Who is Cindy Brunson?
Cindy Brunson is an American sports broadcaster and play-by-play announcer. She became widely known after joining ESPN in September 1999 as an ESPNEWS anchor.
During her ESPN career, Brunson became a SportsCenter anchor and worked across a variety of sports programming. Washington State University notes that she spent 13 years at ESPN before moving to Arizona following her husband’s career opportunity.
Her broadcasting résumé includes women’s basketball, men’s basketball, football, softball, WNBA coverage and studio work.
She has also become an important figure in women’s sports broadcasting. Athletes Unlimited described Brunson as the first woman of color to become the primary voice for a professional sports league when she took on play-by-play duties for its basketball competition.
Cindy Brunson and ESPN
Brunson joined ESPN in 1999 after working in local television news and sports.
According to her Washington State University biography, she previously worked at KATU in Portland, Oregon, where she covered the Portland Trail Blazers, the University of Oregon and Oregon State football and basketball. Before that, she worked at KHQ-TV in Spokane.
At ESPN, Brunson became one of the recognizable anchors associated with SportsCenter. She also hosted and co-hosted other ESPN programs, including First Take, SportsNation and ESPN Radio programming.
Brunson officially left ESPN in December 2012 after co-anchoring her final SportsCenter broadcast with Bram Weinstein.
Is Cindy Brunson back at ESPN?
The answer requires some clarification.
Cindy Brunson is not simply returning to ESPN as a full-time SportsCenter anchor. Her broadcasting career has expanded across multiple networks and leagues since she left ESPN in 2012.
However, she has continued to appear in ESPN-related sports coverage and remains active as a broadcaster. Washington State University lists her work with ESPN Radio among her broadcasting roles.
In 2026, the major confirmed return is with Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball, where Brunson and Sheryl Swoopes returned to lead the broadcast team for the league’s fifth championship season. The league’s games were distributed nationally through ESPN and the WNBA App.
Therefore, searches asking whether “Cindy Brunson is back” may be referring to her return to prominent basketball broadcasting rather than a permanent return to her former SportsCenter position.
How old is Cindy Brunson?
Cindy Brunson was born on June 10, 1975, in Tacoma, Washington. That makes her 51 years old in 2026.
She attended Curtis Senior High School in University Place, Washington, before graduating from Washington State University in 1996 with a degree related to broadcast communications.
Her career began in local television before she made the move to ESPN at the end of the 1990s.
Cindy Brunson ethnicity and race
Questions about Cindy Brunson’s ethnicity and race appear frequently online, but publicly available sources are inconsistent.
Some biographical websites describe Brunson as White, while another commonly cited biography describes her ethnicity as biracial.
More importantly, Athletes Unlimited has publicly described Brunson as a woman of color in discussing her historic role as a professional sports play-by-play broadcaster.
Because reliable primary sources do not clearly establish a detailed ethnic background, it is better not to assign a specific ancestry or racial identity beyond what Brunson or authoritative organizations have publicly confirmed.
Who is Cindy Brunson’s husband?
Cindy Brunson is married to Steve Berthiaume, another prominent sports broadcaster.
Berthiaume is best known for his work as a baseball play-by-play announcer and his association with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The couple married in June 2009.
Their professional careers have often overlapped with major sports broadcasting organizations.
ESPN even featured Brunson and Berthiaume in a 2009 piece about favorite sports souvenirs. The article noted that Brunson cherished a baseball her future husband caught on their first date.
Cindy Brunson and Steve Berthiaume’s career move
The couple’s careers became closely connected when Berthiaume accepted a position with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Washington State University reports that Brunson moved to Arizona in support of her husband’s career in 2013. She subsequently worked with Fox Sports Arizona and later became involved with Pac-12 Networks.
That move helped Brunson build the next stage of her career rather than ending her broadcasting journey after ESPN.
What does Cindy Brunson do now?
Brunson has developed into a versatile play-by-play broadcaster.
Her work has included:
- Women’s basketball
- Men’s basketball
- College football
- Softball
- WNBA coverage
- Studio hosting
- Radio
- Professional women’s basketball
Washington State University identifies Brunson as a play-by-play voice for Athletes Unlimited Professional Women’s Basketball and notes her work with the Phoenix Mercury, Fox and ESPN Radio.
Her career has therefore moved well beyond the traditional SportsCenter anchor role.
Cindy Brunson and Athletes Unlimited
One of the most significant developments in Brunson’s career has been her work with Athletes Unlimited.
In 2022, she made history as the primary play-by-play voice for a professional sports league, becoming a prominent voice for women’s basketball.
That role continued into 2026.
Athletes Unlimited announced in January 2026 that Brunson and Sheryl Swoopes would return to lead its broadcast team for the fifth straight championship season.
This is particularly significant because it demonstrates that Brunson remains an active and influential broadcaster more than a decade after leaving ESPN.
Cindy Brunson’s broadcasting career after ESPN
Leaving ESPN did not mean Brunson disappeared from sports television.
After moving to Arizona, she joined the Diamondbacks’ broadcasting operation and later worked with Fox Sports Arizona and Pac-12 Networks.
She became especially associated with basketball play-by-play, while also continuing to cover other sports.
Her work has helped challenge traditional expectations about who can serve as the primary voice of professional sports. Her career is particularly notable in women’s sports, where she has taken on prominent play-by-play roles.
Why is Cindy Brunson still popular?
Brunson’s popularity comes from more than her time at ESPN.
She has spent decades working in sports media and has demonstrated the ability to move between studio hosting, sideline reporting, analysis and play-by-play.
Her career also spans an important period in the growth of women’s sports broadcasting. Her Athletes Unlimited role helped establish her as one of the prominent women working behind the microphone in professional basketball.
Her continued involvement in major basketball broadcasts shows that her career remains active.
Cindy Brunson quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Cindy Brunson |
| Born | June 10, 1975 |
| Birthplace | Tacoma, Washington |
| Age in 2026 | 51 |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Sports broadcaster |
| Former ESPN role | SportsCenter/ESPNEWS anchor |
| ESPN career | 1999–2012 |
| Husband | Steve Berthiaume |
| Marriage | June 2009 |
| College | Washington State University |
| Current broadcasting work | Athletes Unlimited and other sports coverage |
The birth date, ESPN career history and education are supported by biographical and Washington State University sources.
Final thoughts
Cindy Brunson’s career is much bigger than her years at ESPN. She became a recognizable SportsCenter personality after joining ESPN in 1999, but her departure in 2012 opened the door to a new chapter in Arizona and beyond.
Today, Brunson continues to work as a respected sports broadcaster, particularly in basketball. Her 2026 return to the Athletes Unlimited broadcast team confirms that she remains an important voice in women’s sports.
As for the most searched questions, Brunson is 51 years old in 2026, is married to fellow broadcaster Steve Berthiaume, and has a long-standing connection to ESPN. While she has not returned as a full-time SportsCenter anchor, her continued ESPN-related and basketball broadcasting work means fans can still hear her on major sports coverage.
FAQs
Is Cindy Brunson back at ESPN?
Cindy Brunson is not confirmed as a full-time returning SportsCenter anchor. However, she remains active in sports broadcasting, including work connected with ESPN and the 2026 Athletes Unlimited basketball season.
How old is Cindy Brunson?
She was born June 10, 1975, making her 51 years old in 2026.
Who is Cindy Brunson married to?
She is married to sports broadcaster Steve Berthiaume. They married in June 2009.
When did Cindy Brunson leave ESPN?
Brunson left ESPN in December 2012 after co-anchoring her final SportsCenter broadcast.
What is Cindy Brunson’s ethnicity?
Public biographies give conflicting descriptions of her ethnicity. Athletes Unlimited has described her as a woman of color, but a specific ethnic ancestry should not be assumed without a reliable primary source.
What does Cindy Brunson do now?
She continues to work in sports broadcasting, with play-by-play and other roles across basketball and other sports. In 2026, she returned to the Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball broadcast team.
Leave a Reply