10 Things to Know About FilAm NBA Reporter Cassidy Hubbarth
It’s no secret that the Philippines has the best basketball fans in the world! Without a doubt, you’ve probably seen Cassidy Hubbarth on the sidelines of the NBA, interviewing coaches and players of the game. She is a TV host and full-time reporter for ESPN game telecasts throughout the NBA regular season and during playoffs. She is an accomplished reporter and host for shows, including Hoop Streams with Ros Gold-Onwude, and SneakerCenter on ESPN+.
With the NBA season among us, and Hubbarth’s 9th season on the sidelines, here are 10 things to know about the self-proclaimed “sorta (tall) 5’6”...5’8” with heels…not AD tall” powerhouse.
1. She’s half Filipino
Hubbarth’s mother, Emmeline, is Filipino. Her father, Gerry, is of German and Irish descent. In an interview with the NBA, Hubbarth shares: “Being exposed to Filipino culture and understanding that side of my life of what it was like for my mom to grow up in the Philippines and be an immigrant. I embrace being different and making sure there is representation”. Hubbarth believes that representation and visibility are everything, and she’s been very vocal about that.
Hubbarth has only been to the Philippines two times in her life. While in college, she visited the Philippines. Being on the road, she spent a lot of time watching people and observing the surroundings during traffic. That’s when she discovered the country’s obsession with basketball.
Hubbarth wishes that her mom and grandmother taught her Tagalog. Though, she knows a few phrases like, “Ay nako, masarap, and mahal kita”. Covering the NBA, she comes across several Filipinos. If she spots Filipinos at NBA events, she makes sure to ask, “Are you Filipino?” and gives them hugs.
2. She’s a Chicago native
Hubbarth was born in Chicago and is a native of Evanston, Illinois. In 2003, she graduated from Evanston Township High School (ETHS). Throughout high school, she played three sports, including basketball and soccer. In 2002, she was part of the ETHS State Championship high school soccer team.
3. She roots for the Chicago Bulls, Cubs, and Bears
Growing up in Chicago in the 1990s was a special time. She recalls moments of her mom screaming her head off while watching the Bulls. Hubbarth realizes that she grew up spoiled, having been “able to watch six championships and the greatest player to ever play in my hometown laid the foundation for my love for the NBA”. She tweeted “Growing up in Chicago during the Michael Jordan era and now covering the NBA is a dream come true.” Though, she admits that her favorite player growing up was Ron Harper.
4. She loves pizza and adobo
As a Chicago native, Hubbarth weighs in on her pizza preferences. She cannot get enough of New Haven-style pizza from Piece. For deep-dish pizza, she ranks Gino’s East at the top followed by Lou Malnati’s second and Giordano’s fourth. She also loves chicken and pork adobo, which she says is “masarap”.
5. She has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism
Hubbarth is part of a sports-loving family! She knew early on that she wanted to pursue a career in sports broadcasting. In her household, it was a tradition to turn on the FOX NFL Pregame show after church. The moment she saw Pam Oliver interviewing players, she immediately knew that she wanted to be in sports media.
When college came around, Hubbarth started at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Ultimately, she received her degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in 2007.
6. She started as a traffic reporter
After obtaining her degree, she worked for Navteq as a traffic reporter and producer for WMAQ NBC5 Network in Chicago. At the same time, she worked at Intersport as a production assistant, associate producer, and host. Later, she moved on to Fox Sports South as a reporter covering SEC Football. She also worked for Comcast Sports as a producer. She received a Southeast Emmy for her work on SEC Gridiron Live. Up until the summer of 2010, Hubbarth was working many odd-end jobs.
7. She got her big break when she joined ESPN
Hubbarth got the opportunity to audition for ESPN3 in 2010. She joined ESPN as a digital anchor and host for college football, college basketball, and the NBA. She also hosted other exclusive ESPN3 broadcasts such as the Georgia Pro Day, the Baylor Pro Day, and the Madden Bowl. From there, she was able to move her way up from digital media to International SportsCenter to Highlight Express.
In 2012, Hubbarth got her big break hosting NBA Tonight. Hubbarth became a full-time anchor for ESPN in March of 2013. She moved to the NBA sidelines full-time in 2015. She has hosted various shows for the ESPN Networks, including SportsCenter, NBA Tonight, The NBA Today podcast, Highlight Express, Numbers Never Lie, SportsNation, First Take, SneakerCenter, and others. Hubbarth also guest-hosts several of ESPN’s pillar shows, including Get Up, SportsCenter, and First Take. She also contributes to NBA Today and NBA Countdown.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was part of the media contingent during the 2020 Bubble allowed on the NBA Florida Campus at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista. She recorded her experience through an Instagram vlog called, Bubble Diary, where she talked about the historical moments on and off the court.
8. She is a mother
Hubbarth got pregnant with her daughter in 2018, at 34. Since then, she has been balancing motherhood and her demanding career. She finds being a working mother extremely rewarding. In an interview with the NBA, she shares “It is also an empowering feeling because I am still operating at a high level in both places. It’s having to balance those emotions and feel like you’re enough both at home and at work that a lot of people deal with”.
The perks of having a daughter, make it so that she has someone to share with. Over the years, she has been investing in capsule wardrobe pieces. She also has a necklace with her initials from her Lola, which she also got for her daughter. She hopes to pass on her jewelry and clothes to her daughter, just like her Lola did with her.
9. She appreciates the sneaker culture
Hubbarth doesn’t claim to be a sneakerhead, but she does have a deep appreciation for the culture. Growing up, she was unable to afford expensive shoes. As an adult, she finally can! Her holy grails are the Bred 11s, but she finds the Jordan 1s the easiest to style. Her ultimate go-tos are Dunks. Living In New York, she chooses sneakers over heels.
10. She is the co-host and co-founder of Hoops Paradise podcast.
Hubbarth joined forces with Titan’s Nikko Ramos. They have a six-episode podcast series called Hoops Paradise where they explore the Philippines’ connection and unique love affair with basketball. The series features notable Filipino-Americans, including Coach Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat, ESPN’s Pablo Torre, PBA Coach Tim Cone, and Coach Jimmy Alapag, the latest addition to the Sacramento Kings’ coaching staff.
Make sure to follow Cassidy, and if you happen to see her at an NBA event make sure you say hello and give her a hug! Together you can chant and sing “Filipino Filipino!” – queue the Black Eyed Peas’ song, Bebot.
Written by Jennifer Redondo
Co-Founder and Co-Author of In Her Purpose
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