Well, let me tell ya, Beth Mowins, she’s quite the lady! Born and raised near Syracuse, New York, she grew up a real tomboy, always playin’ sports. She was real good at it too! Played basketball, soccer, and even shortstop in softball back in high school with the Northstars. She wasn’t just playin’ for fun neither, no sir! She racked up a whopping 1,245 points in basketball during her high school days from 1981 to 1985. That’s a lotta points for a young’un, don’t you think?
Now, after high school, Beth didn’t slow down one bit. She went off to Lafayette College over in Easton, Pennsylvania. She wasn’t just any ol’ student there, nope. She became the captain of her varsity basketball team for two whole years. That’s right, two years! Must’ve been somethin’ special about her leadership ’cause folks sure listened to her. She graduated in 1989 with a degree, and then she kept on going, gettin’ a master’s degree from Syracuse University in broadcast and digital journalism in 1990. Some real fancy learnin’, huh?
But the real story begins when Beth took a step into the world of broadcasting. She started out in 1991 at WXHC-FM Radio in Homer, New York. Now, she wasn’t just a regular ol’ radio person—she was the news and sports director. That’s a big deal! She was makin’ waves even before folks knew her name. Then, in 1994, she joined ESPN. That was a big move for her, ya know. She started coverin’ all sorts of college sports like basketball, football, soccer, and volleyball. You name it, she was there! But what she really became known for was bein’ the voice of college softball. For over 20 years, folks been hearin’ her call the games in the Women’s College World Series. That’s a mighty long time to be at the top of your game!
And here’s somethin’ real impressive—Beth Mowins was the first woman to be the play-by-play announcer for an NBA game on ESPN. Can you imagine that? A woman callin’ the shots on a big ol’ NBA game! That was in 2017, and let me tell ya, it was a big deal. Folks was talkin’ about it for weeks. Not just that, she also became the first woman to call a Monday Night Football game on ESPN back in 2017 too. History right there, folks. A real trailblazer!
Beth didn’t stop there neither. She made history again in 2018 when she became the first woman to call an NFL playoff game. Can you believe that? A woman announcer on the big stage! And she just kept goin’ up and up. In 2019, she was right there callin’ the Denver Broncos vs. San Diego Chargers game during a Monday Night Football doubleheader. She’d been workin’ for ESPN for years by this point, but this was somethin’ else entirely. A woman on the biggest stage of football! Folks loved her, and still do!
And you know what? Beth Mowins didn’t just stop at sports. She also got inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. That’s right, this lady’s been recognized for her contribution to the sports world in her hometown! If that ain’t impressive, I don’t know what is!
But no matter how far she’s come, Beth always stayed true to herself. She never forgot her roots, where she came from, and the sports she loved. She’s been a true champion for women in sports broadcasting, and folks across the country, both men and women, look up to her as a role model. Ain’t no doubt about it, she’s paved the way for the next generation of women announcers.
So, if you’re watchin’ any sports on ESPN, whether it’s college basketball, softball, or even NFL games, you might just hear that familiar voice of Beth Mowins callin’ the plays. She’s done it all, and she ain’t stoppin’ anytime soon. Just goes to show, with hard work and passion, you can break down barriers and make a name for yourself in any field, no matter who you are.
Tags：[Beth Mowins, ESPN, women in sports broadcasting, sports career, college basketball, NFL, NBA, Monday Night Football, Women’s College World Series, Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame]
