Latinas in Sports Media Are Turning the Mic Into a Megaphone for Change
OK, let’s set the scene: You’re watching the big game. Maybe it’s the Super Bowl, maybe it’s El Clásico, perhaps it’s the World Cup. The camera cuts to the sideline reporter or the studio host, and boom. There she is. A fierce Latina, mic in hand, outfit on point, breaking down plays like she’s been doing it since birth.
For decades, sports media was basically a boys’ club, lots of bro energy, ill-fitting suits, and the kind of takes that made you want to throw your chancla at the TV. But those days? Over. Latinas are on your screens now, and we’re not just talking sports. We’re rewriting the rules, calling out the bad calls, and doing it all while serving looks.
Who runs this sideline? These Latinas
MJ Acosta-Ruiz:
If you don’t know MJ, you’d better catch up. The first Afro-Latina to anchor on NFL Network, she’s bringing Dominican-Dutch fabulousness to football fans everywhere. MJ’s not just reading stats. She’s breaking down plays, calling out the action, and reminding folks that women can know football just as well as the guys in the room. And can we talk about her style?! She’s out here giving us edge, glam, and sports nerd all in one.
Ana Jurka
She’s NBC Universo’s fútbol goddess. Honduran Ana has been covering everything from the World Cup to the Premier League, all while keeping it muy real for the bilingual audience. She’ll hit you with expert analysis in English or Spanish, and she does it with that Latina energy that makes you feel like you’re watching the game with your coolest prima.
But let’s not forget Latinas who played are now telling the stories
Mariana Gutiérrez
She’s a former soccer player who now heads Liga MX Femenil’s operations. And when she’s on a broadcast or panel, you listen. Mariana’s insight into the growth of women’s fútbol in Mexico is unmatched, and she’s become a powerful voice pushing the sport forward.
Monica Gonzalez
Former captain of Mexico’s women’s national team, now a commentator and analyst who isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. Monica’s been a trailblazer on ESPN, bringing her player experience to the mic and mentoring the next gen of women in sports.
Why Latinas are the future of sports media
Let’s keep it 100: Sports aren’t just stats and scores. They are culture. They’re family. They’re the Sunday carne asada with the game on in the background, the WhatsApp group chat blowing up after a last-minute goal, the tears when your team wins (or loses. We’re dramatic, what can we say?).
And who better to capture that than Latinas?
We get the audience. We know what it means to grow up watching fútbol at abuelito’s house or debating plays over tamales. Latinas in sports media don’t just report, they relate.
We bring the bilingual heat. Switching between English and Spanish mid-sentence? No problem. These women connect with fans on both sides of the language divide and make sports more accessible for everybody.
We’re challenging stereotypes. Newsflash: liking sports doesn’t make us “one of the guys.” It makes us us. And these women are showing the world that you can love sports, be feminine, be fierce, and know your stuff.
Where the magic happens
So, where can you catch these queens holding court?
- NFL Network + Total Access: MJ is your girl for all things football — Super Bowl, draft, and beyond.
- NBC Universo + Telemundo Deportes: Ana Jurka keeps fútbol fans fed with everything from the Champions League to the World Cup.
- ESPN Deportes: Monica Gonzalez brings the analysis, passion, and occasional shade.
The glow-up is real
What we’re seeing right now is just the start. The next wave of Latinas is coming, mics in hand, ready to claim their space. While we’ve been making headlines, hosting shows, and breaking down plays with style and skill, there’s still a lot of ground to cover.
And that’s where DRAFTED comes in.
Launched in 2023 by Karina Martinez and Jennifer Yepez-Blundell, DRAFTED is the first media company built specifically to center Latinas in sports. Not just on camera, but behind the scenes, in the boardrooms, and the fan base. These two trailblazers saw the lack of visibility and said, “Nah, we got this.” And they built something we’ve never had before: a culture-driven platform that uplifts, connects, and creates real opportunities for Latinas across the sports world.
DRAFTED is about shifting the entire game. It’s about showing up loud, proud, and in full color. It’s about making sure the next generation doesn’t have to fight to be seen because they’ll already know they belong.
