Your Mama’s Kitchen Malika Andrews Found her Sportscasting Voice in the Kitchen
Jun 3, 2025
Malika Andrews, an ESPN sports journalist known for hosting WNBA and NBA Countdown, reflects on her childhood in a multicultural household. She shares heartwarming stories from her mother's kitchen in Oakland, revealing how those experiences helped her find her voice and confidence. Malika emphasizes the importance of representation in sports for young women and the challenges of navigating identity in predominantly white spaces. Plus, she talks about the joy of cooking and shares secrets to her family's beloved carrot cake.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Childhood Kitchen Rituals
- Malika Andrews grew up with a lively kitchen where her mom baked daily and family dinners at seven were ritual.
- Dinner time featured cloth napkins and conversations, with her dad coming home from work to join the family meal.
Eyebrow Raise Practice
- Malika practiced raising her left eyebrow at the kitchen table by using the window as a mirror.
- That eyebrow raise became her signature look on ESPN, even turning into a basketball meme.
Finding Common Ground with Mom
- As a child, Malika felt different skin tone from her mom and longed to look like her superhero mother.
- Her mother helped her see similarities beyond appearance, creating a children's book emphasizing family bonds across differences.