For decades, St. Louis Cardinals fans have been fortunate to follow their team through the voices and pens of some of the most respected figures in sports media. Legends like Jack Buck and Mike Shannon set the standard on the broadcast side, while writers such as Derrick Goold have provided thoughtful, in-depth coverage that keeps fans connected to the franchise. This rich tradition of top-tier storytellers has helped shape how generations of supporters experience Cardinals baseball.
Recently, another rising talent has become part of that legacy. A newer addition to the Cardinals’ media landscape has quickly earned recognition for her insight, professionalism, and strong presence across various platforms. Her work added to the already impressive roster of voices surrounding the team, and many fans grew to appreciate her perspective on both on-field performance and the organization as a whole.
Now, her journey is taking an exciting turn. She will be heading west to pursue a new opportunity, bringing her skills to a different market. While Cardinals fans may feel a sense of loss at her departure, they can take pride in knowing that yet another respected media figure who covered their team is moving forward to expand her career on a larger stage.
Katie Woo of The Athletic is leaving the St. Louis Cardinals beat to cover the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Katie Woo’s time covering the St. Louis Cardinals has taken her through the full spectrum of what this franchise can be — from its most inspiring moments to its most discouraging stretch in decades. During her tenure on the beat, she witnessed the final chapters of several iconic careers. Albert Pujols returned to finish his storied journey in St. Louis, Yadier Molina closed out nearly two decades as the emotional heartbeat of the club, and Adam Wainwright capped off an unforgettable run as the team’s enduring ace.
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Woo also chronicled the meteoric rise of a lineup anchored by Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt, who in 2022 were among the premier forces in the National League. That same year, Mike Shildt guided the Cardinals on a thrilling 17-game winning streak — an extraordinary run that Woo covered in her very first offseason, giving her an early taste of the franchise at its competitive best.
But she also had to document the bleakest period the Cardinals have endured in over thirty years. As the organization slipped from its long-held place as a model of consistency, Woo was tasked with reporting on a downturn few fans ever expected to witness. She covered the franchise’s first 90-loss season since 1990, a low point in 2023 that symbolized the unraveling of a system once defined by its ability to develop talent and remain continuously competitive.
In her five seasons on the beat, not once did the team secure a postseason victory, a reality that underscored just how challenging this era had become. For all the excitement she experienced at the start, Woo was equally present for the uncertainty, frustration, and structural issues that emerged in recent years.
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Throughout it all, Katie Woo distinguished herself as one of the most engaged and insightful reporters covering the Cardinals. Her work transcended standard beat coverage; she built an authentic rapport with the fanbase by engaging actively on social media, responding to questions big and small, and even weathering occasionally heated replies about something as simple as sharing the daily lineup card.
At Busch Stadium, she regularly interacted with fans who recognized her, and she brought transparency and clarity to situations that often left supporters puzzled or anxious. Last September, it was Woo who helped peel back the layers of organizational dysfunction, offering a clearer understanding of how the Cardinals had drifted so far from their long-standing identity. Her reporting provided depth, honesty, and context during a period when fans needed it most.
Her connection with the Cardinals community was recognized formally as well. Two years ago, fans elected her into the Twitter Hall of Fame — an affectionate, fan-driven honor that placed her alongside well-known accounts like cardinalsgifs and, eventually, her colleague Derrick Goold. The gesture reflected not only how much fans appreciated her work, but how seamlessly she had become part of the team’s extended media family.
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Now, Woo is embarking on a new chapter, joining The Athletic’s coverage team for the Los Angeles Dodgers — one of the largest and most intensely followed organizations in all of sports media. Her move comes as her reporting has naturally expanded beyond St. Louis over the past year. She has collaborated with major voices at The Athletic, including Ken Rosenthal, and worked closely with Fabian Ardaya, who already covers the Dodgers. This transition also brings her geographically closer to her Bay Area roots, making her new assignment not just a professional progression but a return to a familiar part of the country.
In her farewell message to Cardinals fans, Woo expressed profound gratitude for the community that embraced her from the moment she arrived. She reflected on what it meant to be trusted with telling the story of one of baseball’s most tradition-rich franchises, especially when she entered the role as a young reporter with virtually no beat-writing experience.
“I’m grateful to have written this team’s story for as long as I have,” she wrote, noting how the fanbase welcomed “a 24-year-old California girl” and made St. Louis feel like home. She emphasized that despite the highs and lows, the work never stopped being the dream job she always hoped it would be — and she credited the fans for making that possible.
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For Cardinals supporters, Woo’s departure carries a sense of bittersweet appreciation. She has been a steady, thoughtful voice during a turbulent era, and her contributions to the coverage of the team will be remembered long after she shifts her focus to Los Angeles. Her professionalism, humor, insight, and willingness to engage have left a lasting imprint on the fanbase she served so well.
As she begins her new role, Cardinals fans will undoubtedly miss her presence, but they will also cheer for her success from afar. And when the Dodgers visit St. Louis, it would surprise no one if Katie Woo receives one of the warmest welcomes in the ballpark — perhaps even louder than the applause given to former Cardinals returning in opposing uniforms. Her impact, after all, has been that meaningful.
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