
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WNBA on USA Network This Week | ||
| Date | Game | Time (ET) |
| Wed., Aug. 5 | WNBA on USA Pregame Show | 6:30 p.m. |
| Wed., Aug. 5 | Seattle Storm at New York Liberty | 7 p.m. |
| Wed., Aug. 5 | Los Angeles Sparks at Chicago Sky* | 9 p.m. |
| *Simulcast on CNBC | ||
USA Sports’ WNBA coverage includes dedicated pregame, halftime, and postgame studio programming throughout the season, establishing USA Network as a weekly destination for WNBA fans. USA Sports will also present first round playoff games and up to five WNBA Finals games, with any Finals series longer than a sweep ensuring that the 2026 WNBA champion will be determined on USA Network. For the complete schedule and information on USA Sports’ WNBA broadcasting team, click here.
Last year, USA Sports and the WNBA announced an 11-year media rights agreement for USA Network to present WNBA games – including the regular-season and portions of the Playoffs and WNBA Finals in select years – beginning with the 2026 season.
- USA SPORTS -
