Charissa Thompson

  Charissa Jean Thompson (born May 4, 1982) is an American television host and sportscaster who works for Fox Sports. Thompson was previously employed by ESPN, Versus and GSN, as well the Big Ten Network. She was the co-host of SportsNation along with Marcellus Wiley until the time she left ESPN for Fox Sports in June 2013. The day that Fox Sports 1 launched on August 17, 2013 it was the debut day for Fox Sports 1. She was named host for Fox Sports Live. She also was one of the American hosts on Ultimate Beastmaster. From 2014 until 2017 Thompson was a co-host on the entertainment news program syndicated by Extra. Thompson was born in Seattle, Washington. She is the youngest of three children. Thompson hosted Extra from 2014 to the year 2017. Later, she transferred to the University of California, Santa Barbara where she graduated with the degree of a B.A. In Law and Society, she graduated in 2004. Sports Illustrated stated that Thompson "left Washington State (WSU) and went to a community college in California prior to transferring to UC Santa Barbara." Thompson stated that she did not go to WSU. Thompson was given a swimsuit problem by Sports Illustrated in which she could be painted in body paint prior to her broadcasting career.