33 Best Sports Journalists List [2024 Edition]

Intelligent Relations
By Intelligent Relations Team

Strong media relations are extremely important in sports. Positive PR stories can rally a fanbase, solidify a player’s reputation, and drive marketing and ticket sales. 

With that in mind, making connections with sports journalists is crucial to getting positive stories out to the media.

Sportswriters and reporters have the ability not only to comment on game and player statistics but also to tell career-changing stories. 

We’ve curated a list of the best sports journalists in the industry to help you begin to make those necessary connections. It’s a slam dunk!

Want access to the most relevant sports journalists for your business?

Let’s connect! Book a free consultation with a PR expert. You’ll get access to our AI-powered media database with 200K+ journalists, including the most relevant sports journalists.

Our List of the Top Sports Journalists for 2024

Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) — Bill Simmons is a sports journalist and television personality who is known for his work with ESPN and his own website, The Ringer. He covers a wide range of sports topics, including football, basketball, and baseball. Simmons is known for his unique and often controversial perspective on sports, as well as his strong opinions and sense of humor. He is also the host of the popular sports podcast, “The Bill Simmons Podcast.”

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Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) — Rachel Nichols is a sports journalist and television personality on ESPN and CNN. She covers basketball, football, and golf and is known for her in-depth interviews with top athletes and coaches. Nichols is also the host of “The Jump,” a daily sports talk show on ESPN.

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Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) — Shams Charania is an NBA insider known for his coverage of the league. He is currently a writer and analyst for The Athletic and Stadium, where he provides in-depth analysis and breaking news on the latest developments in the NBA.

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Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) — ESPN’s Adam Schefter is known for his extensive coverage of the NFL. He is considered one of the most respected and well-connected reporters in the league and is often the first to report on major news and developments. Schefter is also the host of the popular sports podcast, “The Adam Schefter Podcast.”

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Katie Nolan (@katienolan) — Katie Nolan presents ESPN and Fox Sports. She covers football, basketball, and baseball and is known for her sharp wit and unique perspective on the world of sports. Nolan is also the host of the popular sports talk show, “Garbage Time with Katie Nolan.”

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Dan Patrick (@dpshow) — ESPN’s Dan Patrick hosts his own sports talk show, “The Dan Patrick Show.” He covers football, basketball, and baseball and conducts interviews with top athletes and coaches. Patrick is also a talented broadcaster and has won multiple awards for his work in sports journalism.

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Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) — Jon Morosi is an MLB insider known for his coverage of the sport. He is a writer and analyst for MLB Network and Fox Sports, where he provides in-depth analysis, breaking news, and updates on the latest developments in Major League Baseball.

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Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) — NFL insider, Ian Rapoport, is known for his coverage of all things football. He is currently a writer and analyst for the NFL Network and NFL.com. Rapoport is known for his strong connections within the league and his ability to consistently break major stories.

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Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) — Adrian Wojnarowski is a popular sports columnist and reporter best known for covering the NBA for ESPN and Yahoo Sports!

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Chris Cwik (@Chris_Cwik) — Chris Cwik covers a variety of sports for Yahoo! Sports. He writes about baseball, basketball, football, and more. He is known for his in-depth analysis and thorough research. 

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Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) — Jeff Passan is a sports journalist who covers baseball for ESPN. He is known for his investigative reporting and insider knowledge of the game.

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Bomani Jones (@bomani_jones) — ESPN’s Bomani Jones is a well-rounded expert on all things sports. He is known for his bold and unfiltered commentary on all aspects of the industry.

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Sarah Spain (@SarahSpain) — Sarah Spain covers a variety of sports for ESPN. She is known for her wit and humor and her ability to bring a unique perspective to sports coverage.

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Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) — Howard Beck is currently an NBA senior writer for Sports Illustrated. He has previously worked for the Los Angeles Daily News, the New York Times, and Bleacher Report. He co-hosts The Crossover Podcast.

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Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) — Alex Kirshner is a freelance sports journalist who co-hosts Split Zone Duo: College Football Podcast. He has a particular focus on college athletics. 

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Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) — Dan Wetzel is a sports journalist for Yahoo! Sports. He is known for his investigative reporting and his ability to bring a fresh perspective to sports coverage.

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Will Leitch (@williamfleitch) — Will Leitch covers sports for New York Magazine and MLB Network. He is known for his unique wit and commentary on all aspects of the industry. 

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Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) — Tom Haberstroh is a sports journalist and analyst who covers the NBA for Meadowlark Media. He is known for his in-depth analysis and his use of advanced statistics in his coverage.

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Eric Single (@Eric_Single) — Eric Single is the Senior Editor at The Athletic College Football. He is known for his comprehensive and analytical coverage of college athletics.

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Keith Law (@keithlaw) — Keith Law is a Senior Baseball Writer for The Athletic. He is known for his in-depth analysis of the game and his use of advanced statistics in his coverage.

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Molly Knight (@molly_knight) — Molly Knight is a Senior Staff Writer for The Athletic. She is known for her New York Times bestseller The Best Team Money Can Buy: The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Wild Struggle to Build a Baseball Powerhouse.

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Jessica Luther (@jessicawluther) — Jessica Luther is an investigative journalist and freelance writer. She has written about sports and culture for publications, including ESPN Magazine and the New York Times Magazine. She is known for her in-depth coverage of sports and gendered violence.

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Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) — Bill Barnwell is an ESPN Senior Writer who focuses on the NFL. He is known for his analytic approach to game coverage and hosts The Bill Barnwell Show podcast.

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Rachel Bachman (@Bachscore) — Rachel Bachman is a Senior Sports Reporter for The Wall Street Journal. She is known for her comprehensive coverage of college athletics, the Olympics, and the finance and business side of women’s sports.

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Kate Fagan (@katefagan3) — Kate Fagan is currently writing for Meadowlark Media. She is an Emmy Award-winning sports journalist and a bestselling author.

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Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) — Zach Lowe is a Senior Writer covering the NBA for ESPN. He has a podcast, The Lowe Post, where he interviews players and influential figures in the industry.

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Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) — Darren is a sports business analyst who works for The Action Network. He is known for his previous work at ESPN and CNBC. Plus, he has a strong social media presence with almost 2 million Twitter followers. He is also the author of First in Thirst: How Gatorade Turned The Science of Sweat Into A Cultural Phenomenon.

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Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) — Jemele is a sports journalist and television host known for her work at ESPN and her current role as a contributing writer at The Atlantic. She has won numerous awards for her journalism and has been a vocal advocate for social justice issues in the sports world.

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Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) — Dave is a Sports Editor at The Nation and the host of the Edge of Sports podcast. He often covers the intersection of sports and politics. As an author, he has written several books on the subject, including Brazil’s Dance with the Devil: The World Cup, The Olympics, and the Fight for Democracy.

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Bill Connelly (@ESPN_BillC) — Bill is a sports journalist at ESPN and an author known for his analytical approach to college football. He is the creator of the website “Football Study Hall” and has written several books on the subject, including The 50 Best College Football Teams of All Time.

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Rich Eisen (@richeisen) — Rich is an American sportscaster and radio host known for his work at the NFL Network. He currently hosts the “Rich Eisen Show.” He is also the host of the “NFL GameDay” pregame show and a regular contributor to the “Dan Patrick Show.”

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Pablo Torre (@PabloTorre) — Pablo is a sportswriter known as the host of ESPN Daily Podcast. He is a regular panelist on the ESPN show “Around the Horn.”

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Dan Le Batard (@LeBatardShow) — Dan Le Batard is an American sportswriter, podcast host, and television reporter for ESPN. He hosts “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz.”

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Final Thoughts

Our list of the best sports journalists covers a wide range of topics, from analytics and statistics to social justice and equality in the industry. 

From print to TV to podcasts, connections on this list will help you get some positive PR in whichever medium fits your target audience best. 

For access to more journalists covering your specific industry, book a free consultation with us. You’ll get access to our AI-powered media database featuring 200K+ journalists and relevant publications.