Erika Wachter Barnes grew up in New Jersey and starred in three sports at Egg Harbor Township High School. She played Division I field hockey at Syracuse University while earning a degree in broadcast journalism. After college, she spent a year as a production assistant at ESPN before moving into on-air work in New Haven, Connecticut.
She hosted SportzEdge on the Scene and reported on University of Connecticut athletics before joining FOX 5 New York. At FOX 5, she covered sports and news while also hosting Sports Xtra. She also spent six years hosting New Jersey Devils broadcasts for MSG Networks, from 2018 to 2024.
Erika Watcher Barnes has served as a host for NHL Network and MLB Network since 2021. She leads NHL Network’s nightly highlight show, On the Fly, and also hosts NHL Tonight. On MLB Network, she hosts Quick Pitch and StrikeZone, and has reported courtside for NHL on TNT since 2022. Additionally, she has filled in as a host on SNY’s Honda Sportsnite since 2024.
