Molly Qerim (Photo via Imagn Images)
Molly Qerim sent shockwaves through the sports and sports media worlds by abruptly quitting ESPN on Monday night.

The longtime ‘First Take’ host reported for work on Monday as usual but was a no-show on Tuesday. She announced her departure the night before, after news of her getting ready to leave leaked online.

Sports Business Journal initially reported that Qerim would leave ESPN at the end of the year. She confirmed this on Instagram, but her departure was immediate.

ESPN President Of Content Reveals Molly Qerim Was Always Leaving ‘First Take’

Molly Qerim (Photo By Instagram/@mollyqerim)

ESPN president of content Burke Magnus has since spoken to The Athletic, suggesting that Molly would have been taken off ‘First Take’ anyhow, but the network had other roles in mind for her.

“He said that ESPN and Qerim were negotiating about roles beyond ‘First Take.” He made clear that ESPN wanted her to stay at the company, even as Qerim was going to be coming off the show by the end of the year,” the report reads.

Magnus’s account of Qerim’s exit will be detailed in a lengthy interview, which is soon to be published. However, Stephen A. Smith has already dropped a hint, having also gone viral this week for his response to ABC cutting Jimmy Kimmel.

Meanwhile, the network’s president of content was unable to shed any light on who might come in as a replacement for Molly.

“I don’t know if it’ll be someone in-house or not,” he said. “We’re not locked into anything in particular. The one thing that was unexpected was the timing of all this.”

He noted that ESPN was keen on keeping Molly Qerim at ESPN, although her deal would be up at the end of the year, but lost control of the situation once the report was leaked and she confirmed it on social media.

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.