espnW AddsKavitha Davidson and Katie Barnes to Its Roster

espnW has added distinct, versatile voices Kavitha Davidson and Katie Barnes to its deep and experienced roster. Davidson will serve as a writer for espnW and will also contribute to ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com, and will be based in New York. Barnes joins espnW as a Bristol-based writer/reporter.

"I'm beyond ecstatic to be joining the incredible team at espnW," said Davidson. "I can't wait to get to work on continuing to strengthen the espnW perspective and join ESPN's ever-diversifying cadre of voices in service to all sports fans everywhere."

"Being a part of espnW is a dream come true," said Barnes. "I'm honored to be part of a team that is committed to telling a diversity of stories that interest fans. To have my voice be included as a gender-fluid person when so many genderqueer, gender-fluid, and gender non-conforming youth struggle to access sports is something to which I struggle to put words. It's amazing."

"The strength of this team continues to grow, and nothing makes me happier than to welcome Kavitha and Katie to the espnW family," said Alison Overholt, editor-in-chief, espnW. "Their voices are fresh, and their commitment to uncovering unique stories that speak to all different sports fans is powerful. We're looking forward to what each can add to espnW's slate of content."

In addition to her espnW duties, Davidson will also serve as a guest host on The Trifecta - espnW's collaboration with ESPN Radio, co-hosted by Kate Fagan, Jane McManus and Sarah Spain. Davidson will make her ESPN Radio debut as a guest co-host on Robin Lundberg alongside Lundberg - on Saturday, Aug. 20, from 11 p.m. - 1 a.m. ET.

Davidson was most recently at Bloomberg View, where for three years, she served as a sports columnist for the editorial division of Bloomberg News. While at Bloomberg View, she wrote about gambling in sports, domestic violence and women in the sports media industry, among other topics. From 2012 - 2013, Davidson worked at The Huffington Post, where she began in the office of Arianna Huffington, advancing to the Sports Trends department, before being elevated to the position of Associate World Editor.

Davidson is currently co-writing a book on sports fandom with freelance journalist Jessica Luther, to be published by the University of Texas Press in 2018. A native New Yorker, Davidson attended Columbia University, where she studied history, political Science and urban studies.

Barnes becomes part of the espnW team full-time, having previously served as a Digital Media Associate with ESPN.com. They have written about a variety of topics within sports and in pop culture, including television series; LGBT equality; homelessness, transgender athletes; and more.

Prior to joining ESPN in 2015, Barnes was a columnist at OutSports.com - writing monthly pieces on sports, culture and LGBT inclusion - and Feministing.com, where they wrote weekly columns on gender and equity issues. In addition to OutSports.com and Feministing.com, their work has also been featured on CurveMag.com and Ebony.com. In 2014, Barnes was named one of THE 100 Black LGBTQ/SGL Emerging Leaders to Watch by the National Black Justice Coalition.

Barnes graduated in 2013 from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., with a bachelor's degree in history, Russian Area Studies and American Studies. In 2015, they earned an M.S. from Miami University (Ohio), in Student Affairs in Higher Education.

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