6 minute read
Basketball Dreams to Broadcast Goals
Ariana Freeman Prather ’14
“I take pride in trying to outwork everyone in my field. I’m the ultimate competitor and that leads to success,” shares Ariana Freeman Prather ’14.
Her work ethic, along with her passion and drive, has led Ariana to a successful career in broadcast journalism.
While at Paul VI, Ariana helped lead the Girls Varsity Basketball team to a VISAA state championship all four years, as well as the program’s first WCAC championship. In addition to her athletic achievements, Ariana dreamed of being a broadcast journalist from an early age and worked hard to achieve it.
“Since high school I knew I wanted to work on-air. During my junior year, PVI hosted a Career Day. I was reluctant to go at the time as a 15-yearold ‘know-it-all,’ but it was required. There, I met a reporter who worked at Channel 9 who I asked to shadow for a day. I was instantly captivated by the bright lights, shiny camera, and his bold personality speaking into a microphone.”
After PVI, Ariana went on to play basketball at the University of Louisville on a full scholarship and made it to the Elite 8. She then transferred to play at the University of Colorado on a full scholarship, graduating with a degree in journalism and minor in communications. She returned to Virginia and earned her master’s in sport management from George Mason on a full scholarship.
I owe a lot to PVI for molding me into the person I am today, specifically Coach Scott Allen and his great coaching staff. The teenage years are pivotal in setting kids up for success in the future. The perfect balance of discipline and love that Coach Allen gave me will always have a special place in my heart.
— ARIANA FREEMAN PRATHER ’14
A focus on building connections and strengthening her network was Ariana’s playbook for reaching her goals in sports journalism. “I never stopped taking steps that I believed would get me in front of the camera. I joined the morning news team at PVI, did endless internships in high school and college, and ultimately, networking gave me my start in reporting. I would always ask people who worked on-air if I could shadow them, if they could teach me what they do. Sure enough: when opportunities opened, they would think of me. I slowly but surely got to where I wanted to go and have never needed to apply for a job — that is how powerful networking is.”
During her graduate studies at Mason, Ariana worked part-time for the Washington Commanders and began her career on-air. She had a four year tenure at CBS News where she worked her way up from news associate to associate producer. She covered the NBA’s LA Clippers for Bally Sports West and served as a sideline reporter for the WNBA’s Washington Mystics for NBC Sports Washington during the 2023-2024 season.
NBC Sports Washington (now Monumental Sports Network) was the first broadcast to produce a full WNBA pre/post game show, and in June 2024, Ariana and the team were awarded a Capital Emmy Award for their work. She reflects, “I could not be more proud of our hard work being recognized as well as the tremendous growth we see in WNBA coverage worldwide. Women’s sports deserve the same respect as male counterparts.”
Ariana also recently added the title of “Mom” to her accomplishments. Around the same time they became parents, she and her husband relocated to Australia for the season, where her husband plays basketball for the National Basketball League’s (NBL) Brisbane Bullets.
Now, 7-months postpartum, Ariana works as a courtside reporter for the NBL, which is broadcast on ESPNAU. “Growing up, I certainly never saw living in Australia in my future. But it is a testament that if you work hard enough, your skills can be taken anywhere you decide to go!”
Ariana reflects on her time at PVI and how it influenced her future. “I owe a lot to PVI for molding me into the person I am today, specifically Coach Scott Allen and his great coaching staff. The teenage years are pivotal in setting kids up for success in the future. The perfect balance of discipline and love that Coach Allen gave me will always have a special place in my heart.”
“I am also grateful for the wonderful teachers, counselors, and front office staff I had at the time. When I think about my high school experience at PVI, I remember bright smiles, endless laughs, and happy moments. Even when I did get my phone taken away and had to pay 20 bucks for it back!”
According to Ariana, being a student-athlete during her formative years taught her discipline. “It is not easy juggling school and sports. You have long practices, mandatory study halls, conditioning, and still need to perform in class. Now, as an adult I truly have a ‘go-getter’ mentality that pushes me to go the extra mile in everything I do.”
One of Ariana’s favorite quotes perfectly exemplifies her vision, initiative and drive: “If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough.” Ariana plans to keep pursuing her big dreams, and in doing so, she serves as a role model for the next generation.
“Motherhood has made me soak in every moment and appreciate the small things like never before. I find it most rewarding when a little girl tells me after the game that they want to do what I do.”
