Whether or not you’re a sports fan, there are certain dynamics in the field of sports that are pretty basic to understand. And obviously, it does help that sports reporters and presenters walk us through entire games, allowing spectators to stay updated on the action with as much detail as possible. In this article, we take a look at some of the most popular and talented female sports reporters, ranging from sideline college broadcasters, all the way to the reporters in the biggest leagues.
1. Alanna Rizzo
If there is one reporter who was undeniably made for the broadcasting world, that is Alanna Rizzo. Though she pursued a bachelor’s degree in International Relations, Rizzo decided to eventually shift careers, earning a master’s degree in broadcast journalism in 2003, from the University of Colorado. She made her debut as a sports anchor for different CBS stations and then moved on to report for Root Sports Rocky Mountain. She has been reporting for the Los Angeles Dodgers for seven seasons now and has won seven regional Emmy awards since the beginning of her career.
2. Allie LaForce
Allie LaForce grew up in a family full of athletes and became a basketball athlete herself before becoming a sideline reporter. What some may not know though, is that LaForce had a short and successful career in pageantry, being crowned Miss Ohio Teen USA in 2004, and Miss Teen YSA in 2005. She then decided to pursue her passion for broadcasting, graduating from Ohio University with a major in broadcast journalism. She is now a sideline reporter for Turner Sports, covering the NBA and the NCAA tournament.
3. Cari Champion
Cari Champion is both a TV personality and a broadcast reporter who has worked for a number of commendable sports channels. She started her career while still studying at UCLA when she got an internship at CNN. As soon as she graduated, she was offered a position at the Tennis Network, to broadcast the careers of legendary sisters Serena and Venus Williams. She joined ESPN’s flagship program SportsCenter in 2014, and has been an anchor there since then.
4. Erin Andrews
Erin Andrews is widely known for her broadcasting roles on ESPN’s Good Morning America and College Gameday. It was announced in 2012 that she would be leaving ESPN for Fox Sports, where she became the first host of Fox College Football’s studio show, alongside analysts Joey Harrington and Eddie Geroge. Andrews has also worked as a recurring host on “Dancing with the Stars”. For fans who watch the NFL and the MLB, Andrew is most definitely one of the most familiar faces in the field.
5. Jimena Sanchez
Jimena Sanchez is a Fox Sports host who has made her name as one of the most well-known Mexican women on American TV. She currently hosts Lo Mejor De Fox Sports, on channel two of Fox Sports. She has shared in several interviews that she has been a major sports fan from a very young age, with some of her favorite teams being the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Lakers. In addition to her talented broadcasting career, she also boasts with an impressive social media following.
6. Kaylee Hartung
Kaylee Hartung has been seen reporting for several major channels such as ESPN, CNN, the Longhorn Network, and currently, ABC News. Hartung graduated in 2007, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in politics and journalism from Washington and Lee University. She began her career early, after landing a summer internship with NBC, assisting Bob Schieffer. It didn’t take long for her talents to get recognized, and she was offered an associate producer position on the program Face the Nation.
7. Kristine Leahy
Kristine Leahy rose to prominence after successfully hosting American Ninja Warrior in 2010. She was later hired by NBC Network, after getting a degree from Boston University, and working her way up in several positions at a number of news stations. Though she mostly worked as a sports reporter at the beginning of her career, she has since established herself as a TV host. She started hosting Fair Game alongside Kristine Leahy back in 2018, but unfortunately, the show was canceled in 2019.