Champion completed her high school education in California, not Washington, DC, as previously stated. She then attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she majored in English and minored in Mass Communications. During her academic journey, she was an active student, participating in numerous events and university functions, often earning accolades for her performances. While studying at UCLA, she earned an internship (not a scholarship) at CNN, which helped solidify her interest in journalism.

Career Beginnings in Journalism

Cari Champion began her professional career in journalism in 2002 with Orange County Newschannel in Santa Ana, California. She later worked with several other news outlets, including WPTV-TV in West Palm Beach, Florida, and WGCL-TV in Atlanta, Georgia. Her time at WGCL-TV was briefly interrupted when she was let go for using profane language on-air, although she argued she believed the microphone was off. After appealing the decision, she was reinstated but chose to leave the station shortly afterward to explore other opportunities.

Transition to Sports Broadcasting

During her initial reporting career, Champion developed a growing interest in sports, particularly tennis. She began focusing on sports journalism, which eventually led to a significant turning point in her career. In 2012, she joined ESPN as the host of the network’s debate show First Take. Her role expanded in 2015 when she was promoted to anchor on SportsCenter, the network’s flagship sports news program.