Wide World of Women

First Take” co-host will begin working on the network’s flagship show in mid-July

ESPN2’s Cari Champion is heading to the big leagues.

The co-host of the ESPN2’s “First Take” for two and a half years has been named the newest anchor of ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” the TheWrap has learned.

Champion joins “SportsCenter”s’ impressive stable of female anchors, including Hannah Storm, Linda Cohn, Lindsay Czarniak, Cassidy Hubbarth, Sage Steele, Jade McCarthy and Nicole Briscoe.

She is expected to work on morning segments of the broadcast beginning in mid-July, particularly a series of upcoming “interactions” about sports and entertainment with members of ABC’s “Good Morning America.” ABC and ESPN are both divisions of Disney.

“I grew up watching ‘SportsCenter’ — it is the flagship show so I am living the dream,” Champion told TheWrap. “When I first started working here, I would casually petition for it — but there’s always a long line.”

While working at ESPN2’s “First Take” desk, she found herself moderating heated debates between outspoken co-hosts Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless. “I realized that it was going to be a tough gig as I had the biggest, strongest personalities in the building,” she said.


Friday will be Champion’s last day on “First Take,” and while she says she’ll miss the camaraderie (and conflict), she is looking forward to “getting her feet wet over the summer” on “SportsCenter.”

ESPN brass had high praise for Champion.

“On the handful of previous occasions that Cari joined ‘SportsCenter’ shows, her wit and enthusiasm lit up the set,” Rob King, senior vice president of “SportsCenter” and news, told TheWrap. “Having her presence on a regular basis is a win not only for audiences watching ‘SportsCenter,’ but also for all of us who work on the show.”

Champion was the subject of an obscene Twitter rant by comedian and Howard Stern cohort Artie Lange last year, which the network slammed as “reprehensible.” While she didn’t publicly address the outrage, the disgusting tweets prompted ESPN to ban Lange from the network.

While acknowledging that men continue to dominate sports broadcasting, she said, “We are working to a point where our voice is just as important as our male counterparts.”

Prior to joining ESPN in October 2012, Champion was an anchor and court-side reporter at the Tennis Channel. She also served as an entertainment/lifestyle reporter for “The Insider,” Hollywood 411 and Starz Entertainment.

About time, a guy should host that show now.

About time, a guy should host that show now.

Cari Champion joins “SportsCenter”s’ impressive stable of female anchors, including Hannah Storm, Linda Cohn, Lindsay Czarniak, Cassidy Hubbarth, Sage Steele, Jade McCarthy and Nicole Briscoe.