Special Edition: A Vibe Check on ESPN's 'Vibe Check'
Podcast: Bloomberg Business of Sports
Date: October 30, 2025
Host: Jason Kelly
Guests: Elle Duncan, Chiney Ogwumike, Ari Chambers
Episode Overview
This special edition explores ESPN's new sports talk show, Vibe Check, which delivers a fresh, authentic perspective on sports—particularly women’s sports. Host Jason Kelly sits down with Vibe Check hosts Elle Duncan, Chiney Ogwumike, and Ari Chambers (each prominent figures in sports media and, in Chiney's case, a former WNBA player) for an in-depth, live conversation. Together, they discuss how the show came to life, its place within ESPN, and its impact on the broader women's sports landscape—especially as the WNBA collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expiration looms.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Conception & Purpose of Vibe Check
- Intentional Authenticity: The show was born out of a desire to create a genuine space where female hosts could talk about sports from their lived experiences—not as a token “female perspective,” but simply as themselves.
- Showcasing Talent: Vibe Check provides an “unlimited” platform for underrepresented voices and stories at ESPN, allowing in-depth discussion not possible on other programs.
- Warm, Inviting Tone: The hosts deliberately keep the vibe welcoming and familial, inviting viewers in rather than explaining from an outsider perspective.
Quote:
“Our perspective on sports, whether that be a women’s sport or a male sport, will skew women and female, because that’s what we are… [This show is for] everybody to… unpack everything they know in an environment that’s super warm. And I think it’s going pretty well.”
— Elle Duncan [03:46]
2. The Origin Story
- Format Inspiration: The “vibe check” concept started as a quick, informal segment during tournament coverage, checking if they were “on the same vibe” about key game storylines.
- Organic Growth: What began as a fun exercise between colleagues turned into a more structured platform for candid conversations, analysis, and letting personalities shine.
Memorable Moment:
“What’s going to be the second half storyline? 3, 2, 1… both said, the refs.”
— Chiney & Elle [04:37]
3. The Rise of Women’s Sports in Media & Culture
- Narrative Shift: Women’s sports no longer require advocacy alone. The focus now includes storytelling and amplification, reflecting growing popularity and acceptance.
- Greater Representation: The show reflects ESPN’s efforts to make space for more diverse voices, and it’s now a “destination” both for women working at ESPN and for families.
- Connection with Audience: The set and supporting visuals (college flags, Outkast bobbleheads) help viewers get to know the hosts as people.
Quote:
“I can change or transform, transfer my energy from advocacy to storytelling… All I ever wanted to do is amplify and storyteller around women’s sports, women athletes, and Vibe Check gives me the opportunity to do that.”
— Ari Chambers [05:24]
4. Vibe Check’s Unique Position in the ESPN Ecosystem
- Digital Disruption: It’s one of ESPN’s few studio shows designed for Disney’s streaming platform, merging traditional and digital audiences.
- Talent Magnet: Female talent at ESPN sees the show as a coveted opportunity.
- Family Engagement: The streaming model allows viewers to watch together at their convenience.
Quote:
“It is one of the only studio shows that we put on Disney… that gives you an ability to sort of merge the worlds of linear TV and digital.”
— Chiney Ogwumike [08:06]
5. The State of Women’s Sports – Focus on the WNBA
- Dramatic Moment: With the WNBA CBA expiring soon, the league faces both excitement (rising investment, valuations, and audience) and challenges (negotiation pressure, labor issues).
- Transformation in Business: Team valuations (e.g., Angel City, Golden State Valkyries) and investments are rising rapidly, reframing women's leagues as shrewd business opportunities rather than “charity.”
- Ownership & Agency: Players’ business acumen and leadership are forcing leagues and owners to evolve.
Quote:
“With great change comes great responsibility. But also it comes with disruption… seeing the investment, that’s been the biggest disruptor in the best way, because people are starting to see that you can get in on something right now that is huge for years to come. It’s a generational asset.”
— Chiney Ogwumike [10:08]
- Labor Negotiations & Player Empowerment:
- Players today are more informed, engaged, and united than ever, demanding fair treatment and voicing their value.
- Players also have greater financial stakes, sometimes even ownership roles.
Quote:
“The players, who can’t be as Nneka is a president for a reason, right? So the players are feeling like, okay, no, we’re worth this. We’re not going to stop until we get the demands… The value is there. Numbers talk. The numbers are talking and the players are able to be louder in a way that they haven’t before.”
— Ari Chambers [14:17]
- New Era for Athletes:
- Women athletes now build multimillion-dollar brands, own businesses, and leverage collective bargaining much more audaciously than in previous generations.
Quote:
“You have players that are multimillion dollar brands that understand their worth. You have players that are launching their own leagues… That’s a good sign for business. But what they want is to be able to share in the growth of that.”
— Chiney Ogwumike [17:39]
6. The Future for Teams and Ownership
- Team Valuations Soaring: Expansion fees and team valuations have skyrocketed, signaling a fast-maturing business ecosystem.
- Diverse Ownership Attitudes: Some owners invest heavily; others remain “cheap” and risk being left behind as expectations rise.
Memorable Quotes:
“You’re going to have huge investment from some owners, and you’re going to have some owners who are cheap… those cheap ones that don’t want to spend any money… need to be, you know, continue to weed out by making sure that there is a huge investment in these people.”
— Chiney Ogwumike [20:54]
“You’re gonna lose money, but if you keep investing, it will come back to you tenfold. And I think to your point, like, Mark Davis is a huge symbol for that. You buy, he lost money until he didn’t, and now he’s got the most important franchise in the W.”
— Chiney Ogwumike [21:41]
7. Looking Forward: Vibe Check’s Next Steps
- Steady Growth over Expansion: The hosts agree the priority is quality and authenticity over hasty expansion.
- Audience Building: The team is still refining content based on audience feedback and determining what resonates most.
Quote:
“For me, I care purely about making sure we do the absolute best version of the thing we have before we talk about expanding and spinning... We are still figuring out combinations… what topics they’re interested in. And so, for me, I’m far less interested in like, what’s next for vibe check in terms of scale and much more in like how we each own our little space of vibe Check and continue to try to make it authentic and real and a place that’s a destination for families.”
— Chiney Ogwumike [22:45]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “The vibes are immaculate.” — Chiney Ogwumike [03:47]
- “Women are owning their own narratives and statements… their power is in the collective. It’s unlike anything we’ve ever witnessed before.” — Chiney Ogwumike [11:38]
- “Players are now having ownership positions… They’re challenging the conventional thought of, we cannot accommodate this because this is not how the business model is, when you have them running businesses now.” — Ari Chambers [16:37]
- “It’s no longer a charity. You’re not doing it out of your foundation. This is a business.” — Elle Duncan [20:36]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [02:26] — Vibe Check conception and goals
- [05:24] — Impact of women’s sports popularity on storytelling
- [10:08] — State of the WNBA & the business shift
- [13:33] — CBA negotiations and player engagement
- [17:39] — Athlete empowerment and economic interests
- [20:34] — Evolution of league ownership and investment
- [22:26] — Future plans and vision for Vibe Check
Final Vibe & Takeaways
- Vibes are high and hopeful. The hosts project optimism about both the future of Vibe Check and the trajectory of women’s sports.
- Change is here—driven by players, investment, and bold storytelling.