Softball Star Mo’ne Davis Chosen As Analyst For Little League World Series

Star Hampton University softball player Mo’ne Davis will be returning to the upcoming Little League World Series, not as a player, but as an ESPN Analyst! Learn more about the trailblazer’s level up in The Virginian-Pilot article by Jami Frankenberry below.

Mo’ne Davis hits the ball during Hampton University’s home softball game against Hartford on Feb. 23, 2020. (Credit: Amber Searls/AP)

Mo’ne Davis is returning to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, but her role will be much different this time.

Davis, a softball player and communications major at Hampton University, will serve as an analyst during ESPN’s coverage of the LLWS next weekend.

In 2014, Davis gained national fame as a pitcher for her Pennsylvania team when she became the first girl to toss a shutout in a Little League World Series game.

Next weekend, Davis will join ESPN and a group of young broadcasters during the event. The first of two KidsCast presentations will be the MLB Little League Classic between the Los Angeles Angels and Cleveland Indians on Aug. 22. The ESPN2 broadcast will complement the main feed on ESPN.

2014: Mo’ne Davis pitches Little League shutout | Mo’ne Davis started playing baseball as a kid. At 13, while playing for Philadelphia’s Taney Youth Baseball Association, she became the first girl to pitch a shutout and win a game in the Little League World Series. She told the New York Times that she chose a predominately black college so she could play with girls “who look like me or who grew up kind of the same way I grew up.” (Credit: Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Two nights later, one of the Little League World Series games will serve as the standalone telecast on ESPN at 7:30 p.m.

Davis also was an analyst in the 2019 LLWS, but last year’s was canceled because of the pandemic.

“I know the team has a lot of fun things planned for the broadcasts that will be of interest to kids and MLB fans of all ages,” Davis said in a statement. “Since 2019 I’ve had some practice and feel more prepared than ever. I can’t wait to work with some new people and get back at it in Williamsport.”

In 2014, Davis struck out eight in a six-inning, two-hitter in her first LLWS game.

In the ensuing months, Davis appeared on “The Tonight Show,” threw out the first pitch at Dodger Stadium and played in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. She also met Barack and Michelle Obama at the White House, won an ESPY for Breakthrough Athlete and, as a 13-year-old, appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Davis signed to play softball for Hampton in 2018 and, as a sophomore infielder in 2020, started all 19 games and batted .333. HU did not play in 2021.

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