You know those TV moments that catch you completely off guard? The ones that make you sit up mid-scroll and go, “Wait, what just happened?” This was one of them.
ESPN’s Malika Andrews hit pause on the usual game talk and dropped something way more personal. No scripted segment. No pre-roll highlight package. Just raw emotion and a story we definitely hadn’t heard before. She was saying goodbye to her colleague, Cassidy Hubbarth. And not in a routine, polite kind of way. This was the type of goodbye that makes you go, “Damn, that’s real.” And right in the middle of it, Malika casually mentioned a moment from the NBA bubble that pretty much nobody knew about… until now.
After 15 years of grinding at the Worldwide Leader, Cassidy is making a major move. She’s heading to Amazon Prime Video as their lead NBA sideline reporter. She’ll be teaming up with play-by-play legend Ian Eagle on Amazon’s top NBA broadcast crew.
While Cassidy was a familiar face at ESPN, she often found herself just outside the network’s top-tier roles. This new gig at Amazon offers her the spotlight she truly deserves, especially as the streamer ramps up its NBA coverage under a massive 11-year deal.
“She called our bosses,” Malika says, still clearly a little shaken even now, “and she said she knew she was the more senior reporter but thought that I deserved a chance.” Hold up. Who does that?
This industry, especially sports media, is not known for being soft and fuzzy. It’s more a case of every man for himself than one of holding the door open for you. So, for Cassidy literally to step aside and make space for Malika? That’s not just rare. That’s unheard of.
And Malika knew it too. You could hear it in her voice. “I cannot tell you how rare that is in this industry.” That line? It hit hard. Because behind the polished telecasts and studio lights, there’s a grind that few get to see. And even fewer survive without someone in their corner.
But this wasn’t just a thank you. It was a love letter to the professionalism and sisterhood we wish we saw more of. Malika didn’t just praise Cassidy’s decision, she shouted her out for how she’s always operated. “Her preparedness, her reporting chops — they’re exceptional. And she’s an even better friend.”
Real Ones Open the Door and Hold It
Here’s the thing, though, Cassidy didn’t just help Malika out once and dip. That whole move back in the bubble? It shaped the entire trajectory of Malika’s career. That ESPN bubble slot was a breakout moment, and Cassidy handed it to her without a second thought. Who knows how differently things could’ve gone?
And for what? No credit. No cameras. Just doing the right thing when nobody’s watching. That’s integrity right there. It makes you wonder: In an industry that thrives on competition and clicks, what would happen if more people actually moved like that?
But that’s what sets this apart from your average newsroom goodbye. This was genuine gratitude, unfiltered, broadcast to the world. No PR polish, no ego, just respect.
So yeah, Cassidy’s leaving ESPN, and that’s a loss. But this moment? It’s staying with people. Because it wasn’t about stats or hot takes, it was about character. It was about showing up for someone else when no one told you to. And not for clout. Just because it felt right.
Jan 17, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; ESPN reporter Cassidy Hubbarth (right) interviews Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James after the game against the Dallas Mavericks at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
It also gives us a rare peek behind the curtain of sports journalism. We always hear the polished voiceovers, the sideline shots, the takes. But we rarely get to see how these women hold each other up in the background. Especially in an industry where they’re often told there’s only room for one.
And maybe that’s the bigger story here. Not just a farewell. Not just a bubble throwback. But a reminder that the strongest flex in this space? It isn’t who gets the scoop, it’s who makes space for someone else to shine.
Cass, if you’re reading this, go get ’em. Because clearly, you’ve been that girl all along.
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