Episode 13: Katy Winge

John Twork 0:09
Welcome to Redbird Buzz, I'm John Twork from University Marketing and Communications. Our guest today is Katy Winge, a 2015 graduate of Illinois State University who was a four year letter winner with the Redbird women's basketball program. She's now starting her fifth season as reporter analyst and host for Altitude TV and the NBA's Denver Nuggets. He joins us to talk about broadcasting basketball and her journey from Redbird arena to Ball Arena, the home of the Denver Nuggets.

And it's my pleasure to welcome Katy Winge, a 2015 graduate of Illinois State University and alum of the Redbird women's basketball team. Hey, Katy what's the word Redbird, the NBA regular season is just about to tip off, tell us what you've been up to this summer and how you're prepping for the 2022-2023 Nuggets season.

Katy Winge 1:01
Well, it's been great. I am so so excited for this season and the Denver Nuggets. It's the first time in a while that this whole squad has been totally healthy. So expectations are a little bit higher, the excitement is building. And I've pretty much spent all summer a variety of different NBA things that pop up, whether that's the draft summer league, we're inching closer to training camp and media day and that sort of thing. So getting ready and preparing for those things and executing those things. And then also just a lot of really fun time for me like I'm in Colorado, I'm in Denver. So being able to go to the mountains and go on hikes and get back to Minnesota where I'm from to hang out with family and friends. It's kind of a good time for me to reset. And it's funny, this was the longest offseason that we have had in essentially three years or three seasons. So a lot of us are like scratching to get back because we're so used to the with the COVID years, the really quick turnarounds and having to jump right back into basketball. So having this time off has been great. It's been great for preparation. It's been great for a refresh for me. But I think most of us that that work in NBA are ready to get after it.

John Twork 2:17
As I mentioned, you're starting your fifth season in your current role with the Nuggets. Just take us through what what is your role with Altitude TV, and what is your day to day life during the regular NBA season?

Katy Winge 2:29
I like to think of myself as a utility player for those kind of basketball fans out there and that coach can put me in and I can pretty much do anything that the team needs for me to do. I bounced around in a variety of different roles, whether that be sideline reporting, hosting our pregame, halftime postgame shows or getting to sit in the analyst seat, whether that's in studio, on those shows, or during the actual game broadcasts. So I do a little bit of everything, I love putting, you know my versatility on display. And but most of all, it's just so fun for me to be able to tell the stories of this team and the players and the coaching staff and within this franchise because they are such great people just as much so as they are, you know, athletes and and great basketball minds and that sort of thing. So getting a chance to share those stories and kind of be the liaison between Nuggets nation and that fanbase. And the team that they root for and give people something to hope for to cheer about--a good distraction from everyday life is, is something that I'm really passionate about. So that's what I've been doing for the past, this will be my fifth season, which is crazy to think about. I can't believe that I've been covering this team for as long as I have. And as far as a day in the life goes, it's really tough to do that. We've gotten that question before. And I guess I'll just kind of take you through like a typical game day because I do travel with the team. So I'm on the road with them. And so sometimes that means like I'm going to shoot around and getting sound from players in the morning and then coming back and working through some of that and getting prepped for the game. But kind of like a typical game day is like I get up in the morning, I kind of go over news and notes and look at social media to see if there's anything new that I need to be aware of. By that point, I've probably already watched some film on the opposing team, looking at storylines on them as well have prepared some of my hits depending on what role I'm in. And that also changes my day to day too have like if I'm posting or if I'm reporting or if I'm an analyst. I'm going through the rundowns, I'm going through kind of what our broadcast meeting was the night before and making sure that we're all on the same page. And then I try and always get a workout in just to be able to like step away from my workday because it does end up being really really long to decompress and kind of get refocused and do something for myself. And then it's like all prep kind from that point on, whether that's going to shoot around or going, like I said, going back over notes and that sort of thing, making sure that everything is ready to go and then like, do my hair, do my makeup, getting dressed, getting ready to go. And I end up getting to the arena around for seven o'clock game around 4:30, we have our production meeting where again, we make sure we're on the same page with what's coming up for tonight's broadcast. And then I listened to both coaches and their pregame interviews after that, then go to the court, do a hit for the pregame show or potentially host that pregame show. And then once the ball is up, it's the game broadcast. So afterwards, I'm in the locker room getting interviews or working on our postgame show--things like that. So like I said, it varies from game to game, for sure. But it's long, really great days. And I try and eat somewhere in between there.

John Twork 5:50
Right? Yeah, it sounds like a grind. But do you have some, some joy from from being a utility player, like you mentioned getting to do the different roles like sideline? analyst? Studio? Is that fun to bounce between those because it takes a different skill set to do each of those? And do you have a favorite?

Katy Winge 6:11
it's been a learning curve, because you do kind of have to take on a different or put on a different hat, if you will, for each seat that I'm sitting in. And I feel like I've only gotten better at each role as my time has kind of gone on with the Nuggets. But I love being able to jump around. It keeps things interesting. It's already such a fast paced sport, but I don't feel like I'm ever really like plateauing or I'm never bored because I could be sideline reporting for you know, a handful of games. And then as soon as I'm like, Well, I feel like I, I need some new ideas, I need some inspiration, I switch over and then I'm hosting for five games. And then I switch over and I'm an analyst for two or three games. So that keeps me on my toes. It keeps me excited. It keeps me creative and coming up with different ideas and different ways to tell you know those stories that I mentioned earlier. So I really do enjoy it. I think it's the best possible scenario for me to be able to be in a variety of different roles.

John Twork 7:16
Tell us what it's like to cover the Nuggets. In particular Nikola Jokic, the two time reigning MVP of the NBA, you know, he's an exciting player to watch. It's an exciting team to cover. What's it like?

Katy Winge 7:30
So much fun. That's the first thing that comes to my mind. I'm very fortunate I kind of touched on this a little bit earlier. But everybody within this organization is a great person. And they're on most days really good to work with easy to work with. Jokic is unlike any person I have ever met in my entire life and doesn't take himself too seriously. Like there's a reason that his nickname is The Joker, but is also insanely talented at what he does, and also incredibly competitive like off the floor, he is very carefree. The moment that that ball goes up, he is ready to compete and wants to win and do whatever it takes to win. He is colorful, he is exciting. You never know what kind of version of Jokic you're gonna get both on the floor and off the floor, whether you're doing interviews with him or watching him play. I continually find myself like, in awe of what he can do on the basketball floor and like jaw dropping plays. And just when you think you've seen it all, like he does something else that's crazy that you haven't seen before. And I think we saw that with, you know, his second MVP last season because no one thought he was gonna go back to back. But the case that he put forth was so much was so convincing that you couldn't not give him another one. And I think that that's just you know, a testament to how much time and effort and energy he puts into his craft and his game, but also just how much he wants to win. Given all the injuries the nuggets had with no Jamal Murray no Michael Porter, Jr. I mean, he was essentially putting this team on his back and carrying them and still found a way to do so and make them successful. So he's incredible. There's no unlike him, the city of Denver absolutely adores him, and I'm just soaking up all the Jokic that I can get for as long as he plays.

John Twork 9:43
you mentioned you know, going to shoot rounds and practices and such you ever challenge Jokic to like a game a H-O-R-S-E or if not, who would win?

Katy Winge 9:51
So I haven't ever challenged Jokic because, I mean we don't want him getting more reps than he apps like, bare minimum of what he needed some hits He needs to be well rested for every single game. I have played horse with Bones Hyland, the Nuggets rookie and that was so fun--Bones is such a character too. He did win, but I put up a good fight. I'll say that. It's I mean, these these guys are so much fun. And they're they're so I mean they have great personalities, they're true professionals. I can't say enough good things about them.

John Twork 10:27
Now I have seen you on social media showcasing you know, the skills that we saw here at Redbird Arena, swishing three pointers and such. And you do have a huge social media following 35,000 followers on Twitter 12,000, on Instagram and Tiktok. Is that a significant part of your role in a way that you connect with the fans and the audience?

Katy Winge 10:50
Yes, and I think that's very different than maybe what traditional journalism has been in the past, I would argue that I'm not a traditional journalist anyways, because I do work for the team. And I actually prefer that--it makes it easier for me to build relationships, and build a trust within the organization that like, I'm not gonna go digging for you know, any dirt, I'm not going to ask the super tough questions. I'll ask the questions that need to be asked. But I want to shed a light on the great things that this team is doing and the great people within this franchise. But I don't really necessarily know when it shifted, social media has allowed me to have direct contact to all of the fans that you know, watch me on TV, or are fans of the Nuggets, and like so close that they can message me like it's it's direct one on one. Before I kind of feel like social media became a huge deal, it was you were maybe sending emails or even sending like handwritten notes to news stations. And who knows if that would have gotten to the person that you were trying to send that message to. Now it just is so easy to find people to reach out to people to say whatever you want to say to them. And I actually like for every bad--like there's a lot of bad on social media and I'm sure a lot of people will say that but I love being able to connect with the fans in that way. I love being able to hear why they're Nuggets fans and to share in that passion over this team and make them laugh or make them excited for the season. I think that's something that is such a cool responsibility to have and such a cool opportunity to be able to have og like I can create content really whenever I want to, you know reach and serve a Nuggets audience.

John Twork 12:49
And you show off your athletic prowess at the same time. I mean are are the some of the players like impressed by Yeah, that's a nice jump shot.

Katy Winge 12:59
I sometimes I don't think that they really know like I don't really do it all that often. I mean if I'm, I'm a former hooper. So like of course if I'm in an empty gym and there's a ball I'm gonna start taking shots. A lot of the times when the guys are in the locker room watching film before shoot around, like I'll go out with like the PR staff and the strength and conditioning staff and, and shoot a little bit but I don't know if they necessarily know they know that I used to play and every once in a while I'll be like, Hey, let's do like let's play P-I-G for a feature. But a lot of the times that kind of just gets pushed to the side so I think Nuggets fans maybe have a better idea than the than the Nuggets franchise players and coaches do.

John Twork 13:46
Yeah, but nonetheless, social media is super cool way for fans to sort of get to know you on a more personal level. So that's really cool. We're speaking with Redbird alum Katy Winge, reporter analyst and host for altitude TV and the NBA is Denver Nuggets.

Rachel Kobus 14:02
Mark your calendars for Illinois state's homecoming October 10 through the 16th This year, we are celebrating red with events for every Redbird-- lace up for the town and gown 5k Check out the floats and fun at the parade or head over to Hancock stadium where Redbird football will take on South Dakota. Don't miss out on all the ISU fun, check out homecoming dot Illinois state.edu Or follow ISU underscore homecoming on Twitter for more information.

John Twork 14:25
This is Redbird buzz and our guest today is Katy Winge, a class of 2015 alum and current reporter analyst and host for altitude TV and the NBA is Denver Nuggets. Kenny At what point did you start considering a career in sports journalism?

Katy Winge 14:41
I was still playing at ISU. Yeah, I. I think it's a lot of times with athletes in particular, it's really hard to picture yourself not playing your sport while you're still playing your sport. It's such a huge part of your identity and who you are and kind of how you work. The rhythm that you're into just living everyday life and so I didn't like really consider what I wanted to do until like my sophomore year, I would say at Illinois State. And I had some ideas. As a lot of people probably on here know a lot of athletes are are required to be at ISU during the summer times and taking classes and training and that sort of thing. So I actually ended up double majoring. So I, I double majored in marketing, and then broadcast journalism. So marketing was my first, not choice, but that was where I started, I guess. And I really liked writing. And I knew that. And when I started to think about like, Okay, I love basketball, I love the power of sport, I love the way that it brings communities together. Even when I'm done playing, I still want that to be kind of a part of who I am and what I do. How can I do that? So, sports marketing was kind of like, okay, I could see myself doing that. And then I started thinking about the writing side of it. I was at school and taking enough classes where I was like, I'm gonna end up double majoring What do I want my other major to be? And started as like PR and was like, Okay, I could do, I could be, you know, a public relations person for a sports team. Then I was like, oh, that's kind of similar to marketing. So let me shift and focus more on writing. So then I was like a writing journalism major, and was like, Okay, I'll write about sports. And I do want to give a shout out to Kurt Pegler, because he was one of the first people that like, handed me a microphone and kind of knew I was interested in it, and thought that I could be good at it. And so I remember doing a feature for him on our media day, I think it was my senior year, it was either junior or senior year. And I was the one that was interviewing my teammates. And it turned out to be a really fun, funny feature. And around that time, and maybe a little bit earlier was kind of where I started getting my feet wet and sort of thinking, Man, I would love to be on the other side of the interviews that I'm doing that I'm conducting, like, I could ask the questions, I could be the one, you know, to formulate these relationships and tell these stories. And I stumbled upon TV 10 and the studio and just kind of fell in love with it, and the idea of it and sort of working there. And it was it was great. I can't say enough about what TV 10 did for me and that experience.

John Twork 17:40
And even as a student athlete, I mean, it's it's tough to balance sometimes the you know, the responsibilities of being a student athlete with something as time consuming as say, TV, 10. But how were you able to do that?

Katy Winge 17:54
Well, and I also was in a sorority, so people think that I was just a crazy person. Like just running around, which honestly, I kind of was like, I would go from practice to class to TV 10 to, you know, like a sorority philanthropy event, then like, I don't even know I honestly sometimes I think about I don't even know how I did it. But I wouldn't change a thing either. It was just the the time of my life. And I feel like I got such a well rounded college experience for being a division one athlete, not a lot of people can say that. But it took a lot of time management. I'm so grateful for the people on the other side that were as flexible with me as they were like, TV 10 was super flexible. And like, hey, Katy's got to have you know, the Tuesday morning shifts, because she can't work really any other day because she's got practice or a game or is traveling or something along those lines. So it totally took a whole team effort to like, make it work. And as soon as that happened, I was so committed to it and so passionate about it that it didn't really feel like I was working all the time. Like it was fun. I was so excited about where my career was headed. I was so excited about what I was involved in. And you know, whether that be basketball, whether that be sorority stuff, whether that be TV 10 stuff or school stuff, like there just was so much that--I loved everything that I was involved in everything that I was doing that it didn't feel like I was like a chicken with my head cut off running. Like everything, like lit my soul on fire in that way. And so I just kind of did it. And now I'm like, Oh my gosh, I'm sure it helps me with my current schedule of like, Hey, this is a breeze like I've done way more than this before. But so fun. Like I wouldn't change a thing. And I'm so grateful for all the people that allowed that to happen and played a role in it.

John Twork 19:45
I was gonna say it sounds like things haven't changed that much. You know, you're still traveling, working all day, but loving every minute of it. So that's, that's great to hear. And you added another thing to your plate. A couple of years ago, you became a part time professor at Metro State University. Why did you decide to become a teacher and a mentor of broadcast journalism?

Katy Winge 20:06
When I graduated from Illinois State, I went in like, did a small stint studying abroad. So I walked before I graduated. And I worked in local TV for a little bit. And then I decided, You know what, I think I really want to get my master's because someday down the road. One is, education is something no one can ever take away from you, it's only going to benefit you. And two, I thought, Well, I'm a, I'm a person that likes to have a backup plan too and a lot of ways. So like, if this doesn't last, as long as I'm hoping it does working in broadcasting, I could totally teach it. Like I could totally help the next generation of broadcasters find their passion and find their voice in the way that so many people have helped me do so and got my master's from Northwestern up in Chicago. And then a couple years into being in Denver, I started putting out the feelers to see if there was anybody that would give me a shot. I had developed enough of a reputation as a broadcaster in Denver, that people kind of knew who I was and knew what I brought to the table. And Metro State, they loved it. They loved Who I am they loved, you know, the energy that I could bring and the real life experience that I'm currently having, bringing that to a classroom completely fit their philosophy. So it's something that I did last offseason it's something that I did this offseason. And I'll probably keep doing it for the foreseeable future. I mean, I absolutely love it. It's been so great to, to connect with students again, and to be able to teach something that I love so much. And like I said, I'm currently in this world navigating it right now. So to be able to have those conversations with students about what it's like day to day and what I'm dealing with and what social media is like from a journalism standpoint and how the industry is changing. It just I think it's so applicable to these students and their goals and their dreams. So I've always wanted to give back I've always wanted to teach and it just fell right into place and was a perfect fit.

John Twork 22:11
gotta ask you a little bit about Redbird women's basketball. You know, the Birds had a wonderful season last year won the conference tournament championship went on to the NCAA tournament. how closely do you still follow the Birds? were You were you cheering them on from afar, especially that Hoops in the Heartland finale?

Unknown Speaker 22:33
Of course I was. And I follow them on social media. I love keeping up with Redbird women's basketball a couple years ago, I actually got to go back and speak to one of the team's when I was there covering some of the high school tournaments. And I mean, I think Coach Gillespie has done such a phenomenal job with that program. And you know, helping girls and young women find themselves in that way. And that's just what I see from afar, right? Like I'm not in there every day grinding with them every day, but I know what it's like--I can relate to it. And to see a team and a program come together like that. I'm envious in a way--my goal was always to get you know to the NCAA tournament and to win a Missouri Valley championship and but I'm so happy for them I still I mean I follow like I see games I see posts, I see highlights. I see different funny things that the team is doing on social media and I'm a fan for life. I'm a fan for life. It's in my blood now.

John Twork 23:31
It's speaking of the Redbirds, do you ever reflect on some of your favorite memories as a player? And what are some of those favorite memories that you have?

Katy Winge 23:40
Yeah, I mean, I think oftentimes when that question is asked, it goes directly to like games or scenarios. I've loved beating Wichita State the times that we did that. I think we beat them on a buzzer beater my sophomore year. That was just such a tough rivalry that we always looked forward to. My sophomore year was really special. We had like really a strong senior class. We barely missed winning a championship, an MVC championship and going to the tournament, which was a heartbreaking scenario. And my senior year was really special tooo. I think I was the only senior. So at that point, it was I felt like such a leader and I felt so close to the group that I was going through the trenches with. But I think some of my favorite memories honestly aren't specific games. It's its moments in the locker room. It's road trips. It's crazy things that happen on the bus, it's team bonding experiences, little things like that where, you know you you kind of step back and recognize like, wow, that this this group of women went through something so tough and really challenged them and that was your family. For four years, and those were the people that you leaned on, and through good and bad and thick and thin, and coaches yelling at you and losses, but also like wins and the highest of highs. And I think describing my favorite memories more as that really resonates me a little bit more. And it absolutely has helped me become the person and the professional that I am today.

John Twork 25:26
And shifting back just just a minute to your current gig in Denver. I mean, you're incredibly talented and knowledgeable and it looks like you have a ton of fun. What is the best part about being an NBA broadcaster?

Katy Winge 25:40
That's a tough question. There are a lot of best parts. I think I'm a little bit more reflective of the past couple seasons and just the way it kind of the world has been and I mean, there's been a lot of darkness, there's been a lot of fear, there's been a lot of division. And so there have been multiple times where I--last season in particular--where I just kind of stopped and looked around and like took it all in that giant fan base is here watching this team that has worked so hard that I've gotten to witness behind the scenes, overcome adversity, players overcome adversity and work their way back. And so to feel like to actually feel hope, like in that raw form, is magic. It really is. It's one of those things where I don't think it can be cultivated or created in many other circumstances other than sports. And so I just feel so lucky to be covering such a talented, phenomenal, fun team with a back to back MVP. With this season two pieces that were you know, working on getting healthy being healthy this year. There's just so much to be excited about. But I guess to kind of sum that up, I think it's the people, from the fans to people that I work alongside that they've kind of become my family similar to how like my teammates and my coaches were my family before. So the people that I work with the people that I cover the people that I work alongside, the city of Denver, it just it reminds you of something much bigger than yourself and I think that not only is humbling but it's also helpful and it's also extremely powerful. So to be a part of that is is just really special.

John Twork 27:36
Katy, we wish you the best of luck here in your fifth season in your current role with the Nuggets organization. Good luck to the Nuggets too. I hope it's a fun season for you and for the team.

Katy Winge 27:46
Thank you so much and go Birds! Great seasons all around.

John Twork 27:50
Let's tip off the season Thanks Katy.

That was Redbird alum and current reporter analyst and host for Altitude TV and the NBA's Denver Nuggets Katy Winge you can check out her twitter, instagram and Tiktok @KatyWinge. thanks for listening to Redbird Buzz and be sure to tune in next time for more stories from beyond the quad.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai