Elise Woodward, a veteran sideline reporter for University of Washington football, has been appointed the Huskies’ new radio play‑by‑play announcer, becoming what appears to be the first full‑time female voice to call FBS games on a regular basis.
Woodward’s journey to the booth spans more than two decades of service to the program. After starring on the Huskies women’s basketball team from 1993 to 1997 and earning a broadcast journalism degree from the same university, she spent years reporting from the sidelines, a stint that included extensive coverage of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament for ESPN.
She succeeds Tony Castricone, who announced his departure earlier this year to join the radio team of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Castricone’s exit opened the position that Woodward will now fill, marking a rare transition at the top of the Huskies’ broadcast booth.
Woodward’s debut is slated for September 6, 2026, when the Huskies open conference play against Washington State University. The game will be the first of a 12‑game schedule that also features matchups with Utah State, Eastern Washington, Minnesota, USC, Iowa, Purdue, Nebraska, Penn State, Michigan State, Indiana and Oregon.
A New Era in the Booth
The move signals a watershed moment for women in football broadcasting, a field long dominated by men. As the Huskies prepare for the upcoming season, fans will be listening not only for the on‑field action but also for the historic presence of Woodward’s voice guiding the broadcast.
Beyond the Huskies, Woodward continues to lend her voice to the Portland Fire of the WNBA, a role she has held while simultaneously building a national profile through her work with ESPN’s college‑basketball coverage.