Black women are a force to be reckoned with, especially in sports. In the world of sports reporting, which is male dominated, Black women shine for their talent, their knowledge and their insight. They bring all of their magic to the industry, and elevate it to another level with their work. While sports media still lacks diversity, there’s so many talented Black women in the sports media scene. Here are seven Black women ESPN basketball analysts that you should follow to stay up on the latest information in sports.
Amina Smith
Amina Smith is currently an anchor for ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” which covers a range of sports including football, baseball and basketball. The anchor first got her start in 2010 while studying at the University of South Carolina. She then held previous roles at Fox Sports, Big Ten Network, BET Networks, and Stadium Sports.
Malika Andrews
Malika Andrews is the main face of ESPN’s NBA studio coverage. Andrews hosts “NBA Today” and all editions of “NBA Countdown.” In 2019, the ESPN sports analysts was one of the youngest reporters for a Conference Finals telecast during the NBA Playoffs. Before landing at ESPN, Andrews worked at The New York Times and The Chicago Tribune.
LaChina Robinson
LaChina Robinson is a legend in the basketball industry, and is now on her 15th WNBA season. As an ESPN sports and basketball analyst, she gets the scoop on all of the top basketball moments. She also hosts the “Around The Rim” video series on ESPN’s YouTube channel, which she launched herself. Outside of ESPN, Robinson co-founded Rising Media Stars, a mentoring program for aspiring women in broadcasting.
Chiney Ogwumike
Chiney Ogwumike proves you can have it all in basketball, serving both on the court and on the camera. She last played forward for the Los Angeles Sparks team before getting into her hosting era. In 2020, she made history, becoming the first Black woman and WNBA player to host a national radio show for ESPN. The former WNBA All-Star is a ESPN basketball analyst for “NBA Today,” “SportsCenter” and “First Take.”
Andraya Carter
Andraya Carter continues to blossom in her career. Carter’s been working at ESPN since 2018, and is now a basketball analyst. She covers the NBA, WNBA, NCAAW and NCAAM basketball. Carter has received numerous awards throughout her career so far, including the 2023 Dawn Staley Excellence in Broadcasting recipient. In 2024, she became the first woman desk analyst ever on men’s “College GameDay.”
Carolyn Peck
Carolyn Peck is a former college basketball coach and a current ESPN college basketball analyst. Previously, Peck was the head coach for the women’s basketball teams of Purdue University and the University of Florida. In 1999, the former college basketball player made history at Purdue University by being the first African American coach to win the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship. In 2024, Peck’s career was spotlighted by the 318 Foundation. Founded by Alana Beards, who’s a four time WNBA All-Star, the non-profit organization mentors young Black girls through sports, immersive experiences and leadership development programs.
Elle Duncan
Elle Duncan joined ESPN as an anchor for “SportsCenter,” in 2016. She also hosts women’s college basketball portion for ESPN’s “College GameDay.” In 2024, she joined a panel of four other Black women for the “NCAA Women’s Final Four Special,” which gained 2.9 million viewers. Duncan’s also the co-host of the highly successful YouTube show and podcast “The Elle Duncan Show,” a semi-weekly series that covers the most important sports highlights in football, basketball and women’s basketball.