CLEVELAND — It’s 43 degrees outside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and the wind makes it feel even colder in the minutes before ESPN begins its pregame show for the women’s Final Four. The hosts at the desk — Elle Duncan, Andraya Carter, Chiney Ogwumike and Carolyn Peck — and show newcomer Aliyah Boston, are trying to stay warm before they go live.
They have electric blankets and hand warmers, and Peck even has gloves — whatever it takes to keep the body temperature up while they spend time talking to the crowd and going over segments with producers.
But at 5:58 p.m., it’s nearly go time.
They lock hands and it seems like Duncan is delivering a prayer. Or maybe a pep talk. After all, everybody describes her as the point guard of the group. But instead, they start an arm wave. It starts with Duncan, on the far left seat, and moves to Carter, Ogwumike, Peck and finally to Boston who then sends it back in reverse order.
They all laugh. The crowd loves it. Now, it really is showtime.
There are TVs on the left and right of the desk, so they can see whether they are on the screen or if a highlight is on. The show starts and their eyes go directly to those TVs.
ESPN has its Final Four intro, and Carter and Ogwumike are dancing to the music they hear from the broadcast in their…
