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For the Washington Wizards, the next big move starts behind the scenes. Cristina Daglas, has taken on a new chapter with Monumental Basketball. It is the same group overseeing the Washington Wizards, Mystics, and Capital City Go-Go. The former ESPN executive editor now steps into the role of head of research and identity – a position designed to blend communication, culture, and strategy. Daglas’s hiring signals a growing NBA trend of the marriage of media and sports. Much like when the Clippers brought in journalist Lee Jenkins in 2018. After nearly ten years at ESPN, Daglas now turns her storytelling instincts toward helping the Wizards. But who really is Cristina Douglas? ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Who is Cristina Daglas? Background and early career Cristina Daglas’s career is a story of ambition, adaptability and steady climb. From a curious high-school student to a top editor in sports journalism, she has seen it all. Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, she discovered journalism as a conduit for asking questions. She was naturally drawn to it. She pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Then she pursued Master’s in Journalism from the University of Missouri, where she was recognized as a Thurgood Marshall Fellow. But her stop at ESPN had come after a long struggle. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Before joining ESPN, Daglas honed her editorial chops at several publications. She served as assistant editor and then editor at Milwaukee Magazine. There she quickly rose to the role of editor by February 2012. She continued to contribute her words at publications like D Magazine in Dallas and others in the Madison/D.C. region. Reflecting on her long journey, Daglas once said in an interview to ESPN Frontrow, “I’ve been incredibly fortunate in my career. At every stage, people have been willing to take chances on me, despite my age, gender, or hometown. I edited Milwaukee Magazine as a native Chicagoan when I was 27. They brought me on in Dallas at 29. Running two city books before 30 was an honor. But every step along the way, people have been able to see my passion for the field and energy for whichever subject matter I’m diving into.” And as a woman in sports media, these were her stints with publication and sports analysis. Even she did not imagine she would be heading a sports department herself at one of the most prestigious sports media house. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Cristina Daglas’ role and achievements at ESPN Cristina Daglas joined ESPN in 2014. Before joining, she was already known as one of the most promising young editors in American sports journalism. Fresh off leading city magazines, she arrived at ESPN The Magazine as a senior editor. There her focus extended far beyond the traditional sports beats. Though she primarily covered the NFL, Daglas’s editorial reach soon expanded. She started covering college basketball, MLB, NBA, and cross-sport stories that captured the emotional pulse of athletes and fans alike. By May 2016, the Chicago native and self-professed Cubs fan became the first woman to serve as ESPN’s MLB deputy editor. This was a milestone that gave recognition to both her editorial excellence and the network’s growing commitment to diverse leadership. She would go on to lead in the role for the next decade or so. On her journey in a sports industry that is considered a ‘man’s world’, she paved a path as a woman, saying, “I’ve faced discrimination, in some capacity, at every stage of my career, but in no place have I seen it as severe as I have in sports. Within the walls of ESPN, there are no problems, but the reactions that people have to women in this field are astounding.” But a good journey, always entails an end. And so, she faced one too. Why did Cristina Daglas join the Washington Wizards? Well, the news of her joining the Wizards may have appeared now, but her career was going through a monumental shift since the beginning of this year. ESPN had put her on administrative leave in January, citing HR related internal issues of the organization. The situation was so tense that there was legal retaliation from her side. The attorney representing Daglas also submitted a cease-and-desist letter to ESPN, accusing them of “unlawful harassment, retaliation, and investigation.” But it did not work. In April 2025, she was let go from her role as Executive Editor after internal complaints were filed against her. Details about the complaints still remain unknown. Her exit marked the end of a ten-year long incumbency, one that saw her rise from senior editor to one of the company’s top digital leaders. Despite the controversy surrounding her departure, Daglas’s journalistic track record and leadership experience made her an intriguing hire for Monumental Basketball’s evolving front office. Now under President Michael Winger, Daglas is tasked with “capturing the organization’s story, enhancing its appeal, and communicating that identity” across all levels of Monumental Basketball. This is a creative role that blends research on culture, and communication. Daglas’s move represents a deeper investment by one of NBA’s teams that could really use some rebranding. With incorporating the power of storytelling, she can help them achieve a rebrand. This is a new chapter or rather a comeback for both the team and Daglas. What does Cristina Daglas’ move mean for the Wizards? The hiring of Cristina Daglas by Monumental Basketball signals not just a personnel change. It is a strategic shift in how the franchise wants its identity to be communicated for maximum fan-engagement. Cristina Daglas is already dressed in her new role with the Washington Wizards. For President, Michael Winger, who has previously served as assistant GM for the Los Angeles Clippers, this is a pattern. He was involved in the hiring of Lee Jenkins in 2018 for the newly created position of Executive Director of Research. Jenkins was formerly a writer for Sports Illustrated. And this time he brought that same vision to life. “Monumental Basketball is a growing and innovative organization, committed to optimizing player performance and enhancing our fans’ connectivity to and joy from the teams,” Winger said in a statement. “Understanding and communicating our basketball identity is an important endeavor to drive that performance, connectivity, and joy. Cristina’s role is to lead the group responsible for capturing our story, enhancing our organizational appeal, and sharing our identity with everyone interested. Her background in journalism and supervising some of the most important sports stories of the last decade make her uniquely qualified for this role.” And rightly so. While Daglas might be getting a career revival after getting fired. It is the Wizards team that will benefit from her experience. Daglas brings a decade of editorial and storytelling expertise to the table. Naturally she carries a unique vantage point to shape messaging, culture and narrative around the Wizards. In practical terms: She has digital first approach, which means she can bridge internal operations (player development, team culture) with external storylines. This will resonate well with fans, sponsors and the local community. She’s expected to refine how the franchise projects itself. As a team, Wizards continue to rebuild, so having someone who understands both data (research) and story (identity) adds a layer of depth to how they present the journey to their audience. Let’s be real. Back office shifts do not guarantee improvement in team performance. But the Wizards need all the help that they could get at this point of their trajectory. Currently in the 2025-26 season, the Wizards have opened with a 1-3 record, struggling defensively. The Wizards finished last in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 18-64. This has negatively impacted the fanbase. By bringing in Daglas, the Wizards are blending their strategy of reorganizing basketball operations with an equally important re-imagining of their brand voice. It suggests the franchise recognizes that success isn’t just measured in wins and losses, but in how the team is perceived, how its story is told, and how deeply it connects with its audience. In short: Daglas’ move means the Wizards are placing bet on narrative power as a tool to subsequently build the brand that wins games.
