Biography:
Hannah Lynn Storen Hicks (born June 13, 1962), known professionally as Hannah Storm, is an American television sports journalist who has made a significant impact on the world of sports broadcasting. She is widely recognized as the anchor of ESPN’s SportsCenter Face to Face and has also hosted the NBA Countdown pregame show on ABC as part of the network’s National Basketball Association (NBA) Sunday game coverage. In addition, Storm serves as the play-by-play announcer on Amazon Prime Video during Thursday Night Football, alongside Andrea Kremer.
Born in Oak Park, Illinois, Storm is the daughter of the renowned sports executive Mike Storen. Her father served as the commissioner of the American Basketball Association and held positions as the general manager of the Indiana Pacers, Kentucky Colonels, and Memphis Sounds franchises. He later became the president of the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA. Storm’s mother, Hannah G. Storen, is a successful real estate broker.
Storm received her education at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, Georgia, and graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1983. During her time in college, she gained valuable experience working for WNDU-TV, the NBC affiliate owned by Notre Dame, in South Bend, Indiana. It was during her early career as a disc jockey for a hard rock radio station in Corpus Christi, Texas, that Storm adopted her on-air name.
After graduating, she continued to work as a disc jockey at KNCN (C-101) in Corpus Christi before moving on to Houston. In Houston, Storm hosted the drive-time sportscaster and traffic reporter position at KSRR 97 Rock. She also hosted halftime and postgame shows for the Houston Rockets and Houston Astros postgame shows on KTXH television. Storm further expanded her career as a weekend sports anchor on WCNC TV 36 in Charlotte, North Carolina, from 1988 to 1989, before transitioning to CNN.
Storm’s national prominence began at CNN, where she became the first female host on CNN Sports Tonight from 1989 to 1992. During her time at CNN, she also hosted Major League Baseball Preview and reported from various sporting events such as spring training, the playoffs, and the Daytona 500. Storm’s versatility and expertise shone through as she hosted the 1990 Goodwill Games for TBS.
In May 1992, Storm joined the NBC sports broadcasting team, further solidifying her place in sports journalism history. She hosted various high-profile events, including the Olympic Games, NBA and WNBA basketball games, National Football League coverage, figure skating events, and Major League Baseball games. Storm made history as the first woman in American television to act as the solo host of a network’s sports package when she hosted NBC Major League Baseball games from 1994 to 2000. Prior to Storm, Andrea Joyce had co-hosted sports packages on CBS, but Storm was the first woman to fly solo in this role. Additionally, she hosted The NBA on NBC from 1997 to 2002.
Storm’s expertise extended beyond the United States, as she also anchored NBC Sports coverage of prestigious tennis tournaments such as Wimbledon and the French Open. Her comprehensive understanding of the sports world also led her to cover Notre Dame football and World Figure Skating Championships.
Throughout her illustrious career, Hannah Storm has inspired and paved the way for women in the field of sports broadcasting. Her professionalism, knowledge, and passion for sports have garnered her a devoted following and have cemented her as one of the most respected voices in the industry. Storm’s groundbreaking achievements have made her a role model for aspiring female journalists and have contributed to the ongoing progress and empowerment of women in the world of sports.
Awards:
– Emmy Award for Outstanding Sports News Anchor (2003)
– Gracie Award for Outstanding On-Air Talent: Sports (2017)
– Women’s Sports Foundation’s Billie Jean King Contribution Award (2018)