Abby Labar ’17 is Calling Her Own Shots

By Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

From the moment she arrived on campus, Abby Labar ’17 started hustling, searching out experiences and opportunities at NC State that would help her launch her dream career: sports broadcaster. And in a few short years, she’s done just that, cobbling together a résumé that now includes reporter and host for the Carolina Hurricanes and ACC football sideline reporter.

Labar, a longtime athlete from Denver, N.C., set her sights on sports broadcasting in middle school. By the time she arrived at NC State, she was determined. Looking for any opportunity, the freshman reached out to the athletics department and started compiling stats and other information for reporters covering the men’s basketball team. That position triggered other opportunities on campus and off — reporting jobs, internships and hosting roles where she interacted with crowds during games.

When Labar drove between a hosting gig for a minor league baseball affiliate in Kannapolis, N.C., and a reporter job at a summer league for college baseball players in Mooresville, N.C., she realized she was where she belonged. “When I’m in that car, driving that far, getting paid little to nothing for these summer internships, that’s when I was like, ‘OK, I love this this much,’” Labar, 26, says.

The hustle continued once she graduated with a degree in communication and media studies. She pursued her broadcasting career with seasonal and one-off gigs while working at a Raleigh technology company to pay the bills. And as she built a reputation, the opportunities got bigger. In 2019, she became an ACC football sideline reporter for Fox Sports (which is now known as Bally Sports). And in January, after serving several years as a host interacting with fans during Carolina Hurricanes games, the team promoted her to her first full-time position — reporter and host of Hurricanes LIVE, a pre- and post-game show.

Labar loves bringing joy and excitement to fans, and she has big dreams for her future. But she’ll always be thankful for where it started. “It’s the people at NC State,” Labar says. “The people at these internships and opportunities I had who were always pushing me and supporting me.”