Rachel Nichols has been AXED from covering the NBA Finals ... with the ESPN reporter losing her sideline gig following her controversial comments regarding Maria Taylor.
Nichols sparked outrage after leaked audio from 2020 went public over the weekend ... when she suggests Taylor was chosen to cover last year's Finals due to the network's "crappy longtime record on diversity."
While Nichols apologized Monday for her comments and praised Taylor on Monday, ESPN has decided to keep her on the bench for the 2021 Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns.