Michelle Smallmon is an American sports broadcaster — co-host of ESPN Radio’s national morning show Unsportsmanlike, alongside Evan Cohen and Chris Canty. She got there the old-fashioned way: local radio in St. Louis, a producer’s discipline, and a decade of early-morning reps. Her net worth is estimated at $1–2 million in 2026, with her ESPN salary estimated at $100,000–$150,000 a year.
Quick facts
| Full name | Michelle Smallmon |
| Born | August 13, 1986 (age 40), Belleville, Illinois, U.S. |
| Profession | Sports broadcaster, radio host |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | University of Illinois (broadcast journalism, 2008) |
| Known for | Co-host, ESPN Radio’s Unsportsmanlike |
| Estimated net worth | $1–2 million (2026 estimates; unaudited) |
| Last updated | October 2026 |
Biography
Michelle Smallmon was born August 13, 1986, in Belleville, Illinois. Her parents, Tony (a real-estate broker associate) and Robin Smallmon, raised her in a household where sports weren’t just watched but studied. She played varsity volleyball at Althoff Catholic High School, serving as co-captain her senior year, and continued playing at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she graduated in 2008 with a degree in broadcast journalism.
Career
At 101 ESPN St. Louis, she hosted morning shows and podcasts, eventually becoming the first woman to host a show under her own name at the station (Karraker & Smallmon) — and earning “Best Sports Personality” from the Riverfront Times in 2014. She made the jump to national radio as co-host of Unsportsmanlike — weekday mornings 6:00–10:00 AM ET on ESPN Radio, SiriusXM Channel 80, simulcast on ESPN2 and ESPNU. Like Caitlin Clark, whose rise she has covered as a broadcaster, Smallmon represents the new face of sports media. For a comparable sports-media salary profile, see Liz Claman.
How she makes money — and what she is worth
ESPN Radio. Her co-host salary on Unsportsmanlike is the core of her income. Industry estimates put it at $100,000–$150,000 a year. ESPN does not disclose individual host pay, so treat every figure as an estimate.
Podcasts and appearances. Guest interviews, digital content, and brand-adjacent media work add secondary income.
So what is she actually worth? The honest range is $1–2 million. The estimates are unusually consistent for a broadcaster: multiple independent profiles land in the same $1–2 million band. None is audited, and broadcaster wealth is mostly accumulated salary rather than equity — which is why the range stays conservative.
FAQ
Who is Michelle Smallmon?
An American sports broadcaster and radio host from Belleville, Illinois — co-host of ESPN Radio’s national morning show Unsportsmanlike (with Evan Cohen and Chris Canty), airing weekdays 6–10 AM ET.
How old is Michelle Smallmon?
She was born August 13, 1986 — she is 40 years old (turned 40 in August 2026).
What is Michelle Smallmon’s salary at ESPN?
Not publicly disclosed. Industry estimates put her Unsportsmanlike co-host salary at roughly $100,000–$150,000 a year.
What is Michelle Smallmon’s net worth in 2026?
An estimated $1 million to $2 million, based on consistent independent estimates. None is audited.
Sources
- starsboundry — Michelle Smallmon Bio
- blazemagazine — Michelle Smallmon ESPN Age
- historicallives — Michelle Smallmon Biography
- crewglam — Michelle Smallmon Spouse
- celebrityhints — Michelle Smallmon
- piqora — ESPN’s Charismatic Host
- magviom — Michelle Smallmon Age, Career, Net Worth
Danish Tariq is the founder and editor of Celeb Hubz, covering celebrity net worth, biographies and career stories. He focuses on verified figures and sourced research — no inflated claims, no clickbait.
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