Veteran ESPN reporter MA Voepel has come out as a trans man. The veteran journalist shared this announcement in a tweet thread announcing his preferred pronouns and what he’d like to be addressed as in his byline.
He shared in his tweet that the new names he will be responding to are Voepel, MV, Michael, and Mike. Voepel began his sports reporting career in 1984 and joined ESPN in 1996. Since then, he has dedicated his career to covering women’s basketball.
The announcement was made prior to him receiving the prestigious Curt Gowdy Award for Print Media by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, which will happen in September.
“I have the great honor of receiving Gowdy Award next month from Naismith Hall of Fame, and wanted to do that as authentic self,” Voepel wrote.
Voepel expressed his gratefulness towards his “terrific family and friends”, and “societal progress”, and to ESPN for an environment that “supports all its employees”.
Many showed their support to Voepel and congratulated him.
MA Voepel also said that he “may look and sound a little different”, but he is “glad to be who he’s always been on the inside”.
I have followed Michael’s basketball coverage and analysis of the WNBA teams and games for a couple of years. I find his basketball insights very accurate and interesting. I look for his name when I’m reading WNBA content. I’m 77 yo and love basketball. Thanks for your creativity.