Maria Taylor Leaves ESPN

NBA/NFL analyst Maria Taylor and ESPN have parted ways after not being able to reach an agreement on a contract extension. Taylor completed her final assignment which was coverage for NBA Finals Game 6.

Taylor had this to say about her departure:

 

“So thankful to Jimmy and all of my great teammates and friends at the SEC Network, College GameDay, Women’s and Men’s college basketball, and the NBA Countdown family — the people who believed in me, encouraged me, pushed me, and lifted me up. Words are inadequate to express my boundless appreciation, and I hope to make them proud.”

 

The New York Post reported that Taylor is close to signing a contract with NBC. They also say it’s a possibility she could be a part of coverage for the upcoming Olympics. Another interested suitor is Amazon. Their offers are undisclosed at the time.

Originally her contract was set to expire before the end of the NBA finals, but she and ESPN were able to reach an agreement. ESPN also reportedly offered her $3M dollars according to Yahoo! Sports, but she declined.

Taylor & ESPN Fallout 

Rachel Nichols made comments about Taylor back in 2020 while she was in the NBA bubble. Nichols at the time did not know she was being secretly recorded. The New York Times made the comments public two days before the NBA Finals.

In the audio Nichols suggested that Taylor was awarded hosting duties because she was black, not for her talents. Soon after the tape leaked Nichols was replaced as the sideline reporter by Malika Andrews. Taylor also replaced Nichols as the anchor of “NBA Countdown.”