Malika Andrews

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Malika Andrews
Born
Malika Rose Andrews

(1995-01-27) January 27, 1995 (age 29)
Oakland, California, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Portland
Occupation(s)NBA sports journalist and reporter
Years active2017–present
EmployerESPN

Malika Rose Andrews (born January 27, 1995) is an American sports journalist and reporter. She is the host of NBA Today, which replaced The Jump.[1] She joined ESPN in October 2018 as an online NBA writer and debuted as its youngest sideline reporter for a broadcast during the 2020 NBA Bubble.[2][3] Andrews was named one of the Forbes 30 Under 30 in the sports industry for 2021.[4]

Early life and education[edit]

Andrews was born in Oakland, California, to Mike, a personal trainer, and Caren, an art teacher. She grew up as a fan of the Golden State Warriors. During eighth grade, she began the year at Head-Royce School and later attended a year-round therapeutic boarding school in Utah, graduating at 17 in 2012.[5] Andrews is of Jewish descent through her mother and had a bat mitzvah in 2008.[6]

Andrews worked at her maternal grandfather's civil rights law firm for a year before studying for a communications degree at the University of Portland and graduating in 2017. While at the University of Portland, she was a sports writer, sports editor and editor-in-chief of The Beacon, the school newspaper.[5] While at school she reported on a player who suffered a brain bleed after crashing into a wall. Following her story in the paper, the school put up padding to prevent further injuries.[7]

Her younger sister, Kendra Andrews, covered the Golden State Warriors for NBC Sports Bay Area.[8] In December 2021, Kendra was hired by ESPN to cover the Golden State Warriors.[9]

Career[edit]

Andrews introduced herself at an NBA Summer League game in 2017 to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, who had read her work at The Beacon.[5] She had an internship at the Denver Post before working as a James Reston Reporting Fellow in the sports department at The New York Times.[3] Andrews also worked for one year as a reporter for the Chicago Tribune before joining ESPN.com as a reporter covering the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks, later moving to New York to also cover the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets.[5] After the Bucks lost to the Toronto Raptors in the 2019 Eastern Conference Finals, Giannis Antetokounmpo walked out of the press conference, upset about an article that Andrews wrote saying he might leave Milwaukee if the Bucks did not make improvements to win the title before he would become a free agent in 2021.[10][11]

In 2020, she was one of first reporters to enter the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex for the completion of the 2019–20 NBA season in the Bubble.[12] Andrews led the 2020 NBA draft telecast with virtual interviews of the top draftees.[13]

She was cited for her "garden-party-chic wardrobe" on the court by the New York Post, which noted that her trademark look is "flowing floral feminine frocks."[14]

In 2021, Andrews was nominated for an Emmy in the Emerging On-Air Talent category. Andrews has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association for her work as ESPN's only black female NBA reporter. She was named one of the Forbes 30 Under 30 in the sports industry for 2021.[4] She makes appearances on shows such as SportsCenter, Get Up, NBA Countdown, Around the Horn and The Jump.

On July 6, 2021, Andrews was announced as ABC's sideline reporter for the NBA Finals coverage, taking over for Rachel Nichols, who was removed after audio was leaked of Nichols disparaging the network's promotion of analyst Maria Taylor as the primary host of the Finals.[15]

In March 2022, Andrews appeared in the short film entitled Playoffs on NBA Lane, promoting the 2022 NBA playoffs, alongside now-retired sportscaster Marv Albert.[16]

In May 2022, Andrews won the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Personality/Emerging On-Air Talent.[17]

On June 23, 2022, Andrews made history by being the first woman to host the NBA Draft.[18]

Personal life[edit]

Andrews confirmed she was living with her boyfriend in New York City during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.[19] In 2021, she moved to Los Angeles where she hosts NBA Today on ESPN.[20] Her younger sister is Kendra Andrews who covers the Golden State Warriors for ESPN.

In October 2023, Andrews filed for a restraining order against Ahmed Abubakar, a 41-year-old man from New Jersey.[21]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Clay Skipper (October 18, 2021). "How ESPN's Malika Andrews Went from Bubble Breakout to NBA Today Host". gq.com. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  2. ^ Gartland, Dan (September 24, 2020). "Malika Andrews Delivers Powerful Words on Breonna Taylor Ruling". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Malika Andrews profile". espnpressroom.com. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Mann, David (December 2, 2020). "UP grad Malika Andrews, ESPN's only Black female NBA reporter, makes Forbes 30 under 30 list". kgw.com. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d Marchand, Andrew (September 16, 2020). "Malika Andrews fought painful demons before meteoric ESPN rise". New York Post. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  6. ^ Correspondent, J. (January 18, 2008). "Bnai mitzvah". J.
  7. ^ "Laughter Permitted with Julie Foudy - Episode 74: Malika Andrews". ESPN. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  8. ^ "Kendra, Malika Andrews living their dream in sports journalism". RSN. February 4, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  9. ^ "ESPN hiring Malika Andrews' sister, Kendra, to cover Warriors". New York Post. December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  10. ^ Tyler Conway. "Report: Giannis 'Wasn't Happy' About Malika Andrews' Rumor Before Walking Out". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  11. ^ Malika Andrews (May 24, 2019). "Bucks' elimination puts focus on Giannis' future in Milwaukee". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  12. ^ Tom Kludt (July 21, 2020). ""You Don't Want to Be the Domino": Reporters Inside the NBA's COVID-Free Bubble Are Hoping It Doesn't Burst". vanityfair.com. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  13. ^ Simmons-Winter, Shakeemah (November 12, 2020). "ESPN to Provide Exclusive Cross-Platform Coverage of Virtual 2020 NBA Draft Presented by State Farm". ESPN Press Room U.S. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  14. ^ Fleming, Kirsten (September 16, 2020). "ESPN's Maria Taylor and other stylish female reporters on the sidelines". New York Post. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  15. ^ Bumbaca, Chris (July 6, 2021). "ESPN replaces Rachel Nichols with Malika Andrews as sideline reporter for NBA Finals". USA Today.
  16. ^ "Easter eggs hiding in 'Playoffs on NBA Lane' film". NBA.com. March 31, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  17. ^ "The 43rd Annual Sports Emmy Nominees". The Emmy Awards. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  18. ^ Hernandez, Victoria (June 24, 2022). "Daily Sports Smile: Malika Andrews becomes first woman to host the NBA Draft and brought up a murder case in which the draftee wasn't involved in. Malika Andrews now makes a career out of bringing young black men down". USA Today. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  19. ^ "Laughter Permitted with Julie Foudy - Episode 74: Malika Andrews". ESPN. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  20. ^ "Laughter Permitted with Julie Foudy - Episode 74: Malika Andrews". ESPN. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  21. ^ Hill, Glynn A. (October 4, 2023). "ESPN's Malika Andrews granted restraining order against alleged stalker". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
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