ESPN Secures Malika Andrews With Major Contract Extension Amid Molly Qerim’s Stunning Exit

ESPN is going through yet another period of major transition. Just as longtime host Molly Qerim shocked the sports world by announcing her exit, the network wasted no time in shoring up one of its brightest young stars, Malika Andrews.

The two announcements, coming within days of each other, underline the constant reshuffling of on-air talent at the Worldwide Leader in Sports, which has already experienced sweeping layoffs, surprising retirements, and massive new contracts in the past year.

Molly Qerim Says Goodbye

The news cycle began with Molly Qerim, who revealed via social media that she will be leaving ESPN at the end of 2025. Qerim, 41, is best known as the host of First Take, where she played referee between Stephen A. Smith and a rotating panel of debaters, often keeping fiery exchanges from spiraling out of control.

Her departure sent ripples across the sports media landscape. Qerim had reportedly been offered a contract extension but turned it down, a move that surprised many given her prominent role at ESPN and her long career in the industry. Before her tenure at the network, she had stints at CBS Sports and NFL Network, making her one of the most experienced and respected hosts in sports television.

While Qerim did not provide extensive details about her next move, she expressed gratitude to her colleagues and fans, emphasizing that her time at ESPN had been deeply rewarding. For viewers who grew accustomed to seeing her on weekday mornings, her absence will be felt immediately.

Malika Andrews Stays Put

If Qerim’s exit marked a significant loss, ESPN quickly balanced the ledger by locking down Malika Andrews. On Tuesday, the network announced that Andrews had agreed to a multi-year contract extension, ensuring that one of its youngest and most visible hosts will remain at the forefront of NBA coverage.

Andrews, just 30 years old, has already carved out an impressive resume since joining ESPN in October 2018 at the age of 23. She currently hosts NBA Countdown and NBA Today, where she has become a central figure in the network’s basketball coverage. Known for her sharp reporting, polished on-air presence, and ability to navigate complex storylines, Andrews represents the new generation of ESPN talent.

Her career has been a rapid ascent. A graduate of the University of Portland in 2017, she joined ESPN less than two years later, quickly becoming one of the youngest sideline reporters in NBA history. Over time, she transitioned from reporting on the ground to anchoring marquee programs, cementing her status as a household name among basketball fans.

Andrews is married to fellow ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin, who covers the Los Angeles Lakers. Together, the couple has become something of a power duo within ESPN’s NBA coverage, often breaking stories and providing insider perspective from both national and team-specific angles.

A Broader Trend at ESPN

The timing of these moves reflects a broader pattern within ESPN. The network has been both shedding and securing talent in dramatic fashion. In 2023, ESPN executed a high-profile round of layoffs that included household names such as Suzy Kolber, Jeff Van Gundy, Jalen Rose, Max Kellerman, Keyshawn Johnson, Matt Hasselbeck, and Steve Young. These cuts were part of Disney CEO Bob Iger’s sweeping cost-saving initiative, aimed at reducing expenses by billions of dollars.

Yet alongside the departures, ESPN has doubled down on retaining certain stars. In March, the network signed Stephen A. Smith to a blockbuster five-year extension reportedly worth more than $100 million. Smith, who has hinted at political aspirations for 2028, remains the face of ESPN, and the deal underscored just how much the network values his influence.

Just last month, ESPN also re-signed Monday Night Football reporter Lisa Salters to a multi-year contract. Other notable moves include the addition of Pat McAfee, whose eponymous show brought a new style of entertainment-driven sports coverage, and NBA insider Shams Charania, who joined to bolster the network’s already deep stable of basketball reporters.

Meanwhile, longtime NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski — affectionately known as “Woj” — stunned fans by announcing his retirement from journalism to become the general manager of the St. Bonaventure Bonnies men’s basketball program. His exit left ESPN with a major gap in its NBA news-breaking apparatus, one that the network is still working to fill.

What It All Means

The back-to-back announcements of Molly Qerim’s departure and Malika Andrews’ extension illustrate the dual realities of modern sports media. Networks like ESPN must constantly balance budgetary constraints with the need to retain fresh, marketable talent.

Qerim’s decision to walk away signals both the difficulties of keeping veteran personalities satisfied and the increasingly competitive landscape for on-air jobs, where streaming platforms and independent outlets have created new opportunities.

Conversely, Andrews’ extension reflects ESPN’s commitment to investing in the future. At just 30, she has decades of potential broadcasting ahead of her and has already proven she can handle the spotlight. For a network still recovering from a string of high-profile exits, securing her services is a stabilizing move.

The Road Ahead

As ESPN looks to 2026 and beyond, the network will continue to navigate turbulent waters. The sports media industry is more fragmented than ever, with traditional cable losing ground to streaming platforms, podcasts, and social media-driven coverage.

In that environment, personalities like Andrews and Smith are critical — not just for their journalism but for their ability to connect with diverse audiences across multiple platforms.

For now, fans can expect to see Andrews leading NBA coverage for years to come, even as they prepare to bid farewell to Molly Qerim. The contrast between the two announcements — one a goodbye, the other a renewal — perfectly captures ESPN’s current state: a network in flux, saying farewell to some of its past while firmly betting on its future.