JMS alumna Stormy Buonantony’s versatile and award-winning sports broadcast career

Stormy Buonantony has covered some of the biggest moments in sports, earned four Emmy Awards and built a national career that ranges from sideline reporting to studio hosting and feature storytelling. 

She is respected not only for her on-air presence but also for her authenticity and the trust she builds with athletes and coaches. This foundation started at SDSU, where strong writing, curiosity and hard work shaped her voice long before the bright lights of national broadcasts. Today, Buonantony works on national broadcasts, creates original features and interviews athletes at the peak of their careers. 

“Interviewing is one of my strengths and favorite things to do,” Buonantony said.

Buonantony’s path has taken her from ESPN and ABC broadcasts to hosting national studio shows at VSiN, giving her experience across multiple sports and platforms. She has covered college football championships, reported from packed stadiums and produced long-form features that highlight both the excitement and humanity of sports.

Despite her versatility, hockey was the assignment that tested her the most. She did not grow up watching the sport and had to learn it from the ground up.

“My family was more into basketball and baseball,” Buonantony said. “Hockey was like speaking a foreign language.”

However, Buonantony’s first major opportunity to work in hockey came as a rinkside reporter for the Vegas Golden Knights, a new team in a city that was still being introduced to the sport.

Stepping into the role required her to adjust quickly. Buonantony said she approached every game with curiosity and a willingness to learn, knowing that earning credibility meant putting in the extra effort to understand the sport and the people involved. 

Her own unfamiliarity with hockey, combined with the team’s fresh start, ended up becoming an advantage. She learned the sport alongside the community and was honest with players about the process, which helped her earn genuine trust.

She said her role as a rinkside reporter taught her resilience, especially when navigating misconceptions about her work. At times, she sensed an attitude that questioned whether she had earned her position based on her abilities, which only pushed her to prove her credibility through preparation and hard work.

“There will always be people with old-school mentalities,” Buonantony said. “Just because I didn’t play football doesn’t mean I don’t know anything about sports.”

She explained that sideline work is far more demanding than people realize, and she takes pride in doing research, building relationships and gathering stories that amplify what happens on the field or ice. That dedication strengthened her credibility in the sport, and it ultimately opened the door to one of the most unique assignments of her career.

During the COVID-19 pandemic season, Buonantony became the only regional NHL television talent in the country who was allowed to travel with a team and report from inside a modified bubble. She described this experience as intense and isolating.

“I was tested for COVID-19 twice a day, and I wasn’t allowed to go do other things when the world began to open back up,” Buonantony said. “I ate alone in my hotel room every night, and I was only allowed to see my husband.”

Buonantony said the demands of her job make a strong support system essential. She shared that her husband understands and embraces her travel-heavy schedule, which has been crucial for her stability and focus in the industry. Some friendships, however, have faded over time because not everyone fully grasped the realities of her work.

Even with these challenges, she remains grateful for the opportunities her career has provided. Her access during the pandemic season allowed her to build meaningful relationships and deliver coverage that no one else could.

Looking back, Buonantony said SDSU prepared her for the realities of the industry. She explained that not attending a traditional broadcasting school ended up being a huge advantage.

“SDSU trained me to be a strong writer, and that translated into broadcast,” Buonantony said. “Being a good writer helped me become a better speaker.”

Buonantony hopes her path encourages SDSU students who may not see a direct route into sports broadcasting. She said she had no connections in the industry when she graduated, but she worked hard, stayed prepared and treated people well, which helped her earn opportunities over time.

“I am an example that anyone can do it,” Buonantony said. “You just have to go for it and try.”