Kate Fagan: ESPN Host
Sports journalist and keynote speaker Kate Fagan delivers powerful insights on athlete mental health, inclusion, and performance through lived experience, investigative storytelling, and actionable advocacy.
Quick Facts:
- Highlights:
- ESPN host and national sports journalist
- Author of What Made Maddy Run, a seminal book on athlete mental health
- Former Division I collegiate basketball player
- Leading voice on LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports
- Formats: Keynote speaker, sports journalist, and moderator
- Audiences: Athletes, coaches, educators, sports organizations, and leaders focused on mental health and inclusion
- Outcomes:
- Greater understanding of athlete mental health challenges
- Practical frameworks for creating supportive performance cultures
- Increased awareness of inclusion and identity in sports environments
- Travels from: New York, NY
- **Fee range: On Request
Talent Services
Keynote Topics:
Potential Topics
- Perfectionism
- The Cognitive and Emotional Impact Social Media Has on Our Brains
- How Modern Communication Affects How We Respond to Someone Who is Struggling
- The Rising Rates of Anxiety, Depression and Suicidal Thoughts Among Young People, Including College Athletes
- The Tricky Transition to College
Talent Short Bio
Kate Fagan is a nationally recognized ESPN host, author, and keynote speaker known for elevating critical conversations around athlete mental health, identity, and performance culture. Drawing on her experience as a former Division I basketball player and an award winning sports journalist, Kate bridges the gap between elite competition and human wellbeing.
As a longtime commentator and writer for ESPN, Kate has covered professional and collegiate sports while examining the intense pressures faced by high performing athletes. Her bestselling book What Made Maddy Run became a landmark work in sports mental health, sparking national dialogue about depression, anxiety, and suicide among young athletes.
Kate is also a leading voice on LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports, advocating for environments where athletes can compete without hiding who they are. Her keynotes combine research, reporting, and personal narrative to help organizations better support athletes, students, and teams. Known for clarity, empathy, and credibility, Kate equips audiences with language and frameworks to address mental health proactively rather than reactively.
Read Full Bio
Kate Fagan is a celebrated ESPN host, author, and keynote speaker who shines a spotlight on crucial topics within the sports world. Known for her engaging storytelling and insightful commentary, she has a remarkable ability to connect with audiences on a deep level, using her experience as both a former collegiate athlete and a prominent sports journalist.
Fagan’s key focus areas—athlete mental health, LGBT representation in sports, and the unique challenges of female athletes—resonate widely, making her one of the most sought-after speakers in her field.
Kate Fagan’s extensive expertise in sports and mental health advocacy stems from her diverse background as a former Division I basketball player and her impactful career as a sports journalist. As an ESPN commentator and writer, she has covered everything from the intricacies of professional leagues to the pressures faced by student-athletes. Her book, What Made Maddy Run, became a groundbreaking work in exploring the psychological challenges young athletes face. Through both personal and professional experience, Fagan brings a nuanced, insider perspective on the mental health struggles specific to high-performing individuals in the sports domain.
In addition to her journalistic background, Kate Fagan has been an influential voice on LGBT issues within sports, using her platform to advocate for inclusivity and to discuss the importance of safe spaces for athletes to express their identities openly. Kate Fagan work resonates particularly with organizations striving to promote a more inclusive and supportive environment for all athletes, regardless of gender or orientation. This dedication to inclusivity has earned her the trust and admiration of audiences across the world.
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