The rise of football’s ‘arrival fits’, putting player fashion in the spotlight
Tom Marchitelli worked as an accountant for a hedge fund for eight years before setting up a side hustle that soon became his full-time business. Marchitelli started a custom menswear clothing business called Gentleman’s Playbook a decade ago. Since then,…
NFL Week 12 roundtable: Giants’ QB plan post-Jones, NFC West race, is Bo Nix legit OROY contender?
You can officially count the New York Giants among the teams whose offseason will be built around finding its next franchise quarterback. Daniel Jones’ being benched and then released is just one development highlighting league happenings leading up to Sunday’s…
NWSL infrastructure is the ‘hardest problem to solve’. Here’s how things stand around the league
All eyes will be on Kansas City, Missouri this weekend when the Orlando Pride and the Washington Spirit face off in the NWSL championship on Sunday. In a way, it will bring the season full circle with CPKC Stadium hosting…
Each NBA team’s biggest concern a month into the 2024-25 regular season
We’re about a month into the NBA season, and while the injury bug has bitten nearly every team in one way or another, there are other worries that are worth … well, worrying about. The Athletic asked its NBA staff…
VersaClimbers, Tiger Woods and Houston’s plan to get Kelvin Sampson a championship
HOUSTON — Jamal Shead sat in his locker stall after Houston’s Sweet 16 loss to Duke with a towel draped over his head, trying to answer questions. The locker room felt like a wake: players talking in hushed tones, shocked their…
Sara Errani serves up another tennis trophy for Italy at the Billie Jean King Cup
MALAGA, Spain — Sara Errani stands at the baseline and exhales deeply. She is about to hit a second serve, with Italy up match point against Poland. A place in the Billie Jean King Cup final is at stake. So…
Will NBA expansion bring the SuperSonics back to Seattle? ‘There’s just too much karma’
SEATTLE — When the SuperSonics left here in 2008, Brent Barry felt it in his gut. There was an emptiness, a sadness so pronounced that he was moved to put pen to paper. At the time, Barry was preparing for…
NHL player poll: As sports betting increases, so do harassing messages — and Venmo requests
There doesn’t have to be a milestone moment or viral play for an NHL player’s phone to be flooded with notifications in the wake of a game. Maybe there’s a text from a parent, a reminder from a partner, a…
Rafael Nadal retires from tennis at Davis Cup after Spain lose to Netherlands
MALAGA, Spain — Rafael Nadal’s professional tennis career is over, his final match a 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Botic Van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands at the Davis Cup. That defeat, coupled with Carlos Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers losing the…
Pulisic celebrates USMNT goal by copying Trump’s dance moves: ‘I just thought it was funny’
ST. LOUIS — U.S. men’s national team star Christian Pulisic became the latest professional athlete to celebrate on the field by doing the Donald Trump dance trend, moving his arms and hips similarly to the signature moves of the president-elect…
Rodrigo Bentancur given seven-game ban, £100,000 fine for Son Heung-min comments
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been banned for seven matches by the Football Association (FA) and handed a £100,000 fine over comments he made about his team-mate Son Heung-min. Bentancur said that South Korea international Son and his cousins…
Teams suing NASCAR — Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports — to race in 2025
While the outcome of the antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR remains unclear, there’s now one certainty: The teams suing NASCAR — Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports — will race in 2025. The teams said Saturday morning NASCAR modified…
Among the stakes when Falcons, Broncos meet Sunday: Elliss family bragging rights
As the Denver Broncos prepared to make their third-round pick in the NFL Draft in April, they were ecstatic to see Jonah Elliss’ name still on the board. Denver coach Sean Payton said earlier this season that the team had…
Why an NFL star fell in love with Wrexham: ‘They could lose every match and I would still support this club’
At first glance, former NFL quarterback Joey Harrington’s career doesn’t have too many parallels with Wrexham or soccer, a sport he stopped playing around the age of 10. But the third overall pick in the 2002 NFL draft insists the…
Volleyball players, coach sue San Jose State, Mountain West for allowing transgender athlete
A federal lawsuit filed Wednesday in Colorado against the Mountain West and its commissioner, Gloria Nevarez, seeks emergency injunctive relief that would declare a transgender San Jose State women’s volleyball player ineligible for the upcoming conference tournament in Las Vegas…
Caitlin Clark’s morning on the LPGA Tour: Shanked shots, pured drives and so many fans
BELLAIR, Fla. — There were hushed tones and whispers as 6:30 came and went, as each minute ticked closer to the 7 a.m. tee time. Was there traffic? Has anyone seen her? LPGA and tournament organizers, eager to see Wednesday…
Joel Embiid’s return gives Sixers hope again — but they’ve heard this song before
PHILADELPHIA — Not much changed in the ending. The Philadelphia 76ers walked off their home floor again, with a bevy of New York fans again chanting “Let’s Go Knicks,” after another road win by Tom Thibodeau and company in the…
Why isn’t Alexander Mogilny in the Hockey Hall of Fame? There are clues
Alexander Mogilny won’t be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday night. He has been eligible for 15 years, with cries from critics intensifying upon each rejection. Rebukes are delivered with indignation. The Athletic has called his exclusion “inexcusable.”…
College Football Playoff 2024 projections: Hello Deion! Colorado is in as the No. 4 seed
Alabama’s 42-13 blitzkrieg at LSU coupled with Ole Miss’ 28-10 rout of Georgia has created quite the muddled mess in the SEC. At least eight different teams could still reach the SEC Championship Game. For the purposes of this exercise,…
Indiana edges Michigan to reach 10 wins, likely Playoff and wants more: What is this world?
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana junior receiver Elijah Sarratt, a zero-star recruit as a high schooler in Virginia, delivered a figurative roasting to Michigan sophomore cornerback and former four-star recruit Jyaire Hill, leaving him behind in the open field and cruising…
All-Free-Agent Team: Closers and corner outfielders aplenty, harder to fill up the middle
The offseason is built for free-agent rankings. Our resident scout Keith Law compiled his top 50 free agents, and our resident GM Jim Bowden ranked his own top 45. A handful of our writers worked together to develop a collective…
Women’s basketball isn’t having a moment. This is our new reality
I was in the seventh grade the first time sports writing gave me a visceral feeling. UConn capped a 39-0 season to win its third national title in eight years, and I anxiously awaited the delivery of Sports Illustrated. When…
The NFL is heading to Germany – and the country has fallen for American football
A weekly ritual begins when the clock strikes 7pm on a Sunday in Germany. Whether over a barbecue, a meet-up with friends, or from the comfort of their homes, hundreds of thousands settle in for their dose of NFL action,…
Travis Kelce says brother Jason was ‘defending’ their family in phone-smashing incident
Travis Kelce said his brother Jason Kelce was defending his family when he reacted to a heckling fan Saturday by slamming the fan’s phone onto the ground. The brothers discussed the incident, which led to a Penn State police investigation…
2024 NFL trade deadline winners, losers: Chiefs, Lions get richer; why did Giants stay put?
The NFL had a flurry of action at this year’s trade deadline, which was Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. A year after 15 deals took place, 19 players changed teams during the 2024 in-season trade window. Wide receivers were in…
Michael Jordan’s 23XI, NASCAR have first preliminary hearing regarding antitrust lawsuit
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — 23XI Racing co-owners Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin started off NASCAR championship week by facing the sanctioning body in federal court. 23XI, which along with Front Row Motorsports is suing NASCAR and its CEO Jim France for…
Joel Embiid shoves columnist in 76ers locker room, per sources; NBA to investigate the incident
By David Aldridge, Tony Jones and Sam Amick Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid shoved a Philadelphia Inquirer columnist in the Sixers locker room Saturday night, multiple league sources confirmed to The Athletic. The physical altercation occurred after Embiid and…
Indiana continues undefeated season with first 9-0 start in program history
Indiana football is 9-0 for the first time in program history, emphatically, a 47-10 win at Michigan State welcoming the return of starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke and pushing the Hoosiers closer to College Football Playoff lock status. Rourke missed last…
Court Vision: 11 things to know about 2024-25 NCAA men’s college basketball season before tipoff
It’s a long wait from the first weekend in April until the first week of November, but at last, the men’s college basketball season is upon us. We’ve already shared The Athletic’s preseason conference rankings, full of stats and analysis….
The minds behind EA Sports FC, NBA 2K, Madden soundtracks seek music from everywhere but the obvious
Steve Schnur can’t sleep. He calls it a blessing and a curse. In pursuit of the next great sports video game soundtrack, Schnur scrolls social media in the middle of the night, discovering new music and sending it to his…
Was Game 5 Juan Soto’s last hurrah with the Yankees? ‘I hope he’s here forever’
NEW YORK — At 1:27 a.m., Juan Soto stepped out of the New York Yankees’ clubhouse for the last time this season. Just before exiting, he turned to the clubhouse attendants and offered a final farewell. “See you guys,” Soto…
How long passes by goalkeepers went from practical to tactical
The death of the long ball has been frequently pronounced as football has evolved in the past few years. Playing out from the back has become the standard. Direct teams are the anomaly rather than the norm. The logical tactical…
Manchester United agree deal to hire Ruben Amorim as head coach
Manchester United have reached an agreement with Sporting Lisbon over the hire of Ruben Amorim as head coach. As part of the deal Amorim is set to stay with Sporting for their next three games, including against Manchester City on…
Why don’t goalkeepers wear caps anymore?
Brad and Charlie Hart are season-ticket holders at Spurs. Father and son, they always sit near the tunnel at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and at full time, after every game, 10-year-old Charlie will rush to try to get the attention…
Vinicius Junior, Ballon d’Or disappointment and Real Madrid’s furious reaction
On Sunday, not even 24 hours after the heavy blow of losing El Clasico 4-0 to Barcelona at the Bernabeu, there was another seismic shift at Real Madrid. From the highest levels of the club came the order to cancel…
Bronny James’ ex-teachers, teammates in Ohio recall a kid who ‘wasn’t above anyone else’
BATH TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Carrie Brown was an exasperated middle-school teacher who had a famous student she knew she could count on. In the fall of 2017, Brown was teaching social studies at Old Trail School, a small, private institution…
Dodgers dominate Yankees to move within 1 win of World Series victory
NEW YORK — Dave Roberts stood atop a makeshift stage at Dodger Stadium eight days ago and gazed out at thousands celebrating all around the ballpark. He had screamed himself hoarse after winning the National League pennant, but the manager…
Carlos Sainz’s F1 Mexico GP win pushes Ferrari closer to a ‘perfect goodbye’
Stay informed on all the biggest stories in Formula One. Sign up here to receive the Prime Tire newsletter in your inbox every Monday and Friday. MEXICO CITY — Carlos Sainz climbed on top of his vibrant red Ferrari, spreading his arms wide…
Colorado earns bowl eligibility in Deion Sanders’ second year with win over Cincinnati
Deion Sanders’ Colorado will be playing in the postseason. In Sanders’ second season as head coach after taking over the worst power-conference team in college football, the Buffaloes (6-2, 4-1 Big 12) are bowl eligible after beating Cincinnati 34-23. Colorado…
Kylian Mbappe’s curious Clasico debut: Eight offsides, some big misses and clipped confidence
The date was November 24, 2018. As referee Juan Martinez Munuera blew the whistle for full time, a disappointed Real Madrid team headed for the tunnel following a 3-0 La Liga defeat at Eibar, a game where Karim Benzema was…
Week 8 NFL roundtable: Cowboys-49ers, NFC North prowess, Bucs injuries and Browns’ woes
A sudden shift could take place for more than a few NFL teams in Week 8. The Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers meet in the second of two NFC South showdowns. The Philadelphia Eagles–Cincinnati Bengals loser might feel like…
Anthony Davis, Zion Williamson and 9 other NBA players ready for big years
Let me apologize in advance for cheating a bit. We use the term “breakout” like it’s just spontaneous combustion, but that’s rarely how it happens. Like most reactions, usually they require a catalyst. Thus, the inherent issue about calling a…
Army and Navy are in the College Football Playoff race. Which means they could play twice
The Army–Navy game occupies a special, yet peculiar position on the college football calendar. Its significance is undeniable, given the history, ferocity and pageantry of the rivalry. It stands alone — literally — as the only game on the Saturday…
Penalty shootout defeats are still defeats. It’s time to count them as such
Manchester City are a brilliant football team. Since Pep Guardiola took charge in 2016, his side have collected more Premier League titles (six), points (736), wins (231) and goals (774) than any other team in the country. They have conceded…
Top 45 MLB free agents for 2024-25 with contract predictions, team fits: Will Soto get $600M+?
MLB free agency is almost here so it’s time for my annual ranking of the top free agents with contract predictions and the best team fits for each player. Eligible players technically become free agents the day after the World Series ends but…
Winning the World Series won’t make keeping Juan Soto any easier for the Yankees
Aaron Judge left money on the table to stay in New York long-term. The Yankees won’t get as lucky with Juan Soto, even if they win the World Series. Sure, Soto is an unquestionable competitor who will want to go…
NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Are Packers, Steelers, Seahawks contenders?
The Week 8 Power Rankings are here, and it’s time to take a closer look at everyone’s resume. After all, not all 5-2 teams are built the same. Yes, we’re looking at you Washington and Buffalo. A good record built…
Knicks fans are starting to believe again in a team built by ‘smart dorks’
The Charlotte Hornets’ first home preseason game felt more like it was being played 600-plus miles northeast, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues in Manhattan. Blue and orange garb overpowered teal and white inside the Queen City’s Spectrum Center. There were…
Ranking 134 college football teams after Week 8: BYU can no longer be ignored
Editor’s note: The Athletic 134 is a weekly ranking of all FBS college football teams. It’s time to take notice of BYU. The Cougars are undefeated and have delivered Kansas State and SMU their only losses of the season. Yet…
Lionel Messi at the Club World Cup makes sense – but how he got there is ridiculous
FIFA isn’t hiding it anymore. When you’re in desperate need of a big broadcast deal and some major American sponsors in the next few months, the time for subtlety has passed. Lionel Messi Inter Miami have qualified — with the…
USC has invested heavily in Lincoln Riley and his staff. Where are the results?
Lincoln Riley is the fourth-highest-paid coach in college football, according to USA Today’s database. It’s a pretty safe bet to assume USC is in the top 10 — and probably closer to the top five — in assistant coach salaries….
Week 8’s top 10 college football games: Georgia-Texas, Alabama-Tennessee and much more
On the heels of two of the more riveting weeks of college football in recent memory comes a jam-packed Saturday that features a trio of SEC headliners, including a top-five clash between blue bloods. There’s also multiple rivalry games that…
A king, a steel nut and a cheating storm – the strange tale of the World Conker Championships
It could have come straight from the plot of a Shakespearean tragedy. A king is challenged to a battle by a young pretender, with victory earned only by the destruction of the other. The king emerges triumphant, but there is…
Danielle Collins postpones tennis retirement plans, will play WTA Tour 2025
World No. 9 Danielle Collins has postponed her plan to retire from tennis at the end of the 2024 season, and will play on the WTA Tour in 2025. Collins, 30, has taken advice on her “personal fertility journey” since…
How England hired ‘outstanding’ Thomas Tuchel – and why not everyone is happy about it
When Gareth Southgate resigned the day after the Euro 2024 final, the Football Association had a huge task ahead of it: to replace England’s greatest manager of the modern era, the man who had redefined the role. It was not…
Ryder Cup ticket prices have never been higher. That’s a real problem for golf
It should not be this hard to like golf. Even if you can chuckle at a golf company putting a YouTube channel logo on a driver and charging $700, accept that the polo in the pro shop can easily cost…
Shohei Ohtani adds to Dodgers postseason highlight reel with late-game moonshot
NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani perked up when he heard his name. “I told him,” Dodgers backup catcher Austin Barnes said after Ohtani’s three-run moonshot iced an 8-0 victory over the Mets in Game 3 of the National League Championship…
Which college football coaches have the hottest seats at the midseason mark?
It’s the midpoint of the college football season and usually, the coaching carousel is spinning much faster. It’s spinning slower this year for a few reasons. First, the past two seasons had much more turnover than initially expected; second, this…
NBA predictions: How bottom of the Eastern Conference will play out in 2024-25
I always like to start my NBA previews at the bottom and work my way up. And when it comes to bottoming out, nobody does it better than the lottery teams in the Eastern Conference. Last season, four East squads…
Breanna Stewart, Liberty even WNBA Finals series with Game 2 win over Lynx
NEW YORK — There was no singular way for members of the New York Liberty to turn the page after their historic Game 1 collapse to the Minnesota Lynx. Star guard Sabrina Ionescu said she couldn’t just “flush” the result….
Vince Carter reaches the Hall of Fame, with grace alongside his jaw-dropping verticality
“‘Zo? Yeah, I got him. (Dikembe) Mutombo? Got him twice. Got the big dude in Indiana, (Rik) Smits. Got Dale Davis, too. Haven’t gotten (Patrick) Ewing yet.” Then, he paused and smiled. “We play them on Tuesday.”— Vince Carter, “Fresh…
Football and CBD: A complicated relationship
A couple of years ago, Hannah Deacon took a call from a football agent. Deacon, who had no background in football, was surprised. What she did have, however, was a deep knowledge of cannabidiol (CBD), a legalised chemical extracted from…
How Tom Brady could buy into the Raiders and why he wants a piece of the NFL pie
Tom Brady, a surefire future Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee and arguably the greatest player in NFL history, could be on the precipice of NFL ownership. Brady and businessman Tom Wagner, the co-founder of Knighthead Capital Management, came to…
Dominik Hašek vs. the NHL: Why a legendary goalie shunned the Global Series spotlight
PRAGUE — The NHL opened its regular season in Prague last week with two Global Series games between the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils. Czech hockey legends were prominently featured. Jaromir Jagr dropped the ceremonial first puck ahead of…
The Minnesota Lynx return to the WNBA Finals. Can they play up to their legacy?
MINNEAPOLIS — As Lindsay Whalen’s face appeared on the JumboTron in Target Center on Tuesday night to a raucous reception, the Minnesota Lynx PA announcer took some liberties with her introduction. “She’s an avid golfer,” he quipped about arguably the…
Jurgen Klopp’s move to Red Bull seems surprising but it shouldn’t be
As Liverpool’s manager, Jurgen Klopp did not like long meetings. Rather than sitting around, poring over the latest big decision, he would regularly have important conversations in the canteen of the training ground while eating his lunch. Klopp was anything…
Manchester City, Premier League both claim victories after APT ruling delivered
Manchester City and the Premier League are both claiming victories after a ruling regarding the league’s Associated Party Transaction (APT) regulations was published. The ruling states that the Premier League’s APT rules and amendments, which were introduced in December 2021…
Browns need a QB change to salvage what’s left of their season
LANDOVER, Md. — It’s the first week of October and the Browns’ season has ended before the Guardians season. At 1-4, this is it. It feels like it’s already over, long before the leaves change, before the bye week, before a…
Cooper Flagg’s Duke debut just the beginning in season full of highly anticipated steps
DURHAM, N.C. — Twenty minutes were just a taste. Or really, a tease. Only so much can be gleaned from these preseason, meet-the-team, intrasquad events, like Duke’s Countdown to Craziness on Friday night. They’re as much about the schtick —…
NASCAR garage reacts to lawsuit: ‘It’s another edition of the soap opera’
TALLADEGA, Ala. — As Denny Hamlin was digesting the reaction to his race team filing an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR this week, fiancée Jordan Fish sent him a clip from the film “Moneyball.” “The first guy through the wall —…
From F1 Academy firsts to unique roots, Chloe Chambers breaks the motorsports mold
This article is part of our Origin Stories series, an inside look at the backstories of the clubs, drivers, and people fueling the sport. As Chloe Chambers navigated the final lap of Race 2 in Barcelona on her way to…
Five lessons learned from the Matthew Sluka NIL saga
Of course this was going to happen. It’s only a wonder it hasn’t happened sooner. College football is a sport where more than three years after players were finally allowed to monetize their name, image and likeness, there are still…
How Daniel Ricciardo became a new kind of F1 star
Stay informed on all the biggest stories in Formula 1. Sign up here to receive the Prime Tire newsletter in your inbox every Monday and Friday. The shoeys. The jokes. The tattoos. The infamous, exaggerated “Pierreee Gaslyyyyyy!!!” and Nico Hülkenberg shouts. Daniel Ricciardo…
The Jaguars overestimated themselves. Did they overestimate Trevor Lawrence, too?
The NFL’s biggest surprise teams through Week 4 reside at opposite ends of the standings. The Minnesota Vikings are 4-0 after losing their highly drafted rookie quarterback and substituting the well-traveled Sam Darnold in his place. GO DEEPER Assessing 4-0…
Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka meet at a tennis coaching crossroads in Beijing
The ‘other guy’ theory of coaches is a sporting truism. A team that loses more than it wins with a so-called ‘players’ coach’, someone who specializes in relating to athletes and creating an easygoing atmosphere, will often replace them with…
Atletico Madrid’s links with radical ultras is a story of violence, emotion and change
Sunday night’s dramatic derby with city rivals Real Madrid put Atletico Madrid’s relationship with the radical block of fans that gather inside their ground under a new global spotlight. After Real Madrid took the lead, Atletico captain Koke and manager…
How France became the Premier League’s transfer market of choice
Manchester United’s £52million signing of Leny Yoro was a deal to make European football sit up and take note last week. Most observers had expected Lille’s teenage defender to end up at Real Madrid, but along came United, offering greater…
Cardinals’ celebration ‘definitely not a political statement,’ player says
St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Matt Carpenter addressed online speculation regarding his team’s recent celebration, stating multiple times that the gestures were in no way a political statement. The team celebration came into question Sunday afternoon after an online outlet…
At Brickyard 400, restart rule leaves Ryan Blaney wondering what could’ve been
SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Losing the Brickyard 400 is tough to digest regardless. When you feel like circumstances beyond your control took away a victory in what is a NASCAR crown-jewel race, it’s even more difficult. It’s understandable then that Ryan…
Behind Caeleb Dressel’s Olympic return, ‘a work in progress’ to rekindle his love for swimming
Follow our Olympics coverage in the lead-up to the Paris Games. The shimmer of Caeleb Dressel’s seven gold medals may suggest otherwise, but he knows swimming can be a brutal and suffocating sport. He is, without a shadow of a doubt,…
Football’s silence over Argentina’s racist chanting is deafening and damning
The telling bit in the video of Enzo Fernandez and other Argentinian players singing a racist song about France following their victory in the Copa America final is the voice you can hear just at the end. “Corta (el) vivo,”…
Scottie Scheffler’s fame has found new heights. The PGA Tour star is dealing with it
TROON, Scotland — The questions came every single day, one after the other, pressing Scottie Scheffler about whether he’d leave the Masters if his wife went into labor with their first child. The entire week was framed around this emotional…
Lionel Messi and the unmistakeable sense of an ending
First, he sank to the ground, grimacing. Play continued for a few seconds and then came the communal gasp. Lionel Messi was down. And Lionel Messi is not a player who goes down for nothing. Argentina’s playmaker and talisman clutched…
Who should USMNT hire to replace Berhalter? Analysing Klopp, Pochettino, Vieira and others
Follow live coverage of Argentina vs Colombia in the 2024 Copa America final today U.S Soccer has taken the decision to part ways with Gregg Berhalter after the United States men’s national team’s disappointing showing at the Copa America on…
MLB midseason awards 2024: MVP and LVP, Cy Young and Cy Yuk, top rookies and more
We interrupt your mid-July search for your favorite tube of sunscreen for this important announcement: Somehow or other, the All-Star break is going to arrive in like 15 minutes. So yes, it’s that time again — time for me to hand…
The story behind the viral photos of Lionel Messi and a baby Lamine Yamal
“It was a difficult photo to take,” Joan Monfort tells The Athletic. “We can say I sweated some blood to take it. “(Lionel) Messi is still shy now; he was much more shy when he was starting out and he…
How Uruguay vs Colombia descended into chaos – and the questions raised by the ugly scenes
Follow live coverage of Canada vs Uruguay at the Copa America third place play-off What should have been a showpiece game in the semi-final of the Copa America in Charlotte on Wednesday night descended into something more akin to a…
Why NFL players trust a football outsider to navigate 18-game-season negotiations and more
LOS ANGELES — Lloyd Howell needs directions. “Wait,” the NFL Players Association executive director asks, weaving through a crowd of future star players and their entourages convened for a rooftop reception. “Which way is stage right?” It’s the penultimate night…
U.S. women’s water polo, with an unlikely hype man, eyes Olympic history — and change for the sport
Flavor Flav realizes it’s an unexpected crossover. The rap icon once had only a vague awareness of water polo, as he’d seen Olympic matches on television. But Flav has a new appreciation for the sport, marveling at the immense stamina…
Christina Unkel: Team president, attorney, app creator and breakout star of Euro 2024
Follow live coverage of England vs Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-final today The breakout star of this summer’s European Championship only played her first game on Monday. ITV’s referee analyst Christina Unkel speaks to The Athletic before setting off…
Keegan Bradley, the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup team and the start of something new
NEW YORK — The Google Meet call lasted an hour and a half but was decidedly wrapped within five minutes. Now that Tiger Woods was officially bowing out — after months, if not years, of being the frontrunner — who…
Statcast at 10: From MLB’s secret project to inescapable part of modern baseball
By Stephen J. Nesbitt, Rustin Dodd and Eno Sarris The email landed in Cláudio Silva’s inbox on the evening of Dec. 6, 2011. One of the first things he noticed was the three letters in the subject line: MLB. Baseball?…
Perfection, by Lamine Yamal – The Athletic
Follow live coverage of England vs Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-final today A tear in the universe opened up at the Allianz Arena. A space that wasn’t apparent to the other 21 players on the pitch, notably France goalkeeper…
Andy Murray: Tennis’ benevolent thorn in the side of the Big Three and so much more
For more stories on Wimbledon, click here to have them added to your feed. A hundred years from now, a tennis nerd will ask the floating hologram next to his ear about the great male players from the early part of…
Euro 2024 day 23: England’s ‘cheat code’ water bottle and can the Netherlands go all the way?
The semi-finals line-up for Euro 2024 is complete. With France and Spain having assured themselves of places in the last four yesterday, England and the Netherlands followed them with victories today. Both quarter-finals were tight and dramatic, in different ways….
Which college football teams are most helped — and hurt — by conference realignment?
There has been much discourse since the latest round of realignment and media deals that every team in the ACC and the Big 12 should want to be in the Big Ten or SEC, because those conferences make the most…
Mikal Bridges trade grades: Did Knicks, Nets and Rockets all win?
Maybe you were worried the New York Knicks didn’t have enough players from Villanova after their success this season with Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo. Well, worry no further. The Knicks are acquiring Mikal Bridges and a second-round…
Fifty years ago, the Sabres drafted a player who didn’t exist: The legend of Taro Tsujimoto
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story stated all members of the Sabres front office at the time are deceased. Former coach Floyd Smith is still alive. We regret the error. Josh Tsujimoto usually wears a No. 74 Sabres…
Atlanta Selects Zaccharie Risacher With the First Pick in the N.B.A. Draft
It’s the second draft in a row in which a French player was chosen first. See all the picks here.
Euro 2024 and the lopsided draw affecting which teams are considered likely finalists
There is a reason, at the very moment Gareth Southgate and his players were having obscenities and plastic cups hurled at them in Cologne on Tuesday, every leading UK bookmaker was slashing the odds on England winning Euro 2024. It…
Five years after Tyler Skaggs’ death, his loved ones’ grief remains raw
LOS ANGELES — Without even noticing, Debbie Skaggs, the mother of the late Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs, slips into the present tense. For three short sentences, her voice elevates, her face lights up. “He doesn’t big league anyone,” she said….
Inside the Lakers’ decision to hire JJ Redick and how he shapes their future
Seven weeks after firing Darvin Ham, the Los Angeles Lakers landed on their next head coach on Thursday: JJ Redick, the 15-year NBA veteran turned podcaster and broadcaster, league sources with direct knowledge of the situation tell The Athletic. Redick…
Paige Bueckers aims to make this her final season at UConn … and to go out with a bang
If there’s an overriding lesson from the last four years of Paige Bueckers’ college basketball career, it’s this, she explains: “You never know what each day will bring. You never know what life is gonna throw at you.” There was…
Euro 2024 and German efficiency: Forget everything you thought you knew
Follow live coverage of England vs Denmark, Spain vs Italy and Slovenia vs Serbia at Euro 2024 today Efficiency. Reliability. Functionality. That’s what many people most associate with Germany, but so far at the 2024 European Championship, none of those…
For Charles Barkley, save this prediction: He loves this too much to retire
One of my favorite assignments as a sports media writer came in 2013 when I rode the C train in New York City with Charles Barkley. The TNT NBA analyst had never ridden on the New York subway before, and…
On air with Alexi Lalas: ‘I don’t care if you like me or you don’t’
“I’ve worked with Alexi for 10 years,” says Stu Holden, Fox Sports analyst and former United States men’s national team midfielder. “He’s one of the first people that I am asked about. They say: ‘What’s that guy like off-camera?’.” It…
Caitlin Clark eventually got it right, but she needs to consider the agenda around her name
INDIANAPOLIS — Athletes often speak in generalities as a defense mechanism. Rather than go in-depth on a potentially controversial topic, or even address the issue at all, they provide non-answers, using cliches and pre-programmed talking points to stay at a safe…
Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz to play Olympics tennis doubles together for Spain
Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz will represent Spain as a tennis doubles pairing at the Paris Olympics, which begins on July 26. David Ferrer, the former world No 3 and current national selector for Spain, announced at a Royal Spanish…
Callum Styles’ unlikely path to Euro 2024 with Hungary… via Barnsley
Sitting down for a routine pre-match interview with the in-house media team at Barnsley a few years back, Callum Styles decided there was something he was going to drop into conversation. It was, in the football reporter’s lexicon, a come-and-get-me…
Daniel Ricciardo’s Montreal upgrade hinged on ‘self-therapy’ — not Jacques Villeneuve
There was a point towards the end of last year when there was a genuine feeling that Daniel Ricciardo was lining up to take Sergio Pérez’s Formula One seat at Red Bull for 2025. Ricciardo made clear upon his mid-season…
Where did MLB’s Latin American starting pitchers go?
The best Latin American starting pitcher in baseball signed out of Venezuela for just $25,000. He never ranked as a Top 100 prospect, he’s never made an All-Star team, and like many of his peers, turned to pitching as a…
Jaylon Johnson was defined by what he didn’t have; now he has more than enough
Jaylon Johnson finally emerged with a contract extension from the Chicago Bears in March. The Bears asked him to come to Halas Hall to announce the $76 million deal with $47.8 million guaranteed, the second-highest amount ever given to a…
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s rivalry takes centre stage at French Open
Follow live coverage of the 2024 French Open women’s final today Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have been the future of men’s tennis for a little while already. Their first meeting, at the Paris Masters in October 2021, gave a…
England’s Euro 2024 squad: Players’ shock at no Grealish, Maguire out, Shaw gamble
Follow live coverage of England vs Iceland in the final Euro 2024 warm-up match today Gareth Southgate has been mocked for his Loro Piana sweater in his recent shoot for GQ magazine, but there has been nothing beige about his…
Oklahoma’s seniors won WCWS each year. Can Patty Gasso and freshmen maintain dynasty?
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Fans in the outfield turned their gaze toward left field as Oklahoma’s Kelly Maxwell jogged out of the bullpen. The Sooners were four outs away from a national championship, and Maxwell’s entrance was met with enthusiasm…
Novak Djokovic’s knee injury and French Open withdrawal: What it means
Follow live coverage of the 2024 French Open today The news that Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the French Open with a torn meniscus was one of those moments at Roland Garros where the gasps were audible. It wasn’t a…
How Kristaps Porziņģis’ cold, ‘lonely’ winter made him Celtics’ key to success
BOSTON — Before his new team had even seen the court, Kristaps Porziņģis was already competing. At media day, players are shuttled through a circuit of interviews, news conferences and photoshoots. It’s a complicated operation that’s held up if one…
Fight for the Champions League’s future threatens an age of uncertainty in Europe
A love story. Florentino Perez called it a love story. Speaking to reporters on his way out of Wembley Stadium after Saturday’s Champions League final, the Real Madrid president sounded like a man in thrall to the mystique, the allure…
Fifty years later, the chaos of Cleveland’s 10-Cent Beer Night still shocks
There were streakers, kissers and wannabe prize fighters. There were arrests, threats and flying chairs. There were bruises, there was blood and there was beer. So, so much beer. There was plenty of blame to pass around: the fans, the…
Tennis crowds and etiquette: How should fans behave and how should players react?
Let’s start with the brass band. That’s what caught Ben Shelton off guard when he walked onto court Sunday to face Hugo Gaston of France. The venue was Court 14: a sunken stage that can very quickly become a suffocating…
Dat Nguyen reflects on breaking a barrier as NFL’s first Vietnamese player
Growing up playing high school football in the early 2000s, the dream of seeing someone who looked like me playing at the highest level of a sport I loved was one I gave up on early in my youth. For…
Men’s college basketball Top 25: Alabama, Gonzaga lead post-NBA withdrawal deadline
After the NBA Draft withdrawal deadline passed on Wednesday night, we finally have a clearer picture of what rosters will look like when the season starts in November. This transfer portal season has been as crazy as ever, and a…
The long climb back for Fernando Tatis, Jr., once the next ‘face of baseball’
On May 20 in Atlanta, in the evening game of a doubleheader, Fernando Tatis, Jr. sped 84 feet across the outfield grass in Atlanta and crashed into the Truist Park fence to take away a hit from good friend Ronald…
How Borussia Dortmund’s Yellow Wall became the envy of European football
Nobody is quite sure about when the largest grandstand in Europe earned the name it is now famous for, though it is certain it happened more recently than most people think. The Yellow Wall at Borussia Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion was described…
Nelly Korda’s disastrous U.S. Women’s Open round was shockingly relatable
LANCASTER, Pa. — Standing on the fringe of Lancaster Country Club’s 9th green, moments after stroking her final putt of the day, Nelly Korda opened her purple scorecard holder, looked down, and sighed so deeply that the expansion of her…
In the ‘Mile of the Century,’ Josh Kerr adds fuel to the Olympics’ hottest rivalry
EUGENE, Ore. — With about 700 meters to go in the Bowerman Mile, Josh Kerr, Great Britain’s star middle-distance runner, flipped the script in one of track’s most riveting rivalries. Because a message needed to be sent. Because Kerr had…
Jimmy Aggrey was a victim of the Chelsea racism scandal – now he wants to talk
He was the tallest player. Even at the age of 16, Jimmy Aggrey stood well over six feet. The big lads went at the back. Line up and smile for the camera, please. Chelsea liked him. They thought he had…
What’s it like to play Rafael Nadal on clay? We asked Djokovic, Ruud and Dimitrov
Follow live coverage of the second day of the French Open 2024 today, including Zverev vs Nadal This article is part of the launch of extended tennis coverage on The Athletic, which will go beyond the baseline to bring you…
Could a $100 million annual NBA player salary be coming? Plus, the new CBA goes into effect
As the NBA closes in on a new media rights deal, much of the attention has been on what it means for the league and its teams. But there’s also another beneficiary of the set of deals that will reportedly…
Does lightning-rod umpire Angel Hernandez deserve his villainous reputation?
Standing at second base, Adam Rosales knew. So did the fans watching on TV and the ticket holders in the left-field bleachers. They knew what crew chief umpire Angel Hernandez should have known. This was May 8, 2013, the game…
Iga Swiatek’s (tennis) bagels: How the WTA world No 1 bakes her 6-0 sets
This article is part of the launch of extended tennis coverage on The Athletic, which will go beyond the baseline to bring you the biggest stories on and off the court. To follow the tennis vertical, click here. Getting ‘bagelled’…
Has the NFL wide receiver market reached a breaking point? How much is too much?
I’m not one for letting good players walk out the door. I know from experience that talent is too hard to replace, even with the best-hatched plan, without taking a step backward. So I understand that, at least sometimes, proven…
Chase Elliott calls out NASCAR for fining Ricky Stenhouse Jr., sharing fight video
Chase Elliott, NASCAR’s most popular driver, had pointed criticism for NASCAR after the sanctioning body issued a record fine earlier this week against Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for his role in a fight following last Sunday’s All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro….
After puzzling decision to let go of Jeff Van Gundy, ESPN’s NBA broadcasts are worse off
It was perplexing last summer when ESPN fired NBA Finals game analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson. It was part of the network’s layoffs that Disney seemingly goes through every couple of years, sort of like an NFL team…
How the House v. NCAA settlement could reshape college sports: What you need to know
Big 12 presidents and chancellors voted to approve proposals of what is expected to be a multi-billion dollar settlement in the House v. NCAA class-action lawsuit Tuesday, a source briefed on the decision confirmed to The Athletic. Their approval is another step toward…
What do you think of Scott Foster after reading this?
When he was a cocksure 25-year-old, on the fast track to officiating big-time college basketball, Scott Foster was summoned for a sit-down with his dad. They met at a bar, and his father, Dickie, brought along a family friend with…
Liverpool’s whirlwind week: Klopp meets Ferguson, Taylor Swift songs and Rolex watches
What a momentous end to the season for Liverpool. An emotion-fuelled goodbye to Jurgen Klopp, two senior players also saying farewell and the dawn of a new era with Monday’s announcement that Arne Slot has penned a three-year contract to…
How tennis inequality lets women down: Prize money, scheduling and Saudi Arabia
This article is part of the launch of extended tennis coverage on The Athletic, which will go beyond the baseline to bring you the biggest stories on and off the court. To follow the tennis vertical, click here. Last month…
It’s time for the NHL to stop interference and offside reviews
The symmetry was almost perfect. In the history of the NHL’s foray into the world of replay review, there are two moments that stand out as crucial landmarks, the key signposts that pointed us toward where we wound up. The…
Incoming USWNT head coach Emma Hayes is a rare example of a Sir Alex Ferguson-style manager
Midway through a chat with her men’s counterpart at Chelsea, Emma Hayes awkwardly had to explain to Mauricio Pochettino that someone more important was ringing her. It was Sir Alex Ferguson, who had heard about her decision to leave Chelsea…
NFL schedule 2024 winners and losers: Caleb Williams has chance to thrive; Jets face treacherous slate
We’re nearly halfway between the conclusion of the NFL’s 2023 season and the dawn of its next season. And now finally, teams and their fan bases can appropriately prepare for the upcoming slate. While teams have known their opponents for…
How does Caitlin Clark’s WNBA salary measure up in sports? An analysis shows big gaps
After a generational college run at Iowa, Caitlin Clark started her professional career this week in Indiana, where the median college graduate earns $52,267 annually, according to the U.S. Census American Consumer Survey. But Clark isn’t your average young professional….
The Real Jurgen Klopp, part five: The manager who made Liverpool believe again
After almost nine years in charge and seven major trophies, Jurgen Klopp is leaving Liverpool. He has been one of the most transformative managers in the club’s history and in English football’s modern era. To mark his departure, The Athletic is…
Could MLB nationalize its media rights? Why some clubs are pushing to end local TV deals
Sixty years ago, baseball commissioner Ford Frick received a telegram from a Wisconsin congressman. Rep. Henry Reuss was worried the Milwaukee Braves would defect to Atlanta for the promise of a richer television contract, and proposed a fix: if all…
Manchester City’s dominance is distorting football fandom
And so, on May 14, 2024, modern Premier League football reached its logical next step: Tottenham Hotspur fans rooting against their team when facing Manchester City because they’d rather lose than have rivals Arsenal win the title. First of all,…
The take foul is ruining late-game excitement. It’s time for the NBA to make a change
On Monday night, Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren knocked down two free throws with 9.4 seconds remaining in Game 4 against the Dallas Mavericks. They were huge makes, bringing the Thunder closer to evening the series. The Mavericks had…
How a Carolina Hurricanes comeback can reverse a decade-long trend
After starting the second round with three straight losses, the Carolina Hurricanes have officially made it a series with thrilling back-to-back wins in Games 4 and 5. That’s more akin to what many expected from this series before it started…
Can MLB save the starting pitcher? The search for solutions to baseball’s ‘existential crisis’
Who’s pitching tonight? For 100 years, that wasn’t just a casual question. It was the question that defined baseball. The answer always had a chance to give you goosebumps. Maybe it was Tom Seaver versus Steve Carlton. Maybe it was…
Catcher’s interference calls are skyrocketing in MLB. It’s putting players at risk
Weeks before Opening Day this season, Major League Baseball sent a memo to all 30 clubs highlighting a rise in catcher’s interference. The instances of catchers being struck by the bats of opposing hitters were rising rapidly. Catcher’s interference was…
Why Nottingham Forest may abandon City Ground ‘masterplan’ for a new stadium
It doesn’t take long in conversation with Tom Cartledge, the Nottingham Forest chairman, to realise that the dispute threatening the future of the City Ground has accelerated the possibilities of a stadium move. “The club continue to be frustrated,” Cartledge…
Ben Shelton interview: The American tennis star who wants to be different
“I wanted to be a little bit different from anyone else,” Ben Shelton said recently in Madrid. He was actually talking about his decision last year to sign a major deal with the small-but-growing Swiss shoe and apparel manufacturer On,…
The former Denver Bronco who bought a pub in England – and saw his world implode
Drive north out of London for a couple of hours, head east just past the city of Leicester, bump along some of England’s finest country roads as they wind between gloriously green fields, and you eventually reach the small village…
Will Caitlin Clark make the Team USA Olympic roster? Our picks for the 12 spots
The Olympics kick off in 80 days, and Team USA’s women’s basketball roster is still TBD. The final pre-roster-announcement training camp was held in Cleveland during the Final Four in April, and whispers are that the final roster could hit…
Swiatek, Sabalenka and Rybakina push each other to women’s tennis dominance
If there were any lingering doubts about the 2024 clique in the elite of women’s tennis, Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina have erased them in the past three weeks. It’s a couple of days since Swiatek and Sabalenka…
Are there enough fans to keep a team in the NHL’s smallest market?
WINNIPEG – Three hours before puck drop, Greg Burnett awaited the fate of his beloved Winnipeg Jets, on the brink of elimination. The 56-year-old retired high school teacher stood in a fenced-off courtyard, just beyond a statue of the late…
As Steve McMichael battles ALS, old friends visit with stories to tell
The doorbell rings, and it feels as if the sun has broken through the clouds. The dogs rush to the front door. There’s Blue, the yapping chihuahua, and Marshmallow, the Shiba Inu with a limp. And here comes Misty McMichael…
Lionel Messi’s first Barcelona contract, signed on napkin, on sale at auction
The napkin upon which Lionel Messi’s first Barcelona agreement was informally written has gone on sale at auction. Bonhams — a privately owned, London-based international auction house — are running the auction until May 17, with a starting price of…
The Maple Leafs ran it back again. It backfired again. What now?
BOSTON — The call came last summer. It was from the new general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Brad Treliving, and he had a message for Mitch Marner. “He made it pretty clear that he wanted to keep our…
Tom Brady ripped by Bill Belichick, Kevin Hart, former Patriots teammates during roast
They certainly didn’t pull any punches. In a live show on Netflix that lasted over three hours, a roast of Tom Brady didn’t spare any jokes at the expense of the seven-time Super Bowl winner. Everything from his divorce from…
West Saratoga is a Kentucky Derby long shot. But so was his trainer
The Athletic has live coverage of the 2024 Kentucky Derby, the 150th anniversary. LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Larry Demeritte bends over and unwinds the wrap circling West Saratoga’s right rear leg. He does the same to the left and then scoots…
Premier League salary cap mailbag: Why? Who wins and loses? How would it work?
Premier League clubs this week opted to push on with plans for a hard spending limit — a de facto salary cap tied to the income of the lowest earning side in the top flight. OK, we hear you say,…
How Ohio State unlocked its NIL potential and won the college football offseason
COLUMBUS, Ohio — When Gene Smith and Ryan Day met after the season, the athletic director made it clear he was going “all in” on football. Ohio State heavily investing in football is hardly new, but after three consecutive losses…
‘It was 10 seconds of stupidity’: Inside the education course for football’s banned fans
His team were drawing 1-1 at the time. It was late in the game, under the floodlights, when they missed a chance to take the lead. And that was the moment, Tony, a Sheffield United fan, lost his temper and…
Rafael Nadal’s last tennis match in Madrid: Defeat, but a win
Imagine having done the same thing for something like 30 years, being better at it than just about anyone who has ever lived, and then one day, it’s all completely new. And so it is for Rafael Nadal in this…
Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards can’t run from stardom anymore
PHOENIX — Fresh off, arguably, the most important performance of his young career, Anthony Edwards sat in front of the world with a white tank top and an all-black Atlanta Braves fitted cap that sat loose, hovering just above his…
Former Dodger Steve Sax sets out to honor the Marine pilot he calls ‘my hero’
ROSEVILLE, Calif. – There is only a smattering of baseball memorabilia on display in Steve Sax’s home office, a show of restraint considering he was a five-time All-Star. His Rookie of the Year trophy is nowhere to be found. There…
Kirk Cousins concerned Falcons’ decision to draft Michael Penix Jr. doesn’t help team this season
The Atlanta Falcons made a surprising selection taking former Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Among those shocked by the selection was their current projected starting quarterback, Kirk Cousins. The Falcons…
Joel Embiid — battling Bell’s palsy — turns in 50-point masterpiece
PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid walked off the podium and into the array of hallways of the Wells Fargo Center late Thursday evening wearing dark black sunglasses across his face. He had worn them for most of the night after the…
World Cup 2026: Concerns over fans’ U.S. visa wait times – ‘Your window might already be closed’
Concerns have been raised with the United States government, including an official meeting in the White House, over fears supporters may be deterred from the 2026 men’s World Cup owing to excessive wait times to process visa applications to visit…
Watching Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City as the Premier League title race heats up
One of the closest, most enthralling Premier League title races in many years is careering towards a climax. Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City played out crucial games on consecutive nights this week — and The Athletic went to all three…
Chasing a hockey dream together: How Luke and Sophia Kunin make the first NHL-PWHL marriage work
ST. PAUL, Minn. — For years, Luke Kunin watched as his girlfriend, then fiancée, then wife, Sophia, supported his career. She was a shoulder to lean on when things got tough in Minnesota. Moved to Nashville when he was traded…
Who is the NBA GOAT: LeBron or Jordan? For current players, longevity is narrowing the gap
Some debates deserve a stage of their own. So while our (anonymous) NBA player poll was released Monday, with a record 142 players weighing in on some of the most interesting questions surrounding their league, we decided to dive even…
Scottie Scheffler, Nelly Korda are the biggest things in golf for a reason
The heights they are reaching have become comical, two golfers taking over their respective sports with such dominance that — at least for this moment — it’s difficult to imagine anyone beating them. Nelly Korda just won her fifth straight…
Bernie Williams on a ‘nervous’ journey from World Series to New York Philharmonic
For Bernie Williams, grabbing a bat was easy. He would pull out the same trusty 34 1/2-inch, 33-ounce Rawlings model for all occasions during his New York Yankees career, whether that was in spring training or the playoffs, whether he…
How hockey helped make J.J. McCarthy one of NFL Draft’s most intriguing prospects
Dan Capuano’s funeral at St. Rita of Cascia High School on Chicago’s Southwest Side was standing-room only. Hundreds of firefighters from Chicago and around the country attended. Members of the St. Jude Knights youth hockey club were there, too, wearing…
David Busst: The story of one of football’s most horrific injuries – as told by those involved
“It sounds stupid, but it was as if the stadium went quiet at that exact moment,” recalls former Manchester United defender David May. “All you could hear was the snap of his leg — as if two shin pads had collided…
NFL Draft 2024 ‘The Beast’ Guide: Dane Brugler’s scouting reports and player rankings
Finally! It’s here. I’m thrilled to share this year’s draft guide with everyone. I don’t remember who first referred to it as “The Beast,” but I use that moniker as motivation to make sure this annual primer lives up to…
Mark Clattenburg: The celebrity referee turned PGMOL agitator… via Gladiators
This is an updated version of an article first published on March 8. It is two and a half years since Mark Clattenburg had his autobiography, Whistle Blower, to plug. No prisoners were taken in the book’s content or the…
The Stanley Cup playoff bandwagon guide to all the NHL teams you could root for
The playoffs are almost here, and while we’re still waiting on a couple of matchups, we know the 16 teams. If you root for one of them, you’re not reading this because you’re curled up in a little ball, twitching…
The Paris Olympics are 100 days away – Venues ready but questions over opening ceremony and security
Follow The Athletic’s Olympics coverage here. In 100 days, Paris will host the most famous sporting jamboree on the planet: the summer Olympic Games. There will be action across 32 sports watched by millions of visitors, as well as an…
The ‘humbling experience’ of trying to shoot over Victor Wembanyama
Pat Connaughton knows what an open shot feels like. As a nine-year veteran of the league, he’s taken hundreds of them, developing a sense for space and when there’s enough of it. In early January, when Connaughton’s Milwaukee Bucks played…
Auerbach: World Athletics’ new Olympic prize money rule is a chance for NCAA to right a wrong
The latest dent in the NCAA’s bedrock principle of amateurism came from an unlikely place: Monaco. Track and field gold medalists will become the first athletes to earn international prize money at the Olympics, the sport’s international governing body said…
How Arkansas hooked John Calipari and why he was ready to leave Kentucky
John Calipari sat in his hotel room in Phoenix on Friday when a close friend, John H. Tyson, reached out to discuss an important decision. People with knowledge of the conversation say Tyson, the billionaire chairman of Tyson Foods and…
With the WNBA Draft nearing, what’s next for Caitlin Clark?
Caitlin Clark’s college career ended Sunday with a loss to South Carolina in the national championship. But the Iowa star’s popularity won’t be going away. “I know what’s next is soon,” she said. Eight days, to be exact. That’s when…
As a son and brother, Penn State’s Adisa Isaac ‘juggled a lot’ — now comes the NFL
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — When Adisa Isaac was in third grade, he asked a lot of questions, as third graders do. There was one that needed thoughtful explanation: “Why are my brothers and my sister different?” His mother, Lisa Wiltshire-Isaac,…
Joaquin Niemann had to fight to get to this Masters. Now he wants to stay
MIAMI — It was exactly what he wanted. To be nervous. To back himself into a corner and force himself out. It was why Joaquin Niemann was there in the first place, flying across the world for two weeks in…
Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City: Every Premier League title-race fixture analysed
The Premier League remains a European outlier this season. Everywhere you look around the continent, title races have become virtual processions. Paris Saint-Germain are 10 points clear in France’s Ligue 1, Bayer Leverkusen are 16 ahead and one win away…
How can you tell if a football manager is actually good at their job?
An important thing to remember about Andre Villas-Boas is that he had ridiculously good hair. You don’t spend a record-shattering €15 million (£12.9; $16.3m) fee to sign a rookie manager away from Porto unless you’re pretty sure you know what…
MLB insiders “pretty worried” by rise in arm injuries to top young starting pitchers
Matt Blake texted Cleveland Guardians pitcher Shane Bieber a conciliatory message over the weekend. As a member of the Cleveland player-development system in the 2010s, Blake aided Bieber’s rise from college walk-on to unanimous American League Cy Young Award winner…
Iowa-UConn Final Four matchup breaks record for most-watched women’s college basketball game
The Athletic has live coverage of Iowa vs. South Carolina in the women’s national championship game. Another Iowa women’s basketball game, another new record for the sport when it comes to viewership. Iowa’s 71-69 win over UConn on Friday night…
Iowa vs. South Carolina gives us the ending we wanted and the finale this season deserves
CLEVELAND — Just when you thought this women’s basketball season couldn’t give any more, just when you thought it had drained itself of record on-court performances, all-time viewership numbers and compelling grudge matches, it is giving us an opportunity to…
With the Yankees, Juan Soto’s historic bet on himself is about to pay off
On July 16, 2022, more than 37,000 fans crammed into Nationals Park on a muggy midsummer afternoon. Washington already had 62 losses by that point — still days before the All-Star break — and there was little hope that a…
Gabby Thomas: The U.S. track star with a bigger goal beyond Olympic medals
AUSTIN, Texas — There was a moment on a recent random Wednesday, as the world champion sprinter and Olympic medalist Gabrielle Thomas juggled emails about a meeting she had to run at a volunteer health clinic and readied for a…
‘You need to be heard’: Susie Wolff’s life in motorsports is about more than racing
Susie Wolff’s quiet confidence is evident the moment you meet her. She’s ambitious and bold, not afraid to fight for something she believes in. And when her character came into question when the FIA launched an inquiry into allegations of…
New scene at NBA games: Fans screaming at players about their losing bets
NBA players have always gotten an earful from fans, whether at home or on the road. It comes with the job. But this season, it’s getting darker. The recent surge in legalized gambling in every pro league, and throughout college…
NFL executives unfiltered on 2024 free agency: The best and worst from all 32 teams
NFL free agency continues, but with the major signings and trades complete, it’s time to check in with executives around the league for thoughts on all 32 teams’ moves to this point. There is so much to discuss, from Kirk…
Inside the ‘very predatory’ world of illegal betting that lured Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter
In the story Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter Ippei Mizuhara initially told to ESPN, the two men logged into Ohtani’s bank account together on eight or nine occasions in 2023 and wired increments of $500,000 to Mathew Bowyer, an alleged illegal bookmaker under…
Aaron Rodgers and a VP bid that never was: ‘That would’ve been really interesting’
OAKLAND — The quarterback wasn’t there. No mention of his name across two hours. Maybe there was no need. The mere prospect of a pairing had already served its purpose — driving news cycles, stirring speculation, drumming up intrigue around…
Sex offender, ex-Jaguars employee who hacked jumbotron sentenced to 220 years in prison
A U.S. District judge in Florida sentenced a convicted sex offender to 220 years in federal prison for producing, receiving and possessing child sex abuse material, and for hacking the jumbotron in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ stadium after the team did…
Ukraine qualify for Euro 2024: ‘The world is going to watch and see we never give up’
More than 40 members of Ukraine’s national-team party were spread around the centre circle of Wroclaw’s Tarczynski Arena. Players, coaches and backroom staff locked their gaze on the 30,000 spectators sporting blue and yellow as they revved up their version…