History will be made when the Toronto Raptors host the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, March 24.
For the first time in NBA history, women will hold every on-air role on the TSN broadcast, marking the league's first-ever all-female broadcasting team.
Meghan McPeak will handle play-by-play duties with Kia Nurse of the Canadian National Team and WNBA's Phoenix Mercury joining her in the booth. Kayla Grey will handle sideline duties while Kate Beirness and Amy Audibert will host the pregame, halftime and postgame show.
March 24th, 2021, we watch history. #InternationalWomensDay | #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/fhJyT3dqQx
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) March 8, 2021
The game will tip-off at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time on TSN, as the Raptors try and put an end to their nine-game losing streak against a surging Nuggets squad that has won eight of their last 10 games.
“We wanted to highlight the contributions that women make individually – across so many broadcasts – by bringing them all together,” stated John Wiggins, Raptors vice president of organizational diversity and inclusion. “Yes, we’re making a point. We hope this leads to more recognition of the many roles women play in pro sports.
“And we especially hope that one of the takeaways from this is for girls at home who see Meghan or Amy or Kayla, and think – hey, I could do that. There’s a place for me in sports.”
The broadcasters will participate in virtual events to share their experiences and impart advice in front of young fans and community groups, as well as a virtual panel with students from Ryerson’s Sport Business programs. Nurse will also participate in a contest asking Huddle Up Bullying Prevention Program students in elementary and high school to share their female role models, with the winner receiving a virtual class visit.
To learn more about each of the broadcasters, take a look at some fast facts on each of the women below.
Meghan McPeak
Play-by-play broadcaster for WNBA's Washington Mystics, NBA G League's Capital City Go-Go
- In 2015, became the first female play-by-play broadcaster in NBA G League history when she was hired by Raptors 905
- In 2018, became the first female play-by-play broadcaster in 30 years to call an NBA game when she did play-by-play for a Washington Wizards vs. Detroit Pistons preseason game.
- in 2018, also announced as play-by-play broadcaster for Washington Wizards' G League affiliate Capital City Go-Go for their inaugural season
Kia Nurse
WNBA player for Phoenix Mercury, Canadian National Team member, analyst for TSN
- Joined TSN in 2020 as a basketball analyst
- No. 10 overall pick in 2018 WNBA Draft
- WNBA All-Star with Phoenix Mercury
- Two-time Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) champion
- WNBL Most Valuable Player
- Two-time NCAA Champion with UConn Huskies
- Women's Basketball Coaches Association and American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year
- American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year
- Two-time Gold medalist with Canadian National Team at FIBA Women's AmeriCup
- One-time Gold medalist with Canadian National Team at Pan American games
Kayla Grey
Anchor for SportsCentre, reporter for TSN
- First-ever Black female host of SportsCentre
- Host of Sports AM by TSN on Quibi
- Reporter for 2019 Toronto Raptors NBA championship run
- Hosts Biosteel All-Canadian Basketball Games showcase for country's top high school basketball players
- Hosted several 'The Amazing Race' shows in Canada
Kate Beirness
Anchor for SportsCentre, Raptors sideline reporter
- Host of SportsCentre since 2013
- In 2014, alongside Natasha Staniszewski, became SportsCentre's first-ever female anchor team
- Hosted several marquee events for TSN such as: Canadian Football League, Grey Cup, NBA Draft, March Madness, Biosteel All-Canadian Basketball Game and the Olympics
Amy Audibert
Analyst for NBA G League's Raptors 905, WNBA's Atlanta Dream
- Raptors 905 and Atlanta Dream colour analyst
- Host of Locked on Women's Basketball (LockedOnWBB) podcast
- Calls Raptors games on TSN 1050 Toronto
- Played college basketball at the University of Miami
- Served as an assistant coach at Brock University (ON) and Gulliver Prep (FL)