NBC Makes Maria Taylor Announcement Amid NBA Transition

NBCUniversal has officially secured media rights to broadcast NBA and WNBA games beginning with the 2025-26 season, marking the start of an 11-year partnership.

Under the deal, NBCUniversal will bring live coverage to its channels: NBC, USA Network and Peacock. The agreement includes 100 NBA regular-season games per year, primarily airing on Tuesday and Sunday nights.

NBC will also broadcast select first-round playoff games and key matchups from the Conference Finals.

Additionally, the NBA All-Star Game and events from the weekend will be televised on both NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature exclusive national Monday night games and host doubleheaders throughout the season.

NBC Sports host Maria Taylor.

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

On Monday, the media company announced that its lead studio host for NBA and WNBA coverage will be sportscaster Maria Taylor.

"Maria Taylor has been named NBC Sports’ lead NBA studio host for its coverage of the association, which begins this October on NBC and Peacock," NBC Sports wrote in a press release. "Taylor will host NBC Sports’ NBA studio programs on Sunday and Tuesday nights alongside analysts Carmelo Anthony and Vince Carter. She will also host select WNBA games on NBC and Peacock when NBC Sports’ coverage of the women’s league begins in the spring of 2026."

Taylor began her career with ESPN and the SEC Network in 2014, serving as a reporter and analyst for college football, as well as hosting "SEC Nation." In 2017, she became a reporter and host for "College GameDay."

Taylor transitioned to the national stage in 2019 as the host of "NBA Countdown" on ESPN. 

After covering the 2021 NBA Finals, she joined NBC Sports, where she has since covered major events including the Super Bowl, NFL draft, NBA Finals, and the Olympics. 

In 2022, she made history as the first female full-time host of "Football Night in America," a role she still holds in addition to hosting "Big Ten College Countdown."