In July of 2020, the New York Times reported on a conversation between longtime ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols and Adam Mendelsohn. Nichols reportedly lamented the fact that ESPN had given the NBA Finals coverage to colleague Maria Taylor because of the company's “crappy longtime record on diversity.” Nichols is white. Taylor is black. Nichols' comments created a firestorm, as noted by Sports Illustrated's Madeline Coleman.

“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.”

Once word was out of some of the sentiments expressed by Nichols, it was announced that ESPN was going to pull her from their NBA coverage. Later, her basketball television program “The Jump” was pulled as well. It was replaced by the show “NBA Today,” and is hosted by Malika Andrews.

On Thursday, ESPN finalized their buyout of her contract. She is officially no longer working for Disney's sports outlet. Nichols had one year remaining on her contract, worth somewhere in the range of $1.5 million to $2 million. With the company not planning on utilizing her any longer, an agreement was expected.

She is reportedly free to pursue other job opportunities now. Both ESPN and Nichols have declined comment on the exact details.

Ironically, shortly after the report was released by the New York Times, Maria Taylor left ESPN to join NBC Sports.