Rachel Nichols (journalist)

Rachel Nichols (born January 18, 1973) is an American sports journalist, known primarily for her work as a reporter, anchor, and interviewer covering the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Nichols began her career covering sports for the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel and later for The Washington Post. She transitioned to television, joining ESPN in 2004. During her first tenure at ESPN, she covered a wide range of sports, including the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, and college sports. She conducted notable interviews with prominent athletes and figures within the sports world.

In 2013, Nichols left ESPN to join CNN and Turner Sports, where she hosted her own show, Unguarded with Rachel Nichols. She covered the NBA for CNN and Turner's TNT and TBS networks.

Nichols returned to ESPN in 2016 and hosted The Jump, a daily NBA-focused show. She also served as a sideline reporter for NBA games and conducted interviews.

In July 2021, a recording of a private conversation Nichols had in 2020 was leaked to The New York Times. In the recording, Nichols made comments about Maria Taylor, a Black ESPN colleague, suggesting that Taylor's role in covering the NBA Finals was due to ESPN's diversity efforts. The controversy led to Nichols being removed from her role as sideline reporter for the NBA Finals and, subsequently, to the cancellation of The Jump. She was later removed from ESPN.

In January 2022, Nichols joined Showtime Sports as a host and producer. She contributes to various Showtime sports programs.