WNBA Comedy Series ‘The W’ in Development at Peacock from Chiney Ogwumike & ‘GLOW’ Creators

The W, a new comedy series developed at Peacock, is the WNBA’s first foray into scripted television. The backdrop of professional women’s basketball, a league that is currently experiencing unprecedented growth, is where this groundbreaking project is set against.

Chiney Ogwumike, who was twice WNBA All-Star, and Carly Mensch and Liz Flahive, who created GLOW, are behind the creation of this 30-minute series. A hot-shot rookie WNBA player and her inexperienced agent will be followed on their journey through the league’s thrilling ups and downs. Ogwumike’s life, particularly her unconventional decision in 2014 to choose Allison Galer as her agent after being selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft.

The W promises to capture professional women’s basketball’s ‘glamour and grind’. Universal Television, Condé Nast’s Glamour Studios, and Victorious, Ogwumike’s newly established production company, have teamed up on this series. Flahive and Mensch, who once directed Netflix’s women’s wrestling comedy GLOW, will be showrunners and co-write the pilot with Tori Collins (Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!) Executive producers involved are Ogwumike, Galer, Flahive, Mensch, Helen Estabrook, and Lajoie St. George, and Jodi Hildebrand. For Ogwumike, The W represents more than just a TV project. It marks the first significant endeavor for Victorious, her production company dedicated to amplifying women in sports. 144, an ESPN Films documentary that chronicled the WNBA’s 2020 season within the COVID-19 bubble, was previously co-produced by Ogwumike and Galer.

“Our mission with Victorious is to build a future where women in sports can win big,” Ogwumike said. “One of the most invaluable lessons I’ve learned as an athlete, broadcaster, and ambassador is that we no longer have to wait for opportunities—we can create them. We are in an era where barriers are being broken, ceilings are being shattered, and the world is finally taking notice. With this groundbreaking project, we will bring the main topic to the mainstream.”

Galer shared this sentiment, stressing the importance of representation. “With Victorious and our first-of-its-kind scripted project, we are creating meaningful opportunities that show women in sports winning at the highest levels,” she said. “As an advocate and teammate of female athletes for over a decade, I know firsthand the power of women’s sports and its exceptional ability to capture hearts and minds. With media coverage accelerating, superstar status shining, and investment expanding, Victorious will be the go-to vehicle for women’s sports stories to reach and captivate global audiences.”

Glamour’s Global Editorial Director, Samantha Barry, endorsed the project and reinforced the magazine’s long-standing commitment to female athletes.

“Glamour has a history of championing, spotlighting, and honoring female athletes. With more eyes focused on women’s sports than ever before, we couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with WNBA icon Chiney Ogwumike, who has paved the way for herself and others in the industry.”

As women’s sports receive more attention and investment, The W is an exciting way to bring the stories of female athletes to mainstream entertainment. The series can resonate with both sports fans and general audiences thanks to its strong creative team and authenticity.