The former Elon women’s basketball team captain and current Milwaukee Bucks reporter was honored in the “Outstanding Crafts Achievement On-Camera Talent” category for her work with Bally Sports Wisconsin. The 2015 alumna made history when she became the first woman to call play-by-play for the reigning NBA champions.
Reporting, serving as an anchor and handling play-by-play for nationally televised basketball games is all in a day’s work for Elon University alumna Zora Stephenson ‘15.
While her responsibilities generally highlight the storylines of the Milwaukee Bucks, the former Phoenix basketball star garnered her own attention in December, collecting a regional Emmy Award at the 63rd Annual Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards ceremony. Stephenson was honored in the competition’s “Outstanding Crafts Achievement On-Camera Talent” category for her work with Bally Sports Wisconsin. It is a well-deserved accolade for the Elon graduate who made history as the first woman to call play-by-play for the 2021 NBA champions.
During her undergraduate career, Stephenson was a visible member of the Elon community. She served as a captain of the Elon University women’s basketball team, a tour guide, a resident assistant, a tutor, a participant in student media organizations, and a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Getting involved in everything she could while at Elon helped her career post-graduation, she explained.
“My experience at Elon was amazing and set me up for life after college in so many ways,” Stephenson said. “I tried to get as involved as I could and every person I came in contact with played a role in the person I am today.”
After graduating from Elon, Stephenson landed anchor and reporting roles at news stations in North Carolina and Colorado – where she earned her first few Emmy awards – before heading to Wisconsin, where she took on the role of sideline/digital reporter for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Stephenson made history in spring 2021 when she filled in for regular Bucks’ play-by-play broadcaster Jim Paschke, becoming the first woman in the franchise’s history to handle those responsibilities.
“I’m just so grateful for the space I’m in,” Stephenson said. “I’ve worked hard, yes, but so many people have helped me and continue to help me.”
Considering Stephenson’s impressive resume, it should come as no surprise that she was honored by her alma mater with a Top 10 Under 10 Alumni Award in 2019, recognizing her professional success and her role supporting the Elon community.
“The awards are great and give me a chance to remember impactful stories, but the awards are never my ‘why,’” Stephenson said. “My ‘why’ always comes from the love of storytelling and the desire to be the best at whatever I’m doing.”
And her advice for Elon students who want to follow in her footsteps? Be yourself and be persistent.
“Ask questions, network like crazy, and don’t compare yourself to other people. Always remember, it only takes one, ‘yes,’” she said.