Malika Andrews, the host of ESPN’s NBA Today and NBA Countdown, is incorporating storytelling into her coverage of the NBA Finals through her fashion choices. The anchor, along with her stylist, Leon Gray, created a wardrobe that challenges the idea that you have to sacrifice femininity to be taken seriously, Andrews told WWD. Her looks will also pay homage to different pop culture icons and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community throughout Pride Month.

“For me, getting dressed isn’t just about style — it’s about setting intention. I’ve always believed that how you show up in a room matters: the energy you bring, the people you uplift, and yes, what you wear. Fashion is one of the tools I use to express that,” Andrews told WWD via email. “I’m talking to all basketball fans about an ATO [after timeout], but I hope I’m also speaking to women, specifically, showing that you can be fashion-forward and deeply informed. Those things aren’t mutually exclusive,” she said.

For the Western Conference Finals, which started on May 20 and will run through Monday, Andrews wanted a common thread to her looks that felt cohesive yet unexpected, according to her stylist. “Denim quickly rose to the top of the list. It’s versatile, fun, and inherently American,” Gray said. “As we were finalizing the concept, I was in Mexico City and spotted a 20-story billboard of Beyoncé in full denim whilst I was on the phone with Malika, I immediately said, ‘It’s a sign — we’ve got to do denim!’” he added.

Together, they created multiple denim-on-denim looks, including a paisley print Canadian tuxedo by Veronica Beard and a crystal-embellished Zimmermann set. “It was all about reframing the narrative around denim. We wanted to show that it can be elevated, tailored, sharp and professional,” Gray said.

For Andrews, wearing denim outfits was a way she found to celebrate her own story. “It’s a nod to the Midwest and to my own life. I’ve been a horsewoman since I was a little girl. I still ride several times a week. Being around horses is where I feel most grounded and I wanted to carry that with me into these high-intensity games,” she said, adding that pictures of Cher, Jane Birkin and Farrah Fawcett were also part of their moodboard, along with Beyoncé, who heavily embraced denim in her “Cowboy Carter” tour.

When the NBA finals start on June 5, Andrews will switch to a new wardrobe, this time inspired by the colors of the rainbow, tying to Pride Month, which is celebrated in June.

“Basketball is a unifier, a common language that brings together fans from all walks of life. For me, it was important that our wardrobe choices reflect that spirit of inclusivity,” Andrews said. “My stylist, Leon, is part of the LGBTQIA+ community, and the way he sees and celebrates me every day made me want to reflect that back to him, and to others, on this stage.”

In every game, she will wear a different monochromatic outfit, arranging them in rainbow order. “There are seven colors in the flag — and if we’re lucky, seven games in the finals,” Andrews said.

“I’m a sports journalist who just happens to love clothes. But if what I wear can spark meaningful conversations, whether about identity, representation, or just the joy of self-expression, I’m proud of that. I see players use their ‘tunnel fits’ to do the same, and this is my version. My goal is always to be intentional, but functional. My outfits need to work from the locker room to the TV screen. As women in sports, we shouldn’t have to choose between credibility and personal style. I hope other women see that you can show up as you are — feminine, strong, fashion-forward — and still own the room,” the anchor said.