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Pam Ward

Pam Ward is an American sportscaster renowned for her play-by-play announcing in , particularly as a commentator for on women's college basketball, college softball, and the WNBA. She holds a bachelor's degree in radio, television, and film from the University of , where she graduated in 1984. Ward's career in sports media began in 1992, focusing initially on women's college basketball broadcasts across various networks. Ward joined ESPN in 1996 as an anchor for ESPNEWS and quickly expanded into multiple roles, including hosting shows such as WNBA Shootaround, NBA Today, NHL 2Night, and NFL Tonight, as well as ESPN Radio programs for NFL and MLB coverage. In 2000, she achieved a milestone by becoming the first woman to call play-by-play for a nationally televised Division I college football game, handling the ESPN2 broadcast of Bowling Green versus Toledo on November 22. She continued covering college football through 2011, including the Division III Championship and the 2000 Motor City Bowl, before shifting her primary focus to women's sports. Ward's trailblazing work in male-dominated sports broadcasting has been recognized with prestigious honors, including the 2010 Jake Wade Award from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) for her contributions to intercollegiate athletics. In 2015, the University of Maryland's Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism awarded her the Distinguished Terrapin Award for outstanding professional achievement. In 2023, she was inducted into the University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism Hall of Fame.

Early life and education

Early years

Pam Ward is a native of , who grew up in nearby . This pre-college period in the laid the foundation for her later pursuits in communications, culminating in her enrollment at the University of Maryland.

College education

Pam Ward attended the , where she pursued studies in the Radio, Television and Film program. This curriculum, later absorbed into the Philip Merrill College of Journalism, provided foundational training in media production and broadcasting techniques, equipping her with essential skills for her future career in sports announcing. During her time at , Ward gained hands-on experience through involvement with WMUC, the university's student-run radio station, which served as her entry point into broadcasting. This campus media activity allowed her to develop practical expertise in live commentary and audio production, directly contributing to her proficiency in play-by-play narration. Ward earned her bachelor's degree in 1984, marking the completion of her formal education that bridged academic learning in communications with real-world application in media. Her university experience, rooted in the proximity to her Washington, D.C.-area upbringing, solidified her path toward professional sports journalism.

Broadcasting career

Early radio and television roles

Pam Ward began her professional broadcasting career in radio after graduating from the University of Maryland with a degree in communications. In April 1992, she joined WTEM-Radio (570 AM) in , as a host and anchor, where she provided weekday news updates and hosted an overnight until March 1995. In March 1995, Ward transitioned to WBAL-Radio in as a morning anchor, marking her as the first woman in local radio or television broadcasting since Gayle Gardner's departure from the market over a decade earlier. Her responsibilities there included hosting the pregame show on Sundays, contributing to the station's coverage during the team's inaugural seasons. Concurrently, from March 1995 to 1996, Ward served as a fill-in sports anchor at , delivering local sports segments and updates, which honed her skills in live on-air hosting and analysis. These early roles in the and markets provided foundational experience in sports broadcasting, emphasizing reporting and audience engagement in regional contexts.

ESPN tenure

Pam Ward joined ESPN in 1996 as an anchor for the newly launched network ESPNEWS. Over the course of her tenure, she expanded her role to include play-by-play commentary across multiple sports. In addition to anchoring, Ward hosted several ESPN programs, such as WNBA Shootaround, NBA Today, NHL 2Night, and NFL Tonight. She also contributed as a sideline reporter and analyst during ESPN2's coverage of the 1996 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship. Ward evolved into a prominent play-by-play commentator, handling duties for women's college basketball, college softball, and WNBA games. Her work in these areas has been a mainstay of 's programming since the late 1990s. As of 2025, Ward continues to serve as play-by-play commentator for women's college basketball, college softball, and WNBA coverage on . Beyond television, Ward has hosted ESPN Radio shows, including pre- and post-game coverage for . She has maintained a consistent presence across platforms since joining the network in 1996.

Notable broadcasts and milestones

On November 22, 2000, Pam Ward made history as the to call play-by-play for a nationally televised Division I NCAA game, handling ESPN2's broadcast of at alongside analyst . This conference matchup, aired in , marked a pivotal breakthrough in a field long dominated by men, challenging traditional gender norms in sports announcing and paving the way for greater participation in high-profile coverage. Ward extended her trailblazing work to , serving as play-by-play announcer for key games in the 2012 , including the opener between and Valparaiso alongside Michele Smith. She returned for the 2013 event, calling games such as No. 7 versus No. 2 alongside Smith and sideline reporter . Throughout her career, Ward has advanced women's visibility in sports broadcasting by calling hundreds of games from 2000 to 2011, including Big Ten and Big East contests, and continuing with women's college basketball play-by-play since the early 2000s, such as notable matchups like Louisiana Tech versus UConn in 2001. Her efforts broke barriers in male-dominated arenas, earning praise for normalizing female voices in play-by-play roles and inspiring subsequent announcers like , as noted in analyses of gender progress in sports media.

Awards and honors

Professional awards

In 2010, Pam Ward received the Wade Award from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), now known as College Sports Communicators, recognizing her outstanding contributions to intercollegiate athletics through media. The award, established in 1957, annually honors individuals in the media who have made significant impacts on by enhancing visibility, professionalism, and coverage of athletic programs. Ward's selection highlighted her pioneering role as the to call play-by-play for a Division I game on national television, a achieved on November 22, 2000, during ESPN2's broadcast of Bowling Green versus . Her subsequent work, including serving as the voice of Big Ten since 2002 and handling extensive play-by-play duties for women's college , , and the WNBA since joining in 1996, demonstrated her versatility and commitment to elevating intercollegiate sports, particularly women's athletics, beyond novelty status. CoSIDA praised her thorough preparation and professional delivery, noting that her broadcasts had become integral to the field rather than experimental.

Academic and institutional honors

In 2015, Pam Ward received the Distinguished Award from the University of Maryland's Merrill College of Journalism, presented through the Shirley Povich Center for . This honor recognizes outstanding achievement, service to the school, and contributions that cultivate a culture of philanthropy among graduates. Ward was cited for her pioneering career in sports broadcasting, including her role as an ESPN anchor and play-by-play commentator, which exemplified excellence in and inspired students in the field. Building on her B.A. in Radio, Television and Film from the University of Maryland in 1984, which laid the foundation for her career, Ward's institutional recognitions underscore her long-term impact on sports media education. In 2023, she was inducted into the Philip Merrill College of Journalism Hall of Fame as part of the college's 50th anniversary celebration. This honor highlighted her lifetime achievements as a in , notably as the first woman to call play-by-play for a Division I game and her award-winning work across , WBAL, and other outlets. The induction emphasized her ongoing contributions as a commentator for women's , college , and the WNBA, reinforcing her legacy in advancing opportunities for women in broadcasting.

References

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    Pam Ward - ESPN Press Room U.S.
    Pam Ward joined ESPN in 1996 as an ESPNEWS anchor and now serves as a play-by-play commentator on women's college basketball, college softball and the WNBA.
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    Distinguished Alumni - University of Maryland Athletics
    May 31, 2013 · Michael Ward, '72 Marketing: Chairman, President & CEO, CSX. Pam Ward '84 Radio/TV/Film: Reporter, ESPN. Howard White '73 Recreation: V-P ...
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    Maryland honors ESPN's Kurkjian, Ward
    Nov 17, 2015 · ESPN employees and University of Maryland grads Tim Kurkjian ('78) and Pam Ward ('84) were recognized as the 2015 Distinguished Terrapin Award winners.
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    For TV's Female Reporters, It's Strictly a Sideline Job
    Jan 30, 2009 · ... Pam Ward to announce three college games. Ward, who grew up in Prince George's County and attended the University of Maryland, has since ...
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    Page not found | Philip Merrill College of Journalism
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    Pam Ward - Merrill College Hall of Fame - Rocket Alumni Solutions
    In July 2010, CoSIDA honored Ward as the recipient of the Jake Wade Award, which annually recognizes an individual “who has made an outstanding contribution ...
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    'The Year of Women's Sports': 19th Annual Povich Symposium ...
    Nov 15, 2024 · The best career advice might have come from ESPN's Pam Ward '84, who got her start as a Terp at WMUC: 'Don't take no for an answer. Keep ...
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    WBAL hires Pam Ward as morning sports anchor - Baltimore Sun
    Feb 8, 1995 · Ward, who has been host of an overnight talk show at Washington's all-sports WTEM (570 AM), trades in the night-owl audience for the morning ...Missing: broadcaster early
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    Can you name the original lineup at WTEM? (Yes, it included Tony ...
    Jun 3, 2016 · Charlie Slowes covered the Bullets, and Dan Miller was the Redskins beat reporter. Pam Ward did weekday sports news updates, while special ...
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    Talent Profile: Pam Ward, Play-by-Play (ESPN) - Eye On Sports Media
    Mar 2, 2008 · In 1996, Ward began working as a sideline reporter for ESPN2's college football games; she also served as an analyst for select games on ESPN/ ...
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    Pam Ward Speaking Fee and Booking Agent Contact
    Pam Ward is a sports broadcaster who currently works for ESPN, mainly reporting and broadcasting women's softball and basketball. Her career at ESPN began in ...
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    TV SPORTS;Women on Court, but Few in Booth - The New York Times
    Mar 26, 1996 · ESPN's analysts are all women: Sherry Levin, Nancy Lieberman-Cline, Ann Meyers, Tracy Warren, Heather Cox, Doris Burke and Pam Ward. Yet Beth ...
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    2000 College Football Season - 506 Archive
    Wed 11/22, Bowling Green @ Toledo, ESPN2, 6:30 pm, Pam Ward, Don McPherson. Thu 11/23, Mississippi State @ Ole Miss, ESPN, 8 pm, Mike Tirico, Kirk Herbstreit ...
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    [PDF] A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF MALE AND FEMALE PLAY
    In 2000, Pam Ward became the first female play-by-play announcer on a nationally televised college football game, despite being advised by an agent in 1990 ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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    ESPN Provides Extensive Coverage of NCAA Division I Softball ...
    May 14, 2012 · Every Women's College World Series Contest for 12th Straight Year ... Pam Ward and Michele Smith, Game 1, ESPNU/ESPN3. 7 p.m., Valparaiso vs ...Missing: 2013 | Show results with:2013
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    ESPN Expands Coverage of NCAA Division I Softball Championship
    May 13, 2013 · The lineup will include telecasts of every Women's College World Series (WCWS) contest for the 13th straight event, every game from all eight ...Missing: 2012 | Show results with:2012
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    ESPN Airs Every WCWS Game from Oklahoma City Beginning ...
    May 28, 2013 · ESPN. Sun, June 2. 1 p.m.. Women's College World Series Pam Ward, Michele Smith & Holly Rowe. ESPN. 3:30 p.m.. Women's College World Series Beth ...
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    #8 Lady Techsters Hosts #1 UCONN - LA Tech Athletics
    Jan 6, 2001 · Television: Tonight's contest will be televised live on ESPN2 with Pam Ward calling the action and Nancy Lieberman-Cline providing the color ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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    College football says goodbye to ESPN announcer Pam Ward
    May 21, 2012 · ... Pam Ward from its college football coverage. In 2000, Ward became the first woman to do play-by-play for nationally televised college football ...
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    Lauded for college football work, ESPN's Pam Ward, 2010 CoSIDA ...
    Jul 30, 2010 · ... Ward remains the first and now only female play-by-play announcer on big-time college football for a major national television network. Once ...
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    Distinguished Terrapin Award | University of Maryland
    The Distinguished Terrapin Award recognizes outstanding professional achievement, service to the school, cultivation of a culture of philanthropy and/or ...
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    George Solomon: A Year in Review
    Jan 4, 2016 · Earlier in the day of the Symposium, the Center gave its “Distinguished Terrapin” awards to ESPN's Pam Ward and Tim Kurkjian, as well as special ...
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    Merrill College Announces 2023 Hall of Fame Class
    Jan 20, 2023 · In 2010, CoSIDA honored her with the Jake Wade Award, which annually recognizes an individual “who has made an outstanding contribution in the ...