Rachel Phillips left her KVIA 7 El Paso weekend sports anchor/reporter role as of January 2024.
UPDATE: She announced in March 2024 that she is joining ABC24 WATN Memphis, Tennessee as a sports anchor and reporter.
Bea Martinez, who recently earned a master’s degree from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in Sports Journalism, takes over Phillips' weekend sports anchor role.
Phillips posted on Facebook she will announce her new job soon:
"I will forever be thankful to this community for welcoming this Australian with open arms… even those of you who complained about the accent.
One of the most special parts of my job is getting to tell people’s stories and those stories are not possible without you, the Borderland. Thank you to every player, coach, AD, parent, fan, referee, SID and everyone else in between for letting me tell your story and be there for the big moments in your life.
This city will always hold a special place in my heart - it’s the city where I got my start in my dream career, the city I first lived alone and the city where I made friends that have become family.
I’ll announce what’s next in a little bit but for right now I’m going to enjoy these last few days in the Sun City before going home for the first time in 3.5 years to lap up some Aussie sun. Then I’ll be back stateside to keep living the dream. Thank you El Paso, I’ll never forget this place."
Phillips joined KVIA in February 2021 as a multimedia journalist (MMJ).
In June 2021, she was promoted to Weekend Morning Anchor/Producer and Multimedia Journalist.
A year later, in June 2022, Phillips became the Borderland station's weekend sports anchor when Nate Ryan left for KENS 5 San Antonio.
The Brisbane, Australia native came to the United States in August 2019 after graduating from Queensland University of Technology (QUT). She then obtained her master's of arts from Arizona State University.
Another recent change at KVIA was the retirement of 4pm anchor Mark Ross.
My farewell by the numbers:
— Rachel Phillips KVIA (@Rachel_KVIA) January 29, 2024
Voice cracks = 6 Ttl
Shakiness = 7/10
Spanish = 1.5/10
Co-anchors = 10/10
My love of this city = 10/10 pic.twitter.com/oYwJr5d2wc
