Unveiling Melissa Stark: 5 Key Insights About SB LX's Sideline Star

Melissa Stark stands as a beacon in sports journalism, having carved out a path as one of the first women to achieve significant success in this male-dominated field.

As the lead sideline reporter for the upcoming 2026 Super Bowl in Santa Clara, California, Stark returns to the spotlight 23 years after her initial Super Bowl reporting debut in 2003. Back then, a female sports reporter in a leading role was a rarity.

“Being one of the first women in sports during my first Super Bowl, it was an anomaly at the time,” Stark shared with Streaking the Lawn, a publication affiliated with the University of Virginia. “Now it’s much more commonplace. There are so many more opportunities for women, in any avenue they want to pursue, and that is expected.”

Her passion for sports ignited early, influenced by her father, Walter, who worked with the Baltimore Colts.

A distinguished eye surgeon, Walter treated players for eye injuries and often took Stark to games, introducing her to the world of football.

He passed away in 2024, leaving a profound impact on Stark’s life. “My dad squeezed 10 lifetimes into 1,” she reflected in an Instagram tribute. “He never left Oklahoma until he was 18 and then went on to travel and change lives around the world.”

Stark reminisced about attending Baltimore Colts games with her father, who would take her into the locker room during halftime. “He inspired me from a young age to follow my dreams and always told me there was nothing I couldn’t do…but that I had to give everything 110 percent.”

Super Bowl LX will mark Stark’s second time reporting on this grand stage.

In 2003, while at ABC, she covered Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers triumphed over the Oakland Raiders (now Las Vegas Raiders) with a score of 48-21.

Fast forward to today, and Stark is set to once again bring her expertise to the Super Bowl.

Since 2001, Stark has been married to Mike Lilley. Their relationship began in the early 1990s, prior to Stark’s rise in the reporting world. Despite her high-profile career, they have maintained a level of privacy regarding their personal life.

The couple is proud parents of four children: two sons, Michael Jr. and Jackson, along with twin daughters Clara and Clemmie.

Stark graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors from the University of Virginia. Following in her footsteps, her eldest son Michael Jr. is also attending UVA and is set to graduate in 2026.

Her illustrious career began over three decades ago at a local TV station in Baltimore. Starting as a news intern at WMAR-TV, a CBS affiliate, Stark has since gained recognition by covering major sporting events, including multiple championships and the Olympics for various networks.

Her professional journey includes tenures at ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network, solidifying her status as a prominent figure in sports journalism.