Alyssa Charlston
I grew up competing with my brother in our Sammamish driveway, fighting over who got to be Gary Payton or Rashard Lewis. I dressed up as Sue Bird four Halloweens in a row. Seattle sports are home base for me, and I am thrilled to cover them for FOX 13 Sports!
After my college and professional basketball career, I spent three and a half years covering Washington State and Gonzaga as a sports anchor for KXLY-TV in Spokane. (I come to Seattle with many Mike Leach and Mark Few stories.) I also hosted HuskyTron from Home during the unique 2020 COVID-19 Pac-12 football season, and worked for Pac-12 Networks as a basketball color analyst.
I played high school volleyball and basketball for Eastlake before committing to college basketball at the University of Idaho. As a Vandal, I was a three-time all-conference selection and two-time academic All-American. We won two Western Athletic Conference championships, played WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart's UConn Huskies, and then the Louisville Cardinals in back-to-back NCAA tournaments. Don't look up the scores of these games.
Playing professionally in Luxembourg stretched me the most. I juggled new languages while living in a foreign country and meeting the standards of an athlete paid to be efficient. We won the national championship, which helped me hang up the shoes on a high note. (I no longer accept requests to play one-on-one.)
The experiences I have as a former athlete shape the way I see sports, life and what motivates us all. I hope you'll interact with me on social media, and say 'hello' if you ever see me in a grocery store. I'm grateful to work in my hometown alongside the most passionate sports fans on the planet!
The latest from Alyssa Charlston
Gonzaga women's basketball team enters March Madness with near-perfect record
On Feb. 29, the Gonzaga women’s basketball team polished off their first undefeated conference season in 13 years.
‘I fight to live, I want to live’; Seahawks superfan defies ALS to catch first game in years
A love that began in 1976, Dan Farnsworth has been a Seahawks fan since the beginning. Now, he attracts fans of his own.
21-year-old attends first Mariners game since life-saving heart transplant
162 games gives us seven months of Mariners baseball, most of us tune in after work, maybe during work. Imagine if those daily games were the only highlight of your day.
Marysville bar 'Volli' capitalizes on pickleball ahead of major, local tournaments
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., and it was founded right here in Washington. A bar in Marysville got ahead of the curve and is capitalizing on the growing popularity of the state's official sport.
Mariners' director of sports science makes impact on team as players extend careers
Major League Baseball players are expanding their careers and exceeding their potential. We've seen pitcher velocity increase over time while the average age of players has increased.
Gonzaga Bulldogs, Spokane philanthropic group raise $30K for local families
Three players from the Gonzaga men's basketball team teamed up to help a Spokane grassroots organization raise over $30,000, providing groceries for nearly 300 families.
Michael Penix Jr., Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan chasing championship in return to Huskies
Michael Penix Jr., Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan returned to the Washington Huskies for another year with sights set on chasing championships.
Teen athlete uses sudden cardiac arrest experience to help others save a life
A teen athlete suffered a sudden cardiac arrest during a soccer match last summer, and now, she and her family are using that terrifying moment to educate others and raise awareness.