Maria Taylor

Maria Taylor is an American TV host and analyst, known for her work with ESPN and SEC Network. She has extensively covered college sports, including football, volleyball, and both men's and women's basketball, as well as professional sports in the NBA and NFL.

Before joining ESPN, Taylor was a reporter and host for IMG College at the University of Georgia for three years, where she also appeared on various studio shows such as "Dawg Report," "SEC Men's Basketball Tonight," and "SportsNite." She played volleyball and basketball for the University of Georgia Bulldogs, earning All-SEC volleyball team honors three times and was also a member of the USA A2 National Volleyball team. Taylor completed her Master of Business Administration at the University of Georgia in May 2013.

In 2014, Taylor joined the SEC Network, collaborating with commentators like Brent Musburger and Jesse Palmer as a college football reporter. She became a staple in SEC telecasts, providing analysis for volleyball and women's basketball. Taylor's roles expanded when she joined "College GameDay Built by Home Depot" and the "ABC Saturday Night Football" in 2017 as a reporter and host. She has also served as a sideline reporter for major football broadcasts including the College Football Playoff and National Championship games.

Taylor has additionally contributed to basketball and volleyball, serving as an analyst and sideline reporter for ESPN's coverage of the NCAA Women's Basketball and Women’s Volleyball National Championships. She has also hosted "Big Monday" and NCAA Women's Final Four studio coverage. In 2019, she began hosting "NBA Countdown," which became the pre-game show for the NBA Finals in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In July 2021, after her role in covering the NBA Finals, Taylor left ESPN and is expected to join NBC, covering events such as the Olympics. Taylor co-founded The Winning Edge Leadership Academy in 2015, which focuses on providing career development opportunities to ethnic minorities and women in the sports industry. Her keynote speaking topics include Event Emcee, Media Training, Diversity & Inclusion, Women's Empowerment, Lessons from Championship Teams, and Career Development in Broadcasting.