Kate Fagan, an important voice for women and LGBTQ people in sports, is leaving ESPN.
She confirmed the news on Twitter earlier this week, writing:
Had an awesome seven years at ESPN; met some awesome, amazing folks. (You know who you are!) Not sure what is next, but excited for the challenge.
During her time at ESPN Fagan wrote regularly about various sports, and she was a regular voice highlighting women’s sports. Fagan was a popular commentator on the popular ESPN afternoon show Around The Horn. The show’s host, Tony Reali, waxed poetic about Fagan on Twitter this week:
This will drive her crazy but I’m here to celebrate all things Kate Fagan.
— Tony Reali (@TonyReali) November 20, 2018
You Love Kate on TV,
You Admire Kate the reporter/author/free cookie giver,
You Envy Kate for the Sneaker Game/90% FT record,
You Feel All This because you have a sense for Kate.
There’s more to Kate. https://t.co/468F1xRzFc
During her time with ESPN, Fagan wrote two books, The Reappearing Act: Coming Out as Gay on a College Basketball Team Led by Born-Again Christians and What Made Maddy Run: The Secret Struggles and Tragic Death of an All-American Teen.
Before joining ESPN she had been a Philadelphia 76ers beat writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
While the loss of Fagan’s voice is a big one for ESPN, the company still has important LGBTQ voices like LZ Granderson, Christina Kahrl and Izzy Gutierrez.
We wish Fagan much luck in the future, and we look forward to seeing where she and her important voice land next.