At age 22, in his fourth year in the league, Anthony Edwards is on the verge of making the leap to NBA superstardom — a journey that can be traced back to the gritty neighborhood in southwest Atlanta that made him who he is. Today, we look at Edwards’s unlikely rise, and full circle return to his ho...

In Week 8, Joe Burrow boarded the Bengals' team plane in an alien mask — then went into alien mode in a dominant performance against one of the NFL's best teams. That was a welcome sight for the Bengals, eight weeks into a season where the franchise QB has mostly looked like anything but himself. To...

Iowa's Caitlin Clark rewrote almost every individual record in women's college basketball last season, and led the Hawkeyes to within a game of a national championship. What followed can only be described as "Caitlin Clark Mania" -- a series of honors that included everything from bobblehead dolls t...

It is the World Series showdown that basically no one saw coming: Bruce Bochy’s Wild Card Texas Rangers, against a team that finished 16 games back in their own division — Torey Lovullo and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Today, we break down the low points that both of these teams had to navigate just to...

Last week, the Las Vegas Aces became the first back-to-back WNBA champions in more than two decades. And, as we have come to expect with the Aces, they let everyone know just how much fun they would be having at the championship parade. But along with all the winning and the highly visible fun, the ...

The Milwaukee Bucks became the favorites to win the NBA title the moment they swung the blockbuster trade for Damian Lillard. But along with all the excitement from that trade, Milwaukee is also facing some big questions. How will this team respond to the loss of one of its most popular players, Jru...

U.S.A. Track and Field star Noah Lyles caused quite a stir back in August when he called out NBA players for referring to themselves as “World Champions" after winning their league title. Several NBA All-Stars -- and even Drake -- took issue with his words, and did some verbal sparring online. But L...

Mike McDaniel, Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins have unleashed an offense that has taken the NFL by storm, with some of the fastest players in the league (including Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Raheem Mostert) powering them to point totals we haven’t seen since the 1960s. Today, we look at th...

The NBA has been wrestling with a thorny issue for several years now – star players sitting out regular season games, even when they’re healthy. Fans are mad about it. TV broadcasters are mad about it. And now, the NBA has put new rules in place to try and prevent it from happening. Will the rules w...

Ronald Acuña Jr. has had a season unlike any other in Major League Baseball history, becoming the first player with 40+ home runs and 70+ stolen bases in the same year. But leading up to this dream season, the Atlanta Braves outfielder endured a stretch of his career that was anything but a fairy ta...

What exactly happened when Bronny James collapsed on a USC basketball court in late July? How were his teammates impacted? Ryan Kartje of the LA Times brings us some new details, and discusses what all of this mean for Bronny's -- and LeBron's -- future.Guest: Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles TimesRead Ryan...

For months now, a single date has been etched into the minds of Dallas Cowboys players – February 11th, 2024 – the date of Super Bowl 58. And this year, the team looked for inspiration from a rather unlikely source: ex-Navy SEALs. Today, we look at why quarterback Dak Prescott organized this mental ...

The NHL season doesn’t begin until next month, but we might have already seen the most bizarre story of the season. Mike Babcock, one of the most accomplished hockey coaches in history, resigned as head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets last week, after making his players show him private photos fr...

The Los Angeles Angels have had arguably the two biggest stars in baseball, Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout, on their roster for the past six years. And yet they have failed to make the playoffs -- or even record a winning season -- during that time. Today, with Ohtani on the verge of free agency, we e...

The San Francisco 49ers are 2-0, and looking like a legitimate Super Bowl contender, heading into a matchup with the Giants on Thursday Night Football. And on a roster filled with stars, the guy who’s in charge of keeping the high-powered offense running is the former Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy. To...

Five years ago, almost no one in basketball knew the name Austin Reaves. Now, the 25-year-old is an extremely rich and extremely popular member of the world’s most famous basketball team. Today, we look at Austin Reaves' unlikely and sudden rise to stardom and fame, why he has become so beloved, and...

Two weeks into the college football season, it's fair to say that the most intriguing — and polarizing — team in the sport is Coach Prime's Colorado Buffaloes. Today, we look at how Deion Sanders has transformed Colorado — seemingly overnight — into arguably the most entertaining team that college f...

The Georgia Bulldogs are aiming for some rare history this season — college football’s first three-peat since the 1930’s — and Kirby Smart's team has handed the keys to this emerging dynasty to a relative unknown at quarterback: Carson Beck. Today, we break down why Beck stayed with the Bulldogs for...

Perhaps the biggest story of the NFL offseason has been star running backs trying – and failing – to get the big contracts they feel they deserve. That, plus the ever-shortening careers of running backs, has led some people to declare that we have reached the end of the NFL's star running back era. ...

The last time the New York Jets made the NFL playoffs, Mark Sanchez was their quarterback, LaDainian Tomlinson was their leading rusher, and The Social Network was about to come out on DVD. Now, 13 years later, the Jets finally believe they’ve found the right guy to lead them back. Today, we look at...

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been one of the hottest teams in Major League Baseball lately, thanks in large part to a lineup featuring two front-runners for MVP: seven-time All-Star Mookie Betts, and their veteran first baseman with an unmistakable swing, Freddie Freeman. Today, we trace Freeman’s o...

This summer, an eye-popping number of global soccer stars have signed huge contracts with teams in an unlikely place: Saudi Arabia. Today, we dive into the chaos of the Saudi soccer gold rush, the ways in which it has turned world football upside down, and why the league might be here to stay.Guest:...

Twenty years ago, ESPN premiered a television drama called 'Playmakers'. It dove into a lot of edgy issues in football, and it was an instant hit with viewers. But after just one season, ESPN pulled the show from the airwaves, reportedly because the NFL was upset about it. Today, we bring you the st...

This past December, the Mississippi State football program and the college football world were hit with a tragedy, when head coach Mike Leach — the mastermind who made the ‘Air Raid’ offense famous — died at the age of 61. Today, we look at how Mississippi State is moving forward after the sudden lo...

The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team was eliminated from the World Cup by Sweden in the Round of 16 last week. It was a stunning development that led to the resignation of head coach Vlatko Andonvoski, and a whole lot of criticism. Today, we explore what went wrong for the U.S., and why the rest of...

Our lasting memory of the Super Bowl back in February is Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Chiefs celebrating their second title in the last four seasons. But on the opposite end of all that excitement, for Nick Sirianni, Jalen Hurts and the Eagles, it was a loss that left them searching for ans...

Late last week, the Pac-12 conference — which dates back more than a century — was suddenly showing signs of completely falling apart, with Oregon and Washington among the latest schools to leave. Today, we look at the rich history of a conference that produced John Elway, Aaron Rodgers, and Alex Mo...

There's growing evidence that certain psychedelic drugs can have positive benefits for people suffering from PTSD, depression and other mental illnesses. Today, we explore why many former pro athletes are taking up the cause of psychedelic therapy, and how some of their lives have been transformed b...

If you've ever been bowling at your local lanes, and seen the strange sight of someone flinging the ball toward the pins with two hands, there are two possible explanations: Either they have no clue what they're doing, or they're emulating one of the game's most dominant players. Ever since he burst...

In the age of TikTok and Instagram, a new type of social media currency has become an important part of the recruiting process. Today, we venture into the strange world of recruit photo shoots -- a world filled with horses, Rolls Royces and spinning cameras... and a whole lot of frustrated coaches a...

The Tour de France Femmes is happening right now, with Stage 6 out of 8 taking place today. But while many of the top female cyclists in the world are hard at work in the mountains, our podcasting team is on vacation, so we are replaying an episode about the Women's Tour that originally aired around...

After helping the Kansas City Chiefs win Super Bowl 57, and besting his big brother Jason in the process, Travis Kelce suddenly seemed to be everywhere: late night talk shows, MLB games, Saturday Night Live, even his own epic party in Kansas City -- Kelce Jam. Today, we explain Kelce's somewhat unli...

Lionel Messi has arrived. The Argentine soccer star shocked the world last month by announcing that he was joining Inter Miami of Major League Soccer, and he was introduced to fans on a rain-soaked Sunday evening in Ft. Lauderdale this past weekend. Today, we bring you the inside story of how the bi...

Earlier this year, things were looking pretty bleak for the Cincinnati Reds, with a lot of empty seats at Great American Ball Park coming off a 100-loss season. But this team has made a dramatic turnaround, and the catalyst has been a player who has wasted no time in electrifying the city — and the ...

The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team won its second straight World Cup in 2019. But since then, they've had a string of losses and injuries -- and the roster is now stretched thin. Today, we break down the USWNT's quest for an unprecedented third straight World Cup, the young stars who will have a ...

For football fans of a certain age, the name Adam “Pacman” Jones conjures up a certain set of memories. Jones was drafted sixth overall in 2005, and eventually became a Pro Bowler and All-Pro, but a wave of troubling off-the-field incidents trailed him during much of his career. However, what’s less...

Plus: LSU makes history at the MLB draft. And a true long shot contender takes home the prize at the U.S. Open See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A bunch of very wealthy Indian businessmen recently placed a very large bet on women’s cricket. The Women's Premier League launched in India in March, and by some measures it’s now the second most valuable women’s professional sports league in the world. Today, Mujib Mashal of the New York Times exp...

Whether you think it's a passing fad or the greatest thing to ever happen to sports, chances are you've heard about the fastest growing game in the United States: pickleball. And lately, a sport without much history appears to have found its biggest star, who's been crushing her competition even tho...

Long-suffering fans of the Oakland As have had a roller coaster of a season. To express their ongoing frustration with owner John Fisher, they initially began boycotting games. Then, two weeks ago, they staged a dramatic "reverse boycott," packing the stands for a game on a Tuesday night, which resu...

Connor Bedard, the presumed #1 pick in tonight's NHL Draft, is the most hyped hockey prospect we've seen since, well, some other guy named Connor. And there are those who believe Bedard could define a new era of the NHL. The Athletic's Dan Robson recently spoke with Bedard and his family at length, ...

Plus: Atlanta pumps the breaks on baseball’s hottest young upstarts. And the Liberty get a gutty comeback win ahead of a pivotal Eastern Conference clash.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Earlier this summer in the MLB Draft League (a league for players looking to improve their draft outlook), a catcher from Uganda, Dennis Kasumba, stepped to the plate for the Frederick Keys… and struck out. For Kasumba, the result of the at-bat was a footnote — after a journey that took him from a s...

Back in April, two young fighters -- Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia -- stepped into the ring in Las Vegas to determine the "new face of boxing". But before the first bell even rang, a theory had built in the boxing world that one of these fighters didn't really belong. That one of them was for real,...

The NBA Draft is less than one week away, and everyone expects French phenom Victor Wembanyama to go first overall. Everyone except Scoot Henderson. Two years ago, he became the youngest pro player in U.S. history when he joined the G League at age 17, and today, we look at the extreme steps that He...

An unlikely love story has been playing out in the Nevada desert over the past six years, between the city of Las Vegas and its pro hockey team. With the Golden Knights now on the brink of winning the Stanley Cup, we explore the origins of that love affair, and explain how a shared tragedy forged a ...

Plus: Andrew McCutchen continues to steer the Pirates forward with a historic homecoming season. And a Yankees legend takes a hit from the broadcasting booth. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As we get closer to the midway point of the MLB season, the Arizona Diamondbacks are a surprise leader in the NL West, ahead of the Dodgers, Padres and Giants. One big reason why is their undersized center fielder: the 5-foot-10, do-it-all dynamo, Corbin Carroll. Today, we look at how Carroll became...

Erling Haaland has shattered goal scoring records this season at Manchester City. But has he made his team any better? We dive into one of the more polarizing debates in soccer. Plus, a preview of this weekend's Champions League Final between Man City and Inter Milan. Guest: Sam Lee, The AthleticSee...

Plus: Heat Culture shines bright in the Mile High City. And a golfing phenom does something we haven’t seen in over 70 years.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bob Myers ended months of speculation this week by announcing that he is stepping down as the Golden State Warriors' GM. Myers, often called the architect of the Warriors dynasty, steered the team to four championships and six NBA Finals appearances over an eight-year period, and making some key tra...

Around this time last year, the Florida Panthers seemed to be at a crossroads. After posting the best regular season record in the NHL, they were swept in the second round by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Now, a year later, the Panthers are in the Stanley Cup Final, and Matthew Tkachuk is a big reason wh...

Jim Brown passed away at his home in Los Angeles last week at the age of 87. The Cleveland Browns legend and three-time NFL MVP made a name for himself as a football player, actor, and social activist, and also spent years working with gang leaders to try and prevent violence. But his reputation was...

After more than four decades of coming up short, the Denver Nuggets are finally playing in the NBA Finals for the first time. But despite a winning record in six consecutive seasons, most of those years for Denver have ended in heartbreak. Today, we look at how the Nuggets' foundation for winning ha...

Plus: It’s looking like sweep season in the NHL and NBA conference finals. And Breanna Stewart flashes her MVP credentials in her home debut. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last season, the Las Vegas Aces won the WNBA championship in style, especially when it came to their post-championship celebrations. But now, with the 2023 WNBA season about to tip off, the Aces find themselves wrapped up in not one but two controversies. Today, can the Aces move beyond their off-co...

If you say the name Darvin Ham to a basketball fan of a certain age, chances are they’ll think of the time he shattered a backboard playing for Texas Tech during the 1996 NCAA tournament. But what's less known about the Lakers’ first-year head coach is his life before all of this, in Saginaw, Michig...

Plus: Jonathan Marchessault delivers with an elimination-game silencer of his own. And Todd Bowles fulfills his mother’s dream decades in the making. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last weekend, a 15:1 long shot named Mage raced to a dramatic victory at the Kentucky Derby. But that feel-good story was largely overshadowed by a series of tragic -- and in some cases mysterious -- racehorse deaths. Today, we explore what could be behind those deaths, the progress that horse racin...

After back-to-back 100-loss seasons, and with one of the lowest payrolls in Major League Baseball, life as a Pittsburgh Pirates fan has been pretty frustrating. However, this year, they started out as one of baseball's biggest surprises, with Bryan Reynolds and Andrew McCutchen helping to fuel a 20-...

Plus: The Devils bounce back to make it a series with Carolina. And college basketball’s most famous recruit finally announces where he’ll play next season. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last week, we got the long awaited — and widely expected —answer of who would go first in the NFL Draft, when the Carolina Panthers selected Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. But the questions about Young, and specifically his height (5-10 1/8), are not going away soon. Today, we dive deep into the h...

Miami Heat head coach Eric Spoelstra has long been known as a fiery competitor who does not shy away from confrontations -- even with his own players. Today, with the Heat cruising through the playoffs, we explore the method to Erik Spoelstra’s madness and explain why the confrontations, along with ...

Plus: The Bruins’ historic season ends with a whimper and the defending champs go down to a first timer. And a father-son phone call that will warm even the staunchest Cowboy hater’s heart. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-...

On Thursday night, the Boston Celtics — one of the favorites to win the NBA title — moved on to the Eastern Conference semifinals. But during their not-always-so-smooth first-round series against Atlanta, we got a reminder that there are still questions when it comes to their 34-year-old head coach,...

Hockey fans are used to Connor McDavid being the undisputed best player in hockey. But this past season, he somehow took things to an even higher level, doing things that haven't been done since the 1980s. Today, how McDavid’s evolution off the ice has helped him reach new heights on it -- and how h...

Plus: Steph Curry manages to avoid his own Chris Webber moment. And after more than decade, a career minor leaguer finally gets to The Show.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So far this season, the Seattle Mariners have been getting big production from a former top prospect who roams their outfield. But if you're thinking of reigning AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez — think again. The guy who's been stealing the spotlight in Seattle so far is Jarred Kelenic. The 23...

Alyssa Thompson's incredible soccer talent has already made her look like a future global star, even though she's just 18 years old. And her path to greatness, which included becoming the first girl to play on an MLS Next boys academy team (along with her sister, Giselle), has changed minds -- and t...

Plus: Two of hockey’s greatest rivals produce another in epic championship final. And A Yankees ace continues his electric start.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When the NBA playoffs get underway on Saturday, basketball fans will be witnessing history, as the Golden State Warriors are playing the Sacramento Kings in the postseason for the first time ever. These two teams famously share the same highway — the I-80 — but they took very different roads to get ...

There was a time when it looked like China was going to be the next big thing in world soccer. After the government published an elaborate 50-point plan back in 2015, billions of dollars was spent developing China's professional league, building youth soccer academies across the country, and recruit...

Plus: The Timberwolves get punch drunk on the final day of the NBA season. And a baseball team manages to give up a crooked number while not allowing a hit.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

LeBron James's final wish as an NBA player is to suit up with his son LeBron James Jr, a.k.a. Bronny. When he made that intention clear last year, it was just the latest development in the incredibly well-documented basketball life of the 18-year-old Bronny, who has amassed a huge following of suppo...

With three weeks to go until the NFL Draft, there's a clear cut top four at the quarterback position, featuring Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, and the former Kentucky Wildcat, Will Levis. Levis emerged as a college star — and likely first round NFL pick — during the last two years in ...

Plus: KD shows why he makes the Suns the most dangerous team in the West. And a new spooky pitch has MLB hitters running in fear.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Boston Bruins have been making history this season. After becoming the fastest team in NHL history to rack up 50 wins, they might soon break the record for total points in a season. But what makes their success so incredible is the fact that almost no one saw it coming -- in fact, many people pr...

Major League Baseball Opening Day is Thursday, and the upcoming season begins with a lot of intriguing questions: Can the Astros repeat as World Series champs? What feats will we see from Shohei Ohtani (and Mike Trout) in Ohtani's final year before free agency? And, what does baseball’s wave of new ...

Plus: Iowa’s maestro guides the Hawkeyes to its first Final Four in 30 years. And the Seahawks bring in an old stalwart to solidify their defense.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The World Baseball Classic, a tournament that many fans once viewed as a bunch of meaningless exhibition games, captivated the world over the past two weeks and culminated with an epic showdown between the two best players in the game. Today, how the WBC went from an afterthought to the best thing t...

With five weeks to go until the NFL Draft, there’s one player who’s arguably the most polarizing and intriguing prospect in the entire field: the dual threat quarterback out of the University of Florida, Anthony Richardson. Richardson wowed during his lone season as a full-time starter with the Gato...

Plus: One of college basketball’s most storied programs misses the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in over a decade. And Trea Turner catches fire at the WBC.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Angelo Cataldi became Philadelphia's most popular sports radio personality by giving voice to the joys and frustrations of Philadelphia sports fans. And, along the way, he even saved a life or two -- literally. But his show was also criticized for being homophobic and misogynistic, and an event he f...

The NCAA tournament is finally here, which means that for the next three weeks, our lives will be consumed by college basketball’s biggest stars, its most surprising teams, and — hopefully — a bunch of buzzer beaters along the way. Today, we break down the favorites, surprises and some of the bigges...

Plus: It’s time to fill out those office brackets after another Selection Sunday. And the Rams keep their ‘remodel’ going by sending a former-All Pro’s talents to South Beach. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-i...

In September of 2020, things began mysteriously disappearing from an MLB team's equipment bags. The ensuing investigation spanned six weeks and involved five Major League baseball teams, two police departments, and several very frustrated clubhouse managers.Guest: Stephanie Apstein, Sports Illustrat...

Mac McClung may always be remembered for one Saturday night in Utah a couple of weeks ago, when he made the jump from the G League to win the NBA Dunk Contest — a performance so great that some experts said it saved a dying event. But what’s less well-known about McClung is his long journey just to ...

Plus: Washington State basketball breaks an 82 year drought. And United’s dream run comes to a disastrous end at Anfield. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For many baseball fans, the name Dae-Sung Koo is synonymous with 2005, when the then-Mets relief pitcher smashed a double off of future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson, then proceeded to race home from second base on a bunt. That was the only season that the 35-year-old Koo appeared in Major League Base...

In 1983, musical legend Marvin Gaye stepped to the microphone at The Forum in Los Angeles, to sing the national anthem before the NBA All-Star Game. What happened next set in motion a cultural transformation within the NBA that still reverberates today.Guests: David Aldridge and Marcus Thompson II, ...

Plus: The Lakers get a big win in Dallas, while Damian Lillard paints a masterpiece in the PDX. And Caitlin Clark puts a serious exclamation point on a wild weekend in college hoops. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sel...

For close to a decade, John Jaso made a name for himself in Major League Baseball. He was behind the plate for the last perfect game thrown in MLB (by Felix Hernandez), and he hit for the first cycle in the history of PNC Park in Pittsburgh. But if you haven’t heard John Jaso’s name in a while — the...

A deejay. A dance team. A VIP section. And a whole lot of victories. Meet Howard University's swimming and diving teams -- the only all-Black college swim teams in the U.S., with a mission that extends far beyond the pool.Guest: Robert Sanchez, Sports Illustrated contributorRead the full storySee Pr...

Just over one year ago, the Baylor Bears were playing a game against Texas, when one of the key players on their national title-winning team, Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua, suddenly took a wrong step — and suffered a devastating injury. The 6-foot-8 forward was given a two-year timetable to return, if...

Ever since the NCAA began allowing college athletes to profit off their names, images, and likenesses (NIL), some athletes have been cashing in. But In a world filled with bad actors, some student-athletes have had much less fortunate outcomes. Today, we bring you the cautionary tale of Jaden Rashad...

Super Bowl 57 really had it everything — controversial calls, elite quarterbacks, and a high flying halftime show all of which made Sunday night in Phoenix one for the books. Plus Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts show why the future of the NFL is in good hands. And with their second Super Bowl title ...

We have two days to go until Super Bowl 57, a game that has a ton of great matchups and storylines: Andy Reid versus his old team, Travis Kelce against his brother Jason, and a quarterback showdown between Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts. Beyond the game itself, there are even more questions to pond...

Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts will make history this weekend, as they become the first two Black quarterbacks to square off in a Super Bowl. For many, it's a sign of progress for a position that has historically been hugely biased against Black players. But just how much progress has actually been...

Plus: Aaron Rodgers hints at where he might be lining up under center next season. And the last two undefeated teams in college hoops stay perfect ahead of an epic clash this Sunday.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell...

Lisa Guerrero reached the pinnacle of sports broadcasting when she became a sideline reporter on Monday Night Football. But what everyone assumed was a dream job instead became a nightmare -- one that cost her her dignity, her mental health, and a pregnancy. Today, Lisa discusses the traumas she exp...

The Golden State Warriors are the defending NBA champions, and one of the great dynasties in NBA history. But so far this season, the team is hovering around .500, and they're approaching a crossroads when it comes to the contracts of Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and the architect of this dynasty,...

After a week of ‘Burrowhead’ taunts from the Bengals, Kansas City’s star QB reminds Cincy that Arrowhead still belongs to him. Meanwhile, San Francisco runs OUT of QBs against the Eagles. And Novak Djokovic’s victorious return to the Australian Open puts him at the pinnacle of men’s tennis once agai...

For the Kansas City Chiefs, this season began with questions about who would fill the massive void left by wide receiver Tyreek Hill. And the answer has come in the form of not one, not two, not three, not four, but five new wideouts. Today, Sports Illustrated's Alex Prewitt explains how this group ...

The San Francisco 49ers advanced to the NFC title game on Sunday after their 12th consecutive win, with superstar running back Christian McCaffrey scoring the go-ahead touchdown in the victory over the Cowboys. Since he arrived in an October trade, McCaffrey has helped take San Francisco’s offense t...

Plus: Kansas City keeps an impressive streak going in the AFC. And Arsenal pass their stiffest test yet in their quest for a first league title in over 15 years. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Philadelphia football fans have a complicated relationship with Eagles GM Howie Roseman. After building the team that won Philadelphia its first ever Super Bowl back in 2018, he was a hero. Then, just a few years later, he was seen as a problem. And now, with the Eagles looking like Super Bowl conte...

After a losing record last season, losing records in eight of their last nine seasons, and a rough start to this season, the New York Knicks have awakened — with a winning formula that includes a lot of Jalen Brunson. But Brunson is far from the only reason the Knicks are winning, and today, we’re j...

The NFL playoffs are here. Today, Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr breaks down all six first round matchups and gives us his insights on what to expect from a potentially wild Wild Card Weekend.Guest: Conor Orr, Senior Writer, Sports IllustratedSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Calif...

We are basically at the halfway point of the NBA regular season, and today we are joined by former NBA sharpshooter and co-host of The Old Man and the Three podcast, JJ Redick, for a midseason heat check on the players who have dominated the first half, including Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid, Donovan Mi...

Plus: An unforgettable day for Bills fans in Orchard Park. And Lovie Smith’s unforgettable last act as the Texans head coach. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last week, the man considered by many to be the greatest soccer player to ever live, the Brazilian superstar, Pelé, passed away at the age of 82. Today, stories about how he impacted Brazilian identity, the development of soccer around the world (including in the U.S.), and the complicated legacy he...

We are five days away from college football’s national championship game, a David and Goliath showdown between the defending champion Georgia Bulldogs, and the team no one expected to be here: the TCU Horned Frogs. Today, we’re joined by Seth Emerson — who covers Georgia for The Athletic — to look a...

The man who many people consider the greatest sports broadcaster of all time, Vin Scully, died this summer at the age of 94. For 67 years, Scully was the iconic and unmistakable voice of the Dodgers, and began calling games in Brooklyn in 1950. Five writers share their memories of Scully the broadca...

Lusia Harris is one of the best basketball players to ever live: a 3-time collegiate national champion, an Olympics silver medalist, and the only woman to be officially drafted by an NBA team. But chances are, you've never heard of her. Ben Proudfoot, the director of an Academy Award-winning short d...

Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker got into a hilarious spat with the Toronto Raptors' mascot -- a big, red dinosaur in a basketball jersey -- back in January. Things spilled over into the post-game press conference and onto Twitter, and the basketball world was hooked. Inspired by this hilarity, we cal...

For the past month, millions of people have been glued to the television, watching as many Word Cup games as possible. And for fans in the U.S., that has meant spending a lot of time with the broadcast team at Fox. With the dust still settling on the tournament, sports media journalist Richard Deits...

Plus: Two NFC contenders see their playoff prospects head in opposite directions. And the Lakers find themselves in a familiar position — with a key piece out of action.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One week ago, Grant Wahl – perhaps the best known soccer journalist in the U.S. – died suddenly while covering the World Cup in Qatar. He was just 49 years old. Today, four people who knew Grant share stories about his life, and the impact he had on the beautiful game and the people who cover it.Gue...

Behind every great sports broadcaster is a great statistician -- the person who digs up the numbers that tell us a story about the game we're watching, or help us make sense of the action unfolding before our eyes. Today, The Athletic’s Dan Brown tells us the story of one such statistician, Bo Chapm...

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There is perhaps no greater theater in all of sports than a penalty kick shootout at the World Cup. Players take turns walking into the spotlight with millions, if not billions of people around the world watching them, and engage in a high-stakes battle of skill and nerves with the goalkeeper. Score...

Back in March, Aaliyah Gayles -- a talented point guard from Las Vegas -- played in the McDonald's Girls All-American Basketball Game. It was just the latest achievement in her already impressive high school career, which included her being named a top ten national recruit. But just a few weeks afte...

Plus: Two top NFL contenders get worrying injury news at the most important position. And two young superstars guide their countries into the round of eight in Qatar.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Being a long snapper in the NFL is one of the stranger jobs in all of sports. You spend your time hunched over, trying to throw perfect spirals backwards and between your legs -- in high pressure situations – and no one really knows about you or cares about you unless something goes terribly, horrib...

It's been a while since there has been this much hype around an NBA prospect. Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-3-inch,18-year-old French basketball sensation, has been turning heads around the world for years now, and has even captured the imaginations of the NBA's biggest superstars, who have all gush...

Plus: An unexpected hero keeps Germany World Cup dreams afloat. And after 30 near misses, a decorated skier finally ends up on top. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On Wednesday, Canada played its first game of the 2022 World Cup against the team ranked #2 in the world -- Belgium. And despite losing the game 1-0, Canada absolutely dominated and, in the process, sent a powerful message to the world: Canada is no joke. Our team here at The Lead is off enjoying th...

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll has pulled a few rabbits out of his hat this year. For one thing, he’s taken a team that finished 4-13 last season and, without significant roster changes, started out this season 7-3. And it turns out, Daboll literally has quite a few tricks up his sleeve. Th...

Plus: The Vikings officially go on fraud watch after a drubbing at the hands of the Cowboys. And the top two teams in women’s college hoops put on a show in Palo Alto — and send an important message along the way.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https:...

Lionel Messi has won just about everything there is to win in soccer -- scoring titles, Champions League trophies, a Copa America championship, and a record seven Ballon d'Ors as the world's top player. But the one thing that has eluded him is the prize that matters most to him and his fellow Argent...

Heading into this season, a lot of people weren’t expecting much from the Seattle Seahawks, as they went from Russell Wilson to 32-year-old journeyman Geno Smith. Fast forward 10 weeks into the season, and Smith — the quarterback people wrote off — is playing at an MVP level. Today, The Athletic’s M...

Plus: Joel Embiid puts up an all-time stat line in a much needed win for the Sixers. And the PAC-12 sees two College Football Playoff contenders go down hard.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

All throughout the offseason, and even into the start of this season, we thought we knew what the Utah Jazz were supposed to be. This team was supposed to be tanking, one of the many hoping to land generational prospect Victor Wembanyama. But so far this year, the Jazz are doing basically the exact ...

For the past 12 years, the tiny, extremely wealthy nation of Qatar has been preparing for the 2022 World Cup, building beautiful new stadiums, roads, and hotels. And, for years, one journalist in particular has been telling the stories of the people who have been doing the actual building, as well a...

The Houston Astros get manager Dusty Baker the only thing missing from his resume. The Jets' defense shines in a surprising win over the Bills. And Major League Soccer wraps up its season with a championship game for the ages.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Not...

Friday marks seven months to the day since Kansas pulled off its stunning comeback over UNC in the men’s college basketball national title game. And, at the start of this upcoming week, college hoops — and some of its most celebrated stars — are back. Today, The Athletic’s Eamonn Brennan gives us a ...

This past weekend, the Portland Thorns won their third NWSL championship -- a league record. But what made the achievement even more remarkable is the fact that it came less than a month after a bombshell report, conducted by former Acting US Attorney General Sally Yates, revealed systemic abuse and...

Plus: A chaotic finish in Atlanta puts a new team atop the NFC South. And why there’s real reason to worry about a hyped NBA team in Los Angeles… and we’re not talking about the Lakers.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-s...

For many full moons, a famous hotel in Oklahoma City has been keeping NBA players up at night -- and perhaps even influencing the outcome of their games. And the sheer number of players that say they've had paranormal experiences there is enough to make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. To...

For more than a decade now, and basically since their last playoff game all the way back in 2011, being a New York Jets fan has been a special kind of football agony. But so far in 2022, it’s been a much different story, as the team sits at 5-2 — right behind Josh Allen and the mighty Buffalo Bills ...

Plus: A tough weekend for the NFL’s old guard, while some young stars shine bright. And a former-MLS superstar is making waves in the Premier League.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tennessee turned a whole lot of heads last weekend, outlasting previously undefeated Alabama in a 52-49 shootout for the ages. And among the throngs of students and clouds of cigar smoke that enveloped the field after the win was head coach Josh Heupel, who took a moment to savor the win -- and perh...

For Zion Williamson, Wednesday night against the Brooklyn Nets marks his first regular season NBA game in 17 months and more than 500 days. Today, The Athletic’s Will Guillory tells us about Zion’s long road back from a broken foot, the workouts that have reportedly left him in peak physical conditi...

Plus: The Yankees face a win or go home game in Cleveland. And Liverpool turn back the clock against Manchester City.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Will the Colorado Avalanche repeat as Stanley Cup champions? Will Connor McDavid reclaim his MVP crown? Can the Toronto Maple Leafs actually win a playoff series? With the 2022-23 NHL season now officially underway, The Athletic's Eric Duhatschek joins us to discuss these and other burning questions...

After winning the NBA title this past summer, things appeared to be going pretty smoothly for the Warriors heading into the new season. But then, last week, Draymond Green punched Jordan Poole at practice — and turmoil arrived for the defending champs. Today, with less than one week to go until thei...

After a six-month sprint through the regular season, the MLB Playoffs get underway on Friday. To get us ready for October, The Athletic’s Stephen Nesbitt joins the show to look at the stars and storylines that will define the postseason, including Aaron Judge and the Yankees hoping to harness their ...

Over the past two years, a massive welfare fraud scheme has been simmering in Mississippi. And a key player in that scandal is Green Bay Packers legend Brett Favre. With the help of a former Mississippi governor, Favre was able to direct state welfare funds -- money that was intended to help poor pe...

Plus: A sweep with massive implications means there is a new presumptive champ in the NL East. And everyone’s new favorite college football team resides in Lawrence.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A little over a month ago, on August 28th, it seemed like a normal morning at the headquarters of Eastern Kentucky football. The season opener was five days away. A team staffer was restocking the coach’s refrigerator. And inside his office, that coach — Walt Wells — was dropping to the floor, havin...

This past weekend, Roger Federer played his final match as a professional tennis player, teaming up with his longtime rival Rafael Nadal in a mostly ceremonial doubles match at the Laver Cup. And, after the match (which they narrowly lost to Americans Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock), Federer was honor...

Plus: Shady injury reports, butt punts, and more in an AFC East showdown to remember. And MLB’s youngest team is contending way earlier than anyone expected. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Eagles ran their record to 2-0 with a convincing win over the Vikings on Monday Night Football, and a big reason why was an electric performance from Jalen Hurts. Today, The Athletic’s Zach Berman tells us about Hurts’s evolution from second-round pick that a lot of people doubted, to now becomi...

On Sunday night, the Las Vegas Aces brought home the WNBA championship – the first in the franchise's 26-year history, and the first major pro sports title for the city of Las Vegas. And the only thing more entertaining than the series might have been the post-game press conference, which included A...

Plus: The Aces bring home the first title ever for Las Vegas. And Aaron Judge closes in history - and a potential triple crown.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After a summer where he was expected to commit his future to Real Madrid, 23-year-old French superstar Kylian Mbappe instead decided to stay put in Paris, with PSG. And he's off to a red hot start to the new season. The New York Times’ Tariq Panja recently got a rare interview with Mbappe, and he jo...

In the fall of 2001… Sugar Ray was playing on your local radio station, the Patriots were suddenly forced to play their backup quarterback — a guy named Tom Brady — and the movie Zoolander had just come out in theaters. That’s how long it’s been since the Seattle Mariners made the playoffs. Today, T...

Plus: A new generation of tennis stars announce themselves in Flushing. And the Cornhuskers pay to make Scott Frost go away.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's been a rough decade for USC football fans. Their beloved Trojans -- winners of nine national championships -- have missed every single college football playoff since 2014, and have finished in the top ten nationally just once in the past ten years. But now, with 39-year-old Lincoln Riley at the...

The Rams begin their Super Bowl title defense on Thursday night against Josh Allen and the Bills, but to get to this point, they’ve had to navigate an offseason filled with drama. There were concerns that Aaron Donald and Sean McVay might retire (and All-Pro left tackle Andrew Whitworth did retire)....

In early August, Serena Williams published an essay in Vogue, announcing her intention to step away from tennis. Given her recent injuries and struggles on the court — including an embarrassing exit in Cincinnati just a few weeks ago — many people feared that the 40 year-old might go out with a whim...

The last time we saw the Indianapolis Colts in a regular season game, they were blowing what was calculated as a 97 percent chance of making the playoffs, as they dropped their final game of the season to the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars. It’s a loss that left a lot of people — including the team’s ow...

Plus: A matchup of championship contenders in the WNBA playoffs. And a young slugger ties down his future for a long, LONG time.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Earlier this year, four female college athletes died by suicide in just eight weeks. Those deaths stunned many people, and reopened a conversation about mental health among student-athletes — particularly female student-athletes. One important new voice in that conversation belongs to Cailin Bracken...

When you look across the landscape of Major League Baseball, it’s clear that the biggest surprise among all the division leaders is the team that sits at the top of the AL Central: the Cleveland Guardians. Today, The Athletic’s Zack Meisel joins us to look at some of the key players behind the team’...

Plus: Tom Brady’s strange week ends up in the land of conspiracy theories. And a historic heavyweight bout could be on the cards – if the price is right. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last weekend, Manchester United lost 4-0 to Brentford, a club that has only been in the Premier League for two seasons, and that last defeated mighty Man United in 1938. And for many supporters of the Red Devils, who have suffered through nearly a decade of frustration and disappointment, it felt li...

As a rookie, Ja’Marr Chase had one of the most spectacular rookie seasons you’ll see, pilling up 1,455 receiving yards with 13 touchdowns, and making highlight-reel catches all the way through a showdown with Jalen Ramsey in the Super Bowl. What made that even more stunning — beyond just the numbers...

Plus: The Padres are not happy with their statue contract slugger. And Erik Ten Hag wants everyone to know that United aren’t losing because of him. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last week, the man that many people consider the greatest sports broadcaster of all time, Vin Scully, died at the age of 94. For 67 years, Scully was the iconic and unmistakable voice of the Dodgers, who started out calling games in Brooklyn in 1950, and signed off for the final time in 2016. Today,...

Last week, NBA legend and civil rights activist Bill Russell passed away at age 88. In his 13 years with the Boston Celtics, the 6-foot-10 center -- who changed the way basketball was played -- won 11 NBA championships, including two while serving as a player-coach. (That also made him the first Bla...

Plus: Two young superstars don’t waste any time making their marks in the Premier League. And a 20,000 to 1 shot takes home one of golf’s most storied titles.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Over the last few weeks, few teams across Major League Baseball have been hotter than the extremely talented, previously disappointing — and suddenly surging — Toronto Blue Jays. Today, we're joined by The Athletic's Kaitlyn McGrath to look at why this team came up short in the first half, and three...

Back in March, the Chargers made a big bet on former Patriots defensive back J.C. Jackson, an undrafted free agent in 2018 who had a staggering journey just to reach the NFL. When Jackson was 19 years old, he was facing the possibility of anywhere from 40 years to life in prison in connection with a...

A sexual assault allegation involving members of Canada's 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship team has reached the highest levels of government and dominated the airwaves in Canada recently. Investigative reporter Katie Strang of The Athletic joins us to discuss the details of the case, and wh...

The Tour de France wrapped up in Paris this past Sunday, along the famous Champs-Elysées. And on that very same day, on that very same road, something historic happened -- a Women's Tour de France began. Today, reporter Maggie Mertens explains why it took nearly 120 years for the world's most famous...

Plus: U.S. track and field’s newest supernova blows away the competition And cycling’s newest rivalry comes with a side of sportsmanship. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This spring, eight-time Pro Bowler Von Miller announced that he was leaving the reigning Super Bowl champions — the L.A. Rams — to join the Buffalo Bills. It was a decision that surprised a lot of people, and also one that almost didn’t happen. Today, The Athletic’s Dan Pompei tells us why Miller ul...

Fans of the U.S. women's national soccer team have been hearing the same names for quite a few years. But now, a new generation of players is starting to take over. Today, reporter Gwendolyn Oxenham gives us an inside look at one of those up-and-coming stars -- 22-year-old defender Naomi Girma -- an...

Plus: One of baseball’s brightest young stars may be on the move. And the Chosen One takes his talents to a high school gym in South L.A.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last weekend, Novak Djokovic won his fourth consecutive WImbledon title. But the real story of the tournament wasn't the Serbian superstar. It was opponent in the final -- the highly polarizing Nick Kyrgios. The talented Australian dominated headlines for two weeks, thanks to his usual brand of ente...

We have less than one week to go until the 2022 MLB All-Star Game, and during the first half of the season, we’ve seen a near-record-setting pace from the Yankees, more absurd pitching/hitting superlatives from Shohei Ohtani, and a Braves-Mets NL East showdown that is heating up in a hurry. Today, w...

Plus: Nick Kyrgios can’t upend Djokovic’s winning ways at Wimbledon. And MLB’s All Star Game turns into a family affair.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On Tuesday night, after seven weeks on the sidelines due to an oblique injury, 37-year-old Max Scherzer made his return for the Mets, and looked like… Max Scherzer — right down to a play where he nearly barreled over teammate Pete Alonso on a routine pop fly to first. Today, we’re joined by The Athl...

This spring, the tragic deaths of several college athletes again opened a conversation about mental health and college sports. In light of that, we’re replaying an episode that originally aired back in September, 2019. It's the incredible stories of two elite college football players whose lives fol...

Last week, many of the top college basketball players in the country heard their names called in the NBA draft. But others, including some of the most recognizable names in the game, decided to stay in school for another year instead -- in part because of NIL money. Today, The Athletic’s CJ Moore an...

On Sunday night, the Colorado Avalanche hoisted the Stanley Cup for the first time in 21 years, and just the third time in team history. And the unanimous winner of the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP was their superstar defenseman, Cale Makar. In fact, Makar was so dominant during the playoffs th...

Plus: The Phillies playoff hopes take a major blow in San Diego. And Hornets fans are feeling deja vu all over again.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On Thursday night, when he was widely expected to be the top overall pick in the NBA Draft, Jabari Smith Jr. instead became one of the new faces of the Houston Rockets — after a freshman year at Auburn that sent his draft stock soaring. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Brian Hamilton to look at...

Tomorrow marks the 50-year anniversary of Title IX, the landmark civil rights law that prohibits gender discrimination at schools that receive federal funding. The law has completely transformed the landscape of girls and women's sports in the U.S. in ways that were once unimaginable. But it turns o...

The Atlanta Braves are riding a wild hot streak so far in June (14-0 this month), and a big reason why has been the arrival of top prospect Michael Harris II, who’s hitting .328 in his young big league career. Today, Justin Toscano — who covers the team for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution — tells t...

Two years ago, Deion Sanders left the comfort of his expansive home outside of Dallas -- a place he calls "Lake Prime" -- to become the next head football coach at Jackson State, the historically black university in Jackson, Mississippi. At times, his welcome speech felt more like a Sunday sermon th...

Plus: The Lightning look to strike down the juggernaut coming out of Colorado. And Sabrina Ionescu is unimpressed with making history.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

New York Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant has made a habit of achieving near immediate success -- and then promptly getting fired. This season, Gallant has once again worked some hockey coaching magic, steering the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Finals in his first year at the helm (they current...

Back in the early 2000’s, Josiah Johnson was a benchwarmer for one of the most storied college basketball programs in the nation: the UCLA Bruins. It was the closest he came to being a basketball star, and a long way from the heights reached by his dad, five-time NBA All-Star Marques Johnson. Howeve...

Plus: The Warriors go full steamroll mode in Game 2. And Max Scherzer wants you to know that nothing happened with his dog.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From the minute the Green Bay Packers called his name with the 34th pick of this year’s NFL Draft, wide receiver Christian Watson has had to answer questions about becoming the new face of the team’s wide receivers room — as he steps into the void created by the trade of Davante Adams. Today, The At...

We're just over two rounds into the NHL Playoffs, and the league's brightest star -- Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid -- has already put in a performance for the ages. Today, reporter Jonathan Willis joins us to discuss how the 24-year-old McDavid has somehow taken his game to yet another level...

Plus: Another European triumph for the kings of the Champions League. And two major leaguers take a fantasy football dispute way too far.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Back in December, just a couple of days before his wedding, San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb and his family endured a devastating tragedy. Today, The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly joins us to talk about how it upended the life of the Webb family, and what they are doing now to try to fight a gro...

A title race for the ages. A dramatic comeback victory for the champions. And a desperate battle to avoid relegation. The Premier League's final weekend had all the drama -- and then some. Roger Bennett of the Men In Blazers Media Network joins us today to break down all the action from Championship...

Plus: Justin Thomas defies the odds at Southern Hills. And a dramatic Premier League title race comes down to the wire.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’re nearly one fourth of the way through the 2022 MLB season, and after a devastating finish last year, one of the best teams in baseball so far this year has been the National League East-leading New York Mets. Today, The Athletic’s Rustin Dodd tells us about some of the key factors that have pow...

Plus: Tiger is back on the prowl at the PGA Championship. And a boozy Luka Doncic beer conspiracy takes flight.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One year ago, Phil Mickelson was riding the highest of highs, having won the PGA Championship, and becoming the oldest major champion in golf history. But now, after making controversial comments about Saudi Arabia and a new Saudi-backed golf league, “Lefty” has found himself in hot water and a self...

Plus: Another head coach is leaving Las Vegas. And the Heat and Celtics gear up for a rock fight in the Eastern Conference Finals. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Plus: The NHL shows the NBA what a dramatic game 7 really looks like. And Major League Baseball’s worst team finds an inventive new way to lose. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When he was drafted late in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft, some experts called Jordan Poole — the Golden State Warriors’ selection — the worst pick of the draft. Three years later, Poole has emerged as a bona fide star, and provided the already talent-rich Warriors with another potent offens...

Plus: The Urban Meyer hiring continues to haunt the Jaguars. And a former-MVP makes baseball history in Cincinnati.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After two years of anticipation, Angel City FC, the Los Angeles-based women’s professional soccer team founded and supported by celebrities like Natalie Portman, Jennifer Garner, Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach, Eva Longoria, and Christina Aguilera (just to name a few), finally made its NWSL debut two weeken...

Plus: The Sixers look to keep the good vibes going in Miami. And the NFL schedules two Monday night games... at the same time?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Plus: Will Chelsea's new American owners spend (enough) money to keep the fans happy? And tensions simmer between Golden State and Memphis. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Despite being loaded with talent — including two of the two best players in baseball in Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani — the Los Angeles Angels have struggled to put things together in recent seasons. After a red hot start, is that changing? The Athletic’s Sam Blum joins us to explain what’s different...

Plus: The NFL is headed to… Deutschland? And a collegiate golfer makes history with the help of Steph Curry.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

American basketball star Brittney Griner has now been in the custody of Russian authorities for more than two months, following her arrest in a Russian airport for alleged drug violations. But after some big developments this past week -- including the release of American prisoner Trevor Reed -- the...

Plus: Tyrann Mathieu finally finds a new home. And is this the last dance for Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in the Steel City?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Plus: Can the Suns find a way to slow down Luka Dončić? And the round one NHL playoff matchup you don’t want to miss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

During a dominant first-round sweep over the Brooklyn Nets, Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics started to look like a legitimate threat to win the NBA title. Today, The Athletic’s Jason Quick tells us how the Celtics — and first-year head coach Ime Udoka — found their way after a rocky start, with ...

Plus: Will James Harden shoot the ball tonight?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For weeks now, we've been hearing a lot about the supposedly scandalous 'Yankee Letter' -- sent by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred to the New York Yankees back in 2017, and related to possible sign stealing violations. But now that the contents of that letter have come to light (as of Tuesday), it's cl...

On today's Starting Five (the new podcast we're developing at The Lead), we run down five of today's biggest sports stories, including: what comes next for the Brooklyn Nets, why Georgia's Travon Walker is suddenly the odds-on pick to go #1 in the NFL Draft, a high school basketball player who is go...

Today, we're giving listeners a sneak peek of the new spin-off podcast we've been developing: 'The Lead: Starting Five.' We break down five of the biggest sports stories of the day, in 10 minutes. On today's episode, we preview the Nets' do-or-die game against the Celtics, explain why beers and insu...

When the NFL Draft gets underway next Thursday, one of the most intriguing prospects to hear his name called will be Malik Willis, the cannon-armed — and very fast — quarterback out of Liberty University. Today, The Athletic’s Jeff Howe tells us how Willis went from unheralded high school passer in ...

Back in the day, Steve "Mongo" McMichael, a defensive tackle on the 1985 Chicago Bears, was known for his bone-crunching hits and colorful off-the-field endeavors -- including rattlesnake hunting and professional wrestling. But now, at age 64, the former Super Bowl champ is in a very different kind ...

The NBA Playoffs get underway on Saturday, and there are intriguing storylines in every direction, from Giannis Antetokounmpo trying to lead the Bucks to a repeat, to star players — including Steph Curry and Luka Doncic — racing the clock to return from injuries. Today, The Athletic’s Zach Harper he...

Baseball season is just a week old, but we’ve already been hearing a lot about a new technology that allows MLB pitchers and catchers to communicate with the push of a button, and thereby prevent sign-stealing -- PitchCom. And it turns out, the seemingly magical technology was, in fact, invented by...

We have some exciting news to share! We are in the process of developing a new spin-off podcast, and as part of that process, we're shifting The Lead to two days per week instead of five, beginning this week. We'll now be publishing new episodes of The Lead on Wednesdays and Fridays. It'll still be ...

Last summer, the world watched in shock and disbelief as Danish soccer star Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field during a Euro 2020 game, broadcast on live television. Doctors rushed onto the field and resuscitated him from what was later identified as cardiac arrest. Now, ten months later, Chri...

After all the chaos of the lockout, and the sprint through an abbreviated spring training, Major League Baseball’s Opening Day is here. To get ready for the season, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Eno Sarris, who breaks down five bold predictions for 2022, including his expectations for the always-ov...

After enduring a tough start to the season, the Dallas Mavericks have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA over the last 3 months. Luka Doncic is back to his MVP-level form and with the help of some key additions at the trade deadline the Slovenian star is hoping to reach the second round of the...

There was a time when high school football players would decide where they wanted to go to college by visiting a few schools, talking to coaches, and then making a decision with their family. But those days are long gone. Today, The Athletic's Ari Wasserman takes us inside the over-the-top world of ...

This year's race for NBA Most Valuable Player is one of the tightest in recent memory. Two-time winner Giannis Antetokounmpo is making a strong push to become just the ninth three-time winner. The reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic, is putting up historic numbers night after night. And in Philadelphia, Sixe...

The Women's Final Four tips off tonight, and there are some mouth-watering matchups: Top-ranked South Carolina, led by national player of the year Aliyah Boston, square off against relative underdogs Louisville, led by fiery guard Haley Van Lith. Then, UConn will play in its fourteenth consecutive F...

We are in unprecedented territory in the men’s NCAA Tournament, with a March Madness matchup we’ve never seen before: Duke vs. UNC, on Saturday night, in New Orleans. Today, The Athletic’s Brendan Marks — who covers both teams for The Athletic — takes us behind the scenes to look at key turning poin...

After dispiritingly missing out in 2018, The U.S. Men are once again on the brink of World Cup qualification thanks in large part to the play of star forward Christian Pulisic. The Chelsea winger has endured an up and down campaign with his club in recent months, but on the back of a recent upturn i...

We’re moving into the homestretch of the NHL regular season, which means the greatest postseason of them all – the NHL playoffs – are just a few weeks away. Today, The Athletic’s Eric Duhatschek gives us an early look at the NHL playoff picture, explains which teams made smart moves at the trade dea...

The Toronto Blue Jays got an MVP-caliber campaign from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2021, but the team came up just short of the playoffs on the final day of the season. Today, The Athletic’s Kaitlyn McGrath tells us how the Jays responded after the disappointment of missing out, and how they’ve rebuilt...

It has already been an unbelievable ride for the Iowa State Cyclones, a No. 11 seed that has made a run to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Today, The Athletic’s Jesse Temple tells us how this team — led by first-year head coach T.J. Otzelberger — has pulled off an unthinkable turnaround, going ...

A year ago, Oregon basketball player Sedona Prince shamed the NCAA into a moment of reckoning. Her video about the "weight room" provided to women athletes in the NCAA tournament bubble stirred up a debate over discrepancies between the men's and women's tournaments, and turned Prince into an overni...

The NFL offseason has had no shortage of storylines. Quarterbacks are playing musical chairs, big name free agents are on the move, and one of the best receivers in football was traded. Today The Athletic’s Lindsay Jones helps us make sense of it all by breaking down the controversial Deshaun Watson...

We’ve had a full day to recover from the opening two rounds of March Madness, four days that brought us cheerleader heroics, iconic mustaches, and some truly stunning performances — none more so than the Sweet 16 run of the St. Peter’s Peacocks. Today, The Athletic’s C.J. Moore — who has been on sit...

At his introductory press conference a few weeks ago, American soccer coach Jesse Marsch brought up the fictional TV character that he knew he would be asked about: Ted Lasso. It was Marsch's way of addressing the elephant in the room -- the fact that he, an American, had been selected to lead one o...

Thanks to the Netflix, the hottest sport in America right now might just be Formula 1. The series has brought international auto racing to a whole new audience and its popularity just keeps growing. So with the F1 season set to kick off this weekend, The Athletic’s Matt Slater joins us to talk about...

Major League Baseball Opening Day is just three weeks away, and we’ve seen a wave of significant deals as teams scramble to put together their rosters. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Stephen Nesbitt to break down some of those key moves — including the World Series champion Braves’ acquisitio...

When Zion Williamson came to town nearly three years ago, he was the hero that New Orleans Pelicans fans needed -- a Southern superstar who could pick up the pieces that Anthony Davis left behind. Fans welcomed him with open arms and a literal jazz ensemble. Now, after three injury-plagued seasons, ...

Every year, the average person spends six hours filling out their brackets to try and dominate their March Madness pool. But what if I told you there was a way to get the perfect bracket in minutes instead of hours? Today, The Athletic’s resident college hoops guru, Seth Davis, gives us the skinny o...

NFL free agency starts this week, but the fireworks have already started flying around the league, from Tom Brady to Russell Wilson to Aaron Rodgers to Carson Wentz. Today, The Athletic’s Stephen Holder breaks down the big QB deals that have already happened, and the off-field stories that have shak...

The Paralympics are in full swing in Beijing, and there have been plenty of great moments to savor. Today, we look at the incredible performance of athletes from Ukraine, who are winning loads of medals even while their friends and families back home remain under siege, the rise of China as a domina...

Caitlin Clark is one of the most exciting players in all of college basketball. She launches shots from near half-court, spins audacious passes, and she has the numbers to back up the style too. But she’s not content with just dominating the basketball court, the sophomore point guard has dreams of ...

The struggling L.A. Lakers lost again on Monday night, part of a second-half slide that has seen their record drop to eight games under .500. And in the midst of all that losing, there are big questions on the horizon when it comes to the future of LeBron James. Today, The Athletic’s Bill Oram tells...

Roman Abramovich endeared himself to Chelsea fans almost immediately when he purchased the club back in 2003. He quickly spent more money than any Premier League club owner in history, and the results on the field followed: league titles, Champions League victories, and many more trophies. But now, ...

NFL Free Agency is just around the corner, but the quarterback rumor mill is already in full flow. Today, The Athletic’s Mike Sando joins us to talk about the latest signal caller scuttlebutt from the combine and to tell us which team should feel the most angst about their quarterback situation head...

This week, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred announced that for the first time since 1994, the league is canceling games due to a work stoppage. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Nick Groke — who covers the Colorado Rockies — to look at why that team’s owner, Dick Monfort, has emerg...

There’s another superstar emerging for the USWNT — Catarina Macario. The excitement around the 22-year-old is at a fevered pitch after she scored two incredible goals against Iceland to help the Americans seal their third straight SheBelieves Cup. Today, The Athletic’s Meg Linehan joins us to talk a...

In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last week, international sports organizations have issued unprecedented penalties against Russia, including a ban on playing in international soccer games. Today, reporter Tariq Panja joins us to explain how and why these dramatic actions were taken, and w...

No NBA team has experienced more ups and downs this season than the Brooklyn Nets. The one-time favorites have gone from first place in the East to eighth, and have seen plenty of drama -- on and off the court -- along the way. Now, after a signature win over the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks ...

The tallest man to ever play in the NHL, Zdeno Chara, set a record on Thursday by playing in his 1,652nd game -- the most ever by an NHL defenseman. And while the 6-foot-9-inch Slovakian has been a household name to hockey fans for nearly three decades now, his path to greatness was certainly not wr...

Chet Holmgren is one of the most unique basketball players you will ever see. The Gonzaga freshman stands 7’1" but weighs just 195 pounds, he has the height of a big man but can play on the perimeter like a guard, and in spite of his slight frame he’s a defensive menace in the paint. Today, The Athl...

Last week in a courtroom in Fort Worth, Texas, a jury found Eric Kay, the former Los Angeles Angels communications director, guilty of distributing counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl that led to the death of Tyler Skaggs in 2019. Today, The Athletic's Sam Blum tells us some of the key p...

Lusia Harris is one of the best basketball players to ever live: a 3-time collegiate national champion, an Olympics silver medalist, and the only woman to be officially drafted by an NBA team. But, chances are, you've never heard of her. A documentary about Harris's life drew upon mountains of previ...

We’re headed into the final stages of the NBA season and the hottest team in the NBA resides in Boston. Today, The Athletic’s Jared Weiss gives us insights into how the Celtics overcame their early season struggles on both sides of the floor and he tells us if this team actually has a chance to make...

DeMar DeRozan has been having a career year in Chicago, and helped lead the Bulls to a 38-21 record heading into the All-Star break. And just a few days before playing in his fifth All-Star Game on Sunday night, he also broke a very old NBA record -- previously held by Wilt Chamberlain -- by scoring...

The second week of the Beijing Winter Olympics has brought us a lot of incredible athlete performances, but it has also seen more controversy, most notably the ongoing saga with figure skater Kamila Valieva. Today, we break down some of the sights, sounds and storylines and that have defined these W...

Dr. Evil takes over General Motors. Pete Davidson eats a chip and gets tackled to the ground. And a rabbit on a soapy island is talking, and nobody is sure why. The Athletic's Jake Ciely and Nando Di Fino take a break from their usual roles as fantasy sports writers, to walk us through what they bel...

After a dismal 2021 season, Kentucky men's basketball is back near the top of the college basketball rankings. A huge reason for the Wildcats resurgence has been the play of their junior transfer, and National Player of the Year candidate — Oscar Tshiebwe. Today, The Athletic’s Kyle Tucker takes us ...

The NBA trade deadline is in the rearview mirror, but the impact of the James Harden-Ben Simmons/Nets-Sixers blockbuster trade is still sending waves throughout the league. Today, The Athletic’s Sam Amick takes us behind the scenes of that deal, tells us just how powerful Harden has become in gettin...

After a long regular season and possibly the most exciting postseason in NFL history, the Los Angeles Rams hoisted the Vince Lombardi trophy on Sunday night as Super Bowl LVI Champions. And they did it inside their home stadium, in front of thousands of maniacal fans, and with a SoCal-themed halftim...

Super Bowl Sunday is almost upon us and this year’s edition features two of the most explosive teams in the NFL – the star-studded L.A. Rams and the upstart Cincinnati Bengals. Today, The Athletic’s Arif Hasan breaks down the key matchups that could determine who goes home with the Lombardi Trophy a...

The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics got underway last week with a lot of questions — questions about China, and about holding another Olympics during a global pandemic. But in the midst of all of that, we’ve seen Olympic athletes from around the world delivering some incredible performances. Today, we ...

Evander Kane is a complicated person. The NHL veteran has been a force within the league ever since he was drafted #4 overall back in 2009. He's known for doing community work, he co-founded the Hockey Diversity Alliance, and he has been one of the NHL's most vocal players when it comes to issues of...

The NBA trade deadline is closing in and it’s hard to keep track of all the storylines. In just the last week we learned that James Harden may already want out of Brooklyn, Bradley Beal’s days in Washington could be coming to a close, and Portland and Indiana might finally be ready to tear it all do...

When you think of the Cincinnati Bengals and clutch playoff performances, the first name that probably comes to mind is Joe Burrow. But they’ve also gotten a huge lift from a player who’s quickly becoming a household name: their extremely confident rookie kicker, Evan McPherson. Today, at the start ...

The NFL's diversity problems are back in the spotlight this week, after former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores filed a major lawsuit against the league, claiming discrimination in its hiring practices. The suit contains a number of explosive allegations, including claims that he was offered "...

The NBA’s most surprising contenders reside in Cleveland. The Cavs sit near the top of the Eastern Conference and they’ve done it by doing something totally different from the rest of the league. Today, The Athletic’s Kelsey Russo and Jason Lloyd give us insight into the Cavs recipe for success and ...

On Tuesday, one of the most iconic athletes of all time finally made it official, as Tom Brady announced that he’s retiring from the NFL after 22 years — and seven Super Bowl titles. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Greg Auman, Lindsay Jones, Steve Buckley, Daniel Kaplan, and Matthew Fairburn, ...

The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics are about to begin, and there has never been an Olympic Games like this before. Today, we dive into the political controversies around the host nation, China, including their atrocious record of human rights abuses, as well as their approach to staging the games duri...

The NFL Playoffs have been one for the ages and Championship Weekend brought even more drama with clutch kicks, costly turnovers, and heroic comebacks. Today, The Athletic’s Stephen Holder breaks down all the action and gives us his favorite to bring home the Lombardi Trophy. Plus, a discussion of T...

On Sunday, when the San Francisco 49ers take on the L.A. Rams in the NFC Championship Game, it’s no secret that the Niners want to get the ball early and often to their most indispensable offensive player: Deebo Samuel. Today, The Athletic’s Matt Barrows tells us the origin story of one of the most ...

When you think about Canada and sports, soccer probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind. But the country is emerging as a force, with the Canadian women winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics and the men currently sitting atop the CONCACAF standings. With World Cup qualifiers resuming today, Th...

The 2021-22 women’s college basketball season has ben one of the most chaotic in recent history. There’s been major upsets, devastating injuries, incredible record setting performances–and we haven’t even gotten to March. Today, The Athletic’s Chantel Jennings joins us to make sense of all the madne...

We have about seven weeks to go until the start of March Madness, and there’s a surprise team at the top of the rankings: the Auburn Tigers, who are holding the No. 1 spot for the first time ever. Today, The Athletic’s Seth Davis tells us three key reasons why the Tigers have emerged as one of the b...

This was, without a doubt, one of the most entertaining weekends in the history of the NFL. Four games, every single one decided on the final play, frigid temperatures, walk-off field goals, upsets, squandered leads, and an epic, record-setting showdown between Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. The At...

Over the course of his career, Karl-Anthony Towns has faced questions over his toughness, his willingness to defend, and his maturity. Those questions have been a millstone over the former-Kentucky star as the T-Wolves struggle year after year. But that reputation might finally be changing. Today, T...

On Monday night, in the Rams’ playoff win over the Cardinals, running back Cam Akers came up just short of 100 yards from scrimmage, which wouldn’t register as that remarkable of a feat — except that Akers wasn’t supposed to be playing in that game at all. Today, The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue take...

NHL star Corey Perry has built a career out of doing two things really well -- scoring goals, and getting under the skin of opponents. In fact, the former Hart Trophy winner and Stanley Cup Champion is widely seen as one of the most frustrating players to line up against. But it turns out the one-ti...

The hottest name on the open market in baseball might just belong to a power hitting outfielder from Japan. Hiroshima Toyo Carp slugger Seiya Suzuki has teams from across baseball salivating at his combination of power, plate discipline, and incredible defensive prowess. But with Major League Baseba...