Cari Champion is making big moves — solo moves at that.
Possibly tired of embracing debate with Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless — 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,” according to The Wrap.
She hinted at the move yesterday on her social media accounts.
My announcement! Why I'm moving on from First Take. Plus @BillieJeanKing on her announcement. http://t.co/Dc1qkqKLCn pic.twitter.com/JXFHbvUNlR
— Cari Champion (@CariChampion) June 19, 2015
Champion joins “SportsCenter”s’ impressive stable of female anchors, including Hannah Storm, Linda Cohn, Sage Steele, Lindsay Czarniak, Jaymee Sire, Sara Walsh, 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.”
Friday will be Champion’s last day on “First Take.”