I don't know what went down behind the scenes but we do know that malika andrews had a METEORIC rise as far as career trajectory. she got out of college and was working for the chicago tribune, then left that gig a year or so later and was IMMEDIATELY put on ESPN to cover the bulls and bucks replacing nick friedell. shortly after that, she's on ESPN corporate doing sports center and all NBA coverage replacing sage steele
she's so plugged she got her younger sister working at ESPN as well. having that high of a profile a job in sports media is UNHEARD of being that young. it's still unheard of at her age now.
but I wouldn't be shocked at all to find out she did shyt behind the scenes to rapidly rise up the ranks there.