Overview
- Vanessa Richardson is leaving her four-season role as the Houston Rockets’ sideline reporter to take on an expanded national sideline role with ESPN.
- ESPN has added Richardson to its 2026–27 NBA sideline roster alongside Lisa Salters, Katie George, Malika Andrews, Jorge Sedano, Alyssa Lang, Taylor McGregor, and Angel Gray.
- Richardson announced the departure in a long social media farewell that thanked broadcast partners, the SCHN production staff, Rockets GM Rafael Stone, coach Ime Udoka, and the Fertitta family.
- Her work for ESPN has already grown beyond local beats, including fill-in radio hosting, Hoop Streams during the 2025 playoffs, summer league sideline duties, guest hosting on NBA Today, and a multiyear Hoop Streams extension.
- The move underscores a common career path from local team access to national visibility and will remove a familiar reporter from Rockets on-site coverage while deepening ESPN’s multi-person sideline pool.