ESPN’s Molly Qerim will be on hiatus from “First Take” for the next little bit, she announced in an Instagram post.

Before the weekend commenced, Molly Qerim announced that she’s taking a vacation with her family and will return “in a few weeks.” Qerim is headed to an undisclosed region for the getaway, noting that she’s working on her tan lines.

It’s not uncommon for popular ESPN talents to take an unexplained hiatus, but no need to worry about Qerim. The 41-year-old is enjoying a short getaway before the sports season gets busy again in the fall.

Qerim began her first stint at ESPN in 2006 and worked there until 2010. She had stops at CBS and NFL Network before returning to the Worldwide Leader in Sports in 2015, taking over as the full-time host for “First Take” with Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless.

Bayless left ESPN in 2016 to host “Undisputed” on Fox Sports 1, teaming up with Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe. The show’s ratings tanked after Sharpe left the network in 2023, and Bayless left FS1 last August.

Qerim and Smith continue to run “First Take” together, with various guests and analysts appearing on the program. Earlier this year, Smith signed a multi-year extension with ESPN worth over $100 million.

Molly Qerim & Stephen A. Smith Will Get Busy Again In The Fall

Molly Qerim (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
We’re in the “dog days” of summer sports, with the NFL, MLB and NBA all on hiatus until the fall. The WNBA and Major League Baseball are getting the attention in the U.S. right now, but sports media in the U.S. will get even busier when the NFL returns in September, and when the NHL and NBA begin their 2025-26 seasons in October.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.