Arielle Orsuto leaving 9NEWS sports department

A familiar face is leaving the 9NEWS sports department and heading to Seattle.

Arielle Orsuto this week announced her departure from the Denver-based Tegna station.

"This will be my last week in Denver and at 9NEWS," Orsuto wrote in a social media post on X. "While this city and this team have been my absolute dream home for the last five years, I’m following my heart and my passion to a new adventure."

She told The Denver Gazette she'll be joining Tegna-owned KING5 in Seattle as a sports reporter and anchor.

"I'll be covering every pro team and I would imagine UW as well down to the local Joes," Orsuto said in a phone conversation.

Orsuto spent five years covering sports for 9NEWS and pioneered a franchise on 9NEWS called "Fair Game" that she said highlights the underrepresented communities in sports, such as women, minorities, the disabled and the LGBTQ+ community.

"The fact that I was able to create that franchise here was the most meaningful thing I ever did," Orsuto said. "I was so proud to have done it, but I have to thank my management for allowing me to do it."

She said 9NEWS management was incredibly supportive in helping her "bring those stories to light." She said she's hopeful that the "Fair Game" franchise will continue after she departs the station.

"They say to leave something better than you found it," Orsuto said. "This would be my way of leaving 9NEWS better than I found it."

The University of Miami alumnus said she had a lot of fun memories at 9NEWS as well — from reporting on the ice in Tampa after the Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup, to being in Ball Arena when the Denver Nuggets won its first NBA title.

Orsuto, who married her wife while living in Denver, said she was immensely grateful that 9NEWS allowed her to be herself on air as an openly gay and out woman.

"They welcomed me with open arms and allowed me to be my true, authentic self," Orsuto said. "And I couldn't thank people more."

9NEWS is The Denver Gazette's news partner.