ESPN Might Just Pay Rachel Nichols To Sit Out On Their Content For A While

“Our ESPN sources tell us that while Nichols was solely concentrating on the NBA, the network has not yet decided whether they will use her in another capacity.

We’re told Nichols’ contract doesn’t expire anytime in the near future — and rather than try and find a way out from underneath the lucrative deal — ESPN has decided to continue to pay the star TV anchor.”

Rachel Nichols found herself in a big controversy earlier in the year when a leaked phone call revealed her speaking ill-willed of colleague, Maria Taylor.

Nichols was heard saying she felt Taylor was getting air time with the network due to her race.

“I wish Maria Taylor all the success in the world — she covers football, she covers basketball,” Nichols said in July 2020 via the New York Times. “If you need to give her more things to do because you are feeling pressure about your crappy longtime record on diversity — which, by the way, I know personally from the female side of it — like, go for it. Just find it somewhere else. You are not going to find it from me or taking my thing away.”

It’s unclear if the Maria Taylor comments factored into ESPN’s decision on Rachel Nichols, but you know it couldn’t have helped.

It’s currently unknown exactly how many more years Nichols has left on her contract with the network.

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