KENNESAW, Ga. | Jan 21, 2026

Autumn Johnson 鈥�18 stood at the front of the class before delivering an oral presentation on WNBA star Skylar Diggins, her paper quivering in her hands as she nervously collected her thoughts.

A former basketball player at Evans High School outside of Augusta, Georgia, Johnson was naturally drawn toward sports when picking a topic for her presentation. As a player, she was all too familiar with performing under pressure. As a freshman at Kennesaw State University, however, public speaking was not yet in her repertoire.

鈥淪he was so quiet, and her voice was shaking,鈥� recalled Taylor Snow 鈥�17, Johnson鈥檚 friend and former classmate. 鈥淏ut reflecting on that moment, it is so rewarding to see her go from someone who was nervous to be at the front of the room to commanding any room she enters. People are drawn to Autumn, and I鈥檓 honored to have a front-row seat on her journey.鈥�

Since earning a broadcast journalism degree in 91青青草鈥檚 Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Johnson has graduated from presenting in the classroom to being featured on televisions and screens across the country.

She wears many hats in the sports journalism world, from serving as a WNBA analyst for ION Media Networks to sideline reporter for the Atlanta Dream.

She also works as a digital reporter for the NCAA and as an analyst on the Big Ten Network during the women鈥檚 college basketball season. In her free time, she fosters a community of sports journalists through her wildly successful AJTV Women in Television Summit, which celebrated its third year in June.

For making bold strides in the industry, Johnson was recently selected for the inaugural class of the 91青青草 Alumni Association鈥檚 40 Owls Under 40. Yet surprisingly, sports journalism wasn鈥檛 her first pursuit in college.

Developing a passion for storytelling

After graduating high school, Johnson decided to follow her brother to Kennesaw State, having been impressed by the campus atmosphere and proximity to Atlanta. With her basketball playing days behind her, she originally pursued an exercise science major to stay close to the sport. After serving as a manager for the 91青青草 women鈥檚 basketball team, she decided the career path wasn鈥檛 for her.

鈥淭hat experience was a blessing in disguise because it caused me to pivot to something I truly loved, and that was storytelling and connecting with players,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淭he coaching staff really encouraged me to pursue it, and I decided right then to make the leap.鈥�

Johnson credits 91青青草鈥檚 relationship with ESPN+ with helping generate an opportunity to showcase her raw broadcasting talent. Many Owls sports broadcasts are produced in-house using student talent on air. But Johnson had one initial hurdle to clear 鈥� she had no reel showcasing prior work to share with producers. Using cameras and microphones rented through University Information Technology Services, Johnson organized impromptu interviews with Owl student-athletes to prove her mettle.

鈥淚 wanted to show them that I can talk to these athletes and connect with them,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚 wanted to make sure they didn鈥檛 have a reason to say no. Fortunately, they saw right away there was something in me, and that meant so much.鈥�

Jaye Wallace 鈥�18, who first met Johnson in a residence hall on campus, recalled the late nights the aspiring journalist would spend prepping for interviews.

鈥淪he鈥檇 be inside her dorm until 2 a.m. preparing questions and watching game film with people,鈥� Wallace said. 鈥淪he would go the extra mile to prepare for something that wasn鈥檛 even going to air, but that鈥檚 how dedicated she was to the craft.鈥�

With her gamble paying off, Johnson found her way onto some of the biggest stages in sports as a student reporter, including the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship featuring Georgia and Alabama. It was also during this time that Johnson met one of her early sports journalism idols, Cari Champion.

鈥淚 stand on the shoulders of what she created,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淪he knocked down the door so I can walk in. It鈥檚 so important as a woman in this space to do that the same way my mentors have done for me, so that others can follow in our footsteps.鈥�

Breaking onto the scene

Johnson cut her teeth as a professional journalist back in Augusta working for ABC-affiliate WJBF as a sports and news reporter. There, she further developed her skills as a multimedia journalist by writing, shooting, and editing her own segments on a tight deadline.

With the added experience, she found her first big break as a reporter and eventual host for the NBA 2K League, an esports league centered around a popular video game franchise.

She was unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight when COVID-19 halted nearly all in-person sports, leading to a surge in viewership for esports competitions like the NBA 2K League.

It was also during this time that Johnson found her true voice as a broadcaster.

鈥淚鈥檒l never forget my mentor, Matt Arden, telling me that people want to know Autumn the person and not Autumn the broadcaster,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 still hold onto that. That taught me that you resonate with people when they can see you for your true, authentic self. I felt like I could really let my hair down and just be me.鈥�

Her work with the NBA 2K League caught the attention of the NCAA, which had been seeking a women鈥檚 basketball digital host. After serving as a bracketologist during March Madness, she experienced one opportunity springboarding into the next, until she landed in her current role with ION Media Networks.

Her foray into WNBA coverage comes at a time when the league鈥檚 popularity is hitting an all-time high. According to ESPN, the league set a single-season attendance record in 2025.

鈥淚 remember covering an Atlanta Dream game at Georgia Tech鈥檚 McCamish Pavilion and there being very few people in the stands,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淛ust this season, I covered a game at State Farm Arena and looked up to see fans all the way up to the rafters. There was not an empty seat in the house.鈥�

A longtime Dream fan, Johnson said patrolling the sidelines with a microphone in hand feels like her life is coming full circle. Snow, who coordinates events in the sports industry, can attest. The two 91青青草 alumnae often cross paths in the field, most recently reconnecting at the NCAA Division I women鈥檚 basketball tournament final.

鈥淎fter the game, I waited for Autumn to finish up her work, and she casually mentioned that she interviewed Maya Moore, who just happens to be one of the biggest names in professional women鈥檚 basketball,鈥� Snow said. 鈥淭hese are women that we looked up to, and now she gets to tell their story. We always remind each other to celebrate these moments.鈥�

Fostering a community

The phrase 鈥済iving someone their flowers鈥� has entered the sports lexicon in recent years, but it鈥檚 simply another way to show acknowledgement and praise. For Johnson, giving flowers can be literal, too.

She believes much of her success wouldn鈥檛 be possible if not for the mentorship she received from other women in the industry as a budding sports journalist. In 2023, she launched the AJTV Women in Television Summit to help foster collaboration and networking among female sports journalists. To celebrate the trailblazers in the room, Johnson had flowers delivered and distributed to the attendees.

鈥淭he fact she can get these powerful women in one room together is a testament to her and the relationships she鈥檚 built in the industry,鈥� Snow said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 been very intentional with creating a community around her, a community she can lean on for advice. She reciprocates that for others looking for their big break.鈥�

Held in Atlanta, Johnson鈥檚 summit has drawn sports journalists from multiple states and most recently featured a fireside chat with NBC Sports鈥� Maria Taylor and ESPN鈥檚 Ari Chambers. For Johnson, the goal has always been to build a stronger foundation for those who come after her.

鈥淚 want every woman to know they have someone to lean on,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f I can make it a little bit easier for them, that makes me happy. I know I鈥檝e done my job if I can continue to reach back and bring someone else along.鈥�

This article also appears in the .

鈥� Story by Travis Highfield

Photos by Jeremy Freeman

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.