Elle Duncan joined ESPN as a relatively unknown sports host out of Boston. As she departs the network this week, Duncan is a media star.<\/p>\n
Duncan\u2019s stature was solidified on Tuesday as she hosted her final\u00a0SportsCenter after a decade at ESPN, with one of the bigger farewell shows you\u2019ll ever see. But before she left, Duncan offered a few pointed words about the perception around the Worldwide Leader, defending the network against the perpetual outside criticism it faces.<\/p>\n
\u201cI see the headlines. Some are earned. Some, I believe are not. And anyone in this chair knows that criticism is just part of the job, and you take it. But the faces of this place are not the soul of this place,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe soul is the thousands of people who work here. No spotlight, and still all the scrutiny. People from every background, with every kind of belief, and with every zip code. There is no hidden agenda here, folks. Just the kind that many of you have there at home. To put food on the table, maybe to send your kids to college, do some work that matters. Build a life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI see the headlines. Some are earned. Some, I believe are not. \u2026 But the faces of this place are not the soul of this place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elle Duncan with some very pointed words about the Worldwide Leader as she gets set to leave for Netflix next year \ud83e\uddd0 pic.twitter.com\/T9sON0PeZ5<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 17, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n The noise that Duncan described around ESPN comes from every direction. The company gets hit for conflicts of interest<\/a>, talent moves<\/a>, programming decisions<\/a>, and even supposed political bias<\/a>.<\/p>\n But talent like Duncan that work in Bristol, in particular, get to see a different side of the company. Hosting\u00a0SportsCenter and\u00a0College GameDay and the WNBA Finals, Duncan partnered with hundreds of anonymous producers, directors, assistants and technicians who make the company go.<\/p>\n