Rory McIlroy won the Masters, finally. The roars told the story
AUGUSTA, Ga. — A concoction of sweaty bodies and long-lens cameras was deadlocked in the upper left-hand corner of the No. 15 grandstand at Augusta National as Rory McIlroy’s 7-foot eagle putt slid underneath the cup. At that point in…
2025 NFL Draft matchmaker: Best fits for Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, other top QBs
Read Dane Brugler’s 2025 ‘The Beast’ NFL Draft guide. At least beyond Cam Ward, there is no consensus on where each of this year’s crop of quarterbacks may get drafted. After Ward presumably becomes a Tennessee Titan, the rest of the group…
Rating the favourites to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or: Is Raphinha now in pole position?
We’re into the defining stretch of the 2024-25 season, with trophies to be won, European spots up for grabs and relegations to be avoided. All of Europe’s domestic leagues and UEFA’s three club competitions are nearing completion, which not only…
Masters fashion: Stretching the concept of quiet luxury underneath a giant oak tree
Follow live coverage of the final round of the 2025 Masters AUGUSTA, Ga. — The Masters will never be cheugy. It may be a crime of fashion to be overdone, outdated or, gasp, dressed in millenial-core for 51 weeks a year….
Inside Mohamed Salah’s contract saga: Lawyer’s concerns, Saudi interest – and a deal that pleases everyone
In the end, the news that Mohamed Salah will remain at Liverpool was delivered with a humorous tagline. “More in than out,” read the message across the club’s social media pages at 8am on Friday, around 36 hours after reports…
Carlos Alcaraz’s ‘My Way’ documentary trailer and a tennis tweener trick shot from heaven
If a player hits a running trick shot to save a break point, but later gets broken off three unforced errors and a double fault, is it good tennis? For Carlos Alcaraz, definitely. He delivered a signal example of the…
Ja Morant switches to grenade gesture after NBA fined All-Star for finger-gun 3-point celebration
After the NBA fined Ja Morant $75,000 last week for making finger-gun gesture celebrations, the Memphis Grizzlies star has found a new way to commemorate a made 3-pointer. In the Grizzlies’ 141-125 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night,…
Paralyzed in a crash, Robert Wickens kept on racing, and now he’s adding a new chapter
The crash was horrifying. During a 2018 IndyCar race, the wheels of Robert Wickens’ car clipped those of Ryan Hunter-Reay’s car, launching Wickens airborne and into the fencing surrounding Pocono Raceway. Among the injuries Wickens suffered were a thoracic spinal…
Making the jump from college hoops to the NFL: ‘I was like, what? Change sports?’
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After pouring in 19 points for Coastal Carolina in a first-round loss to Southern Miss in the Sun Belt Conference tournament on March 4, Colin Granger went back to the team hotel in Pensacola, Fla., to have…
MLB Power Rankings: Braves with a big drop; How about that NL West?
By Grant Brisbee, Chad Jennings and Levi Weaver Every week, we ask a selected group of our baseball writers — local and national — to rank the teams from first to worst. Here are the collective results. Two surprising weekends can…
MLB players won’t even pay to read this article: ‘You stay rich by being cheap’
In 2009, Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke went viral after telling Yahoo Sports he was boycotting Chipotle’s guacamole. “I mean, $1.50 is already pretty darn high. So they changed it to $1.80, and I’ll never again get guacamole,” Greinke…
Inside Draymond Green’s defensive mind, which seeks to ‘completely destroy’ you
The Golden State Warriors’ regular season will end on a Sunday afternoon at Chase Center in one of Draymond Green’s favorite matchups. Against the LA Clippers. It will likely have postseason implications, so Green will no doubt be intense. But…
Discussing Kevin De Bruyne and the most influential midfielders of the Premier League era
“Always I have to be careful for the respect for the players that have played incredible roles, but there’s no doubt he’s one of the greatest for sure,” said Pep Guardiola of Kevin De Bruyne’s impending exit from Manchester City….
Meet the MIT physicist turned Marlins coach behind the ‘torpedo’ bats used by the Yankees
NEW YORK — The New York Yankees’ bats were the story of the team’s franchise-record nine-home run day against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. Then came the discussion about the actual bats used by some players in the 20-9 win….
The Cubs are one of MLB’s top revenue machines. So why aren’t they paying for more players?
By Patrick Mooney, Ken Rosenthal and Sahadev Sharma CHICAGO — At first glance, the post from an X user named @Brooks_Gate seemed like something a multibillion-dollar company would ignore. It consisted of a chart that used estimated data to illustrate…
The Final Four coaches, scored and ranked: It’s Boomers vs. Millennials
One of the four head coaches left working in the men’s NCAA Tournament will win his first national championship Monday night. It could be Houston’s Kelvin Sampson in his 36th season of running a program at age 69. It could…
Why tennis media is a fragmented mess, from Grand Slam broadcast rights to social media highlights
Alexandra Eala had the biggest week of her tennis career at the Miami Open in March. She beat three Grand Slam champions — Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and Iga Świątek — on her way to the semifinals, where she had…
Olivia Miles’ transfer portal entrance highlights power shift in women’s basketball
The top of the 2025 WNBA Draft experienced a major shakeup when Olivia Miles entered the transfer portal. Miles was projected to be the No. 2 pick in April’s draft and likely fall no lower than third overall, but instead…
From UberEats driver to NHL goalie: Inside the unlikeliest start in hockey history
Three years ago, Brandon Halverson had all but given up on his hockey dream. He was delivering UberEats and groceries and working on a farm. He sold his truck. He borrowed money from his parents. Whatever it took to scrape…
MLB Power Rankings: Rangers, Yankees on the rise; Dodgers are right where you think they are
By Tim Britton, Johnny Flores Jr. and Andy McCullough Every week, we ask a selected group of our baseball writers — local and national — to rank the teams from first to worst. Here are the collective results, with the average…
The ex-Real Madrid striker who had not scored for 1,135 days or played in 304 – and a glorious return
Three hundred and four days is a long time for a footballer to go without playing in a game. And 1,135 days must feel like a lifetime for a striker to go without scoring. The former Real Madrid forward Mariano…
‘Scaremongering’ or a cause for concern? Why the F1 engine debate is intensifying ahead of 2026
There has been growing excitement within Formula One over the potential return of the V10 engines. That roaring sound is part of the sport’s history and identity. But the calls from senior figures in the F1 paddock, including the FIA…
Ranking the best players in the NCAA men’s basketball transfer portal
More than 1,000 Division I men’s basketball players have entered the transfer portal since it opened on March 24. That’s a lot of names and faces to learn as college basketball’s roster management busy season increasingly resembles NBA free agency….
Visually impaired NBA fans experience the game on a new level with haptic device
PORTLAND, Ore. — Brian Vu has been a fan of the NBA for 14 years, but he has never experienced a game like the one he attended last week in Portland. Not only did his hometown Trail Blazers beat the…
NFL projection model: Raiders, Commanders winning the offseason; 49ers, Cowboys slipping
The NFL offseason is well underway, and while the upcoming NFL Draft will shake things up even more, there has been no shortage of roster-altering moves. The biggest, of course, have come at quarterback. We’re still waiting for one big…
The real Novak Djokovic tries to stand up in front of Serena Williams in Miami
MIAMI — After two decades of professional tennis, 99 career singles titles and 24 Grand Slam triumphs, Novak Djokovic has become a mystery — to tennis fans and to himself. Both parties are trying to answer the same question, from…
Analysing Jamal Musiala’s bizarre corner goal for Germany against Italy
On average, about one in every 30 corners leads to a goal. The success rate tends to go up dramatically, however, when the goalkeeper and their entire defence are standing outside their six-yard box when a corner is taken. That…
Viktor Hovland and the case for perfectionism
PALM HARBOR, Fla. — There was Viktor Hovland, moments after winning his first PGA Tour championship in 18 months, after storming back from three shots down with five to play to beat a top-10 player in the world for the…
Jamie Mulgrew, an 11th league title with Linfield and the thirst for further success
“My phone kept buzzing with messages, but I was so tired, I went straight to sleep — I hadn’t realised I’d set the record!” For Linfield captain Jamie Mulgrew, last Tuesday night was just like any other. The 38-year-old midfielder…
Breslow’s Red Sox front-office audit resulted in painful cuts. Will the changes bring wins?
In the 17 months since the Boston Red Sox hired Craig Breslow as chief baseball officer — their fourth leadership change within the past 10 seasons — the organization has undergone sweeping changes, particularly behind the scenes in the front…
When should Jaxson Dart be drafted? Evaluating pros and cons of the Ole Miss QB
Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart is this NFL Draft cycle’s most divisive quarterback. Some evaluators think he’s a mid-round pick, while ESPN’s Mel Kiper mocked Dart going No. 9. Kiper may have been trying to be controversial for engagement, but Dart does…
NBA free agency: Russell Westbrook, Quentin Grimes and the odd situations that loom
Get ready for a different kind of free agency this summer: Less wild, perhaps, but weirder. At first, the 2025 NBA free-agent class doesn’t exactly overwhelm you with front-line talent. This isn’t the year for superstars holding meetings in the…
The hecklers are targeting Rory McIlroy. His challenge is to resist golf’s unruly spectators
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Two thick, beefy strong boys with snug polos and holstered pistols walked, chests out, up to the area behind TPC Sawgrass’ 12th green Sunday. As they approached the hill, another security officer smiled at two…
In star-studded Los Angeles, it’s JuJu Watkins’ show
LOS ANGELES — USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb and her star player, JuJu Watkins, were invited to the annual Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Blue Diamond Gala in May. In a who’s-who world of L.A. glitterati, Gottlieb was astounded by how many…
The BookKeeper – Exploring Manchester City’s finances during a season of change
The Athletic has appointed Chris Weatherspoon as its first dedicated football finance writer. Chris is a chartered accountant who will be using his financial acumen as The BookKeeper to explore the money behind the game. He is starting with a series…
‘Can’t-miss’ Men’s NCAA Tournament games on Thursday and Friday: truTV FTW?
The NCAA Tournament’s 32-game feast across Thursday and Friday is one of the most highly anticipated TV stretches of the sports year. You should watch as many games as you can, but if you need to prioritize, here are the…
MLB wants Japan to cheer for more than the Dodgers and Ohtani. The prize could be billions
TOKYO — During the early innings of a nighttime exhibition between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Yomiuri Giants, Nori Kawana walked through the concourse of the Tokyo Dome in disbelief. As the head of Fanatics’ East Asia operation, Kawana leads…
Can a new college football stadium buy a seat at the table? Inside USF’s $340 million bet
TAMPA, Fla. — In September 2021, Will Weatherford stood between green and gold balloons under a white canopy and made the proclamation that could change the trajectory of South Florida football. After playing their first 25 years across town at…
2025 NCAA Tournament bracket picks: Why CJ Moore has Florida topping Duke for national title
The men’s basketball selection committee had an easy job at the top of the bracket this year. The 2025 NCAA Tournament might have the best collection of No. 1 seeds in March Madness history. By the numbers, it is the…
Remembering Greg Gumbel: Viewers relied on him from Selection Sunday to ‘One Shining Moment’
The Athletic has live coverage of the 2025 Men’s March Madness Selection Show Ever the gentleman, Greg Gumbel reached out to offer a welcoming handshake. Ernie Johnson responded with … a fist bump? The awkward exchange — one Johnson still…
The funniest 2025 March Madness bracket names: Picking our favorites
There’s not too much shame in a botched March Madness bracket. The NCAA Tournament is compressed chaos in single elimination, upsets are part of the game, and only one entrant can actually win it all. What we can’t forgive is…
Is Alexander Isak the striker who troubles Virgil van Dijk more than any other?
You could make a strong case that this year’s Carabao Cup final will see Europe’s most threatening striker come up against its strongest centre-back. Alexander Isak has scored 22 goals in all competitions this season as he looks to surpass…
Mirra Andreeva’s tennis rise looked inevitable. Then Conchita Martinez sped it up
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Conchita Martinez, one of the queen bees of tennis, had done just about everything there was to do in the sport. She had won Wimbledon. She had coached Garbine Muguruza to win Wimbledon. She had won…
NBA Awards Watch: Rookie of the Year race leaves a lot to be desired
We’re doing our NBA Awards Watch every Thursday until the end of the regular season, and each week we’ll emphasize a new award. This week, we’ve got Rookie of the Year. Sandwiched between the class with Victor Wembanyama and the…
Inside the women’s hockey powerhouse led by ‘Miracle on Ice’ legend Mark Johnson
MADISON, Wis. — Three hours before the Wisconsin Badgers were set to practice on a Tuesday afternoon in late January, the best coach in the history of women’s college hockey was telling a story about a deer. “I’d like to…
Play Connections: Sports Edition. Tackle Today’s Puzzle.
Group sports terms that share a common thread.
Putting a price tag on extending Kyle Tucker, Dylan Cease and other looming free agents
Monday’s deep dive into Paul Skenes, perhaps the most interesting extension case in baseball, was a sneak peek of Extension Week. Now I’ll start a broader look at potential extension candidates, concentrating today on players whose value is less speculative:…
In Sam Darnold, Seahawks got a younger, cheaper QB. It won’t matter unless they support him
The Seattle Seahawks have their Geno Smith replacement in Sam Darnold. Now they need to get him some help. Seattle’s agreement with Darnold is a three-year, $100.5 million contract with $55 million guaranteed, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. On…
Manchester United announce plans for new 100,000-capacity stadium
Manchester United intend to build a 100,000-capacity new stadium rather than redevelop their existing Old Trafford home. United announced the ambitious plans on Tuesday, with London-based architecture firm Fosters + Partners selected to lead the project. The new-build will be…
SailGP Championship: From towering catamarans racing at 60mph to $12.8m in prize money. Is this F1 on the water?
Humans have sailed the oceans for centuries. But, as a spectator sport, sailing has barely made a dent in the public consciousness, outside of the Olympics at least. There’s no denying that it can often be difficult to make sense…
NCAA Tournament Bracket Watch 2025: Teams with the most and least to gain this week
(Editor’s note: This article is part of the Bracket Central series, an inside look at the run-up to the men’s & women’s NCAA Tournaments, along with analysis and picks during the tournaments.) Drake’s in, so we can dispense with the arguments about whether…
2025 MLB Franchise Rankings: Dodgers closing in on No. 1 team of past 25 years
It’s time for another round of the tested, trusted, completely objective, never-been-questioned, all-math, no-bias MLB franchise rankings. First, a change: Rather than span the Wild-Card Era (1995 to present) as we have done previously, the franchise rankings will henceforth cover…
Why Canadians are stung by Wayne Gretzky’s silence
As Canada played through controversy at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, its most beloved and iconic sports star grabbed a microphone and stood up for the nation. The Canadian men’s national team had just come from behind to tie…
NHL trade deadline winners and losers: Mikko Rantanen, Brad Marchand reshape Stanley Cup race
What the 2025 NHL trade deadline lacked in quantity, it made up for in quality. After all, it’s not often we have a prolonged drama like the Mikko Rantanen saga, which took several twists and turns before ending deep in…
NFL free agency 2025 predictions: One top target for every team
This is supposedly the NFL offseason, but if you’re feeling like you may be suffering from a case of whiplash, there’s a good reason for that. The Super Bowl came and went on Feb. 9. Two weeks later, the NFL…
What teams think of the 2025 Club World Cup: Opportunity, concerns and financial benefits
The expanded Club World Cup begins in 100 days, with the 32-team tournament taking place in the United States from June 14. It is the first time the club edition of the World Cup will mirror the national team version…
Naomi Osaka calls Indian Wells loss to Camila Osorio the worst match she has ever played
Naomi Osaka showed that she is on the road to recovery from the abdominal injury that forced her out of the Australian Open in January, but getting sharp and match tough is going to take a little more time. Osaka,…
Patrick Mouratoglou’s tennis partnership with Naomi Osaka and coaching superstars
The way phenomenal and accomplished athletes’ minds work can often catch regular folks off-guard. How is it that a tennis player like Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1, would ever get to a place…
Accused of giving away his team’s pitches, Derek Bender reckons with the world’s mistrust
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — Every once in a while, Derek Bender will send a text to one of his former teammates. Or he’ll call, and leave a voicemail. But, after what happened on Sept. 6, he has not received one text…
Lazerus: Bill Zito’s Panthers, Kyle Davidson’s Blackhawks and the road not taken
It’s entirely possible that four or five summers from now, Connor Bedard’s name will be etched on the Stanley Cup. He’ll have won the Conn Smythe Trophy that spring, of course, after a truly absurd playoff run flanked by Michael…
Honestly, Ruben, maybe you should try not saying what’s on your mind for a change
A few years ago, I got into a lift with a former colleague I knew a little but wouldn’t exactly describe as a close friend. In the way that we all have done hundreds of times, I asked how he…
Is Arch Manning ready to take over at Texas, then the NFL? Just ask his former teammates
INDIANAPOLIS — Arch Manning is at least a year away from fielding questions at the NFL Scouting Combine. Still, his former Texas teammates fully expect the sophomore quarterback to eventually join them at the highest level. “I think he can,”…
Neymar back to Barcelona: Is that a good idea?
No, you’re not dreaming, it is the year 2025. You might be wondering how on earth, then, we are sitting here discussing the possibility of Neymar returning to Barcelona this summer. After all, the Brazilian has just turned 33 years…
Court Vision: Why is NCAA Tournament expansion talk a thing? Is Gonzaga really in trouble?
Did March sneak up on anyone else? We have been enjoying the regular season so much that we kind of forgot it’s almost over. But the reality is, the first conference tournament bracket — thanks, Atlantic Sun — is already…
Watkins, Betts or Hidalgo? Our experts debate who should win women’s basketball POY
The Athletic’s debate series features two writers breaking down a specific topic. In this edition, Chantel Jennings and Ben Pickman debate which women’s college basketball player should win Player of the Year. Chantel Jennings: As we head into the…
Why the Texas Rangers are betting on Joc Pederson for a championship revival
SURPRISE, Ariz. — The groundwork for Joc Pederson becoming a Texas Ranger was laid last September, when Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young sat with Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen. The two men were discussing the divergent paths…
With Rubiales gone (and guilty of sexual assault), is Spanish football rethinking how it treats women?
Last Friday night, Spain’s women’s team played their first game since Luis Rubiales was found guilty of sexual assault for kissing Jenni Hermoso after the 2023 Women’s World Cup final. Spain came from 2-0 down against Belgium in Valencia with…
NHL agent poll: Best and worst owners, Connor McDavid’s contract, future GMs
Who are the best and toughest front offices to deal with in the NHL? Which owners are known for giving players what they need? What does the league need to do to improve? Asking players these questions can yield some…
Yankees will no longer play Frank Sinatra’s ‘New York, New York’ after losses
TAMPA, Fla. — Just days after the New York Yankees amended one of the most recognizable rules in American professional sports, another iconic tradition for the organization will change in 2025. Following losses, the Yankees will no longer play Frank…
Journeyman Brian Campbell stuns even himself with first PGA Tour win: ‘I’m freaking out’
Brian Campbell came out on top at the Mexico Open on Sunday night as viewers were treated to some sudden-death playoff chaos between two antithetical player profiles: Campbell, a journeyman and one of the shortest hitters on the PGA Tour,…
Amid the 4 Nations noise, Canada reclaims its throne as ‘the king of hockey’
They crossed the 49th parallel, from Manitoba into North Dakota — and drove through day and night — across eight states and more than 3,000 kilometers, according to the Canadian odometer on their Nissan Murano. Two canceled flights meant they were desperate. So…
‘Never refer to us as Tottenham’ may seem a small edict but it says a lot about the modern game
Back in my early twenties, I was at a party at a rooftop bar trapped in a round of small talk with a friend of a friend. Scrambling around for conversation, I asked her where she came from. “Folkestone,” she…
Tottenham are asking not to be called Tottenham
Eagle-eyed viewers of Sky Sports’ coverage of Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 win against Manchester United last Sunday will have noticed a change. When head coach Ange Postecoglou was interviewed before kick-off and asked about the lift of having players back from…
U.S.-Canada 4 Nations Face-Off final draws 9.3 million viewers, most-watched NHL-sanctioned game in decades
Take two proud hockey countries in a best-on-best final, add a massive dose of geopolitics into the equation, and then conclude the matchup with a historic overtime goal by the game’s best player. It’s a recipe for a historic viewership…
MLS preview roundtable: Staff predictions for league’s 30th season
MLS’s 30th season kicks off Saturday a few miles away from where the league’s 29th campaign ended. The LA Galaxy won MLS Cup a shade over two months ago, but rival LAFC will lift the curtain on 2025 when they…
Jenni Hermoso was not the victim people wanted her to be – we should be grateful to her for that
The important thing about the sentencing of Luis Rubiales is not whether he will go to prison, or how many thousands of euros he will have to pay to compensate Jenni Hermoso, the World Cup-winning footballer he kissed without consent…
Kevin Durant and the 15 pregame minutes that’ve helped shape his game and career
PHOENIX — Almost like clockwork, Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant appears 90 minutes before each home game, walking onto the court, ready to get started. The road to 30,000 career points? It didn’t begin here, but the routine played a…
Why Lewis Hamilton feels revitalized at Ferrari: ‘I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be’
When Lewis Hamilton put on his Ferrari race suit for the first time ahead of his maiden test for the team last month, he needed a moment to adjust to his new look. While putting on a set of overalls…
Canadian teammates on Sidney Crosby: ‘When he’s in your locker room, you always think you’re going to win’
BOSTON — When Drew Doughty got his first taste of best-on-best hockey, he was the youngest member of Team Canada at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and things didn’t start so well for him. Naturally, it was a conversation with one…
How Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s sons became pawns in viral betting ploy gone awry
The graphics sprang up across social media, some in the yellow and blue of Saudi Arabian team Al Nassr, others in the flamingo pink of MLS side Inter Miami. The source of engagement was hardly new: Messi vs Ronaldo, the…
Potential NFL salary-cap cuts for all 32 teams: From Cooper Kupp to Davante Adams and more
Not every NFL team is blessed with cap space this offseason. The New England Patriots, for example, have little worry and plenty incentive to spend at an estimated $119 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap. Other teams,…
Q&A: Rose Zhang on her TGL investment, the LPGA’s future and slow play
There are a lot of things to admire about Rose Zhang. Before turning pro two years ago, she was arguably the winningest amateur in the history of women’s golf. Now she’s competing on the LPGA and already has a pair…
The best Victor Wembanyama cards to collect: Rookie cards and where to find his autographs
There are some athletes who at a young age simply seem destined to achieve greatness, and Victor Wembanyama is one of them. I haven’t seen the basketball card hobby this exited about a player’s rookie cards since LeBron James’ NBA…
The impact of being only player from your country to play in the Premier League
Gunnar Nielsen’s Premier League career was brief. Extremely brief, in fact: it lasted 17 minutes. The goalkeeper was introduced as a late substitute for Manchester City against Arsenal in 2010 after Shay Given had aggravated a shoulder injury he picked…
Premier League ACL injuries: Examining the scale and causes of this season’s ‘epidemic’
Anterior cruciate ligament injuries. They are four words that strike dread into the hearts of footballers at every level and, at the Premier League level, they are being heard more frequently than ever. In fact, this season is on course…
Remembering Wilt Chamberlain’s 1 year with the Globetrotters: A ‘childhood dream’
(Editor’s note: This week, in honor of Black History Month, The Athletic will highlight the Harlem Globetrotters and their contributions to basketball, vision for entertainment and overall commitment to goodwill. This series will conclude on Sunday, Feb. 16.) Sonny Hill…
Johni Broome’s chase for greatness and ‘embodiment of the American dream’
AUBURN, Ala. — Pastor Carl McKay goes back with the Broome family of Plant City, Fla. So far back, he was there for the earliest inklings of the Broome family. “I was picking my daughter up from the rec center…
NCAA committee recommends adding flag football as emerging sport for women
An NCAA committee recommended on Wednesday adding flag football to its emerging women’s sports program, a significant step toward it becoming an officially sponsored championship sport in all three divisions. The NCAA said at least 65 schools are already sponsoring…
Travis Kelce passes Jerry Rice for most career Super Bowl receptions in loss to Eagles
Despite missing out on another championship ring, Travis Kelce added another accolade to his resume Sunday when he surpassed Jerry Rice for most career Super Bowl receptions in the Kansas City Chiefs’ 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Kelce, 35,…
Not everybody loves Nick Sirianni, but all the Eagles coach does is win
The Athletic has live coverage of Chiefs vs Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, and Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance. The screams startled everyone on the field — and everyone in the stands. It wasn’t yet 9 in the morning and Nick…
From Super Bowls to Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali to ‘last resort,’ the Superdome has seen it all
NEW ORLEANS — Spring 1982. Sixteen seconds left in the NCAA final, and a skinny freshman from North Carolina buries a jumper that delivers a championship and changes his life. He showed up in New Orleans that week as Mike…
Super Bowl LIX media preview: Tom Brady, record audience, Terry Bradshaw’s future and more
Richard Deitsch and Andrew Marchand are sports media writers for The Athletic. They converse every couple of weeks on sports media topics. This week, they discuss the Super Bowl from a media perspective, including: Tom Brady’s Super Bowl broadcaster debut…
One last MLB free agent for every team: Finding new homes for 30 available players
Spring training is around the corner, and the free agent market has been stripped of its universal impact. What’s left — with very few exceptions — are players who would barely move the needle on one roster but fill a…
F1 teenager Kimi Antonelli just got his driver’s license — right on time to replace Lewis Hamilton
Andrea Kimi Antonelli was more nervous than he had been for some time. A racing driver’s career can often hinge on sliding doors moments such as these. The 18-year-old wasn’t trying to secure a Formula One drive. He completed that…
The baseball statistic that’s changing MLB — for better or worse
Major League Baseball recently released a report about pitcher injuries. It was the culmination of interviews with 200 subject-matter experts about the growing rash of arm troubles in the sport, and the word “stuff” was used 47 times. The report…
Inside the top-secret trade negotiations that made Luka Dončić a Laker
The Athletic has live coverage of the 2025 NBA trade deadline. The Los Angeles Lakers walked away from the most stunning trade of the century with an unexpected bonus. The Lakers now employ 25-year-old Luka Dončić, and they didn’t even…
Why didn’t Arsenal or Man Utd sign a forward? Have Spurs done enough? Key transfer window questions answered
The transfer window might have closed on Monday night, but the question marks remain. As you sit here on Tuesday morning, you might be left wondering about the business your team did — or in a lot of cases, didn’t…
Julie Stewart-Binks on a career derailed by alleged sexual assault: ‘What could my life have been?’
Last week, Julie Stewart-Binks sat in an empty lounge on the rooftop of a hotel near her apartment in New York City. She is about to watch a clip from her time as a Fox Sports host and reporter. It…
Looking to calm your nerves? Here are 4 tips from Super Bowl champions
While running out onto the field for the first time before Super Bowl LIV’s kickoff in 2020, Chiefs punter Dustin Colquitt remembers looking up and seeing a piece of trivia on the video board: If the Chiefs win today, Dustin…
The revamped Champions League: A success or a Super League devoid of jeopardy?
At a time when some events are banning phones to ensure the audience is properly engaged in the experience, the perceived success of the new Champions League format was instead captured by the image of Aston Villa and Club Brugge…
Five stars, seven figures, zero eligibility: Why are the Bewley twins still paying?
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — It’s a scene inside the Lemerand Center on an unfairly cold Wednesday night in early January. A junior college men’s basketball game is happening in a 1,000-seat gym. Everyone is here for that, including two players who…
The search for a high school basketball all-time scorer that time forgot
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Faint yellow with a blue screened-in entrance, the house on Cypress Street is squeezed in among the others, easy to miss if you’re driving past. The roof is adorned with exposed rafters beneath the eaves. A blotch…
Man City’s Premier League charges – exploring what their past cases and evidence reveals
On February 6, 2023, Manchester City were charged by the Premier League with more than 100 breaches of the competition’s rules. As champions in six of the past seven seasons, the eventual verdict of an independent commission will have a…
For Palisades High players, baseball offers normalcy amid a charred L.A. landscape
CHEVIOT HILLS, Calif. — The Palisades Charter High School J.V. baseball team huddled on the all-dirt infield of their temporary home, a makeshift venue for a displaced team. The playing surface and outfield grass were patchy and uneven. With no…
Ahead of 2025 debut, Scottie Scheffler details how he hurt hand in ‘stupid’ kitchen accident making ravioli
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Scottie Scheffler was attempting to make homemade ravioli on Christmas Day — with limited equipment in a rental home — when he realized he’d made a serious mistake. He decided to use an empty wine glass…
How the Australian Open became the tennis Silicon Valley, from roofs to party courts
MELBOURNE, Australia — There are plenty of reasons to travel to Melbourne for the Australian Open each January, especially from a winter climate. It’s sunny, it’s warm and Aussies at Melbourne Park are good with beer at noon and banter…
Antony: From a €95m Man Utd signing to a low-key loan exit in under three years
For INEOS, a regime intending to get to grips with Manchester United’s status as a loss-making enterprise, the potential €100million deal to bring Antony to Old Trafford stands out as a particularly acute example of the kind of lavish spending…
Top 100 MLB prospects 2025: Keith Law’s rankings, with Roman Anthony at No. 1
Welcome to this year’s ranking of the top 100 prospects in baseball. I’ve been compiling and writing such rankings for 18 years now, and those of you who’ve read them before will find the format here similar to those from…
How Unrivaled became the WNBA free agency hub of all chatter, gossip and deal-making
MEDLEY, Fla. — On the eve of WNBA free agency beginning last Tuesday, several league decision-makers gathered under the same roof. Inside Unrivaled’s Wayfair Arena, Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon sat next to a basket stanchion with team president…
USWNT’s Naomi Girma completes Chelsea move for record transfer fee in women’s soccer
USWNT defender Naomi Girma has completed her move from the San Diego Wave to Chelsea and become the most expensive transfer in women’s soccer history. The Athletic reported earlier this week that Chelsea had agreed terms with the Wave for the…
Marchand: NBC’s Mike Florio is wrong in his Fox criticism about Tom Brady
Everybody wants to cover sports media, but maybe everyone shouldn’t. Mike Florio, “Pro Football Talk” aggregator/insider/gadfly extraordinaire, is on the most watched pregame show, NBC’s “Football Night in America,” every Sunday night, but he fashions himself a little bit of…
Mourning Michael Newberry: ‘He made me proud beyond words – I don’t know why that night he felt he couldn’t ring us’
“Me and Michael would always talk, every day, without fail,” says Ethan Devine. On December 30, Devine sent Michael Newberry, the former Newcastle United youngster and his title-winning Linfield team-mate and close friend, a message on his 27th birthday. It…
Lewis Hamilton’s first week at Ferrari: Louboutin boots, a dream fulfilled and a proud mom
“This is the one!” Lewis Hamilton could not hide his excitement as he walked among the road cars in the ‘heritage section’ of Ferrari’s headquarters in Maranello, Italy. As he spotted a bright red Ferrari F40, one of the rarest…
Ravens TE Mark Andrews says he’s ‘devastated’ in first public comments since playoff loss
Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews took to Instagram on Thursday, breaking his silence following multiple fourth-quarter miscues — a lost fumble and dropped two-point conversion to tie the game — during the team’s 27-25 AFC divisional loss to the…
Ben Shelton slams ‘embarrassing and disrespectful’ interviews by Australian Open broadcasters
MELBOURNE, Australia — Ben Shelton, the 22-year-old American who made the Australian Open semifinals Wednesday with a win over Lorenzo Sonego, added his voice to the chorus of players who have been critical of the broadcasters and on-court interviewers in…
Chiefs guard Trey Smith is living his NFL dream. But it almost never happened
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With perfect posture, the big man stands on the sideline, right hand over his heart. The national anthem plays and Chiefs guard Trey Smith looks like he’s in a dream. A tear rolls down his cheek….
After knocking off Ravens, ‘different’ Bills turn their attention to all-too-familiar Chiefs
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — With every Ravens turnover, every field goal forced instead of surrendering a touchdown, and every failed two-point conversion that kept the opponents just out of reach, it marched the Bills closer and closer to what they’ve…
Projecting final 4 NFL playoff teams’ odds to win Super Bowl, with conference title game analysis
The road to the Super Bowl goes through Kansas City. After dispatching the Houston Texans, the Chiefs will play in the AFC Championship Game for a seventh straight year. They’re now just two wins away from the greatest achievement in…
Learner Tien and Alex Michelsen’s Australian Open is a milestone for American’s men’s tennis
MELBOURNE, Australia — Across seven hours on Friday afternoon, the Australian Open morphed into an American tennis trout farm. It was nearly impossible to watch a singles match without seeing a red, white and blue flag on the scoreboard, as…
What do the numbers say about competitiveness in the postseason for NFL, college football?
One evening after the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff concluded with four blowout games staged on campus, ESPN host Scott Van Pelt and football analyst Tim Hasselbeck held a conversation that mirrored many like it taking place on social media…
Emma Navarro keeps her eye on the ball at the Australian Open as tennis limelight shines brighter
MELBOURNE, Australia — A seriously cold December afternoon in midtown Manhattan, in the lobby of a hotel off Central Park. A 23-year-old woman looks up from a club chair near an elevator. She’s wearing a baseball cap, diddling around a…
Will Liverpool win this Premier League title – and, if so, when? Our experts’ views
It is 76 days since Liverpool moved back to the top of the 2024-25 Premier League table with a 2-1 home win against Brighton & Hove Albion — a position they haven’t relinquished since. Arne Slot’s side are not always…
Emma Raducanu and Iga Swiatek’s Australian Open match reunites two teenage Grand Slam winners
MELBOURNE, Australia — In 2020, Iga Swiatek won her first Grand Slam title at 19. The following year, Emma Raducanu won her first Grand Slam title at 18. The pair of teenage major winners have followed divergent paths since then….
PSR is not perfect, but the Premier League’s shock therapy has had an effect
An air of desperation hung over a handful of Premier League clubs last summer. Accounting years were drawing to a close across the top division of English football and the pressure was on to book profits before it was too…
Will Ichiro Suzuki be the baseball Hall of Fame’s second unanimous selection?
Could Ichiro Suzuki become the second-ever player unanimously voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum? Will Billy Wagner pick up the five votes he missed last year to gain entry in his final year of eligibility? Will…
The Briefing: Arsenal’s worrying start to 2025, a fix for the FA Cup and Walker’s legacy
Welcome to The Briefing, where every Monday during this season The Athletic will discuss three of the biggest questions to arise from the weekend’s football. This was the FA Cup weekend when Plymouth Argyle celebrated jettisoning Wayne Rooney by beating Brentford, Manchester City…
Nick Kyrgios and Alex de Minaur, the two poles of Aussie tennis at the Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia — Here on the island that was once the center of the men’s tennis world — the land of Laver and Rosewall, Emerson and Newcombe and other gods of the game — the strangest of dynamics has emerged….
Milk and murder: The tragedy that overshadows Liverpool vs Accrington Stanley
Belmont Drive runs parallel to Rocky Lane, a noisy thoroughfare in Liverpool that blurs into West Derby Road, connecting the city centre with Anfield and its famous football stadium. Here, the peeling grandeur of brooding Victorian homes stand incongruously against…
Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton heard the haters, and now he and Indiana are clapping back
The trolls finally got one, but not for long. NBA social media has become a cesspool of negativity, where fans come together to commiserate about why this player is overrated and that team is garbage. Today’s athletes are so inundated…
Artificial intelligence could transform football. So what might the future look like?
“It’s totally feasible that an artificial intelligence (AI) agent could simulate more football in 24 hours than has ever been played professionally in the real world in the entire 150-year history of the game,” says Lee Mooney, who was head…
Could a small-market team be a surprise fit for Roki Sasaki? Parsing his agent’s words
At last month’s Winter Meetings in Dallas, agent Joel Wolfe held court in front of a large group of reporters and caused a stir when discussing his client, Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki, who is expected to sign with a major-league…
Jerod Mayo firing was as much about his command off the field as the Patriots’ play on it
FOXBORO, Mass. — As far back as July, when Jerod Mayo arrived at the practice fields out behind Gillette Stadium for his first training camp as coach of the New England Patriots, many prognosticators saw a team that was at…
Predicting where the top 15 remaining MLB free agents will sign: Who lands Sasaki?
The Mets signed Juan Soto to a record-breaking $765 million deal, the Yankees landed Max Fried with a $218 million deal, and the Diamondbacks once again shocked the baseball world, adding ace Corbin Burnes on a $210 million pact. However,…
Patriots fire Jerod Mayo, expected to pursue Mike Vrabel as next head coach
FOXBORO, Mass. — The New England Patriots are making a change at head coach, splitting with Jerod Mayo just one year after he replaced Bill Belichick. Now, a franchise that once exuded stability and success like no other in the…
Marcus Rashford at Manchester United. What’s going on?
It was a conversation with Ruben Amorim at the start of December that goes some way to explaining why Marcus Rashford has been absent from the Manchester United side for the past five matches. United had just beaten Everton 4-0,…
Luke Littler: How the 17-year-old achieved sporting greatness and put himself on a path alongside Pele and Serena Williams
At the end of the second set of the final of the World Darts Championship, the biggest game in one of the biggest indoor sports in the world, Luke Littler calmly strolled off stage, gave his family a wry, knowing…
Organised crime, burners and cyber attacks: Inside Liverpool’s fight with ticket touts
A mother wipes away tears outside Anfield as she comforts her young son on a bitterly cold night. Liz O’Driscoll, who has travelled to Merseyside from County Kerry in Ireland with eight-year-old Liam, has just been informed by Liverpool staff…
2025 Pro Bowl Games rosters: Jayden Daniels, Sam Darnold headline first-time participants
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold and Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers headline the list of first timers for the 2025 Pro Bowl Games, which the league announced Thursday. The Baltimore Ravens lead all…
The secret behind Xander Schauffele’s career year? ‘I was actually feeling ready to win’
Steter Tropfen höhlt den Stein. The German proverb, roughly translated into English, means: Steady dripping caves the stone. It appears in other languages and literary forms, but this iteration stuck with Xander Schauffele as a boy. It’s the one Schauffele’s…
Tom Brady walks away, WNBA ratings soar, and ESPN snags CP3: 2025 Sports Media Predictions
The famous wrestler Sting, in describing his character change in 1996 from a clear babyface to a darker, enigmatic character, offered the perfect axiom about predicting the future. Noted the Stinger: “The only thing that’s for sure about Sting is…
Boise State wasn’t exposed in Fiesta Bowl loss, but College Football Playoff seeding was
GLENDALE, Ariz. — There were two Boise States on the field on New Year’s Eve. One was a conference champion living out a dream season. A team carried to the College Football Playoff on the back of star running back…
Which team has the best front office in ‘big four’ leagues? Execs vote on their peers
Which front office is the best in sports? In 2024, the answer to that question is the Oklahoma City Thunder, followed by the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Baltimore Ravens. At least according to their front-office peers. At the start…
How Magnus Carlsen’s jeans sparked a chess controversy
The world’s No 1 chess player Magnus Carlsen will return to the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in New York after initially withdrawing as he refused to change out of a pair of jeans. The 34-year-old pulled out from…
Pace, swerve, angle – the art of the ‘olimpico’, football’s (usually) rare phenomenon
Oscar Wilde once famously wrote that “to concede one goal direct from a corner is a misfortune, to concede two in eight days looks like carelessness.” The thoughts of Oscar, noted corner-kick scholar, may have been rushing through the heads…
Luka Dončić ‘doing fine’ after Mavericks star’s home burglarized, coach Jason Kidd says
Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said Luka Dončić is “doing fine” after the 25-year-old star’s home was burglarized Friday in what was the latest occurrence in a string of break-ins into professional athletes’ homes in the past few months. “I…
The top NFL media stories of 2024: Tom Brady debuts, Netflix steps in and more
If you want some long-term relationship advice, I offer you this: Find someone who loves you as much as news outlets love end-of-the-year content. The New Yorker did a piece 11 years ago on why our brains love lists, and…
NHL trade matchmaker: Predicting where top targets go by the deadline, part 2
We are now exactly 10 weeks away from the NHL’s March 7 trade deadline. That leaves enough runway for the needs of buyers and sellers to shift before the biggest decisions are made — or for buyers and sellers to…
Manchester City and a refused pass that laid bare their myriad problems
Manchester City attempted 683 passes in their 1-1 draw with Everton, but it was one that Nathan Ake refused that revealed the tensions that are gnawing at them. It came just as another flurry from Pep Guardiola’s side was beginning…
Ashton Jeanty didn’t win the Heisman, but he’s still chasing history at Boise State
Ashton Jeanty was into basketball more than football as a kid. So before he grew up to be a 5-foot-9 battering ram in cleats, his favorite athlete was LeBron James. Jeanty, who bounced around the globe as the son of…
Those who never doubted Cameron Skattebo share validation: ‘No one understood what we were looking at’
Arizona State was picked to finish last in the 16-team Big 12. The Sun Devils are now meeting Texas in the Peach Bowl in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. The player who sparked that incredible run also epitomizes it. Cameron…
The tennis stories of 2024, from doping bans and Grand Slam titles to a bee invasion
Happy holidays, and prepare for the greatest gift: tennis returns tomorrow, December 27. In the spirit of looking back on the previous season and remembering all the moments big and small that defined it, here is a compendium of tennis…
‘I don’t digest food properly now’: The all-consuming pressure of managing a football club
Pep Guardiola’s list of symptoms is long and unsettling. He has trouble sleeping. He can only take light meals in the evening. On some days, he does not eat at all. He finds it difficult to read because his mind…
A guide to Christmas-themed trading cards: From Santa Claus to Clark Griswold
Sports stars, celebrities, and even cryptocurrency all have rookie cards… but does Santa Claus? It’s a question you may ask yourself after consuming a little too much nutmeg. And since the season of giving is officially here, I want to…
‘Nearly flawless’ Michael Penix Jr. helps re-energize Falcons’ playoff push
ATLANTA — Michael Penix Jr. looked like an NFL veteran in his first professional start but not as much as he sounded like one when he took the podium after the game. The Atlanta Falcons quarterback was at a local…
Max Purcell admits doping violation: U.S. Open doubles champion enters provisional suspension
2024 U.S. Open men’s doubles champion Max Purcell has admitted breaking anti-doping rules and has been provisionally suspended from tennis while under investigation. Purcell has been suspended since December 12, having made the admission and requested to be provisionally suspended…
Why USC’s win over UConn is so significant: ‘This is what basketball excellence was’
HARTFORD, Conn. — As USC’s bench emptied onto the XL Center floor, with the No. 7 Trojans having defeated the No. 4 UConn Huskies 72-70, JuJu Watkins’ hands shot to the sky. Basking in her 25-point performance that lifted USC…
Penn State, Louisville volleyball will make history in NCAA championship. Their coaches are why
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — What’s remarkable is not that two women are coaching for the national championship and one will win a title for the first time in the 44 years of NCAA women’s volleyball. It’s remarkable that these women, Katie…
‘A long road. A big mountain to climb’: Inside Matt Murray’s emotional journey back to the NHL
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Matt Murray looked up to the scoreboard above him, counted down the seconds as they disappeared and finally pumped his fist. It had been 638 days since Murray last felt the feeling washing over him. Bilateral hip…
How Merseyside became America’s 51st state
Beyond the dust of Liverpool’s dock road and the huge lorries rolling in and out of the city’s port, the glass panels of Everton’s new home at the Bramley-Moore Dock sparkle impressively, radiating ambition. The site, expected to open next…
Woody Johnson’s Jets: ‘Madden’ ratings, a lost season and ‘the most dysfunctional place imaginable’
By Zack Rosenblatt, Dianna Russini and Michael Silver Woody Johnson decided to do his own research. The New York Jets’ owner was at his house in Palm Beach, Fla., last February, discussing potential offseason acquisitions with team decision-makers as they…
College Football Playoff bracket predictions: The Athletic’s national championship picks
Who will win the first 12-team College Football Playoff? Six teams received at least one vote in our survey of 30 college football writers and editors at The Athletic, a big change from 10 years of postseason tournaments in which only…
Joao Fonseca: Brazilian tennis starlet who plays beyond his years but still gets homesick
What’s the right moment to hitch your hopes to an up-and-coming tennis player? People were having visions of Carlos Alcaraz’s future when he was 10, the age at which Babolat and the other big racket companies sometimes start handing out…
Mykhailo Mudryk doping test ‘a dagger to the heart of Ukrainian football’
It was only six months into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine when, on a balmy September evening in eastern Germany, I came across Mykhailo Mudryk shortly after midnight. This was September 2022 and Mudryk was by then an emerging talent for…
Hater’s guide to the College Football Playoff: Dabo turns SEC tears into holy water
Of the many things worth hating about college football, most of them are at least tacitly associated with the most hated people in sports: television executives. They fix games that hurt your team. They don’t fix games that should be…
Falcons bench QB Kirk Cousins for rookie Michael Penix Jr. amid struggles
The Atlanta Falcons are making the move they clearly did not want to make – replacing veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins with rookie Michael Penix Jr. starting immediately. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris announced the decision Tuesday night in a statement…
Why is the NBA All-Star Game format changing again? To boost competition — and intrigue
LAS VEGAS — As expected, the upcoming NBA All-Star Game in San Francisco will be a mini-tournament of three teams composed of the top 24 players in the league and the team that wins the Rising Stars Challenge. Yes, the…
Was Emi Martinez’s save against Nottingham Forest the best of the Premier League era?
Emi Martinez’s save from Nottingham Forest’s Nicolas Dominguez was arguably the best we have seen in the Premier League this season. Alan Smith, commentating for Sky Sports, dubbed it “miraculous”, which does a slight disservice to changing water into wine, but…
Joao Lucas Reis da Silva, the first out gay active professional male tennis player, was just posting a selfie
Saturday, December 7, Joao Lucas Reis da Silva, a 24-year-old professional tennis player, did about the most normal thing anyone does these days. He posted a couple selfie on Instagram. It was his partner’s birthday, so he posted a sweet…
Women’s college basketball power rankings: Who’s raising USC’s offensive ceiling?
One of the most anticipated showdowns of the season is on the docket this week, as UConn and USC face off in a rematch of the 2024 Elite Eight in Hartford, Conn. Both teams boast top-10 offenses and defenses, per…
‘I can’t believe it came to this’: His Lions fandom is his identity. He almost lost it
NORTHVILLE, Mich. — Fahad Yousif is two days removed from receiving something called a Certificate of Completion from the National Football League. It is dated Dec. 12. It is signed by Ari Novick, Ph.D., a licensed psychotherapist with a private practice…
This 49ers season is effectively over — and Kyle Shanahan bears plenty of responsibility
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — And in the end, after another postseason heartbreak, after an emotionally exhausting offseason, after the drama-filled holdouts and the gnarly wave of injuries and the personal tragedies, after a star player’s lash-out and, with a team’s…
With World Cup in her backyard, Mikaela Shiffrin and Aleksander Kilde — skiing’s golden couple — focus on recovery
This wasn’t the way alpine skiing aficionados drew it up when they scheduled men’s and women’s speed races on the famed Birds of Prey course in Beaver Creek, Colo., on back-to-back weekends this month. They figured the events held major…
How CT scanners are being used on trading cards: The ethical and legal issues it presents
NORTON SHORES, Mich. — There is nothing outside that suggests the machines sitting inside this gray, nondescript building in an industrial office center could disrupt the trading card industry. Sign your name on the clipboard just past the entrance. Walk…
At 38, Calais Campbell is still wrecking games: ‘I might just do this until the wheels fall off’
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — During quiet moments on the sideline, Calais Campbell can still hear his father’s voice. Truth is, it never left him. The words were stored away, hardened into his psyche. Charles Campbell saw his son’s path before…
Wimbledon tennis expansion could be set for judicial review after challenge to planning permission
Plans to expand Wimbledon are set to go before the U.K. High Court. The All England Club (AELTC), host of the third Grand Slam tournament of the tennis season, wants to add a third stadium court and 38 further courts to…
‘What a shot’: The stories behind some of hockey’s most iconic photos from the man who took them
OLD BETHPAGE, New York — Bruce Bennett may have been to more NHL games than anyone in history, and the 69-year-old’s house offers glimpses into the career that’s put him rinkside so many times over more than five decades. Signed…
Brad Pitt’s F1 movie: Producers talk wrapping filming in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton’s role
To finish fifth and still stand on the Formula One podium made for an unusual end to George Russell’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. On the other side of the rostrum was Charles Leclerc, the Ferrari driver who had already been…
Watching the Premier League from LA’s futuristic sports bar – and a restricted-view seat
You may have seen the clips going viral on social media. The fans watching sporting events indoors, on a huge screen that makes them feel as though they are in the stadium of their choice. It’s a venue that has…
Conor Niland’s book ‘The Racket’ documents fear and loathing on the tennis tour
When Conor Niland picked up £30,000 for winning the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award three weeks ago, it was double his biggest payday throughout a seven-year professional tennis career. This neatly encompasses what Niland’s award-winning book, “The…
Giants’ record-setting Willy Adames deal shows Buster Posey means business
Buster Posey held the San Francisco Giants’ record for the largest contract in franchise history. In Posey’s first major move as the club’s president of baseball operations, he did not hesitate to smash it. The Giants agreed to terms with…
NFL Week 14 roundtable: Should Pittsburgh be on upset alert? Time for Michael Penix Jr.?
The Jameis Winston experience reached heights never seen before with the Cleveland Browns’ loss to the Denver Broncos on Monday night. The Browns aren’t your typical 3-9 team, which the Pittsburgh Steelers already know well. Should the first-place Steelers be…
NHL 2024-25 bold predictions: Revisiting our preseason prognostications
Utah will be one of the NHL’s highest-scoring teams? The Stars Stanley Cup winners? Dylan Larkin — and many others — 40-goal scorers? Heading into the 2024-25 NHL season, The Athletic asked its hockey staff for bold predictions, and two…
Lewis Hamilton’s final F1 lap with Mercedes: A year of challenges, a decade of triumphs
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Atop the Mercedes hospitality unit at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, cooled by nearby fans working hard in the midday heat, Lewis Hamilton sat at a table with his race engineer, Peter…
QB future for all 32 NFL teams: Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers and other intriguing questions
Russell Wilson playing for a new contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers ranks among the top quarterback storylines heading into the 2024 NFL season’s final weeks. There are many others of interest, which makes this a good time to check in…
Club World Cup team guide: Inter to Chelsea to Auckland City, all 32 profiled
The 2025 Club World Cup will feature 32 clubs from across the globe who will go through group stages and then knockout rounds. This differs from the previous format, which saw one team each from six continental confederations and the…
UCF inquires about USC coach Lincoln Riley: Sources
By Bruce Feldman, Antonio Morales and Ralph Russo UCF has inquired about the availability of USC coach Lincoln Riley as it searches for a replacement for Gus Malzahn, three people who have been privy to those conversations told The Athletic…
Miami AD, ACC commissioner sound off on Canes’ exclusion from CFP field in favor of Alabama
University of Miami athletic director Dan Radakovich did not hold back his disappointment upon learning that his Hurricanes were ranked No. 12 in Tuesday’s latest College Football Playoff rankings, and thus out of the 12-team field in favor of No….
The Transfer Radar 2025: The Athletic’s ultimate guide to players who could be on the move
Florian Wirtz is a jewel of German football and was central to Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten domestic double last season, winning the Bundesliga’s player of the year award. Alongside Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, he has become the great hope of Julian…
Paige Bueckers becomes first NIL athlete to launch Nike player edition sneaker
UConn star Paige Bueckers continues to make history. On Monday, Nike named Bueckers as the first name, image and likeness athlete to design and launch a player edition sneaker, with the brand debuting Bueckers’ Nike G.T. Hustle 3 on Saturday….
Holiday gift guide 2024: What to get the sports fan who already has everything
Shopping for sports fans can be harder than one might think. Chances are the fan in your life already has a variety of hats, jerseys and who knows what else to rep their favorite teams and players. But there’s a…
Arizona State will play for Big 12 championship, and its overlooked star deserves Heisman consideration
TUCSON, Ariz. — The Arizona State Sun Devils gathered at midfield, an enormous mass of maroon and gold celebrating Saturday’s 49-7 win against rival Arizona at Arizona Stadium. Suddenly, Cam Skattebo broke from the pack, lifting the Territorial Cup in…
FIFA ‘has a responsibility’ to compensate Qatar World Cup workers, report finds
A report commissioned by FIFA has concluded football’s governing body “has a responsibility” to compensate workers who suffered during the hosting of the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The long-awaited report from FIFA’s sub-committee on human rights and social responsibility —…
FIFA report: Saudi 2034 World Cup bid has ‘medium’ human rights risk
FIFA, the world governing body for football, released on Friday night its evaluation report for Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the men’s World Cup in 2034, awarding the nation a higher score for bidding requirements than it granted the successful…
Barcelona’s 125th anniversary: When their star striker was kidnapped for 23 days
Friday, November 29, 2024, marks the 125-year anniversary of the formation of FC Barcelona. To mark the occasion, The Athletic is running a series of pieces, celebrating the people and the moments who have helped make the club what it…
When brain cancer struck a baseball family, a ‘wonderful’ village sheltered them
Ten months ago when the nights were longest, Ned Rice emailed total strangers to share his family’s unthinkable dilemma. These were doctors across the country who had not met and did not treat his 3-year-old daughter. Wynnie had brain cancer….
College Football Playoff at-large contenders: Cases for, against and fatal flaws
As the season approaches its final two weeks, jostling for at-large bids continues for teams in the upper echelon of College Football Playoff competition. At this point, there are teams with CFP hopes both as a conference champion and as…
The PWHL pulled off its inaugural season. Year 2 will decide the future of women’s pro hockey
Marie-Philip Poulin stood on the blue line at the Bell Centre, fighting back tears. She had just been introduced to a world record crowd in Montreal and the fans were giving her a deafening ovation. Poulin, the best women’s hockey…
How tennis players and tennis coaches choose each other: ‘The most important thing is trust’
How does one of the best male players in tennis history choose a new coach? Pick somebody who has been there with you — and who you beat to get there. Novak Djokovic’s decision to hire Andy Murray for at…
Brian Kelly left Notre Dame for LSU to win a title. Why is he further away from that than ever?
The low point of Brian Kelly’s 38 games as head coach at LSU came in Gainesville two weeks ago, with a third consecutive loss and two heated sideline exchanges with his players. The first sideline interaction looked familiar: Kelly got…
Gukesh Dommaraju, 18, has made history. Can the prodigy become the youngest chess world champion?
Dr. Rajinikanth and his wife Dr. Padma would regularly play chess together for fun at their family home in India. Always at their side, watching wide-eyed, observing intensely as each piece was strategically moved on the board, was their son,…