Malika Andrews facts for kids

Malika Rose Andrews McMenamin, born on January 27, 1995, is a well-known American sports journalist and reporter. She is famous for hosting NBA Today, a show that took the place of The Jump. Malika joined ESPN in October 2018. She started as an online writer for the NBA. She later became the youngest sideline reporter for a broadcast during the special 2020 NBA Bubble games. In 2021, Forbes magazine recognized her as one of their "30 Under 30" in the sports world.

Early Life and Education

Malika Andrews was born in Oakland, California. Her father, Mike, was a personal trainer. Her mother, Caren, was an art teacher. Growing up, Malika was a big fan of the Golden State Warriors basketball team.

When she was in eighth grade, she started at Head-Royce School. Later, she attended a special boarding school in Utah. She finished high school there and graduated at 17 in 2012. Malika's mother is Jewish, and Malika had a bat mitzvah ceremony in 2008.

College and Early Reporting

After high school, Malika worked for a year at her grandfather's law firm. Then, she went to the University of Portland. She studied communications and graduated in 2017.

While at the University of Portland, Malika was very involved with The Beacon. This was the school's newspaper. She worked as a sports writer, sports editor, and even the editor-in-chief. She once wrote a story about a player who got hurt after hitting a wall. Because of her story, the school added padding to prevent future injuries.

Malika has a younger sister named Kendra Andrews. Kendra also became a sports reporter. She used to cover the Golden State Warriors for NBC Sports Bay Area. In December 2021, ESPN hired Kendra to cover the Golden State Warriors too.

Malika Andrews' Career at ESPN

Malika Andrews met ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski at an NBA Summer League game in 2017. He had already read some of her work from The Beacon. Before joining ESPN, Malika had internships and reporting jobs. She worked at The Denver Post and New York Times. She also spent a year as a reporter for the Chicago Tribune.

Joining ESPN and Reporting

Malika joined ESPN.com as a reporter. She covered teams like the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks. Later, she moved to New York to cover the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets.

In 2019, after the Bucks lost a big game, their star player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, was upset. He walked out of a press conference. This happened after Malika wrote an article. The article suggested he might leave Milwaukee if the team didn't improve.

In 2020, Malika was one of the first reporters to enter the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. This was for the end of the 2019–20 NBA season in the "Bubble." She also led the TV broadcast for the 2020 NBA draft. She did virtual interviews with the top players being drafted.

Awards and Recognition

Malika Andrews is known for her stylish clothes on the court. The New York Post described her look as "flowing floral feminine frocks."

In 2021, Malika was nominated for an Emmy Award. This was in the "Emerging On-Air Talent" category. She has also been recognized by several journalism groups. These include the Society of Professional Journalists and the National Association of Black Journalists. She is ESPN's only black female NBA reporter. As mentioned, Forbes named her one of their "30 Under 30" in sports for 2021.

She often appears on popular ESPN shows. These include SportsCenter, Get Up, NBA Countdown, Around the Horn, and The Jump.

On July 6, 2021, Malika was announced as ABC's sideline reporter for the 2021 NBA Finals. She took over this role from Rachel Nichols.

In March 2022, Malika appeared in a short film. It was called Playoffs on NBA Lane. The film promoted the 2022 NBA playoffs. She was in it with famous sportscaster Marv Albert.

In May 2022, Malika won a Sports Emmy Award. She won for "Outstanding Personality/Emerging On-Air Talent." On June 23, 2022, Malika made history. She became the first woman to host the NBA Draft.

Personal Life

In 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Malika confirmed she was living with her boyfriend in New York City. In 2021, she moved to Los Angeles. This is where she hosts NBA Today for ESPN. Her younger sister, Kendra Andrews, also works for ESPN. Kendra covers the Golden State Warriors.

On August 24, 2024, Malika married her longtime boyfriend, Dave McMenamin. He is also a colleague at ESPN. Their wedding took place in Malika's hometown of San Francisco.