'LOOKING GOOD'
ESPN’s Courtney Cronin told ‘you need a raise’ as analyst wows with ‘beautiful’ outfit after replacing Stephen A. Smith
The First Take host began her rapidly-rising media career as a newspaper reporter
ESPN star Courtney Cronin turned heads with a stunning outfit after stepping on for Stephen A. Smith on Friday's show.
Cronin wowed fans with a sky blue dress and high heels as she continued her temporary stint on ESPN's flagship sports debate program.
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"Love it. Have a great show! You look beautiful in that dress," one fan said.
"You need a raise Courtney," another fan said.
"Looking good, Courtney!" a third fan noted.
Cronin staged a "takeover" of First Take with fellow Around the Horn star Clinton Yates on Friday.
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Regular trio Stephen A., Shannon Sharpe, and host Molly Qerim have been missing from the taping once again.
And Cronin has impressed First Take viewers throughout the week with her takes on the Olympics and the upcoming NFL season.
The sports broadcaster grew up in Glenview, Illinois, and graduated with degrees in journalism and Spanish from Indiana University.
She started at The Clarion-Ledger as a high school sports reporter, and then joined the Mercury News before she worked up to become an NFL team reporter for ESPN.
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Cronin reported on the Golden State Warriors, Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, and San Jose Sharks,
Since 2017 she has called ESPN home, working as a host and reporter.
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She covered the Minnesota Vikings before assuming the Chicago Bears NFL Nation reporter role in 2022.
Cronin's rise has continued ever since, anchoring SportsCenter and hosting/reporting ESPN Radio, First Take, and Around the Horn.
She regularly appears on ESPN Radio in Chicago, delivering news and analysis as the station's Bears' insider.
First Take fans begged for Cronin to be given a more prominent role at ESPN after also filling in earlier this summer.
The debate show has enjoyed a stunning year, with ratings "skyrocketing" since the arrival of NFL Hall of Famer Sharpe.
And following the success of last week's live show, the crew are back on the road next week.
First Take viewing figures
First Take went from strength to strength under the guidance of Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim last year.
The weekday ESPN debate show averaged 496,000 viewers in 2023 - making it the most-watched year in program history.
Its December average of 611,000 was a 24% year-on-year increase compared to 2022.
The show also reported more than 250 million views on YouTube.
First Take was helped by the addition of Shannon Sharpe alongside Smith and Qerim after he left Fox Sports' Undisputed.
Molly and Stephen A. will be reunited at the Fanatics Fest in New York City.
The stellar duo will be joined by Chris "Mad Dog" Russo and NFL analyst Ryan Clark for a special show.
It will broadcast from a special set at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City.
First Take will be one of several sports shows to record live from Fanatics Fest.
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Others include Clark's The Pivot and The Adam Schefter Podcast.
NFL legend Tom Brady, former New York Giants linebacker Michael Strahan, and NBA icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will also be in attendance.