Dropping unparalleled cinematic gems is not enough for Netflix, as the streaming titan now appears to rival traditional live sports coverage networks. Recently, Elle Duncan’s transition from ESPN to Netflix has emerged as a significant event within the sports media landscape. 

Duncan has quit the leading sports network, where she has spent almost a decade, to join the streamer. What has turned heads is her curious deal with Netflix, making her the new face of its rising sports coverage.

The new deal Duncan has struck with the streaming platform is beyond remarkable.

Elle Duncan has bid an emotional farewell to SportsCenter, ending her ESPN era to start a profitable new chapter with Netflix. According to The Athletic, this new arrangement is worth a lot more than her ESPN salary, though the exact figure is not revealed. It makes her its leading on-air sports personality. 

Besides granting Duncan a lighter schedule and more flexibility, reports corroborate that Netflix has given her a “substantial raise” from her ESPN contract. The women’s basketball studio lead's new deal, reportedly, will allow her to make guest appearances on other networks when there are no such conflicts in schedule.

With more professional flexibility than was the case with her ESPN position, Duncan is set to join Netflix’s expanding sports lineup, going beyond women's basketball. She will reportedly take part in covering Netflix's NFL Christmas Day games, select MLB events like MLB's Opening Day 2026 featuring the San Francisco Giants vs the New York Yankees, MLB's Home Run Derby, and the 2027 Women’s World Cup as well. 

Enjoying a pay bump and more room to explore several other projects in nearly ten years, Duncan was first reported to make this switch back in late November 2025. Though ESPN is now replacing Duncan with Christine Williamson for the 6 PM SportsCenter slot along with Kevin Negandhi, there is no bad blood between her and the network.

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Elle Duncan's new chapter to shine comes after the year ends, but the teary-eyed farewells have already begun. 

Despite joining Netflix, Elle Duncan, who started her career in 2016, becoming the main voice of women’s basketball coverage, remains an ESPN darling and a favorite of chairman Jimmy Pitaro's. Her last SportsCenter broadcast took place on December 16, 2025, and she was the co-host along with Kevin Negandhi. 

To honor Duncan's progress and influence over almost ten years, ESPN delivered her entire journey by screening footage of her first SportsCenter appearance in 2016. Chiney Ogwumike and Andraya Carter joined the tear-filled party, which Duncan later tweeted to be an emotional send-off that left her humbled and grateful.

"I have no words for the send off I just got from my family at ESPN," she wrote on X.

Meanwhile, this is not the first time ESPN's leading NFL faces have travelled to Netflix. For instance, Laura Rutledge and Mina Kimes appeared at the streamer's debut sports coverage last Christmas. However, according to The Daily Express, ESPN reportedly would not let Netflix take a similar route this year.

While not much is known about what moved Netflix's decision to hire Elle Duncan to be the permanent face of its sports coverage rather than a part-timer and her exact salary, the streaming platform's growing sports collection is one to keep an eye out for. 

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