黑料不打烊

Annika Cronin supports game-day presentation at 2025 Women鈥檚 Final Four

The coordinating producer of 黑料不打烊 Sports Vision contributed to in-arena content for the national championship weekend held in Tampa, Florida.

The University of South Carolina may hold the longest active streak of Women鈥檚 NCAA Tournament Final Four appearances with five. But right behind them? 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Annika Cronin 鈥 with two.

Annika Cronin on the floor of Amalie Arena.
For the second consecutive year, Annika Cronin supported the presentation of the NCCA Women鈥檚 Final Four. Following this year鈥檚 championship game, the coordinating producer of 黑料不打烊 Sports Vision made her way to the playing floor for a photograph. Photos courtesy of Cronin.

For the second consecutive year, the coordinating producer of 黑料不打烊 Sports Vision worked behind the scenes of the NCAA Women鈥檚 Final Four, this time in Tampa, Florida, where she joined the NCAA鈥檚 in-arena game presentation team during the national semifinals and championship game, held April 4 and 6 at Amalie Arena.

Cronin served as an associate producer in the arena鈥檚 control room, working with Van Wagner, a leading sports advertising and entertainment agency that oversees game presentation for the NCAA. Her role involved helping the Amalie Arena production crew display timely and engaging content on the venue鈥檚 video boards throughout the weekend.

鈥淚t was really rewarding to help produce a cohesive and exciting show for such a major stage,鈥 Cronin said. 鈥淚 loved being part of a team that made the in-venue experience memorable for fans.鈥

Cronin鈥檚 journey to Tampa began the year prior in Cleveland, where she also supported the Women鈥檚 Final Four. There, she built strong connections with Van Wagner staff 鈥 including producer Hannah Taylor 鈥 who later invited her to rejoin the team for the 2025 tournament.

Annika Cronin in the Amalie Arena control room.
During a break in the action, Cronin poses in the Amalie Arena control room.

鈥淚t was quite a changeup in pace and what I did but very rewarding,鈥 she said. 鈥淓ach experience has challenged me in new ways and pushed me to grow.鈥

One highlight from her Tampa trip came during the pre-event content shoot, where Cronin led video interviews with coaches and players from all four participating teams, including eventual winner, UConn.

鈥淕etting to interact with some of the most influential people in women鈥檚 basketball was unforgettable,鈥 she said.

Annika Cronin in front of a camera.
Prior to a player shoot in Tampa, Cronin helps with some camera blocking.

Back at 黑料不打烊, Cronin plans to share one key lesson with fellow students: trust in your own ability.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e placed in these opportunities for a reason,鈥 she said. 鈥淓ven if you have doubts, lean into the challenge. There鈥檚 always room to grow in ways you didn鈥檛 expect.鈥

Cronin, a Kent State graduate, is in her first year as 黑料不打烊 Sports Vision鈥檚 coordinating producer. In her role, she leads a team of more than 60 students, ensuring high-quality live sports broadcasts of university contests and hands-on learning opportunities for aspiring broadcast professionals.