From Court to Camera: The Unbreakable Spirit of Shelley Bortz, KDKA Reporter

Shelley Bortz is more than just a familiar, reassuring face delivering the news on KDKA-TV. She is a powerful case study in resilience, a veteran journalist whose career is built not just on breaking stories, but on the unbreakable spirit she forged decades ago.

Before she was an Emmy-nominated reporter tracking deadlines across Pittsburgh, Bortz was a high-scoring college basketball star.

Her trajectory was dramatically — and tragically — rewritten by a drunk-driving crash that nearly cost her life and took her best friend.

Yet, the same discipline she used to shatter records on the court allowed her to walk again, return to the game, and ultimately become one of Western Pennsylvania’s most compelling media figures.

This is the original Shelley Bortz biography—a narrative that goes beyond the teleprompter to explore her athletic achievements, the defining Shelley Bortz tragedy, her marriage to Shelley Bortz husband Bob Ligashesky, and her inspiring journey home to Pittsburgh.

The Vitals: Age, Hometown, and Pittsburgh Roots

Born on February 26, 1974, Shelley Bortz is currently 51 years old as of 2025. Her roots are firmly planted in Western Pennsylvania, a fact that gives her KDKA reporting a genuine local resonance.

A proud native of Uniontown, PA, Bortz grew up in a supportive, sports-minded family.

• Birth Date: February 26, 1974

• Age (2025): 51 years old

• Hometown: Uniontown, Pennsylvania

• Parents: George Bortz III and Christine Andrews

• Family Honor: Her father, George Bortz III, was inducted into the Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame alongside her in 2021—the first father-daughter duo to receive the honor.

The Sportswoman: Record-Breaker on the Basketball Court

Long before she chased a breaking news story, Shelley Bortz was chasing down rebounds and scoring titles. Her high school and college basketball careers are the foundation of the tenacity that defines her public life.

High School Legend

At Geibel Catholic High School in Uniontown, Bortz became a local sports legend.

• She set the school’s all-time scoring record with 1,977 career points.

• She also racked up over 1,000 career rebounds.

• Her dominance earned her the title of WPIAL Class AA Player of the Year.

Gannon University and Full Scholarship

Her talent led her to Gannon University in Erie, PA, on a full basketball scholarship. There, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communications between 1992 and 1997.

The grueling demands of collegiate athletics instilled the discipline that would become crucial for her future media career and personal challenges.

The Defining Moment: Surviving a Life-Altering Tragedy

No discussion of Shelley Bortz is complete without addressing the pivotal event that tested her strength to its absolute limit: the Shelley Bortz tragedy of 1994.

On April 1, 1994, during her time at Gannon, she was a backseat passenger in a horrific, high-speed car crash. A drunk driver ran a stop sign, forever changing the lives of everyone involved.

Profound Consequences

1. Tragic Loss: Her best friend and Gannon teammate, Kerri Welc, was killed in the accident.

2. Severe Injuries: Shelley herself suffered life-threatening injuries, including a shattered pelvis, multiple broken bones, and internal organ damage. She required extensive surgery, leaving her with five pounds of metal plates and rods inside her body.

A Triumphant Comeback

Doctors doubted she would ever walk again, let alone return to the basketball court.

“My doctors told my family that if I made it through surgery, I most likely wouldn’t walk again. When I heard the prognosis, I was devastated. But, I wasn’t going to feel sorry for myself. I was going to do something about it.”

After three months in a wheelchair and a year of grueling physical therapy, she defied the odds. She triumphantly returned to the Gannon court, playing her final season while wearing Kerri Welc’s jersey number as a constant symbol of remembrance and determination. This single act solidified her unbreakable spirit.

The Rise to the Big Desk: From Nebraska to KDKA

Bortz’s journalism career is a testament to working her way up through the competitive television news landscape. She paid her dues, moving markets to sharpen her skills before making her final homecoming to Pittsburgh.

The Journalist’s Journey

• Early Roles: After internships at WJET (Erie) and FOX Sports Pittsburgh, her first reporting job was as a weekend anchor/reporter in the smaller market of Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

• Market Building: She progressed through roles in Parkersburg, West Virginia, and Steubenville, Ohio, gaining experience as both an anchor and general assignment reporter.

• Major Markets: She honed her investigative and on-scene reporting skills in larger cities, including Jacksonville, Florida, and St. Louis, Missouri.

• The Pittsburgh Homecoming (WPXI): Shelley returned to the Steel City media market in 2015, where she spent six years as a familiar face at WPXI-TV.

• KDKA-TV: In October 2021, she joined KDKA-TV (CBS Pittsburgh) as a full-time reporter, solidifying her status as a leading journalist in her native region. Her quality work, often covering complex crime and community issues, has earned her an Emmy nomination.

The Pageant Titles and the PA Announcer

Beyond reporting and athletics, Bortz’s diverse resume includes roles that highlight her public speaking skills and community commitment.

• Pageant Champion: She held the prestigious titles of Mrs. Pennsylvania America and Mrs. Ohio United States. Her platform during these pageants was often focused on her advocacy work.

• Advocacy: Following her tragedy, Bortz became a passionate advocate for organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and has supported the Kerri A. Welc Memorial Scholarship. She turned personal pain into public purpose.

• Sports Announcing: Blending her love for broadcasting and basketball, she served for three seasons as the Public Address Announcer for the University of Pittsburgh Women’s Basketball Team.

Family Life: Husband Bob Ligashesky

Shelley Bortz is happily married to Bob Ligashesky, a highly respected figure in the world of professional and collegiate football. Is Shelley Bortz married? Yes, and her marriage is a true athletic power couple pairing.

• Husband: Bob Ligashesky is an accomplished football coach.

• Career Highlights: He is best known in Pittsburgh for serving as the Special Teams Coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers during their Super Bowl XLIII championship season in 2008. He has also coached at numerous major college programs, including a position at Syracuse University.

• Daughter: The couple shares a daughter, Sydney, born in 2009.

• Family Life: The family lives in the Pittsburgh area, balancing their demanding, high-profile careers with their commitment to family and their beloved puppy, Phoenix.

Fitness, Height, and the Secret to Her Stamina

Bortz’s background as a top-tier athlete is still evident in her commitment to fitness. She maintains an active, athletic physique and discipline, which contributes to her stamina for the long hours of news reporting.

(Note: While the phrase Shelley Bortz weight loss sometimes appears in searches, this is more a reflection of her consistently athletic build and dedication to fitness rather than a dramatic, single-event transformation.)

Net Worth and Financial Insight (2025)

Shelley Bortz’s financial standing is robust, a result of a nearly three-decade-long journalism career in varied and major markets.

• Estimated Net Worth: Her estimated wealth falls between $1 million and $5 million. This range reflects her long tenure and major market experience.

• Estimated Annual Salary: As a veteran reporter in the competitive Pittsburgh (market size 23) news market, her annual salary is estimated to range from $45,000 to $120,500.

Legacy and Impact

Shelley Bortz’s legacy extends beyond her Emmy-nominated reporting. She represents the best of the Pittsburgh spirit: hard work, resilience, and a deep, personal connection to community.

1. Empathy in Reporting: Having personally faced and survived a severe tragedy, her reports on crime, loss, and community resilience often carry an extra layer of genuine empathy and compassion.

2. Role Model: Her story—from a record-breaking athlete to a pageant queen, to a survivor, and finally to a celebrated journalist—makes her a powerful role model, especially for young women in Western Pennsylvania.

3. Hometown Hero: Her return to KDKA-TV is a true homecoming, giving her an invaluable local perspective that viewers trust.

KDKA News Team: Bortz’s Colleagues

Shelley Bortz contributes to KDKA-TV’s reputation for comprehensive and reliable news alongside a seasoned team of journalists:

• Anchors: Ken Rice (Evening), Heather Abraham, and David Highfield (Morning)

• Weather: Ray Petelin and Ron Smiley (Meteorologists)

• Key Reporters: Andy Sheehan (Political/Investigative) and John Shumway (Veteran Reporter)

📣 What are your favorite memories of Shelley Bortz’s coverage or her time on the basketball court? Share your thoughts below!

Summary Table

📚 Sources & External Links

1. 1. KDKA-TV Official Bio (CBS Pittsburgh) (Source for career milestones, current position, family vitals)

   2. Gannon University Alumni Publication (Source for car crash details, Kerri Welc, athletic comeback, and piano talent quote)

   3. Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame Records (Source for induction alongside her father, high school records)

   4. WPXI-TV Archives (Source for six-year tenure in Pittsburgh market)

   5. Pittsburgh Steelers / Syracuse University Athletics (Source for Bob Ligashesky’s career history)

   6. Mrs. America Pageant Organization (Source for Mrs. Pennsylvania America/Mrs. Ohio United States titles)

   7. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) (Source for advocacy and public service)

   8. University of Pittsburgh Women’s Basketball Athletics (Source for PA Announcer role)

   9. Uniontown Herald-Standard Archives (Source for early life and high school sports)