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Emmy and Peabody Award-winning sports journalist Sarah Spain has built a groundbreaking career championing women’s sports through her sharp wit, fearless advocacy, and tireless coverage—but her path to the mic started on the track, not behind it.

EARLY YEARS

Born August 18, 1980, in Cleveland, Ohio, Sarah Spain was raised in Lake Forest, Illinois, where sports weren’t just a pastime—they were her identity. At Lake Forest High School, she dominated multiple disciplines, earning All-Conference, All-Area, and All-State honors in basketball, field hockey, and track. As a senior in 1998, she was named MVP and captain of her teams, proving early on that she had the competitive drive and leadership chops to go the distance.

Spain took that fire to Cornell University, where she majored in English and became a heptathlete on the Big Red track and field team. She served as co-captain, juggling seven grueling events while maintaining her academic focus. But an Achilles tear and subsequent surgery left her with a shortened calf muscle—a permanent reminder of the physical cost of elite athletics. Still, the injury didn’t dim her competitive spirit; it just redirected it.

OTHER INTERESTS

After Cornell, Spain made a surprising pivot: she moved to Los Angeles to pursue stand-up comedy and improv, dreaming of a spot on Saturday Night Live or Broadway. She trained at Second City, honing the timing and sharp delivery that would later make her a standout in sports media. While the comedy dream didn’t pan out the way she’d imagined, the skills she developed—quick wit, storytelling, and the ability to command a room—became the foundation of her broadcasting career. She grew up loving a good joke, and that sensibility has threaded through everything she’s done since.

EARLY SUCCESS

Spain transitioned into sports journalism with the same tenacity she brought to the track. She joined ESPN and quickly made her mark across multiple platforms—radio, television, podcasts, and as a columnist for espnW. Her ability to blend humor with hard-hitting commentary set her apart in a crowded field. In 2015, ESPN launched “Spain & Prim,” a radio show that showcased her range and cemented her as a voice worth listening to. She became a regular on SportsCenter and other ESPN programming, proving she could hold her own in any format.

But Spain didn’t just want to cover sports—she wanted to change the conversation. In 2013, she co-founded “Hear the Cheers” with her mentee Eliza Peters, a nonprofit providing hearing aids and equipment to kids so they could participate fully in sports and life. It was classic Spain: using her platform not just to talk, but to do.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2016: Featured in the viral video #MoreThanMean, confronting online harassment of female sports journalists by having men read abusive tweets to her face—a gut-punch of a piece that sparked national conversation.
• 2017: Named to Crain’s Chicago Business “40 Under 40” list for her impact on media and advocacy.
• 2024: Launched “Good Game with Sarah Spain,” the first-ever daily women’s sports podcast, giving fans comprehensive coverage of athletes, leagues, and stories too often sidelined.
• 2025: Published her first book, “Runs in the Family,” co-authored with football coach Deland McCullough—a powerful true story about identity, adoption, and belonging that earned Emmy and Peabody recognition.
• 2025: Won the iHeart Podcast Awards Social Impact Award for championing equity in sports coverage and equal pay for female athletes.
• Became co-owner of the Chicago Red Stars (NWSL) and promoted community ownership opportunities with Minnesota Aurora FC (USL W), putting her money where her mouth is on women’s soccer.

INSPIRATIONS

Spain has long been vocal about her admiration for athletes who break barriers, including Billie Jean King, whom she interviewed in Málaga, Spain, for her podcast. She’s also highlighted motorsport pioneers like Katherine Legge, NHRA drag racers Leah Pruett and Ida Zetterström, and Indy 500 trailblazer Lyn St. James through her “Good Game” podcast, celebrating women who’ve fought for their place in male-dominated arenas. Her childhood hero? Michael Jordan—an obsession she’s admitted to publicly, calling him her eternal GOAT.

REPUTATION

Spain is known for being witty, tenacious, and fearless—a journalist who doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths. Whether she’s calling out inequality, amplifying women’s sports, or grilling an athlete with humor and insight, she commands respect. Her work has been described as pivotal in shifting the media landscape toward genuine equity. At 45, she’s hitting new professional highs while maintaining the authenticity and edge that made her a standout in the first place. She’s the kind of journalist who makes you care about stories you didn’t know you needed to hear.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Spain continues to expand “Good Game with Sarah Spain,” bringing daily coverage to an audience hungry for women’s sports content. As co-owner of the Chicago Red Stars and advocate for community-owned teams like Minnesota Aurora FC, she’s actively shaping the future of women’s soccer from the inside. She remains a vocal force for equal pay and media representation, using every platform available to push the needle forward. And with her book earning critical acclaim, don’t be surprised if more storytelling projects are on the horizon—Spain’s never been one to sit still.

REFERENCES

Sarah Spain – Wikipedia
She’s Got Game: Sarah Spain ’02 Is a Star of Sports Journalism – Cornell Alumni
ESPN’s Sarah Spain Is a Power Walker – Chicago Magazine
Sarah Spain Official Website
Sarah Spain – Center for the Philosophy of Freedom
Runs in the Family – Simon & Schuster
Good Game with Sarah Spain – iHeart
#MoreThanMean – Women in Sports ‘Face’ Harassment – YouTube
Sarah Spain Talks ‘Thrilling’ Rise In Women’s Sports – iHeart News
Sarah Spain: A Fearless, 21st Century Trailblazer – The Forest Scout
Sticky Brain with Katherine Legge – Good Game Podcast
Don’t Bang the Blower with Ida Zetterström and Leah Pruett – Good Game Podcast
Red Stars Co-Owner Sarah Spain Addresses the NWSL’s Future – Just Women’s Sports
Sarah Spain Promotes Purchase of Shares in USL W Club Aurora FC – Awful Announcing