BREAKING NEWS: Everyone Is Very Worried About Lisa Salters After ESPN’s Message During NBA Finals
Lisa Salters (Photo By Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
Game 2 of the NBA Finals tips off Sunday night in Oklahoma City, but one familiar face will be missing from the sideline. Lisa Salters, a longtime ESPN and ABC reporter, won’t be on the broadcast, and the network is asking for thoughts and prayers as she tends to a personal matter.

Salters, who called Game 1 between the Thunder and Pacers on Thursday, will not be on the mic for Sunday’s crucial matchup. In her place, ESPN has tapped Jorge Sedano to handle sideline duties.

The company confirmed her absence in a brief statement: “Lisa is attending to a personal matter. We send her our best,” an ESPN spokesperson told Front Office Sports.

A Respected Voice Sidelined

ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters (Photo By Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

Salters has been one of ESPN’s most trusted voices for more than two decades. Since joining the network in 2000, she’s covered everything from Monday Night Football to high-stakes NBA Playoffs. In 2023, she earned her first Sports Emmy in the “Outstanding Personality/Reporter” category, a long-overdue recognition for one of the most consistent presences in sports television.

Fans may also recognize her from her work on E60, where she’s reported on powerful stories off the field and court. Whether chasing NFL sidelines or diving into human interest pieces, Salters has long earned the respect of viewers and colleagues alike.

Recently, she’s also been in headlines for her personal life. Salters is currently dating Stephanie White, the former Connecticut Sun coach who took over the Indiana Fever this past offseason. Despite being private about her off-camera life, Salters has quietly remained a steady figure in both football and basketball coverage.

Her absence during a primetime NBA Finals broadcast suggests that whatever she’s facing is significant. ESPN’s call for prayers doesn’t come lightly, especially during one of the biggest moments on the sports calendar.

Game 2 tips off Sunday evening with the Thunder looking to even the series after Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers stormed back in Game 1 for a stunning road win. While the basketball world focuses on what happens inside the lines, many will also be thinking of Salters. ESPN has not shared further details, but for the network, Lisa Salters matters far beyond the sideline.