I almost opted against sharing this press release because a certain segment of fandom on a particular social media platform is going to whine about it, but that shouldn’t override the story. Rather than wax poetic about this event, I’ll simply direct you to the media release below. And if you are one of those folks who gets all riled up about this in a negative way, maybe consider screaming into your pillow or sharing your thoughts with a friend rather than putting it out in public.
CHICAGO – Marquee Sports Network today announced that the Cubs television broadcast on July 7 vs. the Angels will feature an all-female crew of Beth Mowins (Play-by-Play), Elise Menaker (Game Analyst) and Taylor McGregor (Field Reporter), marking the first such broadcast in Cubs history.
As part of the historic broadcast, Marquee Sports Network will celebrate women in baseball throughout its pregame and postgame shows, as well as on its social and digital platforms. Marquee Sports Network will also highlight play-by-play calls submitted by young Cubs fans across its platforms, and there will be opportunities for fan engagement with the broadcasters through social media leading into the game.
“Beth, Elise and Taylor excel at what they do for Marquee Sports Network. While combining their excellence from the field to the broadcast booth marks another ‘first’ in Cubs history, it signifies yet another opportunity for our team to serve fans in a meaningful and memorable way,” said Marquee Sports Network General Manager, Diane Penny. “We look forward to an outstanding broadcast, and we know they’ll continue to be inspirations for the next generation of broadcasters.”
About Beth Mowins
Mowins has served as play-by-play announcer for select Cubs games since 2021, when she became the first woman to serve as play-by-play voice in Chicago Cubs history. A longtime ESPN broadcaster calling primarily men’s and women’s college sports, in 2017 she became the first woman in 30 years to call an NFL game. A 1989 graduate of Lafayette College, Mowins was a three-time all-conference basketball selection and is a member of the Lafayette College Maroon Club Hall of Fame.
“Elise and Taylor are outstanding to work with, and I’m thrilled that we will have this opportunity to work together for this historic Cubs broadcast,” said Mowins. “It’s always an honor working in the Wrigley Field broadcast booth and we are all looking forward to this special broadcast.”
About Elise Menaker
Menaker joined Marquee Sports Network as a field reporter and studio host in February of 2020, contributing to game broadcasts and hosting pregame and postgame shows.In 2022, Menaker became the first woman to serve as a television analyst for a Cubs game, and in 2023 became the first woman to be a radio analyst for a Cubs game. Menaker graduated from Cornell University where she was a four-year starter on the softball team and was named to the Cornell Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2020.
“I’m really looking forward to working with Beth and Taylor on this special day at Wrigley Field,” said Menaker. “It’ll be exciting to share this broadcast with Cubs fans and particularly with young girls who may dream of one day getting involved in this great game. My mom always told me that I could accomplish my dreams, no matter how big, and I hope to inspire young girls and boys to do the same. Dream big.”
About Taylor McGregor
McGregor joined Marquee Sports Network upon the launch of the network in 2020, and serves as the primary field reporter for Chicago Cubs games. McGregor previously was an on-field reporter for the Colorado Rockies with AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain for two seasons, and also serves in roles with MLB Network as a host and with ESPN doing college football games in the fall. A graduate of the University of Arkansas, McGregor is a native of Golden, Colorado.
“It’s always a joy having the opportunity to work with Beth and Elise, and to be a part of this first all-female broadcast is something that we’re looking forward to,” said McGregor. “I always appreciate having the chance to show young fans, especially girls, the many opportunities in the game of baseball and this broadcast will be a great demonstration of that.”
Marquee Sports Network is available as part of a cable or streaming package, or as a standalone subscription offering through WatchMarquee.com and the new Marquee Sports Network App. For more information, visitMarqueeSportsNetwork.com/Providers.
Cubs Live! will begin at 12 PM CT on July 7 (First pitch at 1:20 PM).
