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“The past seven years with the Dodgers have been nothing short of magical.”

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Amidst all of the recent changes within the Dodgers organization – players being acquired, some players moving on, some in limbo – another announcement rocked the Dodger Nation this week.

Dodgers reporter Alanna Rizzo posted a statement Wednesday morning on social media that she will be moving on to the next chapter of her career after seven memorable seasons with the team.

Alanna has been covering sports for almost two decades. She joined the Dodger organization in 2013 to help launch their new network and came on as the sideline reporter and pre and post-game co-host. Most fans will recognize her from the in-game coverage on SportsNetLA as well as her memorable team interviews after games. Over the years, she covered seven straight playoff runs, three trips to the World Series, one of those culminating in a Championship, and many home and away games in between.

Rizzo has accomplished much in her career and has a vast amount of sports knowledge. Dodger fans will definitely remember her for her player interviews – both candid and silly. In recent years, she had many playful interactions with former Dodgers utility player Kiké Hernández. Most notable were their one-on-one interviews after key games and the antics he performed behind her back on camera.

She had perfected her poker face when players would be bombarded with Gatorade, powder, or anything else within reach of teammates while celebrating a win. Rizzo would continue the interview for as long as possible and jump safely away just as the Gatorade would flow, never letting on what was about to happen.

The seven-time Emmy award-winner also had a special relationship with Dodgers broadcaster Joe Davis and legendary pitcher-turned-commentator Orel Hershiser.

When not reporting on the sidelines or in the dugout, she could also be found in the outfield pavilions on sunny days and warm evenings with former Dodgers first baseman Nomar Garciaparra, who is now an analyst for SportsNetLA. They would keep score and banter while sharing the camera with Joe and Orel. And despite not being an official baseball player, she was able to finagle her own jersey for Players Weekend in 2018 with her popular nickname “The Rizz.”

Alanna has definitely left an indelible mark on the fans of Los Angeles. In addition to reporting, she has helped canines all around Southern California find good homes through her foundation, Guidry’s Guardian. Pre-COVID, she even held an event at Dodger Stadium on behalf of the foundation for the female fan base called “Scorekeeping 101”. The class was geared towards not only teaching the basics of scorekeeping to women who love baseball, but she also brought together other women in the field for their perspectives – to tell their stories and to share what they had achieved to date.

Rizzo represents what women can hope to achieve in a sport which has been historically dominated by male figures. She has worked hard to get where she has and it shines through in her work. Women in sports do not always have an easy time, but Alanna carries herself with grace on and off the field.

This change hits a little harder in light of the 2020 shortened season being played without fans in the stadium due to COVID-19. Sometimes we take for granted that the people we look up to will always be around. As Rizzo said in her post on Twitter:

“For the first time ever, I’m putting my personal life above my professional one. I am not retiring, I am moving on to another chapter that allows me to be nearest to the ones I love most.”

She went on to say:

“LA you will always have my heart.”

For all of the fans that enjoyed watching her report on games, and for all the young girls and women (myself included) who look up to this woman who helped pave the way for others in the field, we wish you the best and you will always have our hearts as well!

We all bleed Dodger Blue!

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