Sammamish’s Elise Woodward makes UW football play-by-play history
Elise Woodward, an expert sideline reporter and University of Washington (UW) alumna, stepped into history as the new radio play-by-play voice of Husky Football on July 27, becoming the first full-time woman play-by-play announcer for a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team.
Her transition to the booth followed an incredible 23-year tenure as the broadcast’s premier field-level correspondent, delivering critical injury updates and game-day turns. Now, Woodward, 51, leads the Bob Rondeau booth — the official radio broadcast booth at Husky Stadium.
“It is a tremendous honor to be the voice of Husky football,” Woodward said in an interview with Sammamish Independent.
Woodward’s connection to UW traces back to her time as a student-athlete in the 1990s. Although she played on the women’s basketball team, her inclination to college football ran deep. Her brother played football for the University of Oregon, which fueled her interest in the game long before she arrived on the UW campus.
During her student athlete recruitment by UW’s athletic department, Woodward experienced a revelational moment with head football coach Don James. Stepping into the Jame’s office was an “absolute thrill” for Woodward and when James said he hoped she would become a Husky, her decision was sealed.
After college, Woodward envisioned becoming a basketball coach, but she lacked experience in coaching. Instead, Woodward landed a role right out of college as a sideline reporter for UW football.
For more than a decade, Woodward reported under Bob Rondeau, UW’s legendary sports announcer. Following Rondeau’s retirement in 2017, Tony Castricone took over the position. After nine years, Castricone moved onto a job with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the announcer booth job at UW opened up for Woodward.
The transition from patrolling the field to the announcer booth represented both an emotional and practical shift for Woodward. Logistically, she described putting away her rainboots and raingear as a fun experience. Taking over play-by-play duties carries a deep personal significance.
“Being the voice of Husky football is a tremendous honor. It carries a lot of responsibility with it, and I’m really excited about that,” Woodward said. “I love the University of Washington, not just the football team, but the university itself.”
Her new role requires a dramatic shift in weekly preparation. The planning is intensive with a 105-man roster for each team. There is endless information regarding names, numbers, height, weight, position and pronunciation to retain. Unlike on the sideline, there is no time to check facts. Working in the booth requires Woodward to memorize rules, the particulars of football, and game-week notes.
“On the sideline you would have time to maybe look something up. In the booth, you don’t. You have to have it all at your fingertips, which is really your brain,” Woodward said.
Her past reporting experience and familiarity with UW gave her an advantage in the booth.
“I don’t have to do research on the history of UW football or what it means to be a Husky,” Woodward said. “From Drumheller Fountain to sail-gating, I know what’s important to this fan base and this community, and that’s where my advantage lies.”
When fans tune in on game days, Woodward hopes to deliver a broadcast that balances accuracy with genuine excitement.
“I want my broadcast to feel fair — if the athlete is listening to it, they feel like it’s fair, and if the parents are listening to it, they feel like it’s fair,” Woodward said.
At the same time, Woodward intends to convey the passion, pomp and circumstance of collegiate sports, especially football. That energy is anchored by the environment at Husky Stadium, widely regarded as one of the loudest venues in college sports. For Woodward, peering out from the booth to see hundreds of party boats, thousands of tailgaters, and 70,000 fans roaring makes the job feel effortless.
“I hope all of that shines through on the broadcast when I’m calling it,” Woodward said.
