Few voices in American sports feel as instantly recognizable as Ryan Ruocco. A sportscaster and radio announcer, he has become the defining soundtrack of modern women’s basketball and a trusted presence in the Yankees broadcast booth.
Ruocco serves as the lead play-by-play voice of the WNBA and women’s college basketball on ESPN. He is also a mainstay on New York Yankees and Brooklyn Nets broadcasts for the YES Network.
Born on November 18, 1986 (39 years old) in Fishkill, New York, he rose from local roots to narrate the sport’s defining moments on its grandest stages.
His breakthrough moment arrived in 2019, when he seamlessly filled in for Yankees legends Michael Kay and John Sterling. That summer cemented his reputation as one of the steadiest and most respected names in the business.
A multiple New York Emmy Award winner, Ruocco has also called the NBA for ESPN, hosted the R2C2 podcast with CC Sabathia, and lent his voice to boxing coverage for DAZN.
Quick Facts of Ryan Ruocco
| Full Name | Ryan P. Ruocco |
| Profession | Sportscaster, play-by-play announcer, radio host |
| Age | 39 years old |
| Date of Birth | November 18, 1986 |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Scorpio |
| Birthplace | Fishkill, New York, USA |
| Current Address | New York area, USA |
| Gender | Male |
Ryan Ruocco Early Life and Education
Ryan Ruocco was born and raised in Fishkill, New York. From a young age, he was drawn toward a life behind the microphone.
Education
Ruocco attended Hackley School in Tarrytown, New York. He first enrolled at Loyola University Maryland before transferring to Fordham University.
At Fordham, he called Rams football and basketball on the campus station WFUV. He graduated in 2008 with a degree in communications, as noted by ESPN.
| School | Hackley School, Tarrytown, New York |
| Alma Mater | Fordham University |
| Highest Qualification | Bachelor of Arts in Communications |
Ryan Ruocco Personal Life
Ryan Ruocco keeps much of his private life low-key.
Wife
Ryan Ruocco is married to Andrea Ferzoco Ruocco, a private equity executive. The couple became engaged in January 2019 and married in a private ceremony in November 2020.
Children
Ryan and Andrea have two children. Their daughter Everly was born in September 2021, and their son Remy James was born on June 14, 2025.
Parents
- Father: Peter Ruocco, a former senior executive in labor relations for the NFL who frequently shared his love of sports and broadcasting with Ryan during his childhood.
- Mother: Her name is not widely publicized, though Ryan has shared tributes to her support of his broadcasting career and family life.
Siblings
Ryan has a younger sister, Ashley.
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Wife | Andrea Ferzoco Ruocco |
| Children | Daughter: Everly Son: Remy James |
| Parents | Father: Peter Ruocco Mother: Yet to be updated |
| Siblings | Sister: Ashley |
Ryan Ruocco Career
Ryan Ruocco’s career is a study in range. From a modest college booth to the summit of women’s basketball and Major League Baseball, he has moved across television, radio, and podcasts with rare ease.
What sets him apart is versatility. Few broadcasters shift so naturally between the roar of a WNBA Finals, the tension of a Yankees pennant race, and the intimacy of a podcast conversation.
2006 to 2007: Early steps and the YES Network
Ruocco began his broadcasting path around 2006, sharpening his craft on Fordham’s WFUV. In 2007, he joined the YES Network as a New York Yankees statistician.
2008: Joins ESPN
In 2008, Ruocco joined ESPN and ESPN New York 98.7 FM. He worked as a contributor on The Michael Kay Show and as a substitute host across various ESPN Radio programs.
2011: Brooklyn Nets on YES
Ruocco joined the Brooklyn Nets broadcast team in 2011. He became one of the network’s regular play-by-play voices for Nets telecasts.
2013: Lead WNBA voice and NFL on ESPN Radio
In 2013, Ruocco became ESPN’s lead WNBA play-by-play voice, teaming with analyst Rebecca Lobo and reporter Holly Rowe. That same year, he joined The NFL on ESPN Radio alongside Marc Kestecher, Sean McDonough, and Bill Rosinski.
2015: Adds Yankees play-by-play
Ruocco added Yankees play-by-play on YES in 2015. He made his lead debut calling a Yankees series against the Houston Astros that June.
2017 to 2023: The R2C2 podcast
From 2017, Ruocco hosted the R2C2 podcast with former Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia. The show welcomed athletes and celebrities for wide-ranging talks before ending after six years in 2023.
2019: Filling in for Yankees legends
During the 2019 season, Ruocco stepped up as a lead voice of the Yankees on YES. He filled in for Michael Kay during his vocal cord surgery and for radio legend John Sterling on WFAN.
2021: Lead women’s college basketball voice
Ahead of the 2021 season, Ruocco added ESPN’s top women’s college basketball play-by-play role. He took over the spot after Adam Amin left ESPN for Fox Sports.
2023: Second NBA team on ESPN
In 2023, ESPN formed a second core NBA broadcast team with Ruocco on play-by-play and former NBA players Richard Jefferson and JJ Redick as analysts. The trio handled marquee games before Redick later left broadcasting to coach.
2025 and present: A defining voice of women’s basketball
In 2025, Ruocco shared the booth with Rebecca Lobo and Holly Rowe for their 13th season together and called the WNBA Finals between the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury.
He also hosted the 2025 WNBA Draft and joined ESPN’s InsightCast alternate NBA telecast with Tim Legler and Kirk Goldsberry. He also previously hosted the Stephen A. Smith & Ryan Ruocco Show on ESPN Radio and called boxing for DAZN.
Going forward, he continues as ESPN’s lead voice for women’s basketball across college and the WNBA, along with NBA play-by-play duties.
Ryan Ruocco Awards and Achievements
Ryan Ruocco’s talent behind the microphone has been recognized throughout his career, from a prestigious college honor to multiple New York Emmy Awards for his broadcast work.
Key Wins
- Marty Glickman Award, Fordham University (2008).
- New York Emmy Award, Best Live Sports Series, Brooklyn Nets (2014).
- New York Emmy Award, Sports Event/Game, New York Yankees (2017).
- New York Emmy Award, Best Live Sports Series, Brooklyn Nets (2019).
Key Nominations
- New York Emmy Award Nominee, Talent: Sports Play by Play (2017).
- New York Emmy Award Nominee, Talent: Sports Play by Play (2018).
- New York Emmy Award Nominee, Talent: Sports Play by Play (2019).
- New York Emmy Award Nominee, Talent: Sports Play by Play (2021).
- New York Emmy Award Nominee, Talent: Sports Play by Play (2023).
Ryan Ruocco Controversy
Ryan Ruocco is known for a candid, analytical style, and a few of his media comments and on-air moments have sparked wider debate.
- WNBA media and selective criticism (2026): During a 2026 appearance on the Girls Tripp podcast, Ruocco argued that most of the WNBA media only feel comfortable criticizing Caitlin Clark and, to a lesser extent, Angel Reese, while shying away from any critique of other players. He said that kind of hesitation is not real sports, and his remarks set off a broad online debate about fairness and media framing in women’s basketball coverage.
- Second-guessing Aaron Boone during the World Series (October 2024): On October 25, 2024, while calling an ESPN NBA game between the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers, Ruocco openly questioned New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone’s choice to use Nestor Cortes over Tim Hill in Game 1 of the World Series. Ruocco, who also calls Yankees games on YES, joked by asking whether Suns guard Bradley Beal was wondering about the decision, and the line quickly went viral.
Ryan Ruocco Net Worth
Ryan Ruocco’s estimated net worth is approximately around $4 million and his annual salary would be around $500,000.
| Net Worth (Approx.) | $4 million |
| Salary (Approx.) | $500,000 |
Ryan Ruocco Height and Physical Stats
Below are the physical stats of Ryan Ruocco:
| Height | In centimetres: 180 cm In meters: 1.80 m In feet and inches: 5 feet 11 inches |
| Hair Color | Bald |
| Eye Color | Brown |
Ryan Ruocco Social Media
 @ryrukes | |
| X |  @RyanRuocco |
 Ryan Ruocco |
Interesting Facts About Ryan Ruocco
- His fifth-grade yearbook listed his career goal as playing for and announcing for the Yankees.
- In 2020, he became the first play-by-play announcer to use the correct pronouns for New York Liberty player Layshia Clarendon, who is nonbinary.
- He hosted This Week in Football on YES with analysts Howard Cross, Gary Myers, and Ross Tucker.
- Beyond basketball and baseball, he has called boxing for DAZN.
- He is often credited with helping spotlight the rise of women’s basketball stars during its recent surge in popularity.
FAQs
Who is Ryan Ruocco?
Ryan Ruocco is an American sportscaster and the lead play-by-play voice of WNBA and women’s college basketball on ESPN.
How old is Ryan Ruocco?
Ryan Ruocco is 39 years old. He was born on November 18, 1986, in Fishkill, New York.
Who is the wife of Ryan Ruocco?
Ryan Ruocco is married to Andrea Ferzoco Ruocco, a private equity executive. They married in November 2020.
How many children does Ryan Ruocco have?
Ryan Ruocco has two children, daughter Everly and son Remy James.
What does Ryan Ruocco announce?
Ryan Ruocco calls the WNBA, women’s college basketball, and the NBA for ESPN, plus the Yankees and Nets on YES.
Where did Ryan Ruocco go to college?
Ryan Ruocco graduated from Fordham University in 2008 with a communications degree.
