ESPN dual-threat sideline reporter Ashley ShahAhmadi is drawing interest from multiple sports media companies, sources tell Front Office Sports.
The college football sideline reporter has become a favorite of ESPN viewers for her work covering the SEC with Dave Neal and Aaron Murray. Her fame grew during coverage of the SEC championship game between Texas and Georgia in December. But she has also covered the NBA postseason for ESPN Radio, including the Mavericks vs. Timberwolves Western Conference finals in 2024.
Sources say ShahAhmadi’s contract expires this summer. That could make her a potential free agent in time for the 2025 college football season as well as the 2025–26 NBA season, when new rights holders NBC Sports and Amazon Prime Video will be competing for the best hoops coverage with incumbent ESPN.
The University of Georgia graduate previously covered the NBA as a TV host and reporter for Turner and Bally Sports South. She joined ESPN in August 2023.
Both NBC and Prime have been on a hiring spree for NBA talent. In the biggest news, NBC announced Michael Jordan will serve as a “special contributor” as the network returns to NBA game coverage for the first time since 2002. NBC has also hired former Knicks star Carmelo Anthony and is bringing back its classic “Roundball Rock” anthem from the 1990s.
Meanwhile, Dwyane Wade and Candace Parker are expected to join Prime’s NBA coverage. The giant streamer has already hired Taylor Rooks, Blake Griffin, and Dirk Nowitzki for its studio. Ian Eagle and Kevin Harlan are expected to be the company’s top two play-by-play broadcasters.
ESPN has a deep bench of NBA talent ready for next season. But as part of the NBA’s new three-way media-rights arrangement, it will show fewer games. While ShahAhmadi is well respected in Bristol, ESPN may let her walk to a competitor. ESPN must also sort out the contracts of looming free agents Malika Andrews and Brian Windhorst.
ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro also licensed Charles Barkley’s Inside the NBA from TNT Sports next season in exchange for a package of Big 12 college football and college basketball games.
ESPN declined to comment.
