UW Huskies announce their new football play-by-play voice

Longtime sideline reporter Elise Woodward will be the new radio play-by-play voice for UW Huskies football, the school’s athletic department announced on Monday.

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Woodward replaces Tony Castricone, who left earlier this summer to become the play-by-play voice for the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Castricone spent the past nine years as the radio play-by-play announcer for UW football and men’s basketball.

Woodward, a UW alum and former captain of the Huskies women’s basketball team, is a veteran broadcaster with more than 30 years of experience.

The new voice of Husky football 🎙️@UWAthletics is proud to welcome veteran broadcaster Elise Woodward as the radio play-by-play voice of @UW_Football.

📰 https://t.co/Q8OSv4SMmg pic.twitter.com/2o7yf4xgl9

— Washington Athletics (@UWAthletics) July 28, 2026

Woodward is currently the voice of the WNBA’s Portland Fire and has served as UW football’s sideline reporter for over two decades. In addition, Woodward has been a broadcaster for the Seattle Storm and the Seattle SuperSonics, hosting pregame, halftime and postgame radio shows.

“We are excited to name Washington alumna and former student-athlete Elise Woodward as the new play-by-play voice of Husky Football,” UW athletic director Pat Chun said in a press release. “Elise has built an outstanding career as a sports broadcaster at both the national and local levels.

“She has established herself as a trusted voice within the Husky community through her years covering UW football, women’s basketball, and Seattle sports. She knows this university, its traditions, and the rich history of this role. We couldn’t be more excited to have Elise carry forward the legacy of being the voice of Husky football.”

Woodward, a two-time Emmy nominee, has been a play-by-play voice for ESPN’s coverage of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament for over a decade. She also has called games on FOX, Big Ten Network and Pac-12 Network for a wide range of sports, including football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, softball, gymnastics, track and field and lacrosse.

Woodward played four seasons of basketball at UW from 1993-97, helping the Huskies reach the NCAA Tournament three times and serving as team captain her senior year. She earned her degree in broadcast journalism.

“Having the opportunity to be the voice of University of Washington football is the honor of my lifetime,” Woodward said. “As a Dawg, I take so much pride in the rich history and tradition of Husky football. I am so thankful for the last 23 seasons that I spent on the sidelines, but I’m also beyond excited to trade in my rain gear for the warmth of the Bob Rondeau radio booth.”

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