The Sports Explorers blends live-action highlights with The Squad, original animated characters who tell sports stories for the next generation of fans. WSC Studios produces the new series through a creative collaboration with ESPN.
NEW YORK, NY, October 19, 2026 - WSC Studios and ESPN officially launch The Sports Explorers, a new animated series to ensure every child finds an entry point into sports. The 20-episode first season covers inspiring athletes' stories with a focus on positive, educational messages. Each episode tells a character-driven story built for young sports fans, beginning with NBA legend LeBron James.
The Sports Explorers launches as the flagship series for ESPN JV, ESPN's dedicated destination for young fans, which launched in late June with content from across ESPN and Disney. The series was made possible through WSC's partnership with the ESPN Edge Innovation Center. It was developed through a creative collaboration between ESPN and WSC Studios, the new creative production arm of WSC Sports.
Built around the core mission to help sports organizations find the next generation of fans, WSC Studios is guided by award-winning creators with deep expertise in kids' media and sports storytelling. The studio is powered by a proprietary in-house agentic production platform, delivering high-quality, scalable content at speed.
The Sports Explorers joins a growing slate of WSC Studios originals, including The Alley & Oop Show with the NBA, Goalitos with LaLiga and EA Sports and Wagtales with the Australian Football League.
The series builds on a long-standing partnership between the two companies. ESPN uses the WSC Sports platform to edit and distribute live, archived and behind-the-scenes footage from more than 16,000 sporting events each year. WSC Sports also powers the personalized SportsCenter for You experience in the ESPN App.
“The best sports stories have the power to inspire fans of any age, and The Sports Explorers gives us an entirely new way to tell them,” said Celia Bouza, Vice President, Multi-Platform Video, ESPN. “By combining ESPN's sports storytelling expertise with WSC Studios' creative capabilities, we're bringing some of the biggest names and moments in sports to life for kids in a way that entertains, educates and encourages them to discover the joy of being a fan.”
“Every athlete has a story that can spark a kid’s love of sports," said Itai Epstein, Head of WSC Studios. "The Sports Explorers turns those journeys into adventures kids want to come back to, and that’s where lifelong fandom begins.”
For more information about WSC Studios, visit our webpage
About ESPN
All of ESPN. All in One Place.
ESPN offers its full suite of networks and services directly to fans on the ESPN App, providing more choice, flexibility and access to all of ESPN, including more than 47,000 live events per year, on-demand replays, industry-leading studio shows and original programming, and more. The ESPN App gives fans a unique viewing experience that includes multiview and synchronized two-screen viewing options, swipe-able vertical video and a personalized SportsCenter For You, as well as integrated game stats, ESPN Fantasy sports, betting odds and information from DraftKings, sports merchandise, and more. These features are available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices, whether they subscribe directly or through a pay TV package. Bundling options available for fans include a limited time offer for the ESPN DTC Unlimited plan with Disney+ and Hulu for $29.99/month for the first 12 months. For more visit stream.espn.com.
About WSC Sports
WSC Sports, the pioneer in AI-powered sports content technology, empowers the NBA, ESPN, YouTube TV, LaLiga and 700 other sports organizations to connect with their fans through AI-tailored sports content experiences. WSC Sports' solutions automate the creation, management and distribution of content, enabling sports rights holders to expand reach, grow fan bases, and unlock revenue opportunities across platforms.
Media Contacts
Dan Holzhauer, WSC Sports: Dan.Holzhauer@wsc-sports.com
Beatrix Panitz, ESPN: Beatrix.Panitz@espn.com
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