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Jenni Carlson, a sports columnist at The Oklahoman since 1999, came by her love of sports honestly. She grew up in a sports-loving family in Kansas. Her dad coached baseball and did color commentary on the radio for the high school football games. Her mom kept the scorebook during baseball games and yelled her head off no matter the sport. They passed along that passion to Carlson and her two younger brothers.



Carlson played golf in high school and planned to play in college, but when she started at the University of Kansas, she decided to focus her attention on journalism. It’s a decision that she’s never regretted.



Her first big story was a profile on Kansas basketball coach Roy Williams for the yearbook, and Carlson has enjoyed interviewing sports figures and sharing their stories every since.
Carlson is a 1997 graduate of Kansas. She and her husband, Ryan, were married in 2009 and live in Oklahoma City. They welcomed their first child, Millie, in June 2012. Carlson was the president of the Association for Women in Sports Media from 2008-10 and chair of the board from 2010-12.



More > Jenni Carlson > Thunder


Several factors come into play on whether Kevin Martin returns to Thunder May 17, 2013 The Thunder guard becomes an unrestricted free agent later this summer, but because of the high-dollar salaries it already has, Oklahoma City wouldn't be able to offer him the kind of money he's been making. Read More
Oklahoma City Thunder: Time for fans to sulk, not despair May 16, 2013 COMMENTARY — The Thunder's five-game series loss to Memphis exposed some warts, but nothing that the healthy return of Russell Westbrook won't cover. Read More
OKC Thunder notebook: Kevin Durant says Thunder-Grizzlies 'solid basketball' May 10, 2013 The Western Conference semifinal between the Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies two seasons ago went seven games and was known for its physicality. Predictably, this year's series also has been physical. Read More
Power Lunch Chat with columnist Jenni Carlson May 09, 2013 Who should be favored in the Thunder-Grizzlies series? What did Russell Westbrook have to say at his morning presser? Ask all that and more when columnist Jenni Carlson logs on at 11 a.m. to take your questions. Read More
Oklahoma City Thunder: No matter what Lionel Hollins said, Memphis' Tony Allen showed he could still guard Kevin Durant May 08, 2013 After former Oklahoma State standout Tony Allen locked down Durant in the final minutes of Game 2, you have to wonder if Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins was trying to motivate Allen, hoping that his words would get back to the former Oklahoma State Cowboy, hoping that his defensive devil would play like one against... Read More
KD's heroics aren't enough to save the Thunder in Game 2 May 08, 2013 Kevin Durant dribbled, backing down Tony Allen, leaning on the Memphis defender. But as Durant leaned in, Allen backed off. Like that, Durant was sprawled on The Peake hardwood. Instead of late-game heroics, there was heartbreak. On a night when the Thunder superstar had his best performance of these... Read More
Oklahoma City Thunder bandwagon: Bob Stoops, Barry Switzer and Skylar Diggins in the house May 07, 2013 There was plenty of star power in the stands at The Peake on Tuesday night. Sitting just down the front row from the Thunder bench was Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops. And yes, he wore his team-provided shirt. Read More
Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Martin is looking like the old Kevin Martin again May 05, 2013 On an afternoon Oklahoma City beat Memphis 93-91 in the first game of this Western Conference playoff series, Martin played like the guy the Thunder thought it was trading for last fall. Read More
Oklahoma City Thunder bandwagon: Noon start leaves fans filing in late May 05, 2013 Chesapeake Energy Arena wasn't packed at tipoff. There were more empty seats than normal when the game started, even though the vacant seats weren't necessarily easy to spot because they were draped in blue shirts. But by the start of the second quarter, most of those empty seats were filled. Read More
Oklahoma City Thunder: Second round means another matchup with a Gasol brother May 04, 2013 Every year that the Thunder has been in the playoffs, it has faced one of the Brothers Gasol. Much like those previous series, how the Thunder handles the big man with “GASOL” on the back of his jersey could well determine who wins this slugfest. Read More
Rockets have found the soft spots in Thunder's defense May 02, 2013 On a night when the Thunder struggled mightily on offense, it struggled every bit as much on defense. If the Thunder doesn't do better, it will make history. It will become the first team in NBA history to lose a playoff series that it led 3-0. Read More
Oklahoma City Thunder bandwagon: Fans sign banner for Russell Westbrook May 01, 2013 Before the Thunder's first home game since then, the banner just outside The Peake became popular stop for Thunder fans. They lined up several people deep for a chance to scrawl a message on the white vinyl. Read More
Thunder: Super fan intends to let Patrick Beverley have it May 01, 2013 Houston guard Patrick Beverley is sure to receive quite the welcome from Thunder fans on Wednesday night. To try to get a gauge on just how, um, enthusiastic that reception might be I reached out to Garrett Haviland. You know him better as the rotund guy in the Mexican wrestler’s mask with the megaphone.... Read More
Thunder: Luck ran out with Westbrook injury April 26, 2013 Championship contenders have to be good. But they have to be lucky, too. The Thunder’s luck came to a screeching halt on Friday when we learned that Russell Westbrook needs surgery on his right knee. He has a lateral meniscus tear, an injury suffered in the second quarter of Game 2 against the Rockets. The ... Read More
Odds favor the Thunder, but Houston has other ideas April 24, 2013 The odds are great that the Thunder wins this series. But on a night that the boys in blue took that significant statistical edge with a 105-102 victory, this series got interesting. Read More
Oklahoma City Thunder Bandwagon: Buddies love the Thunder April 24, 2013 Jake Keel of Mustang and Dalton Miller of Hinton have costumes that are takeoffs on the move “TED”. Read More
Oklahoma City Thunder: Fan's half-court shot gives crowd, team a charge April 23, 2013 The cheer was deafening when Larry Hill's shot found the bottom of the net. The buzz kept going as an already amped playoff crowd went to another level. The Thunder rode that wave, too, in its Game 1 win over the Rockets. Read More
Serge Ibaka made his presence known early — just ask James Harden April 22, 2013 Only a few minutes into this playoff series, Ibaka rose up and spiked Harden's shot into The Peake hardwood. It didn't dent the floor, but it sure seemed like it could've. Read More
Oklahoma City Thunder Bandwagon: Sights and Sounds from Game 1 April 21, 2013 James Harden, the former Thunder super sub, was greeted with a hearty chorus of boos when he was announced during the starting lineups. Read More
The Beard was gone: An oral history of the James Harden trade April 20, 2013 Players, coaches, fans and others look back at the night that changed the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets franchises. Read More
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