Linda Cohn

Linda Cohn is recognized as a significant figure in American sports broadcasting. Cohn made sportscasting history by becoming the first full-time U.S. female sports anchor on a national radio network when she was hired by ABC. Her career began in Patchogue, New York, where she worked as a news anchor, writer, and sports reporter for WALK-AM/FM. She later joined SportsChannel America as a reporter and served as a sports anchor at KIRO-TV in Seattle before joining ESPN, where she established a long-standing career in sports journalism.

Cohn served as a SportsCenter anchor from her joining ESPN until her retirement in 2026, and is the longest-tenured anchor in the program's history. She is recognized as one of the first women to take on full-time hosting duties at the network. Throughout her tenure at ESPN, Cohn has hosted, reported, commentated, conducted interviews, written, and provided play-by-play commentary. She contributed play-by-play for ESPN's coverage of the WNBA and participated in NHL studio shows. As a former collegiate ice hockey goalie at Oswego State University, Cohn was a frequent contributor to ESPN's hockey coverage as both host and reporter.

Cohn has hosted more than 5,500 editions of "SportsCenter," the most by any anchor. She was inducted into the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame and appeared in several of ESPN's "This Is SportsCenter" commercials. In addition to her on-air work, Cohn authored the memoir "Cohn-Head: A No-Holds-Barred Account of Breaking Into the Boys' Club," detailing her experiences in sports media and her work on SportsCenter. She also hosts the podcast "Listen Closely to Linda Cohn."

Cohn announced her retirement from ESPN after 34 years with the network. She has stated that she does not view this as the conclusion of her professional career. Cohn has expressed pride in her role as a pioneering woman in sports media and values the legacy she leaves for future generations of broadcasters. Her decades of work, record-setting tenure, and Hall of Fame recognition have established her as a defining voice in the history of sports television.