Malika Andrews

Malika Andrews is an American sports journalist and reporter. 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.[1][2] As the network's only Black female NBA reporter, Andrews was named one of the Forbes 30 Under 30 in the sports industry for 2021.[3]

Malika Andrews
Born (1995-01-27) January 27, 1995
Oakland, California
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Portland
OccupationNBA sports journalist and reporter
Years active2017-present
EmployerESPN

Early life and education

Andrews was born on January 27, 1995 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 8th grade, she was kicked out of Head-Royce School and later attended a year-round therapeutic boarding school in Utah due to an eating disorder, graduating at 17.[4]

Andrews worked at her grandfather's civil rights law firm for a year before attending the University of Portland, where she earned a bachelor of arts degree and graduated with honors in 2017. While at the University of Portland, Andrews was the sports editor and then editor-in-chief of The Beacon, the university's student newspaper. She won a National Association of Black Journalists scholarship and trained with the Sports Journalism Institute.[4][5]

Career

Andrews introduced herself to Adrian Wojnarowski at a NBA Summer League game in 2017 who had read her work at The Beacon.[4] 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.[2] 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.[4] 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 may leave Milwaukee if the Bucks did not make improvements to win the title before he would become a free agent in 2021.[6][7]

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.[8] Andrews led the 2020 NBA draft telecast with virtual interviews of the top draftees.[9]

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.[3] She makes appearances on shows like SportsCenter, Get Up, NBA Countdown, Around the Horn and The Jump.

References
  1. Gartland, Dan. "Malika Andrews Delivers Powerful Words on Breonna Taylor Ruling". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  2. "Malika Andrews profile". espnpressroom.com. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  3. Mann, David. "UP grad Malika Andrews, ESPN's only Black female NBA reporter, makes Forbes 30 under 30 list". kgw.com. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  4. Marchand, Andrew (16 September 2020). "Malika Andrews fought painful demons before meteoric ESPN rise". New York Post. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  5. Malika Andrews, "Letter from the editor: Thank you for a wonderful first year of all-digital", upbeacon.com, retrieved 15 March 2020
  6. Tyler Conway. "Report: Giannis 'Wasn't Happy' About Malika Andrews' Rumor Before Walking Out". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  7. Malika Andrews. "Bucks' elimination puts focus on Giannis' future in Milwaukee". ESPN.com. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  8. Tom Kludt. ""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 7 August 2020.
  9. Simmons-Winter, Shakeemah (12 November 2020). "ESPN to Provide Exclusive Cross-Platform Coverage of Virtual 2020 NBA Draft Presented by State Farm". ESPN Press Room U.S. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
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