Globetrotting LaChina Robinson previews her WNBA Countdown talk with Skylar Diggins-Smith

In recent weeks, ESPN commentator LaChina Robinson‘s passion for basketball storytelling has taken her from Seattle to Phoenix to Paris, France to Bristol, Connecticut, and seemingly everywhere in between.

On July 9, the WNBA Countdown host interviewed Storm star Skylar Diggins-Smith in a Seattle restaurant for Robinson’s signature “Off Day” feature, debuting tonight on Countdown (9 ET, ESPN). Watch an excerpt in the video embedded above.

A few days later, Robinson joined her Countdown team in Arizona during WNBA All-Star Game Weekend, which unfolded July 19-20.

On July 21, she boarded a Phoenix flight to Paris to provide analysis for NBC’s Summer Olympics coverage of women’s basketball. From July 26 until August 11, the former Wake Forest star kept a sprinter’s pace during her basketball marathon, which she chronicled online.

15 year old LaChina was at home watching the #USABWNT win gold in 96 in awe of Lisa Leslie. Fast forward to yesterday calling the gold medal gameAfter Tokyo, Paris 2024 was in my daily prayer. God is faithful, never stop believing & working towards your dreams

Ephesians 3:20 pic.twitter.com/vP9jSn15l4

— LaChina Robinson (@LaChinaRobinson) August 12, 2024

“There weren’t many ‘Off Days’ in Paris because I was either calling a game or at practice, but of course I did sneak off to enjoy crossaints and other French delicacies,” said Robinson, in her 15th year with ESPN. “But three days after returning from Paris, I was back on air hosting WNBA Countdown with two shows in four days.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way. Covering the WNBA is my dream job.”

At ESPN’s Bristol headquarters this week for Countdown, Robinson previews her profile of Diggins-Smith – taped in one of the WNBA star’s favorite Seattle seafood restaurants – talks about the “Off Day” concept and more with Front Row.

What did you learn from your interview with Diggins-Smith that surprised you?
Skylar has blossomed so much over the 15 years I’ve been covering her career. As a mother, elite athlete, wife, and celebrity, she has arrived at a place of true peace and happiness through a journey riddled with adversity. Skylar has always been a very private person, so I had no idea how courageous she had been in the fight for her mental health. She is going to help a lot of people by sharing her story.

How did you select the Seattle seafood restaurant as the setting for your interview?
Jackson’s Catfish Corner was Skylar’s choice; she loves catfish. She has family from the Deep South, and catfish is one of her favorite pastimes; she also wanted to support Black-owned businesses in her new home in Seattle. I ordered the fried shrimp meal because I love seafood.

Skylar Diggins-Smith (L) and LaChina Robinson chat in a booth at Jackson's Catfish Corner in Seattle. (Melani Carter/ESPN)

Restaurant owner Terrell Jackson, who graciously opened up his doors to ESPN, serves his famous catfish to Diggins-Smith and Robinson.(Melani Carter/ESPN)

Diggins-Smith looks on as producer Andrew Helfman provides direction to the crew. (Melani Carter/ESPN)

The Seattle Storm donated her jersey with her signature and rave: "The best catfish I've ever had." (Melani Carter/ESPN)

What inspired the “Off Day” feature in general? How has the feature evolved as Season 3 of the series ends with the Diggins-Smith interview?
Storytelling is such an important component of sports coverage. The WNBA is full of incredible women who are more than basketball players, and I have a genuine curiosity about what makes athletes who they are, their backgrounds, and their interests outside of sports. As we look to grow the WNBA, this platform allows these women to connect with a new audience by sharing other aspects of who they are and their off-the-court interests. “Off Day” was a feature I pitched to ESPN ahead of the 2022 season with my friend and features producer Melani Carter.

In the first season, we produced three episodes and packaged them for ESPN to air during WNBA coverage. We started with the Atlanta Dream’s Rhyne Howard. Google picked it up as a sponsor in the offseason and signed up for 12 episodes.

This year we have two dedicated managers in content manager and producer Emma Reed and associate producer Laura Ramirez. Associate producer Andrew Helfman was on site with me for the shoot in Seattle and associate producer Meg McMurray was at the helm for the extended digital version. I’m grateful to [Head of Event & Studio Production] David Roberts and [Vice President, Production] Sara Gaiero for believing in the vision from Day 1 and providing more resources and support over the last three seasons.

Our goal was to highlight the intersection of culture, fashion, music, and the WNBA, as well as the hobbies and off-court personalities of WNBA athletes. There is not a regular slot as of now, but we hope that “Off Day” becomes a part of every WNBA Countdown show in the regular season and hopefully even onto women’s college basketball.

What’s the response to the feature been like?
The response has been incredible. There are so many fans and even fellow media members who want to hear more from women athletes – particularly in a league predominately comprised of Black women, a demographic whose voice often goes unheard in greater society.

You were a game analyst for 12 years before becoming a studio host. Which of your many roles at ESPN is your favorite and why?
My favorite role is as a dedicated voice for women’s basketball. This is the only sport I’ve covered in my 15 years at ESPN because I’ve believed in this sport and bet on women long before it was the popular thing to do. While I’m happy to see the monumental increase in ratings, viewership, and interest in women’s basketball, I would have been here anyway – giving the best women athletes in the world the coverage they deserve.

WNBA Countdown presented by Google will provide coverage ahead of the matchup tonight between the Minnesota Lynx and Las Vegas Aces at 9 ET on ESPN. For more on ESPN’s WNBA coverage, visit ESPN Press Room