---
title: "SC Reportajes: Becoming Che | 7th Hashtag Sports Awards"
description: Global awards recognizing excellence in fan engagement and celebrating creativity across sports marketing, media & entertainment
image: https://www.hashtagsports.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Assets-AF-2025/WvXNvwde-fjx7ozZFLa-file.png
---

SC Reportajes: Becoming Che | 7th Hashtag Sports Awards

[The 7th Annual Awards](https://www.hashtagsports.com/awards/shortlist-2025?hsLang=en)

# SC Reportajes: Becoming Che

[ESPN](https://www.espn.com/)

![Image](https://www.hashtagsports.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Assets-AF-2025/WvXNvwde-fjx7ozZFLa-file.png?width=1920&height=1080&name=WvXNvwde-fjx7ozZFLa-file.png)

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ABOUT THIS ENTRY

At the start of the 2023-24 season, Che became the first trans and non-binary referee in U.S. sports. The California native with Hispanic heritage decided after 14 years of officiating basketball, at all levels (High School, NCAA, WNBA, G-League and now NBA), that it was time to reveal their true identity and become a reference for younger generations of LGBTQ+ community.

![Image](https://www.hashtagsports.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Assets-AF-2025/WvXNvwde-fjx7ozZFLa-file.png?width=1920&height=1080&name=WvXNvwde-fjx7ozZFLa-file.png)

How does this represent "Excellence in Engagement"?

I believe this story represents an excellence in engagement because it shines a light on the LGBTQ+ within mainstream sports and at the same time, it highlights a member of the refereeing community who we tend to remember only when they make a mistake. Hopefully, this work inspires others to tell more inclusive stories. It’s our job as storytellers to push the envelope and make our audiences think and reflect about situations in our society.

Objective

For us, it was very important to showcase the human side of a sports figure that never receives much love, the referee, and at the same time cast a spotlight on a sensitive topic.

Strategy & Execution

When we began to work on Sc Featured: Becoming Che, we knew from the start that Che’s identity would be a sensitive topic and many would be drawn away from the story, so it was extremely important to us that our audience would identified with Che’s love and passion for basketball off the top, and as the story progressed they can learn about their path to the NBA and follow their story to self-discovery.

** Nominations **

- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging

**Organizations**

- ESPN
- SportsCenter

**Links**

- [  Watch SportsCenter ](https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/channel/espn)

**Credits**

**[ Nicolas Salazar](https://www.hashtagsports.com/awards/shortlist-2025/n/a?hsLang=en) **  
 Producer  
ESPN

**[ Jose Alvarez](https://www.hashtagsports.com/awards/shortlist-2025/N/A?hsLang=en) **  
 Producer  
ESPN

**[ Gustavo Coletti](https://www.hashtagsports.com/awards/shortlist-2025/N/A?hsLang=en) **  
 Executive Producer  
ESPN

**[ Jose Morales](https://www.hashtagsports.com/awards/shortlist-2025/N/A?hsLang=en) **  
 Executive Producer  
ESPN

**[ Craig T. Lazarus](https://www.hashtagsports.com/awards/shortlist-2025/N/A?hsLang=en) **  
 Executive Producer  
ESPN

**[ Katherine Barnes](https://www.hashtagsports.com/awards/shortlist-2025/N/A?hsLang=en) **  
 Reporter  
ESPN

**[ Jason Sanchez](https://www.hashtagsports.com/awards/shortlist-2025/N/A?hsLang=en) **  
 Editor  
ESPN

#### INSPIRED TO ENTER WORK?

Entries to the 9th Hashtag Sports Awards will open in October 2026.

Sign up below for announcements, case studies, podcasts, and the prestigious shortlist of nominations.

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