A native of Yakima, Sandy Ringer graduated from Eisenhower High School in 1971, where she participated in pre-Title IX volleyball and basketball programs. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Washington State University (1975), becoming the first female sports editor of the Daily Evergreen.

Ringer began her journalism career in Madras, Oregon, covering news and high school sports before returning to Washington to take a similar role at the Toppenish Review. Just months later, she received her first major opportunity as sports editor of the Suburban Times, where she focused on prep athletics and Pacific Lutheran University sports.

In 1981, she joined the Valley Newspapers sports staff, covering football, basketball, and baseball, before landing her “dream job” with The Seattle Times in 1987. There, she became the South Bureau sports reporter, dedicating her coverage to high school athletics throughout South King County.

Over the course of her career, Ringer earned numerous honors for her work, including awards from the Northwest Society of Professional Journalists and the Associated Press Sports Editors for features such as Title IX Turns 30 (2003) and Kathi Goertzen: A Mother’s Strength, Two Daughters’ Inspiration (2009). She was also recognized by coaching associations across the state, receiving the Washington State Football Coaches Association Silver Helmet Award (1991), the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association Media Award (2003), and the Washington State Baseball Coaches Association Jim Reding Media Commitment Award (2010).

In 2014, the Seattle City Council honored her legacy of prep sports coverage—particularly girls athletics—by proclaiming February 7 as “Sandy Ringer Day.”