Hannah Storm is an award-winning journalist, producer and director, and one of the most influential pioneers for women in sports broadcasting. Since joining ESPN in 2008, she has been a prominent anchor of the network’s flagship news and information program, SportsCenter, while also contributing to NFL Live, NBA Today, NBA Countdown and WNBA Countdown. Her work extends across ESPN and ABC platforms, including SC+ and Vibe Check on Disney+.
In addition to anchoring various editions of SportsCenter, Storm has co-hosted many of the network’s marquee events including: Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, the NBA Finals, the New York Marathon, Veteran’s Day, the Super Bowl, the NCAA College Football Playoff National Championship and the Rose Parade on ABC.
Storm also has conducted sit-down interviews with many prominent figures in the sports world from the NBA, NFL, NASCAR, MLB, college football and many other sports both in prime-time specials and on SportsCenter. In 2012 Storm co-anchored daredevil Nik Wallenda’s unprecedented live Niagara Falls tightrope walk for ABC News. She has also served as a correspondent for ABC’s 20/20, where she’s done pieces with Shark Tank stars Robert Herjavec and Kevin O’Leary.
Prior to ESPN, Storm handled premier events during her time at NBC Sports (2002-2007) and CNN (1989-1992), where she was the first female host of CNN Sports Tonight.
At NBC Sports, in addition to hosting four Olympics and the “NBA on NBC,” Storm became the first woman in American television history to solo host a broadcast network’s sports series when she hosted NBC’s Major League Baseball coverage, including three World Series.
Taking a break from sports broadcasting, Storm spent five years (2002-2007) at CBS News as host of “The Early Show,” covering numerous major news events ranging from the 2004 Presidential election to the Iraqi War and Hurricane Katrina. While at CBS News, Storm also hosted shows for the award-winning CBS newsmagazine, “48 Hours” and served as co-host for the network’s coverage of the Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Following a passion to direct and produce films, in 2008 Storm created Brainstormin’ Productions. She has produced, executive produced and directed several projects for ESPN and espnW including: Unmatched, for ESPN’s Peabody Award-winning “30 for 30” film series; Shaq & Dale, for the SEC Network/ESPN/ABC; Love & Payne, the inaugural espnW “Nine for IX” series short film; Swoopes, for ESPN’s award-winning “Nine for IX” series; and Moving the Goal, for espnW’s “HERoics” series, part of the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup coverage. Storm has also produced branded content for ESPN, espnW, and ESPN.com including: Journeys & Victories; Beyond Reason; Stories of Will; The Drive series; and The Journey series.
For her work, Storm received the 2013 Gracie Award® for Outstanding Web Site – Information/Entertainment for the Payge McMahon story, and the 2012 Gracie Award® for Outstanding Individual Achievement – Producer–Entertainment for the video “Iraq Vet takes on Mount Kilimanjaro,” both part of Journeys & Victories. Storm also was the recipient the 2011 Gracie Award® for Outstanding Producer-News/Non-fiction for Unmatched.
Storm’s contributions to broadcasting and storytelling have earned numerous accolades throughout her career. In 2026, she was inducted into the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) Silver Circle, recognizing her distinguished career and lasting contributions to the television industry. Her honors also include the 2025 Pat Summerall Award, multiple Gracie Awards recognizing excellence in journalism and production, the Lifetime Excellence in Sports Communication Award from Marist College and recognition from the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards. Her pioneering work and enduring influence have established her as one of the most respected voices in sports media.
A passionate advocate for the next generation of journalists, Storm has supported aspiring broadcasters through mentorship and internship opportunities, including initiatives connected to her alma mater, the University of Notre Dame, where she graduated in 1983. Following her diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer in 2024, she has also used her platform to advocate for women’s health, emphasizing the importance of early detection and regular screenings.
Born with a port wine stain underneath her left eye, Storm has become an advocate for children and parents of children suffering from debilitating and disfiguring vascular birthmarks. In 2008 she founded the Hannah Storm Foundation to raise awareness, fund treatment and provide educational information for vascular malformations. To date, children from the United States, China, the Republic of Georgia and Slovenia have received surgery funding through her foundation.
Storm has penned two books: “Notre Dame Inspirations,” and “Go Girl!: Raising Healthy, Confident and Successful Daughters through Sports.” For her work as an author, Literacy Advance of Houston honored her as a Champion of Literacy. She has also contributed to a variety of other books and written extensively for several magazines, including Cosmopolitan, Nick Jr., Family Circle, Child and Notre Dame Magazine.
She and her husband, NBC Sports broadcaster Dan Hicks, have three daughters.
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