After leaving ESPN this week after ten years at the cable network, veteran anchor Elle Duncan has officially joined Netflix to lead the streaming service’s live sports coverage beginning in January of 2026.
“Joining Netflix feels like being invited to an already legendary party and somehow getting handed the aux cord,” Duncan said. “For a lifelong utility player, a multisport assignment is a full-circle moment, and being trusted with something this one-of-a-kind feels incredibly special and surreal. I’m bringing boundless energy, storytelling, and bad puns no one asked for but will be subjected to anyway. Also, I was told this fast-tracks my kids to meet the KPop Demon Hunters, so … win-win.”
First Role With Netflix For Duncan Will Be A Climb In Taiwan
Duncan’s first assignment with Netflix will be January 23, when she hosts Skyscraper Live, a two-hour event in which free solo climber Alex Honnold will look to scale the Taipei 101 building in Taiwan. Honnold is best known for his free solo climb of El Capitan in California, detailed in the 2018 feature film documentary Free Solo, which won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2019.
“Elle Duncan’s proven ability to move seamlessly between hard-hitting sports analysis and warm, personality-driven cultural hosting makes her a perfect fit at Netflix,” Netflix Vice President of Sports Gabe Spitzer said. “She immediately adds credibility and familiar star power to our global programming slate.”
Duncan joined ESPN in 2016 as a SportsCenter anchor, eventually reached the 6 p.m. show she co-hosted with Kevin Neghandi. She also hosted WNBA Countdown and “College Gameday” broadcasts for women’s basketball at the network. Prior to joining ESPN, she was an anchor and host at NESN in Boston, and a sideline reportter for the Atlanta Hawks.
Duncan’s departure from ESPN for Netflix was reported in November by The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand.
