Hornets fans, ready for a change? This is on-court related and is the end of the road for Ashley ShahAhmadi on Bally Sports, ending her 6-year tenure in the org. The close-knit bond has concluded as the host and sideline reporter dropped heartbreaking news of her departure. While finding her replacement might’ve seemed difficult, but the broadcasting crew acted swiftly. Soon, the name Shannon Spake sprang up as Ashley’s successor. But who is Spake? And does she have what it takes to glue the Charlotte fans to their screens?

A couple of hours ago, Bally Sports made it official on X that Shannon Spake will join their long-time commentator and Warriors ace Stephen Curry‘s father, Dell Curry, in the hot seats alongside play-by-play announcer, Eric Collins. After the news, fans wondered who the newest member was. If you are someone who doesn’t have enough knowledge about Spake, then don’t worry, we got you covered.

Spake has been in the sports industry for nearly two decades and while her voice might be new for the Hornets faithful, it is a voice Charlotteans recognize very well. During her time, she worked with Speed Channel, ESPN and Fox Sports.

She started her career in 2005 with NASCAR for a year before heading on to provide her services for ESPN in 2007, where Spake reported races for Nationwide and Sprint Cup. Right after that, she got married to Jerry McSorley in 2008.

Shannon has two kids with the CEO of Eye Tax Inc., twins Brady and Liam, born on the first day of 2010. Raising two boys and handling professional life could be tough for many, but the 48-year-old managed it beautifully. As a reward for her hard work and dedication, Fox Sports came knocking, prompting her to bid farewell to her 7-year journey with ESPN.

Shannon Spake’s journey: From Florida to Fox Sports and how the sportscaster achieved her dream of working “in a lot of different sports”

Born in Florida in 1976, little Spake had a dream of covering multiple sports. She aimed to embark on a journey, different from her fighter jet pilot father’s career. Her Scoliosis issue at an early age meant Shannon had to steer clear of contact sports. At 12 she had a corrective surgery for the issue and later on chose the next best thing after her active playing career, an on-air reporter. After making herself a prominent name in the sports commentary world through her spell with the ESPN, a new horizon opened to Spake in 2016.

Getting hired by Fox Sports on July 6 that year, the reporter was filled with excitement. As was seen in an interview with Awful Announcing, when she said, “Throughout my career, I’ve wanted to work in a lot of different sports and cover a lot of different things. This opportunity at Fox is absolutely that, 100%. It was just way too good. For me to be able to continue doing college football, and to do hoops, and to go back and do some racing, and some NFL and studio stuff, it is as diverse as it gets.”

With pride, Shannon Spake added, “When people ask me what I want to do, I say “A little of everything.” I feel like I’m the luckiest girl in the world.” However, the lead host of NASCAR races on Fox had to part ways with the media house after talks fell apart of their new rights to the sport. On June 10, 2024, Spake shared a sneak peek of her farewell on Instagram.

Posing with the big names of the NASCAR world, Larry McReynolds and Jamie McMurray, for a picture she wrote, “I am one lucky girl…6 years with these amazing guys! I wouldn’t change one moment of our time together.”

But in between these years spent at Fox, Spake kept scaling success after success. In 2017, she became the new co-host of NASCAR Race Hub and also voiced the animated character, Shannon Spokes, in the movie Cars 3. While she energetically called those racing wins by the drivers and the athletes, Spake won some for herself as well.

Shannon Spake won multiple medals in the Chicago Marathon with a personal best of 3:55:40. The effort not only is for personal glory but is also a part of her motherhood as she loves nothing more than setting a great example for her boys.

Spoke also came to the defense of her former colleague, Malinda Adams, who was asked to step aside by Patrick Beverley following the Bucks‘ loss to the Pacers in the playoffs earlier this year. Now, she’ll be opening a new chapter in her career with the Hornets. Thanks to her expertise in conducting court-side interviews and reporting, there’s little next to zero doubts about her capabilities in the booth. And with the NBA season starting soon, Shannon Spake’s return to broadcast is only a matter of time!

Feel that you can do with another update from the sport of basketball? Then do check out this recent interview with the up-and-coming Georgia Lady Bulldogs star Asia Avinger.