Netflix Hires ESPN's Elle Duncan as First Sports Host

Netflix has signed former ESPN anchor Elle Duncan to a multiyear deal as its first on-air sports host, marking a significant step in the streaming service's push into live sports and cultural events. The announcement came on Thursday, positioning Duncan to lead coverage across Netflix's expanding sports portfolio starting in early 2026.

Duncan, who joined ESPN in 2016, hosted the 6 p.m. ET edition of SportsCenter, along with College GameDay for women's basketball and WNBA Countdown. Her final appearance on SportsCenter aired on Tuesday, following an emotional farewell that highlighted her decade-long tenure. In her parting remarks, Duncan defended the network's workforce, stating, "The faces of this place are not the soul of this place. The soul is the thousands of people who work here. No spotlight, and still all the scrutiny. People from every background, with every kind of belief, and from every zip code." She expressed gratitude to her colleagues for their support, crediting them with making her time at ESPN feel like home.

Before ESPN, Duncan built her career in Atlanta as a sideline reporter for the Atlanta Hawks and an anchor for local outlets, including WXIA-TV and V-103...