Why Women's College Basketball Feels Like Family, with ESPN’s Sam Gore

ESPN play-by-play commentator Sam Gore joins the Hoopsology Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about his two-decade career covering college basketball, tennis, volleyball, gymnastics, and more. Since joining ESPN in 2004, Gore has become one of the most trusted voices in women's college basketball — and in this episode, he opens up about the moments, people, and philosophy that shaped his career. Gore shares an unforgettable story about the late Pat Summitt, recalling the day his eight-year-old son David jumped a railing to meet the legendary Lady Vols coach — and the extraordinary kindness that followed. He compares Summitt's aura to icons like Billie Jean King and Dean Smith, and reflects on how that encounter still resonates with his son nearly two decades later. The conversation goes deep into the craft of broadcasting: how Gore builds storylines before he ever travels to a game, why he prioritizes human-interest storytelling over pure X's and O's, and how he built his on-air chemistry with WNBA legend and broadcast partner Tamika Catchings. Gore also recounts some of the chaos he's navigated live on air — from a tornado forcing an evacuation mid-broadcast at Auburn, to losing all audio in the final countdown before a March Madness broadcast. Gore also breaks down how much women's college basketball has changed, discussing the impact of NIL and the transfer portal on roster depth, why the sport's culture of connection and community keeps him coming back year after year, and what excites him most about the current state of the game heading into this season. Whether you're a broadcasting fan, a women's college basketball diehard, or just love a great behind-the-scenes sports story, this episode has something for you. 🏀 New Hoopsology Podcast episodes every week — subscribe for more honest, in-depth basketball conversations. 👇 Drop a comment: what's your favorite Pat Summitt story? Follow Sam Gore: @SamBGore #Hoopsology #SamGore #WomensCollegeBasketball #PatSummitt #ESPN #BasketballPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices