ATLANTA (March 31, 2025) —ESPN basketball analyst Carolyn Peck is the recipient of the 2025 WBCA Mel Greenberg Media Award, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced today.
“Carolyn Peck has contributed to the game of women’s basketball in many ways — as a collegiate student-athlete, collegiate national championship winning coach, and professional coach. For her efforts as a coach, Carolyn has earned the honor of induction into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. This award compliments her talent as a member of the media in covering the sport,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. “Carolyn has become a trusted broadcaster for the game, both in studio and as a color analyst. She provides a powerful example of the game with her history as well as a joyful and thoughtful delivery to bring the television audience into the richness of the game experience. Carolyn’s testimony on camera represents the coaches’ perspective during this important chapter of the game.”
“Congratulations to Carolyn, who I’ve known personally a long time and is the latest in a long line of outstanding recipients. Through her storytelling during her NCAA and WNBA broadcasts on ESPN and with use of her knowledge that she has accumulated from her successful playing and coaching career, she has brought understanding and enjoyment of the women’s game to millions of viewers across the globe,” said Greenberg. “Most definitely, Carolyn is a worthy contributor to the growth of the sport to where it is today.”
Peck originally joined ESPN in 2001 and returned in 2007 as a basketball analyst for both college and professional, including men’s and women’s college basketball, NBA and WNBA. Peck went back to coaching for the 2017-2018 season as an associate head coach at Vanderbilt, and then returned to ESPN shortly after, where she is currently an analyst for ESPN and SEC Network’s women’s college basketball and WNBA coverage.
Prior to the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four, Peck was on the desk for the NCAA Women’s Final Four Special, alongside Elle Duncan, Andraya Carter, Chiney Ogqumike and Alyiah Boston. The show received rave reviews nationally for the insight and analysis the group brought. The Championship’s pre-game show scored 2.9 million viewers as a lead-in to see the Gamecocks take on the Hawkeyes.
“Having been a part of this game, from player to assistant coach to the privilege of winning a national championship, I have had the great privilege of sharing this game I love,” said Peck. “As a guardian of the game, it was an honor to experience the evolution of women’s basketball and help bring it to record setting heights. I am honored to be recognized by Mel Greenberg and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.”
One of the most accomplished figures in women’s basketball, Peck returned to ESPN after five seasons as head coach at the University of Florida, where she orchestrated the greatest one-season turnaround in program history (2003-2004). Prior to taking the helm at Florida, Peck was the head coach of the former WNBA franchise Orlando Miracle for three seasons (1999-2001), a stint that included a trip to the 2000 WNBA playoffs.
Through her time at Florida and at Orlando, Peck contributed game and studio analysis for ESPN’s coverage of the WNBA, women’s college basketball regular season and the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship.
Right before joining the professional ranks as a coach, Peck won the 1999 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship as head coach of the Purdue Boilermakers, becoming the first African-American women coach to do so, while also earning many coach-of-the-year honors, including being selected by her peers as the 1999 WBCA Coach of the Year. In addition, Peck has served as an assistant coach for USA Basketball (1997 and 2004), the University of Tennessee (1993-95) and the University of Kentucky (1995-96).
She played basketball at Vanderbilt University from 1985-88 and averaged 10.6 points and 5.8 rebounds a game. Peck graduated from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor’s degree in communications.
Greenberg, a longtime Philadelphia Inquirer sportswriter, founded The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll. He retired from the Inquirer in 2010 but continues to cover the game through his blog, “Womhoops Guru.” The award that bears his name is presented annually to a member of the media or sports communications professional who has best displayed a commitment to women’s basketball and to advancing the role of the media in the women’s game. Selected by past recipients of the award, the candidate must have made a positive impact on the growth and public exposure of the sport, been involved in the media exposure of women’s basketball for a minimum of five years and should be a media ambassador for the women’s game.
Visit WBCA.org to see a list of past recipients.
About the WBCA
The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women’s and girls’ basketball at all levels of competition. Founded in 1981, the WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit WBCA.org for more details about the association.
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