Ramona Shelburne is a senior writer and NBA Insider at ESPN, where she has been a key voice in the network’s NBA coverage since 2009. Her work spans ESPN’s flagship programs including NBA Today, SportsCenter, ESPN, ESPN Radio, and ESPNW. Known for her in-depth reporting and compelling storytelling, Shelburne is also a member of ESPN’s premier long-form and investigative unit, contributing across multiple platforms.
She has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including multiple Pro Basketball Writers Association awards for column writing and breaking news. Her groundbreaking investigative reporting on The Sterling Affairs—the ESPN 30 for 30 podcast chronicling the downfall of former Clippers owner Donald Sterling—earned her a Gracie Award for Best Investigative Podcast, the National Association of Black Journalists Award for Best Sports Podcast, as well as honors from the Webby Awards and iHeartRadio.
Before joining ESPN, Shelburne was a columnist and reporter at the Los Angeles Daily News from 2002 to 2009. She began her ESPN tenure with ESPN LA, where her sharp analysis and unique voice quickly gained recognition. Her writing has also appeared in Sports Illustrated, Stanford Magazine, and Sports Illustrated for Women.
A proud Stanford University alumna, Shelburne holds a bachelor’s degree in American Studies and a master’s in Communication. While at Stanford, she was a standout student-athlete on the softball team, earning Academic All-American honors three times and helping lead the team to its first NCAA tournament appearance in 1998 and a berth in the Women’s College World Series in 2001. Among her teammates was fellow ESPN analyst Jessica Mendoza.
Shelburne’s journalistic integrity, deep league knowledge, and storytelling prowess have made her one of the most respected voices in sports media today.
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