From the NBA sidelines to the Men’s College World Series desk and everything in between, Alyssa Lang has been a fixture across a multitude of ESPN properties in 2026. She discusses her schedule over the last few months and how she preps for the range of events she covers.
Over the last few months, you have covered a multitude of events from NBA to our diamond sports championships and so much in between. Walk us through what that has been like for you.
The last few months have been a dream. I have had a lot of “pinch me!” moments in my eight years at ESPN, and I feel really lucky to continue to experience that feeling. I’m so thankful for my incredible teammates across all of those sports. Those folks are the ones who make traveling back and forth from the NBA, to CFB, to diamond sports possible for me.
In those assignments, you got to flex both your hosting and reporting skills. How do you approach preparing for each?
My preparation for the two roles is a little different. As a host, it’s my job to help get the best conversations out of my analysts, while also balancing news & highlights. Those conversations are happening to preview or to wrap up a game – or in the case of a tournament, a day of games. As a reporter, I’m able to dig in a bit more to personal stories, or moments happening in the dugout or on the sidelines. Both require an intimate understanding of every athlete and coach on the field, but with different focuses as far as the immediacy of a moment or a story.
You were a part of the first full-time studio at the Men’s College World Series. Tell us what that was like.
Being part of the first ever studio team in Omaha was electrifying. Having attended The University of South Carolina, college baseball has long been one of my favorite sports to cover. To have had the honor to sit on an ESPN desk and celebrate those eight teams was a dream. Todd Walker and Mike Rooney are so respected across the sport, and I learn so much every time I’m with them. Jack DeLongchamps was a breath of fresh air on ESPN’s college baseball coverage, and our producer Bryan Ives did an incredible job creating shows that showcased the magic of the event.
Do you have any particular standout moments from that last few months that stick out the most in your mind?
One of those “pinch me” moments came during an NBA assignment. I had the privilege of working with the incredible group of Mike Breen, Tim Legler and Richard Jefferson, and I got to do it in my hometown of Charlotte, N.C. for a Hornets game. Having grown up 30 minutes north of Spectrum Center, I remember looking up and thinking “10-year-old you would NEVER believe this!” And as an added bonus, I got to catch up with a couple of Charlotte Hornets who I had covered during their college careers in the SEC. It was a full circle moment in more ways than one.
Colin Bradley also contributed to this post.
