If you follow the Atlanta Hawks, you know the sidelines usually feel like a revolving door of talent. But Tabitha Turner was different. She wasn’t just a talking head; she was a fixture of Georgia sports culture, carrying a resume that would make most people’s heads spin. Then, things got messy.
One minute, she's the voice of the Hawks on Bally Sports Southeast, and the next, she’s in a legal firestorm after a viral incident involving an Uber driver. Honestly, most fans were left wondering: Did she leave? Was she replaced?
What's the real story?
The Shift: Tabitha Turner Atlanta Hawks and the New Era
The landscape of regional sports networks is basically a sinking ship right now. You’ve probably noticed the rebranding. Bally Sports Southeast is gone, replaced by FanDuel Sports Network. With that massive corporate shift in late 2025 came a complete overhaul of the broadcast team.
Tabitha Turner officially served as the primary sideline reporter for the Hawks from 2023 through the 2024-25 season. She took over for Lauren Jbara, who moved on to national work with TNT and NBA TV. Turner was a natural fit. She had already spent years as an analyst for the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA and had deep roots at Georgia Tech.
But as the 2025-26 season approached, the network wanted a "new look."
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In September 2025, the hammer dropped. FanDuel Sports Network announced that Madison Hock would be taking over as the sideline reporter for Hawks home games. Matt Winer joined as the road reporter and "Hawks Live" host.
Where did that leave Tabitha?
She didn't disappear completely. According to recent reports and her own professional updates, she’s still in the mix as a part-time analyst for the 2025-26 season. It’s a bit of a "demotion" in terms of screen time, but she remains a part of the broadcast family.
The Uber Incident: Why Everyone Was Talking About Her
You can't talk about Tabitha Turner Atlanta Hawks without mentioning the June 2025 incident that nearly derailed her career. It was the kind of story that dominates a 24-hour news cycle and then lingers in the comments section forever.
Basically, Turner was heading home from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport after a work assignment. It was sweltering—typical Georgia 90-degree heat. She asked her Uber driver, Nicole Smith, to roll up the windows and turn on the A/C.
The driver refused.
The driver claimed she kept the windows down to avoid catching illnesses from passengers. Things escalated. Fast. The driver pulled over in Hapeville, told Turner to get out, and allegedly pepper-sprayed her.
Turner recorded the whole thing on her phone.
The Aftermath and Social Media Backlash
The video was enough for police to issue a warrant for the driver for battery. But the internet is a weird, reactionary place. Despite being the one who called the police and had the video evidence, Turner was flooded with threats.
"I have received threats... they have reached out to people I work with and work for," Turner said during a press conference at The Cochran Law Firm.
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She was worried about her job. She was worried about her daughter. The NBA and WNBA representatives even reached out to discuss her role. It was a mess, but she stayed professional. The Atlanta Dream notably stood by her, offering extra security when she felt unsafe at games.
More Than Just a Reporter: The Engineering Twist
Here’s the thing most people get wrong about Tabitha Turner. They think she’s just another media personality.
Wrong.
She’s a literal civil engineer. She graduated from Georgia Tech in 2010 with an engineering degree while simultaneously managing the women's basketball team. Talk about a workload.
- She works in traffic engineering.
- She runs her own media company, TabTurnerTV.
- She’s been a play-by-play analyst for NBC Sports and CBS Sports.
- She even did reporting for the Georgia Swarm pro lacrosse team.
She’s basically a human Swiss Army knife. That’s probably why she was able to pivot when the Hawks broadcast team changed. Most reporters would be crushed, but when you’re a licensed engineer with a dozen other gigs, a schedule change at FanDuel Sports Network is just another Tuesday.
What Most People Get Wrong
People assume she left the Hawks because of the legal drama.
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That’s a bit of a stretch. While the "ramifications" she mentioned during her press conference were real, the timing of her replacement aligned perfectly with the FanDuel Sports Network rebranding. Networks often swap talent during a name change to signal a "fresh start."
If anything, the incident proved her resilience. She went back to work. She kept her composure during a period where most people would have gone into hiding.
What’s Next for Tabitha Turner?
Tabitha is currently leaning into her "TabTurnerTV" brand. She’s expressed interest in branching out into HGTV-style content—which makes sense given the engineering background—and continues to be a leading voice in the WNBA space.
As for the Atlanta Hawks, the broadcast is definitely different. Madison Hock is doing a great job, but Turner’s deep tactical knowledge (the kind you only get from being an analyst, not just a reporter) is missed on the nightly sideline hits.
Practical Takeaways for Hawks Fans
- Don't expect to see her every night. If you're tuning in to FanDuel Sports Network, Madison Hock is the primary face now. Tabitha is in a more limited, part-time analyst role for this season.
- Follow the Dream. If you want to hear her best basketball analysis, watch the Atlanta Dream games. She’s been a staple there since 2017 and has way more "freedom" to break down the game.
- Check the credentials. Next time someone says she's "just a reporter," remind them she probably designed the road they're driving on.
The story of Tabitha Turner and the Atlanta Hawks is a classic case of corporate shifts meeting personal hurdles. She's still a part of the Atlanta sports fabric, just in a different capacity than before.
To stay updated on the current Hawks broadcast schedule, check the official FanDuel Sports Network Southeast listings. You can also follow Tabitha’s personal updates through her LLC, TabTurnerTV, where she frequently posts about her engineering projects and independent media appearances. For those interested in the legal resolution of her 2025 case, public records from the Hapeville Police Department remain the most accurate source for case status updates.