NBC Sports will make U.S. television history this fall.
On Monday the network announced it will utilize an all-women broadcast team to call the ShopRite LPGA Classic on Golf Channel, Oct. 1-3, at Seaview’s Bay Course in Galloway, New Jersey.
Cara Banks will take the play-by-play duties with Judy Rankin and Paige Mackenzie as analysts while Karen Stupples and Kay Cockerill will serve as on-course reporters. Longtime producer Beth Hutter, who has produced LPGA coverage for more than 15 years, will call the shots behind the scenes.
“We’re thrilled to assemble this incredibly accomplished group of women for our broadcast of the ShopRite LPGA Classic on Golf Channel,” said Molly Solomon, executive producer for NBC Olympics and Golf Channel. “Our NBC Sports team features talented women at all levels – both on-camera and behind-the-scenes – who are essential to making our coverage a success on every platform, and we’re honored to celebrate their work as part of this broadcast.”
Earlier this year former Golf Channel employee Lisa Cornwell caused a stir when she aired out allegations of mistreatment by Golf Channel executives on the No Laying Up podcast, which led to a Washington Post report where women who worked at the network said sexism fuels a “boys’ club” culture.
In March of 2020 NBC Sports featured the first all-women broadcast for an NHL game. Earlier this year, Rene Hatlelid then became the first woman to produce the Indianapolis 500 on NBC. Lindsay Schanzer also became the first woman to produce a Triple Crown race, leading NBC Sports’ Preakness and Belmont Stakes productions on NBC.