It turns out even one of ESPN’s most recognizable faces wasn’t earning anywhere close to what fans might expect. Molly Qerim’s salary has reportedly leaked online, raising eyebrows across the sports world.

The longtime First Take host suddenly left the network in September, surprising viewers when she announced that her run had ended.

“After much reflection, I’ve decided it’s time to close this incredible chapter and step away from First Take,” she wrote in her Instagram Story on September 16. It sounded pretty standard, but things might not have been smooth behind the scenes.

ESPN quickly confirmed her exit, calling her a “key driver” of First Take’s success. But fans and insiders think the real story runs deeper.

Qerim’s Pay Gap Too Big To Ignore

Molly Qerim (Photo By Instagram/@mollyqerim)
Sports media insider Ben Koo pointed out on X that Qerim’s abrupt exit during football season without a farewell episode was a major red flag.

“She’ll have to stay quiet to keep getting paid through the end of the year, but this certainly has a lot of smoke that the relationship went south,” he wrote.

Then came the money talk. Former ESPN analyst Marcellus Wiley claimed Qerim earned around $500,000 per year, a solid paycheck by most standards, but a shockingly small figure in Bristol’s pecking order. Wiley said she wanted parity with top female talent like Malika Andrews and Mina Kimes, who both make seven figures.

“Molly wanted to do other things at the network, including hosting her own show,” Wiley said. “They weren’t signing off on her, not only hosting another show, but doing other shows within the network.”

That frustration apparently reached a breaking point. Compared to Stephen A. Smith’s reported $20 million-a-year salary, Qerim’s pay felt insulting. “You could feel a certain type of way,” Wiley said bluntly.

Wiley also hinted that Qerim and Smith, her on-air partner for nearly a decade, “weren’t cool with each other.” Smith later said on his SiriusXM show that she resigned abruptly and that ESPN did not want to lose her.

For now, Qerim hasn’t revealed what’s next. However, her quiet departure and the eyebrow-raising salary leak suggest that her ESPN chapter ended with more tension than her farewell post let on.

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.