Christy Winters-Scott

Christy Winters Scott is a basketball color analyst for college basketball games for ESPN, FSN, The Big Ten Network, CSN, and Raycom Sports, typically calling ACC package and ACC Women's Basketball Tournament, and SEC games as well as the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. She also calls WNBA games for the Washington Mystics.^[1] She is also the Host of the NBA's Washington Wizards Pre and Post game shows on CSN since 2012.

Early life

Christy Winters Scott was born in Reston, Virginia and would play high school basketball at South Lakes High School. Winters Scott was the greatest female player to play at South Lakes. During her senior season Winters Scott led the Seahawks to a 29-0 record and helped them win the 1986 AAA State Title. Winters-Scott was named DC Metro Area's All-Met player of the year by the Washington Post, The Washington Times, and The Fairfax Journal, while averaging 23 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 blocks a game. For her high school career Winters-Scott scored 1,785 points, 1,075 rebounds, and 492 blocks. Winters-Scott, then known solely as Christy Winters, would eventually be placed in the South Lakes Athletics Hall of Fame alongside Grant Hill, who said, "it feels good to be recognized as the male Christy Winters" during his acceptance speech.^[2]

Collegiate & Professional Career

Winters Scott earned a full scholarship to play collegiate basketball at the University of Maryland from 1986-1990. While at Maryland, Winters Scott recorded 1,679 points (second in Maryland history), 723 rebounds (fourth in Maryland history), and played 123 career games (first in school history). Winters is one of only two players to score more than 700 field goals (703) at Maryland. Winters also ranks in the all-time top 10 at Maryland in games started (4th with 100), blocked shots (5th with 91) and field goal percentage (8th with .537).^[3]

In 1989 Winters-Scott helped Maryland win their eighth ACC Championship and led the team to their third Final Four appearance. As a senior Winters-Scott was named First Team All ACC and Kodak All-East Region while leading the Terps with 533 points.^[3]

After graduating from Maryland, Winters Scott wanted to continue competing, but WNBA wasn't yet in existence, so Winters Scott headed overseas where she spent a year playing in Pistoia, Italy and another two years in Fribourg, Switzerland. During her final professional season in Switzerland, she averaged 37 points and 12 rebounds per game, and had a career high of 48 points while competing for the Euro Cup.

Broadcasting & Coaching

Winters Scott decided to change her focus to coaching and broadcasting. Winters Scott would become an assistant coach for George Mason from 1993-1997, Maryland from 1997-2002, and Georgetown from 2004-2005. In 2005 Winters-Scott departed Georgetown to accept a head coaching position for her Alma Mater (South Lakes High School). The South Lakes team had a record of 0-21 prior to her arrival, and by 2009, she turned the program around, 19-4, and earned the Liberty District Coach of the Year Award. The South Lakes team qualified for the VA State tournament in 2013 with a 24-6 record. It was the first trip to the State tournament since Winters Scott competed for the State Championship as a player in 1986. (27 years). Winters Scott earned the "Women In Sports" Coach of the Year Award which recognized the Top Female Coach, in any sport, in Fairfax County. In 2014, her South Lakes team earned their first District Championship since 1997, with a record of 26-4. (17 years).^[1] Winters Scott would embrace more in the field of her passion for basketball, broadcasting. One night a week, Winters Scott would do broadcast, and produce, shows for the Roundball Report, on CTV76 in Maryland.^[4]

The Roundball Report shows quickly caught the attention of the DC broadcasting market. Michael Wilbon would do an interview with Winters Scott that showed her personality and passion.^[1] In 2012, Winter Scott would become the new Wizards studio Host, and continue call collegiate (men's and women's) basketball. Comcast SportsNet.^[4][5]

Today, Winters Scott lives with her husband, Jerome Scott, and three children Jerome, Brianna, and Jordan in Reston, Virginia. Winters Scott broadcasts 20 to 30 college games a year and all Mystics TV games, Wizards games, AND coaches her alma mater. Winters Scott also holds an impressive resume of awards: ACC 50th Anniversary Team, South Lakes Athletic Hall of Fame, University of Maryland Hall of Fame, ACC Women's Basketball Legend, and Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism, Distinguished Terrapin Award, and was most recently recognized by ESSENCE Magazine as one of the top 12 African American female sports reporters in the Country.^[6]

References