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News of Elle Duncan’s possible jump to Netflix has set off a “stampede” of on-air talents angling to fill her multiple marquee roles within ESPN, sources tell Front Office Sports.
Scores of on-air talents—both with experience covering women’s basketball and working as a host—are eying Duncan’s portfolio of jobs at the four letters. They include co-hosting the 6 p.m. SportsCenter with Kevin Negandhi as well as serving as women’s college basketball host for College GameDay and host of WNBA Countdown.
“The resumes are flying. There’s going to be a lot of people fighting for these jobs. Burke’s phone is going to be lighting up,” says one source, referring to ESPN president of content Burke Magnus.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Duncan’s departure was not even official yet, and she was still talking with ESPN management about her future. But given ESPN and Fox’s hard-line stances against sharing talent with streamers, it’s unlikely she’ll be able to pull off an arrangement where she works for Disney and Netflix. Instead, Duncan will probably leave ESPN when her contract expires at the end of 2025, say sources.
The Athletic first reported Duncan’s negotiations with Netflix.
ESPN won’t rush into hiring Duncan’s replacements either. As the network did when Molly Qerim left First Take, it will likely take a few months to audition people inside and outside the network. ESPN eventually tapped Shae Cornette to succeed Qerim, as first reported by FOS.
ESPN has a deep bench between its TV and digital operations. Here are 11 names we’re hearing could succeed Duncan in her various roles:
Inside ESPN:
Malika Andrews: Easily the odds-on favorite to succeed Duncan for her WNBA and women’s college basketball duties. Both ESPN and parent company Disney love the 30-year-old NBA Countdown host. With her studio show now playing second fiddle to Charles Barkley’s Inside the NBA, ESPN could make it up to Andrews by giving her some of Duncan’s marquee assignments.
Andraya Carter: She stood out as part of a women’s basketball trio with Duncan and Chiney Ogwumike the past couple of seasons. Triple threat analyst/reporter/host. Speaking of Ogwumike…
Chiney Ogwumike: This rising star has done just about everything for ESPN. The former WNBA All-Star covers both pro and college women’s basketball. She even executive-produced the ESPN Films documentary, 144, about the WNBA’s 2020 season.
Christine Williamson: She’s got SportsCenter anchoring experience, frequently co-hosting the 2 p.m. version with Matt Barrie. Williamson also filled in for Qerim—and got a long look from management for the First Take hosting job.
Monica McNutt: The former Georgetown star knows pro and college hoops. Went viral for standing up to Stephen A. Smith on his own show. But she’s more of an analyst than a host or anchor.
Amina Smith: She’s relatively new at ESPN, joining the worldwide leader in March 2024. But she’s coming up fast. She got an audition hosting First Take, which bodes well for her future.
Nicole Briscoe: One of the network’s best, most versatile SportsCenter anchors. She’d make a great new partner for Negandhi at 6 p.m.
MJ Acostas-Ruiz: She did well guest-hosting First Take. The bilingual anchor and sideline reporter was the first Afro-Latina to host a show on NFL Network.
Kelsey Riggs Cuff: She’s served as studio host for ESPN’s regular season and postseason women’s college basketball coverage since 2021, including during the NCAA tournament. She also hosts ACC Network’s Nothing But Net, which covers both men’s and women’s college hoops.
Outside ESPN:
Jamie Erdahl: The host of NFL Network’s Good Morning Football is not known for hoops coverage. But nobody knows what will happen to her morning show if the proposed NFL Network-ESPN merger goes through. Did we mention she was a point guard at St. Olaf College in Minnesota?
Amanda Guerra: Keep an eye on this host/reporter for CBS Sports. Plenty of hosting experience via The NFL Today+ and CBS Sports HQ.
ESPN and Netflix declined comment for this story.
