After spending nine years with ESPN, reporter Rachel Nichols is leaving the network for a new role at CNN and Turner Sports. Nichols, who has covered a variety of sports during her time in Bristol, will anchor her own weekend sports show on CNN while covering the NBA and Major League Baseball.

Nichols might be best known as a sideline reporter for NFL shows and “Monday Night Football” games but has also worked on “SportsCenter,” “Sunday NFL Countdown,” “NBA Countdown” and “E:60.” Her first responsibility at CNN will be reporting on the Super Bowl.

The announcement came on Thursday afternoon, followed by surge of well-wishers getting in touch with Nichols on Twitter.

“Thank you so much to everyone for all the nice words!” she tweeted. “Couldn’t be more excited about what lies ahead or more grateful for my time at ESPN.”

Even NBA superstar LeBron James, who Nichols has interviewed a number of times, was excited about the news.

“Thanks much! See you soon…with a new logo on the microphone RT @KingJames Congrats to @Rachel__Nichols on the new gig! Best of luck to you”

Before working at ESPN, Nichols worked as a reporter for the Washington Post and the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. Hers is the first hire by new CNN President Jeff Zucker, who earlier this week told employees, “As we embark on the next chapter together, we must think even more broadly and not always be bound by what has come before us.”

“We're just thrilled that a sports journalist of Rachel's stature and expertise will now be a regular part of the CNN lineup," Zucker said in a statement. "Her arrival, beginning next week, is an important step in expanding the range of programming and storytelling on CNN."

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