2013 espnW: Women + Sports Summit

speaks onstage at the 2013 espnW: Women + Sports Summit at St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort on October 9, 2013 in Dana Point, California.

(Joe Scarnici)

Sage Steele is out as host of "NBA Countdown" on ABC and ESPN, replaced by Michelle Beadle, according to an ESPN announcement, in an unusually timed move just ahead of the NBA playoffs,

Beadle already co-hosts "SportsNation," which runs Mondays through Fridays.

In her new role, she'll lead the NBA pre-game and halftime shows and will host the networks' studio coverage through the playoffs.

Steele will have what's been called an "expanded on-site presence," at the Super Bowl and the World Series as part of "SportsCenter on the Road."

Steele, who has been with ESPN for 10 years, has sparked controversy.

She drew criticism when she complained in an Instagram post about the crowds protesting President Trump's travel ban at LAX.

She also drew backlash when she was critical of NFL players who decided to kneel during the national anthem.

Hey @MikeEvans13_ look up definition of the word DEMOCRACY & remember this pic while kneeling/exercising your right to protest #perspective pic.twitter.com/kGruy3wEDe — Sage Steele (@sagesteele) November 14, 2016

And at the NBA's celebrity All-Star game last year, she cut short an interview with Win Butler from the band Arcade Fire when he started to talk about his political opinions.

Steele cut off Butler, saying, "So we're talking about celebrity stuff not politics. Congratulations on your MVP."