StorytellHER

Since performing her first cheerleading routine at the age of four, Arielle “Ari” Chambers (Communication ’14) has been motivating and inspiring others. Now a multimedia journalist, host and on-air commentator for Andscape and ESPN, she has built a career – and a community – promoting women’s sports and highlighting female athletes. 

“Ari is immediately recognizable as someone who is full of energy and enthusiasm,” said Erin Kane, vice president of Women’s Sports at Excel Sports Management. “The qualities that made her an amazing cheerleader at NC State – her warmth, determination and encouragement of others – make her an incredible influencer, journalist and all-around cheerleader for women’s sports.”

Every year, the NC State Alumni Association recognizes members of the Wolfpack who exemplify the university’s Think and Do philosophy – those who have made an extraordinary impact in their field, in their community and on their alma mater. For her trailblazing approach to sports journalism and tireless advocacy and community engagement efforts, Chambers was recently honored with an Outstanding Young Alumni award.

Fast Break

Chambers graduated from NC State in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, focusing on media studies. While in school, she served as press office intern for Gov. Bev Perdue and as assistant producer for PBS North Carolina, among other positions. After graduation, the Raleigh native joined the editorial staff of the New York City-based design and culture magazine Nu-Modé. But it was her next position in in-game entertainment for major sports leagues such as the NBA, NHL and the WNBA that opened her eyes to the challenges faced by female athletes. From her vantage point inside the arena, she could clearly see the disparity in attention and resources given to men’s and women’s sports.  

She set out to change that, conducting and posting her own interviews with female athletes and building a social media following of fans hungry for more. In 2017, her short tweet, “The WNBA is so important,” rippled through the global sportsphere. The post – which later became the tagline for Twitter Sports’ WNBA 25th Anniversary campaign – went viral, igniting conversation about the sports coverage gender gap and highlighting the significant contributions made by the league’s athletes.  

Rewriting the Playbook

Chambers went on to launch media production company HighlightHER, which is now under the Bleacher Report umbrella, in 2019. The women’s sports platform shines a spotlight on female athletes from the worlds of tennis, softball, soccer, basketball and more and currently has over 280,000 followers on Instagram alone. 

She has created a vibrant space that amplifies the voices, stories and achievements of female athletes, fostering a sense of empowerment and community.

Erin Kane

Vice president of Women’s Sports at Excel Sports Management

“She has created a vibrant space that amplifies the voices, stories and achievements of female athletes, fostering a sense of empowerment and community,” said Kane. “[Her] engaging storytelling and unwavering commitment to representation serve as a powerful source of inspiration, showcasing the impact of resilience, education and determination in breaking barriers and creating positive change. Her advocacy for social justice, gender equality and racial equity in sports has sparked important conversations and driven meaningful change within the industry.” 

This year, she joined ESPN as a commentator across all women’s sports for linear, digital and ESPN’s Black content studio Andscape, with the 2024 WNBA Draft as her first assignment. Viewership of the event peaked at over 3 million, more than quadrupling the numbers from the previous year and proving that, yes, the WNBA is so important.

“We’re excited Ari is joining Andscape at this watershed moment for women’s sports. Her expertise as an emerging and trusted voice for women in sports will elevate our content in that space,” said Jason Aidoo, Vice President and Head of Andscape, said in an April press release. “Ari’s voice resonates with younger, multicultural and non-traditional sports fans. We will key into that at Andscape and across ESPN.”

Chambers has garnered many accolades for her work over the past few years. She received the 2022 Dawn Staley Excellence in Broadcasting Award and was included in Black Enterprise’s 40 Under 40 list (2023), the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the Sports category (2021) and Sports Illustrated’s 100 Influential Women in Sports list (2022), among others.

Hustle Play

Outside of her work covering sports, she gives back to the community by serving on the board of trustees for the nonprofit Women’s Sports Foundation and by touring the country as part of the Jr. NBA clinic, connecting with and inspiring young female athletes to stay in the game. She began serving in 2023 and continues as the National Brand Ambassador for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, an organization created in memory of the longtime head coach for the NC State Women’s Basketball team and dedicated to supporting cancer research and extending quality of life for cancer patients.

Ari has a huge heart, so she’s generous with her time and her resources.

Erin Kane

Vice president of Women’s Sports at Excel Sports Management

“Ari has a huge heart, so she’s generous with her time and her resources,” said Kane. “She’s loyal, thoughtful and full of energy. She never stops … I want everyone to know how hard Ari works to shine the spotlight on others and to give them a forum to tell their stories. She’s deeply committed to sharing women’s sports and the stories of the incredible athletes in those sports with the world.”

There is a long way to go toward achieving equity in sports and many conversations to be had about how to get there. But Chambers will keep shining her light on the talented, hard working women of sports, and serving as a role model in her own right – as an advocate, as a leader, as a storyteller.