If you were watching ESPN’s coverage during the NBA Finals, you probably noticed a new face. Alongside former NBA champ Iman Shumpert on the digital pregame show Hoop Streams was Vanessa Richardson, a sharp host whose journey to the NBA’s biggest stage is a story of hard work and passion. Her new job is just the latest, cool step in a journey that started in a small Indiana town and now has her right by the court at the biggest games.

The new show has obviously been a huge hit, getting almost a million views for its first game alone. But who exactly is Vanessa? It’s time to find out.

Who is Vanessa Richardson? 

Vanessa Richardson isn’t just a great sports reporter and host—she’s a natural storyteller. She currently works as the TV sideline reporter for the Houston Rockets and helps with national NBA coverage on ESPN. But her impact goes way beyond game scores. She’s known for finding amazing human-interest stories, the kind that stick with you long after the game ends.

Her approach to Hoop Streams perfectly shows her modern, fan-friendly ideas. Forget the boring, old pregame shows. Richardson wants to build something totally new, something real. “This is really a free-flowing, conversational pregame show,” Richardson told Chron. She made it clear: “We’re not trying to be like NBA Countdown, it’s its own thing.” Her co-host and producers totally agree. Jonathan Luna, a producer, put it simply: “Vanessa and Iman have fully embraced the idea that we’re not just previewing games, we’re tapping into the culture and energy around them.”

Her excitement for this big national platform practically jumps off her Instagram. She’s given fans a close, behind-the-scenes look at the NBA Finals. In one post, she just wrote, “Enjoying every second. ☺️,” and showed a glimpse of her awesome courtside view. And yes, she even showed off her “Game 1 look,” a fun nod to the show’s focus on fashion. She and the very stylish Shumpert jokingly admit they “have to bring the heat” when it comes to their outfits.

And it’s not just a joke—Shumpert himself explained their real philosophy behind those courtside looks. He recalled how, for their on-air appearances, or ‘walks,’ as he called them, they always aimed for genuine style. “Vanessa Richardson, first shout out Vanessa Richardson… they like, ‘we want to do a walk.’ So me and Vanessa do a little walk, but I’m like, I wouldn’t come to a game, like I would come a certain way,” he explained.

Vanessa Richardson’s career highlights

Richardson’s resume isn’t just a list of jobs—it shows her amazing ability to do many things and her endless hard work. This started long before she graduated from the University of Indianapolis in 2017. Imagine this: while still a student, she was already working professionally. She was the in-arena host for the Indiana Pacers and a sports writer for the national “Bob and Tom Show.”

“Going to the University of Indianapolis was the key to my success,” she recalls. “As a 19-year-old freshman, I was in the Colts’ and Pacers’ locker room interviewing players.” Talk about getting started early!

After graduating from UIndy, Richardson landed her first big gig as a reporter and anchor for WLWT-TV, an NBC affiliate in Cincinnati. At WLWT, she covered everything from high school football to morning traffic, and even the Bengals and Reds. Basically, her duties were whatever needed to be done. Richardson credits former Indiana University star and Pacers’ TV analyst Quinn Buckner for pushing her out of her comfort zone.

“I didn’t know if I would leave (Indianapolis) or not and Quinn Buckner pulled me aside and said, ‘If you want to be a true journalist, go where nobody knows you and grow as a reporter,’” Richardson said. “In Cincinnati, I was doing morning traffic and news and came back and did sports. That was an awesome first job. But I wanted to do sports full time.”

That incredible early start pushed her into her first full-time job in Cincinnati. There, she learned the ropes covering both news and sports for the local NBC channel. From there, she made a smart move to Houston. She quickly became a known and respected voice in the city’s lively sports world. She anchored for the local NBC channel, reporting on everything from the Texans’ football games to the big drama of the World Series.

Later, she even hosted her own show on an ESPN Radio station. Today, her main job is being the TV sideline reporter for the Houston Rockets on the Space City Home Network. She also leads their weekly show, “Rockets All Access.”

Her talent for finding great stories really shined in one of the Rockets’ most memorable interviews last season. After Dillon Brooks played incredibly, tying a team record for three-pointers, and Amen Thompson won the game with a last-second shot, Richardson was right there, interviewing both of them courtside. Brooks’ now-famous “I feel like Kobe” moment? That was gold—a perfect example of her skill in catching the pure, real joy of a big win. As she later posted on Instagram, it was “one of the most fun interviews of my career.”

What makes Vanessa Richardson remarkable?

What truly makes Vanessa Richardson stand out is how many different things she can do. Whether she’s smoothly handling a live interview on the sideline, taking charge of a studio show, or leading a two-hour radio broadcast, she’s equally comfortable. This skill across many platforms is rare and super valuable in an industry that’s always changing. As she explained to the Tribune-Star, “The name of the game in media now is versatility. So, I’m really proud of the fact that radio, TV, digital entities are all things that I can do.”

Her recent trip back to Indiana for the Finals wasn’t just another job. It was a powerful, full-circle moment—the result of years of non-stop hard work. She openly admits the journey has been tough. “Everybody sees what you’re doing now,” she says. “They don’t see you shooting high school football games and waking up at 2 a.m. to do morning traffic. You have to have faith because this is a grind of an industry.”

Beyond her technical skills, she’s highly respected for her deep, human approach to covering athletes. She purposely digs into the stories behind the stats. This style has made her a trusted voice among both players and fans.

Her return to her home state for the NBA Finals was more than just a career high point—it was a heartfelt nod to the person who first got her interested in sports. “It’s surreal to think eight years ago I was the girl on the jumbotron for the Pacers and now I’m hosting a pregame show for the NBA Finals,” she shared. “I became a sports reporter because of my late father. He would take me to games in my hometown all the time. It’s so cool to be back here.”