Phoenix Mercury announce new play-by-play announcer, broadcast lineup
Ann Schatz, an Emmy award-winning play-by-play announcer, replaces Cindy Brunson on the Mercury’s television broadcast.
PHOENIX — The Phoenix Mercury announced a new play-by-play announcer and broadcast lineup on Monday.
Ann Schatz, an Emmy award-winner, replaces Cindy Brunson on the Mercury’s television broadcast as the team’s play-by-play announcer.
Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Schatz became the first female sports reporter in Omaha after first working as a sports reporter for KMTV.
She later became the first female sportscaster in Portland, Oregon when she was hired by KOIN in 1989.
Schatz would later cover the Portland Trail Blazers as a sideline reporter, video feature writer and producer for KOIN.
After her time with KOIN, Schatz would go on to call games for College Sports Television (CSTV), which later became CBS College Sports and CBS Sports Network.
She has also done work with the Pac-12 Network, NBC Sports and ESPN, as well as calling games for the NWSL’s Portland Thorns.
Braiden Bell, the NBA G League’s Valley Suns’ play-by-play announcer, will also call select Mercury games throughout the upcoming season.
Brunson departs after three seasons serving as the Mercury’s play-by-play announcer. She also works as the University of Arizona women’s basketball play-by-play announcer for ESPN+.
Ann Meyers Drysdale will return as the team’s color commentator and will be paired with Schatz. The upcoming season will be Meyers Drysdale’s 12th season with the team.
New this season, the Mercury will have a sideline reporter for their television broadcasts. Arizona native Kate Longworth will join the broadcast team as a sideline reporter.
Longworth, a Mountain Pointe High School graduate and University of Arizona alum, previously worked for Fox Sports Arizona, working select Arizona Diamondbacks broadcasts. Longworth has also worked as a pregame/sideline reporter for Grand Canyon University basketball and as a host for “Arizona Living,” a lifestyle show.
From 2008 to 2015, she worked for Comcast Sports Net in San Francisco, covering the Oakland A's, Oakland Raiders, San Jose Sharks and San Jose Earthquakes.
Phoenix Mercury announce 2025 local broadcast schedule
The Mercury also announced the team’s local broadcast schedule on Monday.
Thirty-six regular season games and two preseason games will be available over-the-air on Arizona’s Family and streaming on Mercury Live.
Eight games will be available exclusively on national broadcasts, with seven games on ION and one game on ABC. ION is also available via the free over-the-air antennas the team distributed to fans.
Thirty-six regular season games being available over-the-air is the most in franchise history.
Last season saw 28 regular season games and one preseason game available over-the-air.
Phoenix will play two preseason games, first traveling to play the Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday, May 6 before hosting the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday, May 11.
The Mercury will open the regular season at home against Skylar Diggins-Smith and the Seattle Storm on Saturday, May 17 at 7 p.m.