NBC Sports announced yesterday that Zora Stephenson will join their Olympic basketball coverage as a reporter, and will continue to work for the network beyond Tokyo as well.
From NBC’s announcement:
“We are excited for Zora to join our team, and what a way to start as a basketball reporter at the Olympics, as the U.S. women’s and men’s teams look to continue their dominance,” said Sam Flood, Executive Producer & President of Production, NBC Sports.
Following the Olympics, Stephenson will work across a wide range of NBC Sports properties.
“I am excited to join NBC Sports and can’t wait to travel to Tokyo,” Stephenson said. “I’ve always respected the commitment to storytelling at NBC Sports and I’m thrilled to begin with the Olympics.”
Stephenson, who played college basketball at Elon, has worked the last two years as a sideline reporter for the Milwaukee Bucks on Bally Sports Wisconsin, and according to her Twitter feed, she’ll continue in that role in addition to her work for NBC.
Thanks for all the love today. Y’all are always hyping me and I appreciate it. This next step is such an honor.
(Also…@Bucks fans, you’re still stuck with me ?) https://t.co/89Npgy7hgv pic.twitter.com/1qL3vX5nZs
— Zora Stephenson (@ZoraStephenson) June 22, 2021
In April, Stephenson became the first woman to call play-by-play for the Bucks in team history.
WE CAN DO ANYTHING!!!????The first woman to call a Bucks regular season game. This moment has so much behind it. To the village: I love y’all. Work hard, do my best, and be a good person. Those are the goals. The history part just happened. The first, but never the last. pic.twitter.com/ktyg1QR3V7
— Zora Stephenson (@ZoraStephenson) April 10, 2021
Given Stephenson’s extensive background in radio and digital, she should have plenty of opportunity across NBC Sports; that she’ll be able to do so while continuing her work in Milwaukee is a nice bonus.
[NBC Sports/photo via NBC Sports PR]