Finding the Next Erin Andrews: The Top 20 Candidates

Erin Andrews took the sports world by storm in the early 2000s and has since gone on to be named America's Sexiest Sportscaster by Playboy...twice.

She seemed to have come out of nowhere to most people, but for those of us that had been paying attention we knew Erin Andrews was going to be a star.

Alas, Erin has taken a gig with Good Morning America and we're getting the sense that her sports days may be coming to an end.

With that in mind I figured it was time to take a look at some of the up-and-coming sportscasters to find out which one will have a meteoric rise similar to that of Ms. Andrews.

Here are the top 20 candidates.

What They're Up Against

There are certain times as a writer when you do an injustice to a moment if you attempt to describe it or discuss it.

Sometimes, you just let the moment speak for itself.

All I will say is, the following women have a lot to live up to.

20. Molly Querim

Yes, Alex, I'll take "Hot Sports Reporters Whose Last Names Start With Q" for $2000, please.

Molly may have a strange last name, but she more than makes up for it with her appearance. She's been a correspondent for MMA Live and Fantasy Football Now on ESPN 2.

19. Rachel Nichols

You've seen her on the sidelines of countless games, but for some reason she hasn't reached Andrews status yet. Maybe it stems from the fact that it seems as if ESPN's Rachel Nichols is always covered head to toe (don't confuse her with the actress Rachel Nichols, who is not at all afraid to show it off).

That just makes us want to see what's underneath that much more.

18. Sage Steele

You may recognize Sage Steele from the SportsCenter updates in the morning. As far as I can tell, she's of no relation to this Steel.

In any case, she's a hottie that we'd like to see let loose a little bit.

17. Alex Flanagan

Alex Flanagan works for the NFL Network and is also a sideline reporter for NBC during Notre Dame home games.

Alex is creeping up on a lot of people's lists of hottest sports reporters, so it's only a matter of time before she reaches Andrews status.

16. Melissa Stark

Melissa Stark is a reporter known for her work on Monday Night Football, ESPN and NBC.

Melissa is making the transition out of sports reporting, just like E.A., so why can't she continue to follow in her footsteps?

Just a Reminder

I really don't know why Erin Andrews was at the Academy Awards, but I send an email to the invitation committee every day thanking them for their precious, precious gift.

15. Kara Henderson

Kara is a sideline reporter for the NFL Network on a show called NFL Total Access.

Actually, Kara, it's more like Partial Access. If you gave us total access than you would be on Erin Andrews' level already.

14. Mary Strong

Mary Strong is an NFL Network reporter who can sometimes be mistaken for Paris Hilton. She used to play volleyball at Loyola Marymount, so she must occasionally make some appearances in a bikini on the beach volleyball courts.

As soon as one of those pictures hits the web...boom...she's viral. And I mean that in a good way.

13. Wendi Nix

Wendi Nix is an anchor and reporter for ESPN and she specializes in NFL and college football.

She sometimes conducts one-on-one interviews with athletes, which must make it extremely difficult for them to concentrate.

12. Cassidy Hubbarth

Cassidy is the host of SEC Gridiron Live on ESPN3.com. She's still early in her career, so maybe she's following in the footsteps of her predecessors by holding off on the sexy pictures.

Here's a chance to be your own woman and blaze your own trail, Cassidy. Are you woman enough to take it?

11. Michelle Beadle

Michelle Beadle teams up with Colin Cowherd to host SportsNation on ESPN. In the show they ask America how they feel about certain issues and take polls.

I'll save them the time on this one: 100 percent of sports fans want to see Michell Beadle become the next Erin Andrews.

In Case You Forgot...

One of Erin's major strengths is her ability to be sexy but remain classy at the same time. It's not easy to do, but she seems to do it effortlessly.

She doesn't do many photo shoots, but this picture is particularly hot.

10. Hazel Mae

Hazel Mae used to work for NESN as the Red Sox sideline reporter, but she's made the switch over the the MLB Network.

That's good news, since now people outside of Boston get to look at her every day. She just needs the right amount of momentum and she'll be in Andrews land.

9. Erin Nicole

Erin Nicole is a sideline reporter for the Detroit Pistons, which gives people exactly one reason to visit Detroit.

I mean...Erin Nicole? Erin Andrews? It's not too big of a leap.

8. Michelle Beisner

Michelle Beisner works for the NFL Network now, but she used to be a Broncos cheerleader. Chances are she did some calendars for them where she took pictures in a bikini, but I can't find any.

Even if they do exist, an update would surely put her on the national radar.

7. Lindsay Soto

I have a personal acquaintance with Lindsay Soto after living in L.A. my whole life. She used to cover the Lakers for Fox Sports before joining the NFL Network in 2008.

After seeing her in action I can definitely tell you that she's ready to fill the mighty Erin Andrews' shoes.

6. Erin Bates

This Erin gives Erin Andrews a run for her money. Bates is a motocross reporter who has covered the X Games for ESPN.

While she's taken a couple of pictures in a bikini top, she has yet to do a full spread. This is quite surprising, considering she lists herself as a reporter/model on her website.

Something tells me it's only a matter of time before she releases one and her popularity goes through the roof.

Keep This in Mind While Looking at the Top Five

Sometimes you start to think that maybe Erin Andrews is just a novelty because she's a sports reporter and that if she was just a regular girl you wouldn't think twice about her.

Then you see pictures like this and smack yourself in the head for being so foolish.

5. Adriana Monsalve

Adriana Monsalve is a reporter for ESPN Deportes and dazzles us with her coverage of the Spanish-speaking teams during the Little League World Series.

She's funny, charming, and obviously hot. She just needs a little more crossover exposure to get on America's radar.

4. Charissa Thompson

Charissa Thompson is a sideline reporter who we'd like to see some more of.

She's worked all over the place: FSN, Versus, Yahoo and even did some sideline reporting on the legendary Shaq Vs.

Seems like she's having some trouble holding down a job. Once she does she could easily become the next Erin Andrews.

3. Laura Lane

Besides sounding like someone Clark Kent would date, Laura Lane is a reporter who is known for hosting ESPN's poker show, Inside Deal.

She's young and fresh, so she just needs a little more exposure. We've got our eye on this one.

2. Jamie Little

Jaime Little is a hot pit reporter for NASCAR on ESPN. I have to admit I don't watch much NASCAR, but I'm definitely going to start now.

Jamie was on the cover of FHM in a bikini top, which must have gone unnoticed by much of the sports-watching public. Once she starts covering football, we'll be hooked.

 

Photo courtesy of fhm.com

1. Heidi Watney

Watney does sideline reporting at Red Sox games for NESN. She's become the object of affection of many a baseball fan, particularly those in the Northeast.

She competed in the Miss California pageant in 2002, so you know she's not afraid of the spotlight. If I have to put my money on one girl, it would definitely be Heidi.

What Do You Think?

Can any of the ladies on this list replace Erin Andrews in the hearts and minds of sports fans across the nation?

Chances are it will be tough and we will need to organize some sort of round-robin mud wrestling tournament to declare a winner.

I volunteer to start the organization immediately.