ESPN is continuing its annual celebration of International Women’s Day with an all-female NBA commentary booth — Angel Gray, Doris Burke and Cassidy Hubbarth will provide commentary for the Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks game on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
This will be the first International Women’s Day NBA game for commentator Gray who, in addition to her play-by-play duties, will serve as a sideline reporter for Wednesday’s Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers matchup and Sunday’s Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Milwaukee Bucks matchup on ESPN.
Front Row caught up with Gray to learn more about her exciting week.
What’s it like for you to be part of an all-female NBA commentary booth for the first time?
It’s a great honor to be part of this project, and a privilege to work with such an outstanding crew. Doris Burke is the absolute best and someone that I’ve looked up to and have been able to learn from since I entered this business. Cassidy Hubbarth is the blueprint! I truly admire her authenticity, storytelling and ease with navigating the sideline role.
I’m hoping this presentation will be an inspiration to young women and an example that you can be whatever you put your energy into and work toward. I remember the joy I had seeing the first all-female crew call an NBA game with Beth Mowins, Doris Burke and Lisa Salters. I dreamed of being able to do the same someday, and here we are!
How are you handling this along with your sideline reporting assignments this week?
It’s been quite the juggle, but I’ll sleep in April! I’m hopping back into NBA this week after completing a very exciting regular season of women’s basketball. Relationships are what help make this quick transition more seamless. are connections. I cherish the relationships I’ve built with my NBA family, and occasionally call other analysts and sideline reporters to make sure I’m covering the most important stories.
Covering the Cavaliers for two of the three games I have this week helps too — I spent four seasons as their sideline reporter and those relationships are still there, which helps in prep.
I’ve also been fortunate to have game crews that have felt like family. We communicate and support one another in everything.
With your extended work covering college basketball and March Madness set to tip off, who do you have winning it all on the Women’s side this year?
I can give my prediction, but I laugh while writing this because my brackets never win! As much as you respect the teams that have been great all season, the idea of March Madness is just that — all logic goes out the window! And there’s so much parity on the women’s side this season.
So, this is a long-winded way to say I’m going with South Carolina or Texas! Happy trails!
