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Hi, I'm Maria!

I'm an investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporter currently serving as the investigative reporting fellow at ESPN while completing my master’s degree in journalism and public affairs at American University.

Previously, I spent two years as the deputy editor of Park Cities People and Preston Hollow People (affiliates of D Magazine), where I covered the crime, news, business, real estate, philanthropy and more in my geographic beat.

I earned dual bachelor’s degrees in journalism and sociology from the University of North Texas in 2022, where I was editor-in-chief of the North Texas Daily and held reporting internships covering business, news and arts and culture for several local outlets.

My reporting has been published by ESPN, The Washington Post, D Magazine, the Dallas Observer, the Denton Record-Chronicle and other publications.

Featured Work

ESPN.com •

How could the GOP tax bill affect sports teams?

A new Republican-backed tax plan that aims to curb tax breaks for team owners could lead to increased costs for sports fans and make investments in emerging leagues less attractive, tax experts say.The bill, proposed Monday by the U.S. House of Representatives' chief tax-writing committee, includes a provision that specifically targets professional sports franchises by limiting the amount owners can deduct from their taxes on the team. The bill would cap the amount new owners can write off for i...
The Wash •

Organizers on World Pride safety: 'D.C. is the place to be'

Capital Pride board member Vernon Wall still remembers when Miley Cyrus stood her ground at Capital Pride in 2017 during the first Trump Administration.
“She said, ‘I promised that when this person was elected, I was never going to do ‘Party in the USA’ ever again,’” Wall said. “She said, ‘Standing in front of the Capitol, right now, on this stage, I’m going to do it because I really want people to know that we are the USA and we are important.’”
Seven years later, the stage is bigger, and so is...
The Washington Post •

History, culture and diversity converge in U Street corridor

Where We Live | Once known as “Black Broadway,” this community continues vibrant regrowth.Lee’s Flower Shop opened in 1945 and moved to its current corner in 1968, around the time of the unrest after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. A “Soul Brothers” sign in the window probably spared the shop from fires that destroyed neighboring businesses, Lee Banks said.“We’re really proud of the way the shop is keeping up with the neighborhood as sort of boutique-ish,” Lee Banks said. “I think it fit...
ESPN.com •

Two years after losing the Texas job, Chris Beard finds his place at Ole Miss

From a celebrated coach to his firing at Texas, Chris Beard leads Ole Miss to new heights as it heads into the NCAA tournament. (4:08)Editor's note: This story originally was published March 21, 2025.OXFORD, Miss. -- On an October school night, Chris Beard passed the six towering white columns at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house to give his pitch. About 125 -- no, it must have been 150 -- frat brothers crammed together to listen.Weeks before the 2024-25 season, the University of Mississippi men's b...
ESPN.com •

College sports still grappling with how to stop court storms

When the Auburn men's basketball team visits Vanderbilt tonight, the matchup will pit the nation's top-ranked team against the most-penalized team for field and court storming this school year.In just the past four months, the Southeastern Conference has levied $850,000 in fines against Vanderbilt. The penalties are part of a combined $2.6 million in fines the SEC has levied against nine of its 16 member schools because fans stormed in celebration after football and men's basketball victories be...
ESPN.com •

Shriver: Tennis trophies stolen after fleeing fires

Hall of Fame tennis player Pam Shriver said Thursday that her car containing major trophies was stolen overnight from a Marina del Rey, California, hotel where she had fled to escape the Pacific Palisades fire.Shriver said the Dodge Durango Hellcat, which she discovered was missing around 7:30 a.m. Thursday from the Marina del Rey DoubleTree parking lot, held five US Open trophies, five French Open plates and one Australian Open trophy. She said the trophies were in the car after she removed the...
The Wash •

Norwegians on U.S. election results: ‘What have Democrats gotten wrong?’

As Norway looks to the U.S. for trade and security, some Norwegians say they are wary about their ability to rely on the United States during Donald Trump’s second presidential term.Mikkel Røed Nesse, a state senator in Adger, Norway, says Norway needs to prioritize its independence in the wake of Donald Trump’s presidency.
Nesse is skeptical about Trump’s reelection and is among the 70% of Norwegians who would have voted for Kamala Harris, according to Statista.
“The most concerning part is tha...
The Wash •

Campaign merch: Voters keep items for years

DC-area boutiques, street vendors and online retailers sell merchandise in a contentious race. Who is ahead? Location matters.There’s no shortage of Kamala Harris merchandise in D.C. boutiques, but Donald Trump supporters must stick mainly to tourist shops or street vendors.
Local businesses like Shop Made in D.C. have released their own lines of Harris-Walz merch, while Republicans like Williamsburg resident Susan Sherren say they shop primarily online.
D.C. is notorious for voting Democrat ea...
The Wash •

Logan Circle bar increases sales by 50% during ‘Love is Blind’ watch parties

The Crown & Crow is featured in this season of the reality dating show. Every Wednesday, fans visit the “set” and watch new episodes over discounted, themed drinks.Crown & Crow owner Brian Harrison crafted drinks for the Love is Blind season seven cast during a prohibition-themed party while the show was filming last November.
Almost a year later, he and events coordinator Melissa Harrison host watch parties for the reality dating show as it premiered on Netflix this month.
The couple has seen t...
The Wash •

Political Pattie’s changes exterior after public backlash

The donkey and elephant symbols on the U Street bar’s facade came down to reinforce the owners’ emphasis on civil discourse and inclusivity.The word “political” on Political Pattie’s will be repainted in a larger blue font this week to offset the red doors.
The Democrat donkey and Republican elephant on the facade of the new U Street bar have also been recently covered with coats of white paint.
“The elephant, we realized, people found it offensive and hurtful,” co-owner Drew Benbow said. “That’...

Awards

  • Wendy Rieger Memorial Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism - April 2025
  • First Place, Localized National Story, National Newspaper Association - July 2024
  • First Place, Local Government Reporting, National Newspaper Association - July 2023
  • First Place, Feature Writing, National Newspaper Association - July 2023
  • First Place, Feature Writing Live Contest, Texas Intercollegiate Press Association - March 2022

Get in touch!

marialawsonjour@gmail.com

469-500-3138 (call or text)