Will Despart
Las Vegas
Summary
I'm a Las Vegas-based sportswriter for Field Level Media and The Sporting Tribune. I was born and raised in Averill Park, New York (15 minutes outside of Albany) and I am a proud alumni of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Overview
2
2
years of professional experience
Work History
Staff Writer and Columnist
The Sporting Tribune
07.2023 - Current
- I cover the entire sports scene in Las Vegas, primarily as a fully credentialed beat writer for the Las Vegas Raiders and the Las Vegas Aces. I also cover combat sports and motor sports for the company in addition to providing fully credentialed coverage of most major sporting events held across the Las Vegas Valley.
- I emerged as one of the leading voices on the Las Vegas Aces beat specifically. Various tweets and Instagram posts of mine featuring breaking news, quotes and up-close video went viral on my own page (500-900,000+ views) and were picked up by outlets such as ESPN, Sports Illustrated and Bleacher Report with full credit.
- I've gotten the chance to several key figures in sports, including Holly Holm, Wanderlei Silva, Jacques Villeneuve, Alain Prost, Alex Albon, Britney Palmer and more.
- Some notable events I've covered include; The NBA Cup, Copa America, David Benavidez vs. David Morrell, Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga, Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin, Pennzoil 400, South Point 400, the final Pac-12 women's basketball tournament, Super Bowl radio row, etc.
- In 2025, I am currently scheduled to cover major events such as UFC 313 and WrestleMania 41 with full credentials.
- I've made several appearances on The Arash Markazi Show, which was a regionally syndicated radio show that aired until late 2024.
NBA/NCAAB Writer
Field Level Media
10.2024 - Current
- Field Level Media is an international wire service who serves as the primary sports content provider for Reuters. FLM also provides content for the NBA, CBS Sports, ESPN and other major companies, serving as a direct competitor to AP Sports.
- I primarily cover the NBA and men's college basketball, with my collegiate coverage mainly focusing on teams in the SEC and Big 12 conferences. I also covered several Raiders games for the company as well as the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
- Field Level Media adheres to a very strict deadline in which all recaps must be submitted within five minutes of the end of the game. Barring unforeseen circumstances at the buzzer, I typically beat this deadline comfortably.
- I provided in-person coverage for the NBA Cup semi-finals and championship game for the company. My byline was featured on Reuters and NBA.com among several other websites.
- I also provided in-person coverage of the Duke vs. Kansas neutral site basketball game in Las Vegas in November 2024. My byline appeared in Reuters as well as several local newspapers throughout the country.
Freelance Correspondent
San Jose Mercury News
11.2024 - 12.2024
- I provided on-site coverage of the 2024 San Jose State Women's Volleyball team during its games played in Las Vegas, both against UNLV and in the Mountain West conference tournament. The team was the subject of national controversy as it featured an unnamed transgender player which led to several forfeits, the most notable of which occurred during the conference tournament while I was covering the team.
- This was a high-profile and high-responsibility story for one of the most circulated newspapers in the United States. I was fully entrusted to handle the assignment and my scene recaps led the sports section the next day and were featured as breaking stories on the Mercury News website.
Sports Stats Editor
Las Vegas Review-Journal
02.2023 - 12.2023
- I compiled and edited wire material for both the print and e-edition of the newspaper. This includes box scores for the four major US pro sports and local minor league teams, international golf and motor sports results, college sports scores from throughout the country, prep scores from throughout Southern Nevada and more.
Fantasy Football Writer
GiveMeSport
09.2024 - 10.2024
- I was briefly brought on as a freelance fantasy football writer before the company abruptly shut down its NFL department.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism And Media Studies
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV12-2023
No Degree - Media And Communications
Hudson Valley Community College
Troy, NYSkills
- Professional-level sportswriter
- Strong interviewer
- Deadline oriented
- Experience working in different newsrooms
- In-depth knowledge of entire sports landscape
- Can thrive both independently and as a member of a team
Timeline
Freelance Correspondent
San Jose Mercury News
11.2024 - 12.2024
NBA/NCAAB Writer
Field Level Media
10.2024 - Current
Fantasy Football Writer
GiveMeSport
09.2024 - 10.2024
Staff Writer and Columnist
The Sporting Tribune
07.2023 - Current
Sports Stats Editor
Las Vegas Review-Journal
02.2023 - 12.2023
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism And Media Studies
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
No Degree - Media And Communications
Hudson Valley Community College