Elle Duncan to part ways with ESPN, moving to Netflix: Sources

Elle Duncan, a familiar face on ESPN’s coverage and network events, is making a big move to Netflix to be at the forefront of the streaming service’s sports programming. Sources close to the decision shared with The Athletic that she and ESPN will be parting ways completely.

While there was some hope that Duncan might stay with ESPN as the lead host for women’s basketball, it seems that option is off the table now. ESPN has chosen to go in a different direction, although there is no hard feelings between Duncan and the network. In fact, she is reportedly a favorite of ESPN’s chairman, Jimmy Pitaro.

Duncan has been a key figure for ESPN, hosting various events like the WNBA Finals, women’s Final Four, and daily SportsCenter. She has also been involved in the network’s advertising presentations and corporate events. However, her new venture with Netflix presents exciting opportunities for her to branch out into new projects.

Netflix has been expanding its sports programming, with rights to major events like Christmas Day NFL games, MLB events, and the Women’s World Cup in 2027, in addition to other upcoming content. Duncan’s deal with Netflix includes a significant raise from her ESPN salary and allows her to work fewer hours, giving her more flexibility to explore new opportunities.

While Duncan may still make appearances on other networks or platforms as part of her agreement with Netflix, the streaming service will have the first right of refusal if any conflicts arise. Her current contract with ESPN runs through the end of the year, so there is a possibility we may see her on ESPN in the coming month. However, Netflix might try to expedite her transition to make her debut appearance this Christmas.

Netflix’s growing presence in sports programming is positioning it as a competitor to traditional networks like ESPN, highlighting the changing landscape of media consumption. It will be exciting to see how Duncan’s move to Netflix shapes the future of sports entertainment on streaming platforms.