NY Sports Emmy Nominee, Rising TV Host, Actress and Advocate
Gracie Cashman is in the midst of a breakout moment— emerging as a compelling new voice at the intersection of sports, entertainment and advocacy.
Gracie Cashman is the host of “The Story of My Number,” the standout YES Network and Gotham Sports App original series presented by the New York Lottery. The show was recently recognized with two New York Sports Emmy nominations, honoring its fresh, heartfelt approach to sports storytelling. Through emotional backstories behind iconic jersey numbers from legends like Aaron Boone, Don Mattingly and CC Sabathia, the series resonates far beyond stats and scoreboards.
When discussing the opportunity to host “The Story of My Number,” Cashman said, “Honestly, when YES Network approached me about Photo courtesy of Emily Hayman hosting ‘The Story of My Number,’ I couldn’t say yes fast enough. Numbers are such a huge part of sports. To quote our intro, they’re ‘sewn into the fabric of the game and onto the backs of its legendary athletes,’ but they’re also wildly intimate, like tattoos with backstories.”
Cashman has had the opportunity to host for the two seasons that the show has been out. Looking back on her experience, she said, “Season one was thrilling and slightly terrifying (in the best way). It was an entirely new and brilliant concept for a show (credit to the mastermind Daniel Laikind), but new, nonetheless. We didn’t know each other as a crew. There was a lot that needed to come together and really no margin for error. Everyone was taking a leap of faith in one way or another, but it wasn’t lost on me that I was one of those leaps, and I took that really seriously.” Cashman added, “But being with a project from the start, you get to watch it go from just a concept to a well-oiled machine. There is this amazing sense of trust that built up, both from the athletes and the crew, and I think that allowed for even deeper conversations. Plus, I stopped triple-checking every question 15 times… now I only do it five.”
But her momentum doesn’t stop at the studio.
Cashman brings a unique blend of media savvy, classical performing arts training and cultural legacy. She studied theatre at Northwestern, minored in psychology and obtained a musical theatre certificate. “Basically, I triple-majored in talking about my feelings. I graduated with honors, which I’m proud of, because sitting in psych lectures with a hat on because your hair is already prepped for your evening show is not for the faint of heart,” said Cashman about her accolades and getting things done despite the circumstances. With her father, Brian Cashman, serving as the longtime Yankees general manager, and her grandfather a trailblazer in cable television, Gracie is continuing a multigenerational media lineage, all while confidently carving her own path. When discussing if her family played a role in what she set out to do as a career path, Cashman said, “There was definitely a sense growing up that storytelling, pressure and performance— all in different ways—were just part of the family DNA. But no one ever said, ‘You should go into entertainment.’ If anything, I think my family just modeled what it looks like to work hard and care deeply about what you do. That gave me the freedom to find my path, whether that was on a set, a stage or somewhere in between.”
Cashman recently took the stage at the North Fork TV Festival, moderating a panel alongside actress Anna Chlumsky on creativity and storytelling through a female lens. On-screen, she’s gaining traction as an actress, with roles in “Christmas Cowboy” and the upcoming feature film “California Skate,” starring Brooke Shields and Bridget Moynahan. Cashman found her experience to be wildly flattering and slightly surreal when asked to moderate the panel, having said, “I kept looking around like, ‘Wait, me?’ I mean, looking at your name and headshot on a program next to those names is enough to give anyone imposter syndrome, I think. But it was such an honor. Creativity can feel like this elusive, messy thing, and I loved the chance to pull back the curtain a bit and talk about how it actually works (or doesn’t) for me.” Cashman deeply believes in storytelling that feels authentic and a little imperfect. Being able to speak on storytelling and hearing from other creators was genuinely inspiring, reminding her that none of us really have it “figured out.” “And that’s kind of the beauty of it,” said Cashman.
Gracie Cashman has a lot going on for her, and outside of entertainment, off camera, she’s an outspoken advocate for women’s health and reproductive rights. Cashman works closely with the Endometriosis Foundation of America (EndoFound), sharing her personal journey with PCOS and endometriosis to help educate and empower others.
Living with PCOS and endometriosis has fundamentally shaped how Cashman moves through the world: physically, emotionally and professionally. These are chronic, often debilitating conditions that affect about 1 in 10 women, yet they’re still massively under-researched, underfunded and, too often, dismissed. Ten years is the average length of diagnosis for endometriosis, and PCOS is one of the leading causes of infertility. Despite that, there is still no known cure and very few consistent treatment options.
Cashman says that she is incredibly fortunate to have access to exceptional healthcare, noting that that is not the case for many. Even with the best care, the options are limited, and so much of the treatment process is just trial and error. She said, “There are medications that don’t work, surgeries that may potentially offer temporary relief, and a daily mental load that is exhausting in its own right.” When discussing her own personal experience in detail, Cashman said, “On a practical level, some days are totally manageable. Others, I am dealing with fatigue, inflammation, nausea—and a kind of pain that can literally rank higher than childbirth on the pain scale. And the hardest part is that all of it is invisible. You’re expected to show up, perform, stay on, when your body is experiencing something that most people can’t see and honestly can’t imagine.” She added, “What gives me hope is that more people are starting to talk about it. There is still so much stigma around reproductive health, and I believe storytelling—through interviews, film or even just honest conversation—is one of the most powerful tools we have to create change. If my experience can help even one person feel less alone or more empowered to advocate for their own health, then that means everything to me.”
With her rising profile across media, entertainment and advocacy, Gracie Cashman is redefining what it means to have range in today’s cultural landscape. Whether she’s leading heartfelt sports conversations, commanding the screen as an actress or using her platform to push for meaningful change, Cashman is proving she’s not just following in a legacy—she’s building her own. As “The Story of My Number” continues to gain recognition and her acting career picks up speed, one thing is clear: Gracie Cashman isn’t just having a moment—she’s just getting started.
