ESPN Acquires Girls’ Basketball Web Site HoopGurlz.com

Founder Glenn Nelson, National Director of Scouting for Women’s Basketball Chris Hansen to Continue Running Site

By Alex Weprin -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/25/2008 12:16:00 PM

ESPN acquired HoopGurlz.com, widely regarded as the authoritative voice of girls’ high-school and college basketball online.

Glenn Nelson, founder of the site, and Chris Hansen, national director of scouting for women’s basketball, will both continue to manage and write the site.

“ESPN’s acquisition of HoopGurlz represents our continued commitment to providing our core fans with compelling high-school-sports content,” said James Brown, senior vice president of new program development, in a statement announcing the acquisition. “The site showcases the kind of student-athletes we strive to serve and will help us continue to grow our 12- to 17-year-old audience.”

Hoopgurlz.com’s founders hope the acquisition will lead to more coverage of girls’ and women’s basketball on the ESPN networks.

“ESPN is built upon a foundation of the highest journalistic standards, the same that HoopGurlz has used in covering girls’ basketball," Nelson said in a statement. "HoopGurlz is excited to expand and improve ESPN’s coverage of one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, as well as to complement the site’s coverage of women's basketball.”