Indianapolis, IN
She got her start as Pacers in-arena host. Now she’s back in Indy for NBA Finals with ESPN
Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith speaks ahead of Game 4
The Indiana Pacers will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday, June 13, 2025, in Indianapolis.
INDIANAPOLIS – Growing up in Terre Haute, Vanessa Richardson’s introduction to sports was through her father.
George Richardson, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis while still in his 20s, would take Vanessa to basketball games at Indiana State, Colts’ training camp in Terre Haute and high school games.
“My dad was my best friend,” Vanessa said. “I tell people all the time that a social activity in Indiana is going to a high school basketball game. That’s what we did.”
Life came full circle this week for the 30-year-old Richardson, who was the in-arena host for Pacers’ games from 2015-17 during her junior and senior years at the University of Indianapolis. Now working as a television sideline reporter for Houston Rockets’ games, Richardson is back in Indianapolis for the NBA Finals, hosting a digital pregame show for ESPN, ‘Hoop Dreams’, and working as the radio sideline reporter.
“It’s surreal to think eight years ago I was the girl on the jumbotron for the Pacers and now I’m hosting a pregame show for the NBA Finals,” she said. “I became a sports reporter because of my late father. He would take me to games in my hometown all the time. It’s so cool to be back here.”
George was a regular at Pacers games during Vanessa’s time working for the team. Though he was in a wheelchair, he never let that stop him from getting to games and supporting his daughter. When he passed away in April of 2022 at 62, it was crushing for Vanessa.
“The thing we would do is watch sports together,” she said. “I’ve been thinking about him a lot. When I was the in-arena host for the Pacers, he was here all the time.”
Richardson, a Terre Haute North graduate, said she thought Indianapolis “was a massive city” when she arrived at UIndy in the fall of 2013. But she immediately dove into her passion for sports at WICR 88.7 FM, the public radio station owned by UIndy. It was real world experience for Richardson, who worked as a disc jockey and sports reporter.
“Going to the University of Indianapolis was the key to my success,” said Richardson, who was also a freelance sports correspondent for the “Bob and Tom Show” in college. “As a 19-year-old freshman, I was in the Colts’ and Pacers’ locker room interviewing players. Being hired as the arena host was a great stroke of luck.”
After Richardson graduated from UIndy, she was hired as a reporter and anchor for WLWT-TV, an NBC affiliate in Cincinnati. At WLWT, she covered high school football, worked as a morning traffic anchor and covered the Bengals and Reds, among other general assignment events.
Basically, her duties were whatever needed to be done. Richardson said former Indiana University star and Pacers’ TV analyst Quinn Buckner deserves an assist for getting her out of her comfort zone.
“I didn’t know if I would leave (Indianapolis) or not and Quinn Buckner pulled me aside and said, ‘If you want to be a true journalist, go where nobody knows you and grow as a reporter,’” Richardson said. “In Cincinnati, I was doing morning traffic and news and came back and did sports. That was an awesome first job. But I wanted to do sports full time.”
An opportunity opened in Houston at KPRC-TV, the NBC affiliate, in August of 2019. It was a gold mine for Richardson, who reported on weekdays and anchored on weekends. She hosted a weekly 30-minute sports show and covered the Houston Texans, the World Series, NFL Combine and college football.
“Then I took a leap of faith and started a sports talk radio show in Houston from 10 to 12 every morning,” Richardson said. “Talking two hours a day helped me grow. It was fun to get back to my radio roots. I grew so much. Then when the Rockets’ job opened, I was already in Houston and covered the team, so it felt like a perfect fit.”
In October of 2022, she was hired as the sideline reporter for the Rockets for Space City Home Network (the Houston regional sports network, formerly AT&T SportsNet Southwest).
“I would say Houston has become my second home,” Richardson said. “When you work in this industry, you’re lucky if you have a couple places that feel that way.”
Indianapolis is certainly home for Richardson, who has felt the pangs of nostalgia during the NBA Finals. When she worked for the Pacers, Myles Turner was a rookie.
“I would see him at Prime 47 after games,” Richardson said. “I was with my parents and he was with his parents. Neither one of us was 21 yet.”
Richardson was originally just supposed to host her new digital show, called ‘Hoop Dreams’, which is an ESPN pregame show. The radio sideline reporter was added to her plate when television sideline reporter Lisa Salters missed Game 2, 3 and 4 to be with her ailing mother. Radio sideline reporter Jorge Sedano was moved to fill Salters’ shoes and Richardson got the call.
“My assignment was hosting ‘Hoop Dreams’ for the Western Finals and Finals,” she said. “I’m excited about the show. We’re not trying to emulate NBA Countdown. It’s more of a free-flowing show with fashion, trends and topics around the league. We had Rick Fox stop by. We’re trying to be a good hang.”
Richardson is well prepared for such a role. On Wednesday before Game 3, she looked around and took in the moment when she saw Oscar Robertson sitting next to Reggie Miller and Edgerrin James down the row.
“It’s been a warm welcome home,” she said. “It’s meant so much to see so many people I used to work with and see regularly at games.”
Of course, there was one person she wishes could be here: Her father. She would not have been here without him. He taught her how to treat people well and work hard. Those lessons have served his daughter well.
“Everybody sees what you’re doing now,” Richardson said. “They don’t see you shooting high school football games and waking up at 2 a.m. to do morning traffic. You have to have faith because this is a grind of an industry.
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649. Get IndyStar’s high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter.
IndyCar race results from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
IndyCar Series drivers are on the grid in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course is set to host a day of open wheel racing.
View Indianapolis race results for the IndyCar Series below.
Alex Palou and Pato O’Ward set the front row. 85 laps laps of stock car racing are up next…
Race Report
Green flag, Alex Palou is clear out of turn one. Pato O’Ward is turned! Scott Dixon and others are collected. The caution is out.
Penalty: Felix Rosenqvist will serve a drive thru penalty for contact in turn one.
Green, Palou leads Malukas and Kirkwood into turn one.
Lap 7, Kirkwood dives inside of Malukas into turn one. Kirkwood takes 2nd away.
Lap 21, Alexander Rossi is stalled and the caution is out. Multiple pit strategies are now in play.
Palou heads for the pit lane. Power is handed the lead as Palou restarts 19th.
Green, Power leads Malukas and Lundgaard. Felix Rosenqvist jumps over the top of Kyffin Simpson, caution.
Power pits from the lead with others. Malukas is handed the lead.
Green, Malukas leads Lunagaard into turn one.
Lap 48, Malukas and others head for the pit lane. Lundgaard pits the following lap. Malukas cycles out ahead. Malukas is saving fuel.
Lap 52, Power leads Malukas by 8 seconds.
Lap 63, Alex Palou pits for the final time from 5th.
20 to go, Lundgaard and many of the leaders dive for the pit lane. A lap later, Malukas heads for the pit lane.
Malukas cycles out ahead of Lundgaard. Lundgaard trails by 1.3 seconds.
18 to go, Lundgaard is all over the gearbox of the leader! Malukas blocks the inside into turn one. He misses a shift and Lundgaard pulls on the outside. They fight for space into turn four, Lundgaard to the lead!
8 to go, Lundgaard leads Malukas by 3 seconds. He’s driving away.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Race Results
May 9, 2026
IndyCar Series
Pos | Driver
1. Christian Lundgaard
2. David Malukas
3. Graham Rahal
4. Josef Newgarden
5. Alex Palou
6. Scott Dixon
7. Louis Foster
8. Dennis Hauger
9. Kyle Kirkwood
10. Nolan Siegel
11. Marcus Armstrong
12. Kyffin Simpson
13. Will Power
14. Santino Ferrucci
15. Rinus VeeKay
16. Scott McLaughlin
17. Sting Ray Robb
18. Pato O’Ward
19. Caio Collet
20. Mick Schumacher
21. Romain Grosjean
22. Marcus Ericsson
23. Felix Rosenqvist
24. Christian Rasmussen
25. Alexander Rossi
IndyCar Series
Point Standings
Pending
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Video Highlights
Pending
Links
Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Indycar
TODAY
Early clouds give way to gradual clearing, and the afternoon turns much nicer than the damp start might suggest. Highs reach the mid 70s, with a west-southwest breeze around 10 to 15 mph and gusts up to 25 mph. Once we get past the morning gray, this looks like a very usable day for outdoor plans, just a bit breezy at times.
TONIGHT
Clouds increase again overnight, and scattered showers with a few thunderstorms may arrive late, mainly after 3 a.m. Lows settle in the mid 50s, with a light breeze becoming northerly late. Most of the evening stays quiet, but by early Sunday morning a few neighborhoods could hear some rain on the roof.
MOTHER’S DAY
Cooler than Saturday, with a mix of clouds and some breaks of sun along with the chance for an isolated shower. Highs top out in the mid 60s, and a north breeze around 5 to 10 mph adds a slightly cooler feel. It is not a washout, but it is also not as nice as Saturday afternoon, especially south of Indianapolis where a stray shower may hang on longer.
TOMORROW NIGHT
Partly cloudy and cooler, with lows in the mid 40s and a north northeast breeze around 5 to 10 mph. The air dries out nicely, and this looks like a quiet, comfortable night across central Indiana.
MONDAY
Bright and seasonably cool with sunshine taking over. Highs reach the mid 60s, with a light north wind around 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. This looks like one of the cleaner forecast days of the stretch, great for errands, practices, or getting outside without weather trouble.
MONDAY NIGHT
Mostly clear and chilly again, with lows in the low to mid 40s and light wind fading late. Quiet weather continues, and there are no meaningful travel concerns overnight.
TUESDAY
Another decent start, then clouds begin to increase later with a chance for showers and thunderstorms after mid afternoon. Highs reach the mid 60s, with a light south southwest breeze around 5 to 10 mph. Most of the day still looks usable, but the late afternoon and evening carry the next better rain signal.
TUESDAY NIGHT
Showers and thunderstorms become more likely for part of the night before activity starts to ease later on. Lows hold in the low to mid 50s, with a south-southwest wind around 10 to 15 mph and gusts up to 25 mph. It does not look like a high-end severe setup right now, but it is enough of a signal to keep an eye on late evening plans.
WEDNESDAY
A leftover shower is possible early, then the trend turns drier with more sun returning through the day. Highs recover into the upper 60s, and a northwest breeze around 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph will make it feel a little brisker at times. The day improves as it goes, and by afternoon it should look much better than the early morning may suggest.
7 DAY FORECAST
After a milder Saturday and a small late Saturday night into Sunday shower window, the broader pattern settles down for Sunday night and Monday with quieter, cooler weather in place. The next more meaningful chance for rain arrives Tuesday into Tuesday night as another system approaches, then drier conditions return Wednesday as that system pulls away. Temperatures run in the 70s Saturday, slip back into the 60s Sunday through Tuesday, then edge a little milder again by midweek. Confidence is best in the quiet Sunday night through Monday stretch, while the exact timing of Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night rain could still wobble a bit.
Editor’s note: This interview is part of our ‘Meet the Candidates’ show. Watch past episodes here.
After working in education for about 15 years, Andrea Hunley won her first bid for political office four years ago in an Indiana Senate district covering the core of Indianapolis.
On May 8, Hunley, 42, officially launched her campaign for an office that she says feels closer to home: Indianapolis mayor.
About a year ahead of the May 2027 mayoral primary, Hunley sat down with IndyStar on May 5 to discuss what she hopes to accomplish as mayor, why her candidacy differs from her challengers, and how she thinks about hot-button issues like education, public safety and data centers.
At this point, Hunley will face longtime Indianapolis City-County Councilor Vop Osili and Department of Public Works administrator David Bride. Both candidates will also be invited for sit-down interviews with IndyStar in the coming weeks.
Email Indianapolis City Hall Reporter Jordan Smith at JTSmith@indystar.com. Follow him on X @jordantsmith09 and Bluesky @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social.
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