Shae Peppler

Shae Peppler Cornette established herself as a dynamic voice in sports broadcasting during her two years as a field reporter and weekend sports anchor for WFLD (Fox-32) in Chicago, where she notably served as an on-site correspondent covering Chicago Bears games. After graduating with a degree in broadcast journalism from Indiana University Bloomington, Cornette gained foundational experience through internships with MTV Networks and Showtime Networks, and as a production assistant for CBS’s Chicago Bears coverage. Her early career in Chicago also included contributions to the Big Ten Network, ‘Chicago Huddle’ on WLS-TV (ABC 7), and appearances on ‘Morning Dose’ on WGN-TV (the CW). She further demonstrated her versatility with Campus Insiders (later Stadium) and as co-host of David Kaplan’s talk show on WMVP (ESPN 1000), solidifying her reputation across various Chicago sports media platforms.

Her career at ESPN continued its upward trajectory with her appointment in October 2021 as co-host of the relaunched daily ESPN+ TV show, ‘SportsNation.’ In this role, she showcased her unique ability to engage audiences with insightful commentary, quick wit, and a fresh perspective on the day’s biggest sports stories. Her career progression culminated in October 2025, when she was named the new co-host of ESPN’s highly popular daily debate show, ‘First Take,’ joining acclaimed analyst Stephen A. Smith and succeeding Molly Qerim. In this prominent national position, Cornette leverages her extensive knowledge, sharp interviewing skills, and charismatic delivery to shape national sports conversations and drive audience engagement daily across one of ESPN’s most watched programs, affirming her status as a leading figure in sports media.