Clinton Yates is a columnist, television commentator and host for ESPN. He joined the company in February 2016 as a member of the editorial team that launched The Undefeated, ESPN’s website focused on the intersections of sports, race and culture.
Yates’ profile has grown steadily across the company’s multimedia platforms. In addition to writing, he appears on multiple television programs, ESPN Radio and more. Yates has written a variety of memorable stories for The Undefeated, including profiles of Kyler Murray and Mookie Betts, a look a soccer culture in Atlanta, and a piece on Childish Gambino (Donald Glover) and his ‘This Is America’ video.
On television, Yates is a panelist on Around the Horn, a regular panelist/host on Outside the Lines, and a frequent contributor and guest host on ESPN’s E:60 newsmagazine. His first E:60 feature is on 2019 NBA Draft top-5 prospect Ja Morant. Yates also appears on SportsCenter and ESPN Radio programs, and he previously co-hosted ESPN Radio’s The Morning Roast national weekend show with Domonique Foxworth and Mina Kimes.
Prior to ESPN, Yates worked for The Washington Post for nine years where he covered local news, sports, politics, pop culture and more. He started as a local news editor in May 2007 for “Express,” the free daily focused on dining, music, movies, arts, fitness, shopping and more in the Washington D.C. area. He eventually moved to Metro, and finally Sports where he wrote for The Post’s popular “DC Sports Bog”.
Yates also continues to work at WTOP News Radio as a commentator on an array of topics about the Washington, D.C., metro area from politics to pop culture. His weekday morning commentaries – “My Take” on WTOP News – make him one of the unique voices of his generation in the District. A native and current resident of Washington, D.C., Yates is an alum of Miami (Ohio) University.
