When you see Allie LaForce on the sidelines of a high-stakes NBA playoff game or standing on the court during the chaos of March Madness, you’re looking at one of the most seasoned pros in the business. But honestly, if you search for "sports reporter LaForce NYT," there is a weird bit of confusion floating around. People often associate her name with The New York Times, likely because of the high-profile nature of her reporting or perhaps a mix-up with other national journalists.
The truth? Allie LaForce has never been a staff reporter for the New York Times. She is a broadcast powerhouse, currently a staple for TNT Sports.
Her journey isn't just about reading a teleprompter. It’s way more interesting than that. It’s a mix of basketball grit, a Miss Teen USA crown, and an Emmy-winning local news grind in Cleveland. She’s essentially lived three lives before most people figure out their first career move.
From the Court to the Crown
Growing up in Vermilion, Ohio, sports wasn't just something on TV; it was the family business. Both her parents were college athletes. Allie followed suit, eventually playing guard for the Ohio University Bobcats. This isn't just a "fun fact" for a bio. It’s the reason she can talk shop with coaches like Gregg Popovich without blinking. She knows the terminology because she ran the drills.
While she was deep into hoops, her mom—a former Miss Ohio USA herself—encouraged her to try pageantry.
In 2005, she didn't just try it. She won.
Being crowned Miss Teen USA gave her a platform, but it also created a hurdle. In the hyper-masculine world of sports broadcasting, being a former "beauty queen" can sometimes lead people to underestimate your IQ. She’s spent the last two decades proving that those two things aren't mutually exclusive.
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The Grind: Cleveland to CBS
Most national reporters have a "dues-paying" phase. Allie’s was at WJW, the FOX affiliate in Cleveland. She wasn't just doing fluff pieces. She was anchoring a high school football show called Friday Night Touchdown.
She won an Emmy for it in 2011.
That local success caught the eye of CBS Sports. By 2014, she was named the lead sideline reporter for the SEC on CBS, replacing Tracy Wolfson. Think about the pressure of that for a second. You’re standing in the middle of a screaming stadium in Tuscaloosa or Baton Rouge, trying to get a coherent answer out of Nick Saban while millions watch.
She nailed it.
Why the New York Times Confusion?
You might wonder why "sports reporter LaForce NYT" pops up in search bars. It’s kinda fascinating how the internet works. Sometimes, a reporter gets cited in a New York Times article or featured in a profile, and the SEO engines start to glue those names together. While she has been mentioned in the "Paper of Record" for her work with the HelpCureHD foundation—a charity she started with her husband, MLB pitcher Joe Smith—she remains a television journalist through and through.
The Move to TNT and the NBA
In 2018, LaForce made the jump from CBS to Turner Sports (now TNT Sports). This shifted her primary focus from college football and basketball to the NBA.
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If you watch Inside the NBA, you’ve seen her. She’s the one providing the crucial injury updates or the "heat of the moment" quotes from the tunnel. Her reporting style is direct. She doesn't waste words.
One of her biggest career milestones happened in late 2021 when she became the first woman to provide play-by-play for a Milwaukee Bucks game on Bally Sports Wisconsin. That’s a massive glass ceiling to crack. Play-by-play is a totally different beast than sideline reporting. It requires a rhythmic, encyclopedic knowledge of the game that unfolds in real-time.
Off the Court: HelpCureHD
You can't talk about Allie LaForce without mentioning what she does when the cameras are off. Her husband, Joe Smith, has a family history of Huntington’s Disease. It’s a brutal, neurodegenerative condition.
Instead of just dealing with it privately, they founded HelpCureHD.
Basically, the foundation helps families afford PGT-IVF (Preimplantation Genetic Testing). This technology allows parents to ensure they don't pass the Huntington’s gene to their children. It’s expensive—like, "second mortgage" expensive. Their foundation has funded dozens of grants to help families end the cycle of this disease.
It’s heavy stuff. But it’s arguably the most impactful work she’s ever done.
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What You Should Know Now
If you're following her career or looking to break into the industry herself, here are some actionable takeaways from the way LaForce operates:
Specialization is Key She didn't just "like sports." She played them. If you want to be a top-tier reporter, you need a level of "game-feel" that only comes from deep study or participation.
Versatility Wins She can do sidelines, she can anchor a desk, and she can do play-by-play. In the 2026 media landscape, being a "one-trick pony" is a death sentence for your career.
Personal Brand with Purpose She uses her social media and public platform to talk about Huntington’s Disease. This makes her more than just a face on TV; it makes her a person people want to root for.
Ignore the Stereotypes She’s dealt with the "pageant girl" labels for twenty years. Her response? Outwork everyone. She prepares for a Tuesday night regular-season game like it's the NBA Finals.
Allie LaForce remains one of the most formidable journalists in the game today. Whether she's in a drafty arena in the Midwest or the glitz of the All-Star game, her presence is a masterclass in professional sports communication. If you're looking for her work, keep your eyes on TNT and TBS—that's where the real action is.
To get the most out of following her career, pay attention to her interview technique during the NBA playoffs. Notice how she asks "open-ended" questions that force coaches to give more than a one-word answer. It's a subtle skill, but it's exactly why she's at the top of the industry. You can also visit the HelpCureHD website to see the tangible impact her philanthropy has on families across the country.