Sage Steele, the longtime “SportsCenter” anchor, has announced that she is leaving ESPN after 16 years in order to exercise her first amendment rights more freely. In a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter), the 50-year-old Steele said, “Having successfully settled my case with ESPN/Disney, I have decided to leave so I can exercise my first amendment rights more freely. I am grateful for so many wonderful experiences over the past 16 years and am excited for my next chapter!”

ESPN confirmed Steele’s departure in a statement, saying, “ESPN and Sage Steele have mutually agreed to part ways. We thank her for her many contributions over the years.” Steele first appeared on ESPN in 2007.

Steele’s departure comes after she filed a lawsuit against ESPN and Disney last April, claiming that she was retaliated against for critical comments she made about the company’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate and former President Barack Obama. In the lawsuit, Steele alleged that her right to free speech and her contract were violated. The lawsuit, filed in Connecticut, stated that Steele was removed from the air and “forced to publicly apologize” by the company.

ESPN filed a motion to dismiss Steele’s lawsuit in June, and later offered her $501,000 to settle the case, according to Front Office Sports. However, Steele’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, rejected the settlement offer. The details of the settlement have not been disclosed.

Steele’s departure follows a wave of layoffs at ESPN, which included over 15 on-air talents, as the network implemented cost-cutting measures. Among those let go were Jeff Van Gundy, Max Kellerman, and Keyshawn Johnson.

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