ESPN Anchor Elle Duncan Joins Netflix Sports Division

Elle Duncan, a prominent ESPN anchor known for her work on SportsCenter and women's basketball coverage, has reached an agreement to become the face of Netflix's expanding sports division, sources familiar with the matter said Monday.

The 42-year-old Atlanta native, who has spent nearly a decade at ESPN, is expected to sign a contract that positions Netflix as her primary employer while allowing appearances on other networks. Discussions are underway for her to continue covering women's basketball for ESPN, where she has hosted WNBA Countdown and the NCAA Women's Final Four. However, sources expressed pessimism about her long-term role at the network, noting ESPN's reluctance to share on-air talent with competitors like Netflix.

Duncan's move marks a significant step for Netflix, which has rapidly built its live sports portfolio since launching the Netflix Cup golf event in November 2023. The streaming service secured a 10-year, $5 billion deal in January to exclusively stream WWE's Monday Night Raw. It also holds rights to two NFL games each Christmas Day, Major League Baseball's 2026 Opening Night featuring the New York Yankees at the San Francisco Giants, and the FIFA Women's...