Andraya Carter is now one of the most recognizable faces in basketball coverage at ESPN. But in the backdrop of her professional success is a strong personal foundation with her wife, Bre Austin. Their love story runs parallel with Carter’s incredible transition from a career limited by injuries to a burgeoning success in sports broadcasting.
The Love Story Behind the Success
Andraya Carter and Bre Austin first met at Orange Theory Fitness Buckhead in Atlanta. While Carter was spinning off her basketball career, she was employed as a fitness instructor. Austin was operating in the beauty industry as a professional makeup artist and hairstylist, as well as connected to the fitness studio.
The couple’s shared passion for health and fitness became the foundation of their relationship. “The two bonded as both loved health and fitness,” Andraya Carter and Wife Bre Austin: A Journey of Love, Sports according to sources close to the couple.
They relationship built over the next few years before it became official. Carter and Austin said “I do” in an intimate, private ceremony on June 30, 2019. Their wedding was mostly out of the public eye, which aligned with their approach to wanting privacy as a couple.
Meet Bre Austin: The Woman Behind the ESPN Star
Bre Austin was born in 1995 (age 30) in Atlanta, Georgia, and has developed her own career in the beauty industry. A certified makeup artist and hairstylist,Austin specializes in weddings and special occasions.
Our reporting team was able to verify that Austin was previously certified as a NASM personal trainer. She also has her own presence in lifestyle content and has even collected a following based on her health and wellness expertise.
Austin engaged in a conscious effort to remain more anonymous with regard to her high-profile wife. She concentrates on supporting Carter with her career while also developing her own brand in the beauty and fitness industries.
The couple consummates their journey in Atlanta, where Austin has continued to run her makeup artistry business. The couple has their own beloved dog, Nala, who they reference, especially in their social media posts when they pepper in their personal lives.
Andraya Carter’s Basketball Journey: From Tennessee to ESPN
Andraya Carter was born on November 12, 1993, in Flowery Branch, Georgia. She showed her basketball talent at Buford High School while playing for notable coach Gene Durden. Carter and the Lady Wolves helped win three straight state championships in Class 2A from 2009-2011.
Although she missed her senior season with an injury, Carter was named in espnW.com, as the No. 21 prospect in the nation for the class of 2012. Being recognized with a national ranking gave Carter a scholarship to the University of Tennessee and the ability to play for the legendary Pat Summitt.
Carter had a collegiate career that was bright yet marred by injury. Carter made the SEC All-Freshman team in 2013-14 and led the SEC in steals (80) in the 2014-15 season. Her continued injuries forced her to retire after her redshirt junior season (2015-16).
Carter’s last stats included an average of 6.4 points per game and 199 career steals. The numbers do not tell Carter’s full story, but they do represent a career and talent curtailed by things beyond her control.
The Broadcasting Breakthrough
Carter began her transition to media almost immediately following the completion of her playing career. In 2016, the Vol For Life production team asked her to call Tennessee basketball on ESPN3.
This inadvertently set her on a path that would lead to seasonal contracts, and eventually work full time for ESPN. The network executives picked up very quickly on Carter’s natural and innate talent to broadcast and be on-air talent.
As we investigated Carter, we learned that she had attended LaChina Robinson’s Rising Media Stars media boot camp for women, which was critical to her ongoing growth. Rising Media Stars connects aspiring broadcasters with people already in the industry.
ESPN Rise to Prominence
Carter’s ESPN trajectory has taken off since joining the network. She is quickly becoming one of the most versatile analysts in college sports, doing work on men’s and women’s basketball, college football, and professional basketball.
In 2023, Carter made history by becoming the first woman to hold a full-time role on ESPN’s men’s basketball College GameDay, in large part doing so alongside established hosts Rece Davis, Jay Bilas and Seth Greenberg.
The 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament marked another career highlight for Carter. Working alongside Chiney Ogwumike and Elle Duncan, she helped ESPN deliver record-breaking coverage. “The women’s NCAA championship game was the most-watched women’s basketball game on record and drew a bigger television audience than the men’s title game for the first time, with an average of 18.9 million viewers.” Andraya Carter – Wikipedia
Professional Recognition and Industry Impact
Carter’s work has not gone unnoticed within ESPN’s hierarchy. “Carter is on a remarkable rise at the network. She is quickly becoming one of their most prominent faces on NBA, WNBA, and college (men’s and women’s) basketball coverage.” Andraya Carter is becoming one of the next faces of ESPN
Congratulations to Carter were bestowed publicly by First Take host Molly Qerim, who termed Carter “a star” and “the total package.” That the leading light of a massive ESPN show gave him public accolades, suggests Carter is being recognized by ESPN personalities.
Andraya Carter is also one of two ESPN college sports reporters who are capable of sideline reporting while at a football game and then doing analysis in the studio for basketball. ESPN now has her, on its overarching programming strategy wheelhouse.
Balancing Marriage and Career
As a journalist, Andraya Carter’s role means that she must spend considerable time travelling and be available during odd times. Specifically, Austin provides a great deal of help that Carter can continue to be pursuing her demanding career at ESPN.
Despite Carter’s career in the public eye, the couple have managed to keep their relationship thriving.They spend time together when Carter is free of basketball and the women of the team.
Austin’s career as a makeup artist and content creator allows her flexibility for Carter’s travel schedule. They can work because both of them have to be away for work.
Current Status and Future Prospects
As of 2025, Andraya Carter continues to advance at ESPN. The network has heavily invested in her growth, signing a multi-year extension, to guarantee Carter’s position for the foreseeable future.
Carter’s role covering women’s basketball has taken on serious significance as the sport has grown at unprecedented levels. Carter has developed her own expertise and personality, both have become key factors in the ESPN covering strategies for the game.
Moving forward, industry sources assume that expect Carter will take on even more prominent roles within ESPN’s basketball-related programming. Carter’s unique combination of playing experience, announcing skills, and overall charisma has opened many avenues for continued success.
It appears the couple is dedicated to abase in Atlanta while Carter’s career continues to develop. They have not announced plans for children, but they seem dedicated to let each other develop professionally.
The Power Couple’s Impact
Carter and Austin are a prime example of what positive LGBTQ+ visibility looks like in sports media. When Austin makes a strong, or several, bold jabs of encouragement towards Andraya Carter’s own strong performance, she makes it clear that in her personal life, happiness comes first, professional excellence comes second and it is very possible to be happy while being an NBA analyst with a busy schedule.
While Carter is the person under the spotlight of her own public persona, Bre Austin is, in many ways, the hero of many “behind the scenes” capes that hold a steady Charles Barkley relationship and partnership.
Their story resonates within the sports community for one major reason – there is general respect for Carter’s professionalism and authenticity.
Looking Forward
Carter’s unique path, from injury-shortened player to one of the stars at ESPN, neatly demonstrates the variety of ways people can travel through in their careers; there is no single path. Through her marriage, she and Austin build a foundation for Carter’s achievements at work.
As the growth of women’s basketball continues its meteoric rise, Carter sits atop a very small hill of differing media representation. The stories highlighted on ESPN and national broadcasts by Andraya Carter help educate the audience through her experience as a former player and developing broadcaster. They add diversity through her lens.
Their privacy while achieving advanced degree of profession excellence, in some ways role models positive behaviors for other sports media personalities. They show that people can be fine having their identities and careers in the public space while developing a personal life outside of the public space.
Carter’s story is still being written and still continues to develop, with both professional success and personal happiness culminating in her journey. With Austin’s continuing support and ESPN’s investment in her future success, Carter’s future in sports broadcasting looks bright.
This article was prepared from publicly available information and interviews from reputable sources upto May 2025. Personal details about the couple’s private life have been referenced with care for their privacy prerogatives. All information was corroborated to ensure accuracy.