One day after HC Stephanie White misses clash against Sky, partner Lisa Salters also takes personal time from NBA Finals

ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters will reportedly miss Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the OKC Thunder and the Indiana Pacers due to personal reasons. According to Sports Media Watch, Jorge Sedano is set to take Salters' place.

"Jorge Sedano on NBA Finals sideline tonight instead of Lisa Salters," they tweeted.

Front Office Sports reporter Ryan Glasspiegel later posted ESPN's statement regarding Salters' absence.

Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.

"ESPN statement to FOS. Lisa is attending to a personal matter. We send her our best."

Vanessa Richardson will temporarily take Sedano's place on the radio. Salters has been a sideline reporter for the NBA Finals since 2005.

Salters' partner, Stephanie White, was absent from the Fever vs. Chicago Sky game on Saturday. According to Fever reporter Chloe Peterson, the Fever coach missed the game due to "personal reasons." Austin Kelly replaced White for the contest.

Expand Tweet

Despite White's absence, the Indiana Fever dominated the Chicago Sky. After a 93-58 win against the Sky in the season opener, the Fever registered a 79-52 win on Saturday. Kelsey Mitchel led the Fever with 17 points. None of the Sky players scored in double digits.

Doris Burke's future with ESPN in question after 2024-25 NBA Finals

It was hard to imagine that any roster could replace Jeff Van Gundy, Mike Breen and Mark Jackson when it came to calling the NBA Finals. However, the new roster with Richard Jefferson, Doris Burke and Mike Breen has been a successful one.

However, according to The Athletic's Andrew Marchand, ESPN could cut Burke and move ahead with only Jefferson and Breen after this season.

"Burke’s spot is not guaranteed for next season ..." Marchand wrote. "While Breen, the Basketball Hall of Famer under a long-term deal, is not going anywhere, ESPN will evaluate its entire roster.

"ESPN executives will debate what is next, with one discussion likely centering around if they feel Burke is better on a two-person team as opposed to the three-person team."

Doris Burke has been with ESPN since 1991 and has been an inspiration for many female journalists who make up a big part of ESPN's game coverage. She has been calling the NBA Finals for ESPN since last season, when the broadcast company laid off Jackson and Van Gundy.

About the author

Nandjee Ranjan is a journalist covering the NBA and WNBA at Sportskeeda whose passion for basketball dates back to his childhood when he enjoyed playing the sport in school.

Nandjee finds his heart divided between two NBA powerhouses: the LA Lakers and the Golden State Warriors. He idolizes LeBron James and his leadership, while he appreciates the Warriors' dynamic and team-oriented style of play.
Basketball, for Nandjee, isn't just a sport but a holistic approach to fitness and well-being. He's been drawn to team sports, finding fulfillment in the physical engagement basketball offers.

With years of following basketball, Nandjee contextualizes historical events and player performances. He believes in conducting thorough research before writing, only taking information from reliable sources. He doesn’t mind taking more time to write an articles, as long as it is 100% accurate for his readers’ benefit.

During his leisure hours, Nandjee finds relaxation by reading books.

Know More

Pacers Fan? Check out the latest Indiana Pacers depth chart, schedule, and roster updates all in one place.

Edited by Gio Vergara