A Storyteller Rooted in Culture and Competition
Jessica “Noonie” Noble doesn’t just report on the games—she plays them, lives them, and reshapes how they’re told. As a Black American woman navigating the intersecting worlds of sports journalism, gaming, and entertainment, Noble is part of a new generation of multifaceted storytellers using digital platforms to cover the moments that matter.
Her journey from semi-professional gaming to Editor-in-Chief of Sports and More Sports is a testament to the evolving landscape of media, where traditional gatekeepers no longer hold the same power. Instead, Noble controls her own narrative, shaping coverage that is both deeply analytical and culturally relevant.
This International Women’s Day, her work stands as a powerful example of how Black women are leading conversations in sports, gaming, and entertainment—on their own terms.
Read her 2024 year-in-review article: Jessica Noonie Noble Reflects: 25 Sports, Gaming, and Music’s Biggest Moments of 2024
The Making of a Digital Powerhouse
For many, gaming is an escape. For Noble, it was an education in discipline, competition, and media literacy. Watching her younger brother play, she picked up a controller and found herself drawn to the strategy and execution behind every move. That passion carried her into semi-professional gaming, where she competed in NBA 2K tournaments and honed the skills that would later define her journalism.
“In gaming, just like in reporting, you have to think fast and anticipate what’s coming,” she explains. “You have to see the bigger picture before it unfolds.”
This 360-degree perspective makes her work stand out. Whether she’s analyzing an NFL quarterback’s decision-making, discussing the rise of esports, or breaking down the cultural significance of hip-hop performances like the Kings of the West concert, she brings a storyteller’s instinct and a competitor’s mindset to every piece.
Her coverage of sports, gaming, and music isn’t about passive observation—it’s about engagement, immersing herself in the very culture she reports on.
Blurring the Lines Between Sports, Gaming, and Music
What sets Noble apart is her ability to connect sports to broader cultural conversations. Her recent year-in-review piece, Jessica Noonie Noble Reflects: 25 Sports, Gaming, and Music’s Biggest Moments of 2024, is a prime example of how sports, gaming, and entertainment are deeply intertwined.
In the article, she covers everything from Caitlin Clark’s NCAA dominance to Kendrick Lamar’s Juneteenth concert—moments that go beyond just stats and scores, tapping into what they meant for fans and culture as a whole.
This same approach can be seen in her coverage of the Kings of the West concert at Peacock Theater, where she wasn’t just attending but actively documenting and analyzing the performance’s significance within hip-hop and West Coast culture.
Watch her coverage of the Kings of the West Concert here: YouTube
Noble isn’t siloed into one category—her journalism thrives at the intersections of Black culture, sports, and gaming, ensuring that the stories she tells are reflective of real-life cultural movements, not just box scores and tournament results.
The Role of Black Women in Digital Media
Historically, Black women have been underrepresented in both sports journalism and gaming, but Noble represents a shift in that narrative.
From ESPN and gaming tournaments to music journalism, Black women have often been overlooked or forced to prove themselves twice as much. Noble has sidestepped these barriers, choosing instead to build her own credibility through independent reporting, streaming, and analysis.
Through her digital platforms, live gaming streams, and articles, she’s creating a community-driven approach to journalism, where readers and viewers aren’t just passive consumers but active participants in the conversation.
Her message to Black women in media?
“Don’t wait for permission. The industry isn’t built for us, so we have to build for ourselves. If you have a voice, use it. If you have a perspective, own it.”
Her Facebook Gaming page, Ladi Leo X Gaming, and YouTube channel, Ms. Leo {Sweet’s}, serve as extensions of her journalism, allowing her to actively engage with audiences in real-time.
Follow and Subscribe:
Facebook Gaming: Ladi Leo X Gaming YouTube: Ms. Leo {Sweet’s}
Conclusion: More Than a Journalist—A Cultural Architect
Jessica “Noonie” Noble isn’t just covering sports, gaming, and entertainment—she’s shaping how these industries are discussed.
By seamlessly integrating journalism, live engagement, and cultural commentary, she represents a new breed of digital media figures who don’t wait for traditional institutions to recognize their voices.
As she continues to push boundaries and amplify Black narratives in sports, gaming, and music, her work stands as a reminder of what happens when Black women refuse to be confined to outdated industry roles.
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate not just where she is but where she’s taking the future of digital media.