Lisa Salters, 59, is an award-winning African-American journalist best known for reporting for the sports television network ESPN. Her sportscasting career spans about 26 years and she is currently reckoned one of the best female sportscasters.
Salters has been charged with covering high-profile news and games including the Oklahoma City bombing trials in the 1990s, NBA Sunday Showcase, and Saturday Primetime matches. She has lent her talent and skills as a side reporter to the prestigious NFL Monday Night Football, and feature correspondent for E:60 Magazine among others.
Lisa Salters’ Early Life and Career
Lisa was born on March 6, 1966, in Pennsylvania to her parents, Glen and Helen Salters and she is currently 59 years old.
She completed her early education at Upper Merion Area High School, before moving on to Pennsylvania State University where she bagged a degree in Broadcast Journalism.
She played as a point guard for the Lady Lions team of Pennsylvania State University from 1986-87 and she holds the record for being the shortest player in the team’s history.
She Debutted as a Broadcast Journalist Before Becoming a Sportscaster
Before becoming a sportscaster, Lisa is known to have covered the O.J Simpson civil and criminal trials, and the Oklahoma City bombing trials among others. Salters began her professional career serving as a correspondent for ABC News, reporting out of Los Angeles from 1995-2000.
ESPN reached out to her in the year 2000 about a general assignment position. She took the offer and that gave her a start in sports journalism. Consequently, Lisa has continued to serve as a sideline reporter for ESPN’s coverage of the NBA on NBC.
See Also: Joy Taylor: 12 Unknown Facts About The Sportscaster
Lisa Salters is not Married
The sportscaster is quite famous for keeping her relationship private but for all that is available, she is not married.
However, she has an adopted son named Samuel Salter after so many failed attempts to have her own biological child.
According to reports, Salters took custody of Samuel officially a day after he was born. Based on her story, the minute she held Samuel in her arms, she felt like she was finally home. Perhaps, she might decide to bring a man into the picture in the future.
How Lisa Made Her Money
With over two decades of experience on her resume, Lisa Salters has built a successful career, which has brought with it fame and wealth.
Her career is traced to the 1990s when she took a job as a broadcast journalist. Fast forward to 1995, she was named the first West Coast correspondent for the ABC affiliate news service, NewsOne.
Subsequently, she moved to become a reporter with ESPN. In 2012, she was named the sideline reporter in MNF history. Although she has currently spent more than 3 decades in journalism, she has spent more than 2 decades with ESPN.
Salters has also managed to score many sponsorship deals which have helped boost her financial status. The versatile reporter currently has a projected net worth of $2 million even as her annual salary is put at $235,000.
Other Facts about Lisa
1. The Pennsylvania Native Worked Super Bowl for the First Time in 2020 After 20 Years with ESPN
Lisa has contributed to the NFL Wild Card and Pro Bowl Games to mention a few. Despite all of the positive contributions she has made, she had her first Super Bowl Assignment in 2020, after about 20 years and at the age of 54.
She worked Super Bown LIV as the sideline reporter for ESPN’s international broadcast in Australia and New Zealand.
Similarly, she has consistently risen through the ranks, and now holds the position of co-producer and sideline reporter on Monday Night Football.
She has covered several major events in the sports world, including the 2002 FIFA World Cup which was held in South Korea and Japan, the 2004 Olympic Games held in Greece, and the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Italy.
She is also the lead correspondent reporting from the sidelines during NBA games for the network and has been regularly featured on ESPN’s newsmagazine E:60, which went into publication in 2007.
Salters’ work has also appeared frequently on Outside the Line, an award-winning series.
The reporter hasn’t shied away from reporting stories in unstable locations such as Iraq. Moreso, Lisa Salters has also worked as a general assignment reporter for WBAL-TV in Baltimore, covering national and international stories such as conflicts in Somalia, Rwanda, and other corners of the earth.
2. Lisa Salters’ Physical and Career Profile
The 59 year-old journalist is only 5 feet 2 inches tall, but you wouldn’t be able to guess that from her gigantic personality.
3. Lisa Salters Has Helped ESPN Become a Leading Industry with 62 Emmy Nominations
In April 2022, ESPN earned an industry-leading 62 nominations for the 43rd Annual Sports Emmy Awards. The role of Lisa as one of the company’s leading journalists cannot be overemphasized as she was nominated in the category of Personality/Reporter with Holly Rowe.
4. A Quick Look at Her Honors
Lisa has an impressive career record. She has been nominated in different categories of Emmy Awards such as:
- Outstanding Coverage of a Continuing News Story in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast – Segments (1999)
- 5x Outstanding Sports Personality – Sports Reporter (2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2022)
Apart from these, the journalist has also received numerous honors and recognition, including being inducted into the Montgomery County chapter of the state’s Sports Hall of Fame and receiving an Excellence in Media Award.
Because of her impressive performance in the broadcasting industry, ESPN announced a multi-year contract extension for Lisa in June 2022. Consequently, she will continue to be the network’s lead sideline reporter for its NBA coverage.
5. She Gives Back to the Society
Salters gives back through various humanitarian and charitable endeavors. She has supported causes such as breast cancer awareness and education initiatives.
As Lisa continues to count her successes in the broadcast industry, her multi-year contract extension with ESPN will allow her to clinch more honors and perhaps more fortunes. At age 59, the sportscaster and mother of 1 remain resolute to take her career to its climax.
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