ESPN Host Stephen A. Smith Comments on Colleague's French Accent During Broadcast

On ESPN's First Take program aired on April 24, 2026, host Stephen A. Smith made comments about colleague Chiney Ogwumike's use of French during a discussion. Ogwumike, a former WNBA player who studied international relations at Stanford, greeted Smith with "Bonjour, Stephen A." and proceeded to comment on a French basketball player's performance in a recent game.

described the player's efforts in limiting an opponent's shooting to 15-of-46 over two games, stating, "The Frenchman has taken this matchup personally" and "You have to give a lot of credit to the Frenchman for rising to the occasion in this moment." Ogwumike noted she hoped her pronunciation honored French speakers, adding that she is more familiar with Spanish.

responded positively, saying, "You did.

You did me proud." He then shared a personal reflection, stating, "I've never dated a woman from France, but after hearing Chiney (speak French), I was like, what have I been missing? The segment was part of an analysis of an ongoing basketball playoff series, with the next game scheduled for April 25, 2026.