Chris Mckendry

Chris McKendry made history as the first woman to serve as a television sports news anchor in the Washington D.C. market during her tenure at WJLA-TV, an ABC affiliate, from 1994 to 1996. Her groundbreaking work was recognized with a regional Sports Emmy Award in the Best Sports Segment Category for ‘NFL 101’ in June 1996. Prior to this, McKendry established her broadcasting foundation with roles including a producer for Fox News Service in Washington D.C.

from 1992 to 1993, an update anchor for USA Network (1993–1994) and Newsport (1994), and a sports anchor/reporter at All-News Channel/Conus in Minneapolis (1993–1994). In 1996, she further expanded her on-air experience as a sideline and feature reporter for TNT and TBS during the NBA Playoffs. In 1996, McKendry joined ESPN, first anchoring the acclaimed SportsCenter on July 27. She played an instrumental role in the launch of ESPNEWS, contributing to the 24-hour sports news network before returning to SportsCenter to co-host weekend morning and weekday 6 p.m.

A significant career evolution occurred on March 31, 2016, when McKendry anchored her final SportsCenter broadcast, marking her transition into a dedicated role covering Grand Slam tennis for ESPN. This strategic move solidified her position as the on-site host for ESPN’s comprehensive Grand Slam tennis coverage, which includes the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. This dedicated focus built upon her extensive, long-standing involvement with tennis broadcasting, reinforcing her status as a leading and authoritative voice in sports journalism for these premier global tournaments, a role she continues to hold today.