Kristin Williamson, currently a co-anchor of ESPN’s 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. “SportsCenter” shows with Matt Barry, will be taking over Elle Duncan’s role as co-host of the 6 p.m. “SportsCenter” alongside Kevin Negandhi starting in January. Additionally, Williamson will serve as the lead host for women’s college basketball on “College GameDay,” according to a press release from ESPN. Elle Duncan is reportedly moving to Netflix to become the primary face for the streamer’s sports coverage, with her last ESPN show scheduled for December 16. At Netflix, Duncan is expected to play a role similar to Bob Costas, acting as the host and central figure for multi-sport broadcasts.
Williamson joined ESPN in 2019 as a digital host after working with Fox Sports, the Big 12 Network, and the Denver Broncos. She is originally from Tampa, Florida, and played college volleyball at the University of Miami. Meanwhile, Marika Andrews is set to replace Duncan as the host of ESPN’s WNBA studio coverage, which includes shows like “WNBA Countdown,” the WNBA Draft, All-Star events, and Playoffs. Duncan was part of ESPN’s “The Big Three” trio with Chiney Ogwumike and Andraya Carter, which was instrumental in expanding women’s sports coverage on the network.
According to The Athletic, Duncan’s departure from ESPN is amicable. Her new deal with Netflix promises a significant salary increase and fewer working hours, allowing her participation in some non-sporting events as well. While she may appear on other platforms, Netflix will have the priority in scheduling conflicts.
Fan Take: This shake-up is a significant moment for WNBA fans as it highlights growing opportunities and visibility for women’s sports on major platforms like ESPN and Netflix. Duncan’s move to Netflix could bring fresh energy and broader mainstream exposure to women’s sports, potentially attracting new audiences while Williamson’s promotion reinforces ESPN’s commitment to strong, knowledgeable coverage of women’s basketball.
