WXYZ-TV (Ch. 7 in Detroit) has its new sports anchor.
Tina Nguyen was announced as the new sports anchor at WXYZ on Monday, July 27, a little shy of three months after former sports anchor and director Brad Galli said his final goodbyes on May 1, 2026.
Nguyen will also hold the same title at WXYZ's sister station, WMYD-TV (The Spot Detroit 20), which will be the home of the Detroit Pistons starting in 2026-27.
“I am excited to join the team at WXYZ and The Spot Detroit 20 to lead the station’s sports coverage,” said Nguyen in a release. “This is an amazing opportunity to be in a city that is so passionate about sports and to cover teams with such rich histories like the Pistons, Lions, Tigers and Red Wings, along with the top college programs across
the region. I cannot wait to learn more about the city and get to know the people who call Detroit home.”
Nguyen comes to Detroit after stops at WFLD-TVin Chicago and KTNV-TV in Las Vegas, with work on some of the nation's biggest sporting events, such as the Stanley Cup Finals, the NFL draft, MLB playoff games and more.
She also worked for the NBA, for whom she hosted the show "WNBA News" on Instagram.
"The best sports coverage creates connection, and Tina excels at connecting with athletes, fans and the communities they represent," Tim Kochenderfer, station manager and senior director of news for WXYZ and WMYD, said in the release. "She brings a modern approach to storytelling and audience engagement, and we're excited for Detroit sports fans to get to know her."
Nguyen has big shoes to fill, as Galli decided to branch out on his own after years of leading the WXYZ sports department. He has started his own show now, with all his interviews running on a YouTube channel, "The Brad Galli Show," and shared on Facebook.
“It was a hard decision because I wanted to work at Channel 7 for 50 years,” Galli told the Freep's Jeff Seidel in May. “I loved getting to represent the 'Circle 7,' and everything that it meant with the amazing people I got to work with. But, man, this isn't like a corny answer, this is the truth. I have an amazing wife that I've known since we were in kindergarten. I like hanging out with her, and we have two kids that we love to death. I want to coach them, and I felt like my career could grow, and my time at home could also expand.”
Now it's Nguyen's turn to take the lead at WXYZ, an opportunity she said her family has worked for decades to make possible.
“My parents immigrated to the United States from Vietnam to build a better life for their family," she said in a release. "Their story is a constant reminder of what is possible through sacrifice, hard work and opportunity. I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to pursue my own version of the American dream, and I carry their journey with me in everything I do. To have the chance to lead sports coverage in a city like Detroit is something I am deeply grateful for, and I hope my journey can inspire other young people to pursue their own dreams, too.”
Andrew Birkle is an assistant sports editor for the Free Press. Contact him via email at abirkle@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) names Tina Nguyen as replacement for Brad Galli
