SportsCenter Special Kicks Off ESPN Veteran’s New, Multi-Faceted Deal

Hannah Storm, who recently signed a new deal to remain with ESPN, will team with Jon Stewart, former host of The Daily Show, to co-anchor SportsCenter’s special coverage from the Warrior Games in Chicago on Friday, July 7. A one-hour SportsCenter will air live from the United Center at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

The Warrior Games assignment kicks off Storm’s new role with ESPN, which will be multi-faceted and touch many ESPN programs and platforms.

The 2017 Department of Defense Warrior Games, a multi-sport event for wounded, injured or ill service personnel and veterans, began June 30 and concludes July 8. Approximately 265 athletes representing teams from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), as well as the United Kingdom Armed Forces and the Australian Defence Force are participating.

In addition to the 7 p.m. program, Storm and Stewart will anchor live segments in the 6 p.m. SportsCenter and Stewart will do a live interview from the site in the 11 p.m. hour on SportsCenter. Reporter Michele Steele will have segments from the Warrior Games in the morning editions of SportsCenter earlier that day.

Hosting SportsCenter at the Warrior Games will represent a homecoming of sorts for Storm, who was born in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park, Ill., while her father was stationed there as a U.S. Marine.

“Being the daughter of a Marine and having a lot of pride in being from a Marine Corps family. I was so excited when I heard about this event,” she said. “The meaning of this competition, and how inspirational it is, is really close to my heart.”

Storm has hosted SportsCenter’s Veterans Day specials from numerous military installations and Stewart has campaigned for veterans and been a strong supporter of the Warrior Games.

“It’s a thrill for me not just to be a part of the Warrior Games but also to work with someone who’s one of the best-known hosts in the television industry and such a great talent,” Storm said. “I’ve always been a fan of his work, and he’s so involved and so passionate about this cause.”

New ESPN Deal Touches Many Areas

As part of her new ESPN deal, Storm will host SportsCenter’s coverage July 28-29 at El Clasico, the soccer match between rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona in Miami, and the red carpet show for the 25^th ESPYS on July 14. She also voiced the Top 25 vignettes for the ESPYS and in the future will be hosting prime-time specials and providing high impact journalistic pieces to key properties such as E:60 and SportsCenter.

Storm, who directed the 2015 SEC Storied documentary Shaq and Dale, also has other projects upcoming that will be announced later. She was recently named one of 35 “Powerful Women in Sports” by Adweek, the latest of many honors during her career as a journalist, producer and director, a pioneer in the field of sports broadcasting for women, an advocate for children’s issues and a published author.

“There’s only one Hannah Storm,” said Rob King, ESPN senior vice president, SportsCenter, News & Information. “One unique combination of host, journalist, interviewer and storyteller, and we’re overjoyed that fans will continue to enjoy her talent across our platforms.”

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