From dominating as a standout soccer player to gaining invaluable experience at Super Bowl LIX, Paityn Tabor '23 is now making her mark in the sports media industry.
This past month, Tabor had the opportunity to work on-site at the Super Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana as part of the GALvanize team, a women in sports organization founded by FOX Sports sideline reporter Laura Okmin. Her week leading up to the big game was spent on Radio Row, conducting interviews with players, collaborating with NBC Sports, and pitching story ideas. She described the experience as both exhilarating and confidence-boosting. A memorable moment was helping a fellow GALvanize member get their question answered by Travis Kelce, tight-end for the Kansas City Chiefs. His message for women in sports was simple yet powerful: "Just be true to yourself and love what you do." His words were a reminder that authenticity and passion are key to success, and Tabor found it inspiring to see such a high-profile athlete encourage women to stay true to their path in the sports world.
Tabor was deeply involved in the fast-paced media frenzy of Super Bowl week, working alongside seasoned journalists and industry professionals. She had the opportunity to network with key figures in sports media, gaining insight into the complexities of event coverage at one of the biggest sporting events in the world.
Tabor's journey began at Lake Forest College, where she captained the women's soccer team, served as Editor-in-Chief and Sports Editor of the campus newspaper, The Stentor, worked as a team reporter for the Forester football team, and provided color commentary for men's and women's basketball, as well as men's and women's lacrosse. In addition, she was a student ambassador, leading campus tours and promoting the campus to prospective new students.
Graduating in May of 2023 with a double major in Journalism and Spanish, and a minor in Cinema Studies, Tabor wasted no time breaking into the professional sports world. She landed a six-month internship with NFL Films, where she quickly adapted to the fast-paced environment and refined her production and storytelling skills. After completing her internship in February 2024, she accepted a position as Media Coordinator with the United Soccer League (USL) in Tampa, Florida. She now works on the broadcast team, coordinating all broadcasts for the newly launched USL Super League, a women's professional soccer league whose games air on Peacock.
Tabor and her team produce all league matches remotely from a studio in Fort Lauderdale. She is responsible for ensuring that graphics, commercials, and promotional reads are seamlessly integrated into broadcasts. Her work contributes to the success of the inaugural season of the Super League, which aims to elevate women's soccer across the country.
Reflecting on her time at Lake Forest College, Tabor credits her success to the flexibility and support she experienced as a student-athlete. "The biggest thing I appreciated was being able to play the sport I loved while being involved in the student paper, sports broadcasting, and football journalism," she said. "I wouldn't have been able to do all of that at a larger school."
Her time on campus instilled in her the courage to embrace new challenges and the confidence to find her voice in the competitive world of sports media. Today, Tabor is continuing to push boundaries both for herself and for the next generation of women in sports.
