Malika Andrews has a way of stealing the moment without ever having to ask loud questions, just the right ones. Remember the NBA bubble in 2020? When players were isolated and the league tried to stitch together basketball’s future in a hotel compound, she was the young reporter on the sideline, calmly breaking news in the most chaotic of environments. That’s when fans really took notice. Fast forward to 2025, and Andrews is still at the center of the NBA’s biggest stages, only now, she’s the face of ESPN basketball.

And this week, she made it official. ESPN announced a multi-year contract extension with Andrews, keeping her locked in as host of NBA Today, NBA Countdown, WNBA Countdown, and the NBA Draft. In other words, if there’s a basketball broadcast that matters, Malika’s running the show. And she didn’t hold back in celebrating the news in her own way. 

On Instagram, Andrews posted a reel of her signature behind-the-scenes lines, saying, “Alright everybody,” “We’re back,” “Have a great show,” smiling with the crew she’s worked with. The caption was pure Malika as she wrote, “Time really flies when you’re having fun with the best people. I cannot believe we’re going into Year 5️⃣ of NBA Today! So excited to continue to spend our afternoons talking hoops with you 💕.” Hours later, she followed up with a telling note on her story.

“Can’t wait to share more, but so excited to continue to be a part of the ESPN/Disney family🧡.” The timing of this extension couldn’t be louder. Molly Qerim, the longtime moderator of First Take, just stepped down after nearly a decade, leaving ESPN with a gaping hole in one of its flagship shows. Naturally, fans began speculating if Malika would be sliding into that chair next to Stephen A. Smith? On paper, it would make sense. She’s poised, she commands the screen, and she has a natural way of cutting through chaos. But sources around the network say no, Andrews isn’t shifting lanes. She’s doubling down on hoops, right where ESPN believes she’s most valuable.

And valuable is the word. Andrews isn’t just on the air, but has become one of ESPN’s most bankable stars. Since joining the network in 2018, she’s been everywhere: reporting on the Bulls for regional papers, stepping into the bubble at 25, hosting NBA Today at 26, becoming the first woman to host the NBA Draft at 27, and replacing Mike Greenberg as NBA Countdown host at 28. By 29, she had a Sports Emmy in hand. By 30, she’s secured the kind of contract extension that signals ESPN sees her as its long-term basketball anchor. So, what exactly does this contract mean?

For starters, it ensures Malika stays put through the NBA’s media-rights shakeup. With Disney, NBC, Amazon, and Warner Bros. Discovery splitting a record $75 billion deal, ESPN needed stability. Andrews brings that. She’s the type of talent networks fight over. The kind that makes execs comfortable knowing the coverage has a trusted face. Then there’s the money.

Malika Andrews’ ESPN empire is in the making

While ESPN hasn’t disclosed numbers, top-tier hosts at the network command anywhere from $2 million to $5 million annually. Given Andrews’ resume and her centrality to NBA coverage, it’s reasonable to expect her figure to lean closer to the upper range. For comparison, Stephen A. Smith, the face of First Take, earns north of $12 million a year. Andrews isn’t there yet, but she’s firmly in ESPN’s top tier. As for why Qerim has left First Take?

She says, “After much reflection, I’ve decided it’s time to close this incredible chapter and step away from First Take.” Even ESPN’s president, Buke Magnus, added on to her praises, calling her “an integral part of ESPN since 2006 and key driver of First Take’s success since joining as host a decade ago.” Though NBA players, who often bristle at coverage from talking heads, have shown respect for Andrews’ reporting. She’s interviewed everyone from LeBron James to Giannis Antetokounmpo. And her ability to balance sharp questions with earned trust keeps her connected to the league in ways few hosts can manage.

With ESPN simulcasting Inside the NBA after TNT lost rights, Andrews will be positioned alongside legends like Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley. That could elevate her profile even further, creating a direct comparison between her polished hosting and TNT’s more freewheeling style. And well, Andrews’ rise also carries cultural weight. She’s one of the few Black women in a lead hosting role across sports television.

She’s setting the tone. And that matters for an NBA audience that skews younger, more diverse, and increasingly loyal to personalities as much as teams. So what about Molly Qerim’s empty chair? ESPN is already circling names like Courtney Cronin, Shae Peppler Cornette, and Peter Schrager as potential successors. But with Andrews locked into her basketball empire, it’s clear the network wants her focused, not spread thin. For now, she’s steering the NBA ship.

The bigger question might be what happens next. Will ESPN expand Andrews’ role beyond basketball, testing her across other sports? Or will she lean even harder into hoops, becoming the definitive face of NBA media for the next decade? Either way, Malika Andrews isn’t just a rising star anymore. She’s one who has already arrived. And with the NBA entering a new broadcast era, don’t be surprised if Andrews becomes just as influential off the court as the stars she covers on it.