As a former women’s basketball player, I understood what it meant to compete. What I once saw sparingly I now see many faces of people who look like me telling the story of the game of basketball.

Today we see a garner of national attention in the game of women’s basketball. From the surge viewership in the WNBA, their All-Star game, and now their subgenred leagues in Athletes Unlimited and Unrivaled, women are also becoming more visible in sports media. We have entered a new era. An era where African-American women are now the norm of sidelines, analysts, and commentating. All are now stepping into the roles of a male-dominated field. For aspiring broadcasters like me, that visibility matters.

Journalists such as Ari Chambers have built careers based on lifting women athletes and advocating for equity in sports coverage. Through her reporting she has now risen in the ranks of the best. Chambers has consistently highlighted the importance of telling women’s basketball stories with depth and respect. She has been one of the W’s biggest advocate for change and a consistent voice for the women. Chambers said, “As a child I always dreamt of seeing faces like myself. The Carolyn Peck’s, the LaChina Robinsons.” Seeing women like Chambers, a former cheerleader of North Carolina State in prominent spaces sends a message to former players like me who are looking for a nice transition from playing to behind the camera.

Chambers said, “I am blessed and don’t take for granted the position I am in.”

Emone Davis, a Danville, Illinois native is another powerful woman in the media game who is making space in basketball reporting. As a sports reporter covering the game, Davis who comes from a basketball family gives the representation a new generation of women entering sports media with not only beauty, but confidence and skill. Her presence reflects the steady growth of women working not only behind the scenes, but now in front of the camera.

Davis said, “I am here to prove I am more than a face. I have worked tirelessly to be in this position and only look to grow from here.”

However, breaking into sports media as a woman still comes with an immense amount of pressure.

Women reporters are the center of scrutiny beyond their knowledge of the game. To Davis’ point to often are: Aesthetics, tone and presentation all become the face of the conversation in ways that the male journalists do not face. As someone who has also worked in sports modeling, I understand how quickly focus can shift from credibility to image.

That tension between visibility and validation is something many women in sports media navigate.

Representation matters because it shapes perception. When women cover women’s basketball, the storytelling often expands. Conversations move beyond basic statistics to include player development, leadership, injury recovery and long-term growth of the sport. Coverage becomes layered rather than surface-level.

With this new era of athletes: The Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, Aja Wilson there is a new audience for women’s basketball and more attention has called for more media coverage of women that appear just as them. This opens doors for broadcasters, analysts and reporters who bring different perspectives to the game.

Still, the industry remains competitive. Many women entering sports media understand that . For former players especially, basketball IQ becomes an asset. Having the experience both on and off the court translates in a way that many cannot relate too.

As I pursue a future in broadcasting, I see this moment as both opportunity and responsibility. Women in sports media are not just filling roles; they are reshaping how the game is discussed and valued.

Having the visibility of journalists like Ari Chambers and Emone Davis give us hope. It symbolizes change. It tells us that women can lead conversations about basketball or any sport at the highest levels. But continued growth depends on access, mentorship and sustained investment in women’s sports.

For the next generation of athletes watching games on television, seeing women behind the microphone matters as much as seeing them on the court.

As women’s basketball continues to grow, I believe the voices covering it will as well. And for aspiring broadcasters like me, that growth represents possibility but not just to participate in the industry, but to help define it.