ESPN has added a brand-new sports property to its streaming lineup, and this one comes with a historic first. Rock League, which calls itself curling’s first professional league, announced that ESPN+ will stream its inaugural 2026 season for U.S. audiences. The league’s first event hit the streamer on Monday, April 6, at Toronto’s TMU Mattamy Athletic Centre.
Built around six mixed-gender franchises and a deep international field, Rock League’s teams are regionally based with two in Canada, two in Europe, one in Asia-Pacific, and one in the United States. The deep talent roster includes 60 athletes total, with 39 who competed at the 2026 Winter Olympics, 25 Olympic medalists, and 36 Grand Slam champions represented across 12 countries on the six inaugural Rock League franchises:
- Alpine Curling Club
- Frontier Curling Club
- Maple United
- Northern United
- Shield Curling Club
- Typhoon Curling Club
The 10-player franchises feature five men and five women, competing in four-player matches (men’s, women’s, and mixed) and mixed doubles.
For viewers, ESPN will offer every game of the Rock League in the United States. The broadcast team includes play-by-play voices John Cullen and Tyler George, along with analysts Jennifer Jones, Joanne Courtney, Mike Harris, and Chelsea Carey. Devin Heroux and Matt Hamilton will serve as on-ice hosts, helping bring fans closer to the action with interviews and behind-the-scenes coverage from the rink level.
Rock League says its goal is to create a new era for curling by packaging the sport into a professional league format with global franchises and mixed-gender competition. The league describes itself as the world’s first professional curling league, with a mission to deliver world-class competition, push innovation in the sport, and connect fans across continents.
Curling fans get an in-depth look at the sport outside of Winter Olympic competition with the league’s launch. The season runs from April 6 to Sunday, April 12, and with the ESPN app, it’s easier than ever to follow the action from the opening draw through the championship final.