Softball isn’t the only thing returning to the Olympics this summer. Former Olympian and current ESPN broadcaster, Jessica Mendoza, will make her return as well, but in a slightly different way.
Mendoza played on the U.S. Women’s Softball National team and brought home a gold medal in 2004 and silver in 2008, which was the last time softball was part of the games.
When her time as a ballplayer came to an end, Mendoza shifted gears and began working as a broadcaster. With ESPN, Mendoza became the first female in-game analyst for Monday Night Baseball and Sunday Night Baseball.
Summer 2020 is looking busy for Mendoza, as she will head to Tokyo to be an on-sight reporter for the Olympics and continue as the lead analyst for ESPN during the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma.
Recently signing to a multi-year extension with ESPN, Mendoza will also become the first female to be a solo analyst for the MLB game telecasts.
Mendoza’s love for the game never stopped, even when her opportunities to play did. Every day, she continues to make history as a female sports broadcaster, tearing down the stereotype that it is only a man’s job.
Women in Baseball 