Lisa Salters
Encyclopedia
Alisia Salters is a journalist
and former collegiate women's basketball
player. She has been a reporter for ESPN
and ESPN on ABC
since 2000. Previously, she covered the O.J. Simpson murder case for ABC
and worked at WBAL-TV
in Baltimore, Maryland.
Salters has reported worldwide for ESPN, including a series of reports from the Middle East
prior to the Iraq War. In addition, she has hosted ESPN's coverage of the 2006 Winter Olympics
from Turin, Italy, and ESPN's coverage of the 2002 FIFA World Cup
. Currently, she is the lead sideline reporter for ABC's coverage of the NBA, as well as the network's Saturday Night college football
slate.
In addition, Salters is one of the featured correspondents on ESPN’s newsmagazine show, E:60
, which debuted October 2007. In 2008, she was nominated for a Sports Emmy Award for the story "Ray Of Hope".
At ESPN, Salters’ reports have been regularly featured on the award-winning “Outside the Lines” series. She led the network’s comprehensive coverage of the murder trial of Carolina Panthers
wide receiver Rae Carruth
in December 2000 through January 2001. Additionally, Salters was ESPN’s reporter at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea
and Japan
, where she broke the news on the U.S. National Team’s starting lineup a day before its first match in against Portugal
. Salters reported from the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens
, Greece
and hosted ESPN’s coverage of the 2006 Winter Olympics
Games in Torino, Italy.
In 2006, she served as the lead sideline reporter for ABC's coverage of the NBA on ABC and worked the 2006 NBA Finals
on television as that season she filled in for Michele Tafoya
who was on maternity leave. Salters returned to her role as its secondary sideline reporter the following year as Tafoya returned to her old role. In 2007, she worked the 2007 NBA Finals
on radio. In 2009
, she is back to being its lead sideline reporter whenever Doris Burke
isn't there.
During the build-up to Operation Iraqi Freedom through the commencement of the war, Salters covered sports-related stories in and around U.S. Central Command
in Qatar
for Outside the Lines
, SportsCenter
and ESPNEWS
. She went back into the war zone in 2004 when ESPN took SportsCenter on the road and broadcast live from Camp Arifjan
, a U.S. Army base in Kuwait
.
On December 1, 2007, Salters was covering the Big 12 Championship Game at the Alamodome
in San Antonio, Texas
. In one of her sideline reports during the first half she mentioned Missouri
quarterback Chase Daniel's
frustration due to Missouri being stymied by the Oklahoma
defense, saying Daniel was "upset" and "fuming." However, a technical blunder caused Salters' microphone to be broadcast over the stadium's PA system. The camera shifted to Chase Daniel, who was visibly perplexed and curious as to who was talking about him and why it was being heard throughout the entire stadium. ABC
TV announcer Brent Musburger
then mused, "Lisa was talking to a lot more folks than she anticipated." The likely explanation was that Salters' mic was to have been hooked up to the PA for the upcoming halftime contest, and her mic was inadvertently left on the PA after a pregame sound check.
Prior to joining ESPN, Salters served as a Los Angeles
-based correspondent for ABC News from 1995 to 2000 and provided news coverage for World News Tonight
with Peter Jennings
and other ABC News broadcasts. At ABC News, she covered the Oklahoma City bombing
trials, the Matthew Shepard
murder, the crash of TWA Flight 800
, and both the civil and criminal O.J. Simpson trials.
, Salters graduated from Penn State University
in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism. She played guard
for the Lady Lions basketball team from 1986–87, where she holds the distinction of being the shortest player in school history at 5' 2".
Salters is a graduate of Upper Merion Area High School
in King of Prussia, where she is a member of the school’s Hall of Fame. She is single and lives in San Francisco
. Salters is a cousin of former University of Pittsburgh
and Dallas Cowboys
star running back Tony Dorsett
.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and former collegiate women's basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. She has been a reporter for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
and ESPN on ABC
ESPN on ABC
ESPN on ABC is the brand used for sports programming on the ABC television network. Officially the broadcast network retains its own sports division; however, for all practical purposes, ABC's sports division has been merged with ESPN, a sports cable network majority-owned by ABC's parent, The...
since 2000. Previously, she covered the O.J. Simpson murder case for ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
and worked at WBAL-TV
WBAL-TV
WBAL-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station in Baltimore, Maryland. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 11. It is one of the flagship stations of Hearst Television, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Hearst Corporation, which also owns sister radio stations WBAL and...
in Baltimore, Maryland.
Salters has reported worldwide for ESPN, including a series of reports from the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
prior to the Iraq War. In addition, she has hosted ESPN's coverage of the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
from Turin, Italy, and ESPN's coverage of the 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
. Currently, she is the lead sideline reporter for ABC's coverage of the NBA, as well as the network's Saturday Night college football
College Football on ABC
ESPN College Football on ABC presented by Kay Jewelers is a presentation of the American Broadcasting Company's regular season American college football television package...
slate.
Broadcasting career
Salters joined ESPN as a general assignment reporter in March 2000. She currently serves as sideline reporter for Saturday Night Football and the lead sideline reporter for ESPN’s coverage of the NBA on ABC.In addition, Salters is one of the featured correspondents on ESPN’s newsmagazine show, E:60
E:60
E:60 is a weekly investigative journalism newsmagazine show. It premiered on ESPN on October 16, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. ET, 4:00 p.m. PT. The show is one hour long....
, which debuted October 2007. In 2008, she was nominated for a Sports Emmy Award for the story "Ray Of Hope".
At ESPN, Salters’ reports have been regularly featured on the award-winning “Outside the Lines” series. She led the network’s comprehensive coverage of the murder trial of Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
wide receiver Rae Carruth
Rae Carruth
Rae Carruth is a former American football wide receiver in the NFL for the Carolina Panthers...
in December 2000 through January 2001. Additionally, Salters was ESPN’s reporter at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, where she broke the news on the U.S. National Team’s starting lineup a day before its first match in against Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. Salters reported from the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and hosted ESPN’s coverage of the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
Games in Torino, Italy.
In 2006, she served as the lead sideline reporter for ABC's coverage of the NBA on ABC and worked the 2006 NBA Finals
2006 NBA Finals
The 2006 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2005–06 National Basketball Association season. The Miami Heat won the championship in six games over the Dallas Mavericks, winning the final game at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, and becoming the third team to win a championship...
on television as that season she filled in for Michele Tafoya
Michele Tafoya
Michele Tafoya is an American sportscaster.-Early life and career:Tafoya received a B.A...
who was on maternity leave. Salters returned to her role as its secondary sideline reporter the following year as Tafoya returned to her old role. In 2007, she worked the 2007 NBA Finals
2007 NBA Finals
The 2007 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2006-07 National Basketball Association season, and was the conclusion of the 2007 NBA Playoffs. The best-of-seven series was played between the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs and the Eastern Conference champion Cleveland...
on radio. In 2009
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
, she is back to being its lead sideline reporter whenever Doris Burke
Doris Burke
Doris Burke is a sideline reporter and color analyst for ESPN college basketball, as well as NBA on ESPN and NBA on ABC games. Burke handles both men's and women's basketball at the college and pro level. She is primarily an analyst on Big East games for men's college basketball, often teaming...
isn't there.
United States Central Command
The United States Central Command is a theater-level Unified Combatant Command unit of the U.S. armed forces, established in 1983 under the operational control of the U.S. Secretary of Defense...
in Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
for Outside the Lines
Outside the Lines
Outside the Lines, or also referred to as OTL, is an American television program on ESPN that looks "outside the lines" and examines critical issues in American sports on and off the field of play....
, SportsCenter
SportsCenter
SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
and ESPNEWS
ESPNEWS
ESPNEWS , launched on November 1, 1996, is a 24-hour-a-day sports news television channel...
. She went back into the war zone in 2004 when ESPN took SportsCenter on the road and broadcast live from Camp Arifjan
Camp Arifjan
Camp Arifjan is an Army installation located in the State of Kuwait which accommodates elements of the US Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Corps and US Coast Guard. The camp was funded and built by the government of Kuwait. Military personnel from the United Kingdom, Australia, Romania and Poland are...
, a U.S. Army base in Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
.
On December 1, 2007, Salters was covering the Big 12 Championship Game at the Alamodome
Alamodome
The Alamodome is a domed 65,000 seat, multi-purpose facility that is primarily used as a football/basketball stadium and convention center in San Antonio, Texas, U.S...
in San Antonio, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. In one of her sideline reports during the first half she mentioned Missouri
Missouri Tigers football
The Missouri Tigers football team represents the University of Missouri in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team has competed in the North Division of the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996...
quarterback Chase Daniel's
Chase Daniel
William Chase Daniel is an American football quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was signed by the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2009...
frustration due to Missouri being stymied by the Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
defense, saying Daniel was "upset" and "fuming." However, a technical blunder caused Salters' microphone to be broadcast over the stadium's PA system. The camera shifted to Chase Daniel, who was visibly perplexed and curious as to who was talking about him and why it was being heard throughout the entire stadium. ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
TV announcer Brent Musburger
Brent Musburger
Brent Woody Musburger is an American sportscaster for the ESPN and ABC television networks. Formerly with CBS Sports and one of the original members of their legendary program The NFL Today, Musburger has covered NASCAR, NBA, MLB, NCAA football and basketball games. Musburger has also served as a...
then mused, "Lisa was talking to a lot more folks than she anticipated." The likely explanation was that Salters' mic was to have been hooked up to the PA for the upcoming halftime contest, and her mic was inadvertently left on the PA after a pregame sound check.
Prior to joining ESPN, Salters served as a Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
-based correspondent for ABC News from 1995 to 2000 and provided news coverage for World News Tonight
World News with Charles Gibson
ABC World News is the flagship daily evening program of ABC News, the news division of the American Broadcasting Company television network in the United States. Currently, the weekday editions are anchored by Diane Sawyer and the weekend editions are anchored by David Muir. The program has been...
with Peter Jennings
Peter Jennings
Peter Charles Archibald Ewart Jennings, CM was a Canadian American journalist and news anchor. He was the sole anchor of ABC's World News Tonight from 1983 until his death in 2005 of complications from lung cancer...
and other ABC News broadcasts. At ABC News, she covered the Oklahoma City bombing
Oklahoma City bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
trials, the Matthew Shepard
Matthew Shepard
Matthew Wayne Shepard was a student at the University of Wyoming who was tortured and murdered near Laramie, Wyoming, in October 1998...
murder, the crash of TWA Flight 800
TWA Flight 800
Trans World Airlines Flight 800 , a Boeing 747-131, exploded and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near East Moriches, New York, on July 17, 1996, at about 20:31 EDT, 12 minutes after takeoff, killing all 230 persons on board. At the time, it was the second-deadliest U.S...
, and both the civil and criminal O.J. Simpson trials.
Personal
Born in 1966 and a native of King of Prussia, PennsylvaniaKing of Prussia, Pennsylvania
King of Prussia is a census-designated place in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 19,936. The community took its name in the 18th century from a local tavern named the King of Prussia Inn, which was named after...
, Salters graduated from Penn State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism. She played guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
for the Lady Lions basketball team from 1986–87, where she holds the distinction of being the shortest player in school history at 5' 2".
Salters is a graduate of Upper Merion Area High School
Upper Merion Area High School
Upper Merion Area High School is a high school of the Upper Merion Area School District located at 435 Crossfield Road in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania....
in King of Prussia, where she is a member of the school’s Hall of Fame. She is single and lives in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. Salters is a cousin of former University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
and Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
star running back Tony Dorsett
Tony Dorsett
Anthony "Tony" Drew Dorsett is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.-Early years:...
.
External links
- Lisa Salter's ESPN Bio
- "The Big Picture: Ex-Penn Stater gets war story for ESPN", Pittsburgh Post-GazettePittsburgh Post-GazetteThe Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
, April 3, 2003 - Main Line Celebrity Golf Alliance hosts 10th Annual Golf Tournament
- ESPN Names Magazine Show ‘E:60’