ESPN Daily - Archive

The explosion of women’s basketball over the last few years has pulled plenty of new names – and teams – into the national conversation. Among them? USC and UCLA women’s basketball teams, two programs that have spent decades living in the shadow of past legacies, to say nothing of LA’s true love, the Lakers. But now they are playing to sold out crowds with household names like JuJu Watkins and Lauren Betts making all of their games must-see TV. And all of that drama is just setting the stage for an

The American football season may now be over, but the drama in Europe’s club football season, aka soccer, is just heating up. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City squad has been England’s most dominant club, with six home league trophies in the past seven years and a Champions League title in 2023. But this year’s campaign has been a struggle, as they sit five spots back in the English Premier League and barely qualified for the Champions League playoff. And now, having drawn defending champions Real Madrid in their first playoff matchup, things

There was little debate about the fact that the Philadelphia Eagles were the more complete team heading into Super Bowl LIX. Better up front on defense and offense. Better at running back and wide receiver than the Kansas City Chiefs. But the Chiefs still had Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. So the Chiefs were still dangerous. Well that proved to not be anywhere near enough, as the Eagles cruised to a 40-22 win on Sunday, claiming the franchises’ second ever Super Bowl victory. So today Ben Solak and Michele Steele breakdown

Super Bowl LIX is literally just a couple of days away, and after a long season, it’s down to the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles battling for the Lombardi Trophy…Again. Our own Ben Solak has made the trip down to New Orleans, and with so many of the people that we love to talk ball with in town alongside him, he was able to get Kevin Clark, the host of This is Football, to join him ahead of the big game. It’s the buddy cop movie that you didn’t

The Super Bowl is one of the most high attended events in the American cultural landscape every year. And New Orleans, the site of this year’s game, is a city known for letting folks have a good time. But in the wake of the New Year’s Day domestic terror attack on Bourbon Street, concerns about safety and security at the NFL’s biggest game are at an all time high. So today, ESPN investigative journalist Tisha Thompson goes behind the scenes with NFL security to explain how ramped up the security apparatus

The Kansas City Chiefs may not be the offensive juggernaut they once were, but they keep raising trophies nonetheless. And though every member of this franchise would love to become the first in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in a row, their ultimate plan goes far beyond this season. So today, Adam Teicher, our man on the Chiefs beat, tells Michele Steele how the team’s unique approach to building a winner, and why this dynasty may be just getting started. Plus, with retirement approaching this summer, Adam looks back

Last offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles were confronted with countless questions about the future of the franchise. The biggest one being just how the Birds could overcome the lingering hangover from a loss in Super Bowl XLVII and then a flameout in the playoffs the following year. But an offseason that started in chaos, ended with the signing of MVP candidate Saquon Barkley, a restructuring of the coaching staff, and a culture change that permeated throughout the Philadelphia locker room. So today, Tim McManus joins us to show just how the Eagles

On Saturday night, the sports world got hit with the news of the Dallas Mavericks’ shocking decision to trade superstar Luka Dončić, as well as Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and their 2029 first-round draft pick. Senior ESPN NBA writer Tim Bontemps joins host Clinton Yates to discuss the Mavericks’ motives and the long history of Lakers Exceptionalism that set the stage for this trade, and how the seismic shift will reverberate throughout the NBA. Learn more about your ad choices.

It goes without saying that January is a high stakes time of year for the football world, and this year, that was more true than ever. The first 12-team College Football playoff brought us three compelling rounds, mirroring the NFL’s own longtime playoff tradition. We of course covered all of it on ESPN Daily. But there are often other stories, or different angles on stories, that we don't always have room for in the show. So today, as we say farewell to January, we're trying something new. Michele Steele and Harry

If there’s one name to know in men’s college basketball this season, it’s probably Cooper Flagg. The nation’s number one recruit is playing in his freshman season at Duke, and living up to all of the hype. But his college career is about to experience a new chapter on Saturday, when Flagg and the Blue Devils host North Carolina on ESPN. Jay Bilas, the voice of college basketball at ESPN, joins the show today. He’s bled Duke blue since joining the team in the early 1980’s. And while he’s no longer

When the lights go down at recess at KIPP AMP Middle School in Brooklyn, it’s not time to zone out or to take a nap. It’s showtime. It’s time for The Wrestling Club. Founded by an innovative teacher looking to connect with his students during the pandemic, this club turns watching pro wrestling inside out to teach students about storytelling, conflict resolution, inclusion and more. And it doesn’t stop there, because you never know which WWE superstar is going to walk through the door when the club is in session. So

For years, the NFL has been trying to make the hiring of people of color in leadership positions a more fair and more equitable process. Through initiatives like accelerator programs meant to introduce prospects to owners and other people with hiring ability, alongside the widely controversial Rooney Rule which literally mandates that people of all backgrounds get interviews, the league has been marginally successful at changing who is in the room when it comes to coordinators, head coaches, and general managers. Today ESPN senior NFL writer Kalyn Kahler reports on a

Super Bowl LIX is set. The Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs will meet in New Orleans, for a rematch of Super Bowl LII. Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, Travis Kelce and the rest set their sights on becoming the first NFL team to ever win three consecutive titles, while Saquon Barkley looks to put a championship stamp on an MVP-level first season in Philadelphia. But before we set our sights on the big game, Ben Solak, Seth Walder, and Michele Steele go through how those two teams got past their opposition

The championship round is upon us. Sunday, in the AFC, the Buffalo Bills travel to Kansas City for another showdown with the Chiefs –– their fourth playoff date in five years. And in the NFC, the upstart Washington Commanders will try to knock off Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s all for the right to play in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. So today, Bill Barnwell breaks down these matchups to help answer all our burning questions. Is the time finally right for Josh Allen’s Bills? Can Patrick Mahomes

The National Baseball Hall of Fame announced its latest class of enshrinees on Tuesday evening. Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, and Billy Wagner, will join Dick Allen and Dave Parker in the MLB Hall of Fame Class of 2024. But as those stars are enshrined in Cooperstown, we remember a baseball legend we lost recently. RIcky Henderson passed away on December 20th, at 65 years of age, just days before his 66th birthday. The game’s greatest lead off hitter, base stealer, and as the inventor of swagger, Rickey’s impact can still be

When Jimmy Butler arrived in Miami in 2019, the initial thought was that this was a perfect marriage. You had a fanatically driven, yet volatile, All Star linking up with a celebrated NBA institution, better known as Heat Culture. And with two NBA Finals appearances in four years, everything was going as planned. But then stories of special treatment and feelings of disrespect started to bubble to the surface and suddenly Butler found himself at odds with the architect of Heat Culture – the indomitable Pat Riley. Today, Ramona Shelburne joins

Last night, we saw a champion crowned in college football. Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes got the proverbial monkey off their backs with a clutch performance over Notre Dame. And there to witness it all, live and in person, were our friends from the College Gameday podcast, Rece Davis and Pete Thamel. So today, we’re turning our show over to Rece and Pete, plus special guest Harry Lyles Jr., as they take stock of Ohio State’s win and consider whether Notre Dame has now made itself a perennial contender.

For college football blue bloodsNotre Dame and Ohio State, the realities of modern big time college football are a whole new ball game. As NIL deals and the transfer portal give players more control over their careers than ever, and big money collectives blur the lines between amateur and professional athletics, the Buckeyes and Irish need to balance the new against decades of tradition. The challenges can be as simple as trying to change the seating at Notre Dame Stadium, or as complicated as justifying the NIL money needed to pursue

For many people, the NFL’s divisional round is the most exciting weekend of football on the calendar all year long. Eight teams, four games, with trips to the conference championships on the line. And this year’s matchups are bangers. Whether it’s an MVP showdown between Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, or the dynamic Jayden Daniels vying for an upset of the Lions in Motor City, or Saquon Barkley continuing his push for a ring in year one outside of the Meadowlands, these games figure to deliver the goods. So Ben Solak

As the NFL season comes to a close, some teams are scrambling to find new coaches, kicking off the frenzy known as the NFL coaching carousel. ESPN NFL Insider Dan Graziano joins ESPN Daily’s own NFL expert Michele Steele to analyze the Patriots’ signing of Mike Vrabel, and look at some of the other choices that are more up in the air. Could these meetings between Jerry Jones and Deion Sanders land Prime Time in Dallas? Is the NFL’s Rooney Rule — intended to increase the number of coaches of color

When Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors won 12 of their first 15 games this season, it seemed they might have solved what's ailed them the past few years. But in the ensuing weeks and months, wins have been exceedingly hard to come by, and with Curry playing fewer minutes than ever. Warriors fans are growing increasingly restless. So with Golden State taking the national TV stage against the Timberwolves Wednesday night, Tim Keown shares what he learned from a sit down with Curry and explores whether this team is

This weekend marks the debut of The Unrivaled, an ambitious 3-on-3 women’s basketball league loaded with WNBA talent. This new venture has spared no expense to build their cutting edge venue in Miami. And thanks to a series of A-List investors, these athletes will have every amenity they could ever ask for. But what happens when these players finally take the court? Will the players buy in? And will the fans tune in? Or will we once again find ourselves writing an obituary for another upstart sports league? Today, Kendra Andrews

The NFL playoffs are underway, and aside from tonight’s Monday Night Football clash between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings, we know who is moving on. But before next week’s divisional round matchups suck up all of the air in the room, ESPN sports analytics writer Seth Walder and Ben Solak breakdown how the winners punched their tickets to the next round. Before previewing tonight’s super wild card finale. And don’t forget the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NFL playoffs are set to begin tomorrow. 14 teams still have a chance at lifting the Lombardi Trophy in a few weeks, some with better odds than others. But it all starts with the Wild Card round. Six games over three days to determine who will move on. So before the action kicks off our old friend Mina Kimes breaks down each matchup with host Michele Steele to make sure that you know everything you need ahead of all of the games. And don’t forget the playlist, featuring our favorite

New Year’s Day’s Peach Bowl brought us an all-time classic, as Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo grew his legend, helping the Sun Devils to storm back in the 4th quarter, only to fall short against Texas in double-overtime. Beyond that, there hasn't been much drama in this inaugural twelve team College Football Playoff. But with two compelling matchups Thursday and Friday, that may be about to change. Spencer Hall joins guest host Michele Steele to explain why Ohio State v. Texas could be more competitive than you may think, why they’re even

It’s no secret that times are hard for fans of Chicago sports. The White Sox, Cubs, Bulls, and Bears are all in the midst of middling, or worse, performance in recent years. And the same is true of the team that used to be the reliable winner, the Blackhawks. When they drafted generational prospect Connor Bedard first overall in the 2023 NHL draft, the future appeared to be bright. An idea seemingly confirmed when Bedard brought home the Calder Memorial Trophy - the NHL’s rookie of the year award - in

Every year the NBA Draft produces a crop of rookies that are full of expectations. And some are stamped with labels like “can’t miss” or “generational”. But where their careers go from there aren’t always inline with the guarantees they come into the league with. So today we talk with veteran NBA reporters Tim MacMahon and Michael Wright about two of the most recent prospects to have been deemed “can't miss”. Players who appear to be at crossroads in their careers – but heading in opposite directions. First, there’s Zion Williamson,

The NFL regular season has come to a close. And the league saved the best for last, with the hunt for the NFC’s one seed coming down to a Sunday night matchup between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings. So with all of the byes determined, and playoff pairings set - Ben Solak and Michele Steele explore how the 14 playoff teams locked down their spots, and what the offseason holds in store for those who didn’t make it. Check out the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024. Learn more

As we settle into the new year, the phrase “deer in headlights” feels like an apt description for the state many members of “sports Twitter” currently find themselves in. More than two years after Elon Musk took over Twitter, now known as X, the platform has become an increasingly unpleasant space for sports conversations. While many users have already migrated to other platforms like Threads and Bluesky, plenty more are staying put—unhappy with the current state of affairs but reluctant to abandon the communities they’ve carefully curated and built. Today, we’re

The sports world is transforming in 2025, with new rule changes, new playoffs formats, and many other innovations across the landscape. So we brought on some of our favorite regular guests — Katie Barnes, Bill Barnwell, Elle Duncan, Luis Miguel Echegaray, Andreas Hale, Ryan McGee, Jeff Passan — and Clinton Yates, who will be back in the host’s chair later this month, to tell us not only what they’re most excited to cover in 2025, but also what they’re most excited to watch as fans. Plus, guest hosts Michele Steele and

On September 26th, 2024, the Athletics played their final game ever in Oakland, the city they’ve called home for 57 years. As friend of the show Jeff Passan wrote, baseball in the East Bay was “killed by greed… John Fisher did not have to move this team… This was a choice. A wrong one. History will sneer.” For the conclusion of our Death of a Sports Town series, we trekked to the Oakland Coliseum and bore witness to the sights, sounds, and emotions of a city’s last gasp as a big

In covering Oakland’s unraveling as a big time sports town, we’ve documented the greed, the loss, the dubious decisions, and the rich sports community soon to be left behind. But we’ve yet to fully examine the most pertinent question of all––does the Athletics planned move to Las Vegas make any sense at all? Today, in part four of our series Death of a Sports Town, we take stock of why the A’s (and MLB) are so enamored with Las Vegas––a city soon to be the smallest market in the league––why this

The loss of three professional sports teams in five years has thrust Oakland into the media spotlight, with coverage focusing on every twist, turn, stadium proposal, and relocation rumor. But amid all that noise, a central experience has been overshadowed: the story of the fans. In part three of our series, Death of a Sports Town, we turn our attention to the diehard Oakland sports fans who refuse to let their city’s reputation define them. We explore the thriving, tight-knit community that grew within the walls of the Coliseum and how,

Any time a franchise owner threatens to leave a city, the pressure and scrutiny on civic leaders intensifies. But in Oakland, a parallel story emerged—a group of activist fans who refused to let the Athletics go quietly. In the second part of our series, Death of a Sports Town, we examine the three men who led the Warriors, Raiders, and Athletics away from “the Town,” the reasons behind their decisions, and the intimate story of one fan who launched a movement to fight back. The multipart series: ‘Death of a Sports

On the afternoon of September 26th, the Oakland Athletics played the Texas Rangers in their final game ever in the city they’ve called home for 57 seasons. Following the lead of the Warriors and Raiders, they are the third major sports franchise to leave the city in just five years. This exodus is the culmination of decades of decisions, negotiations and missteps. And now, Oakland is no longer a big-time sports town. So how exactly did we get here? How does this all look and feel on the ground in the

It’s one of the most infamous fan stories in sports history: when Eagles fans booed Santa at halftime of a game played at Franklin Field. But who was the Santa in question - and why was he booed and pelted with snowballs? It’s ESPN Daily’s Christmas tradition to bring you this episode, so hear an encore with Jeremy Schaap and Mina Kimes as they reflect on the enduring legacy of the Philadelphia Santa. Check out the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

By the time the end of the year rolls around, it’s easy to forget what has gone down in the previous 365-ish days. A story that felt like the center of the world in February, is lost to the passing of time as winter turns to spring turns to summer turns to fall turns to winter. But don’t fear, because today Michele Steele, David Dennis Jr., and Greg Wyshysnki hand out their awards for the biggest and best sports stories of the year. Check out the playlist, featuring our favorite stories

As the NFL season heads into its final few weeks, the jockeying for playoff position is getting more intense. There are three teams grouped at the top of the NFC, and with the Lions and Vikings poised to face off in week 18, and the Eagles coming off a tough loss in Washington on Sunday, it looks like the road through the NFC could run through the north. Meanwhile in the AFC, the Chiefs and Bills held serve. Buffalo survived an early scare from the Patriots, and Kansas City scared us

After months of games, upsets, rankings, arguments and prognostications – the College Football Playoff is finally here. And tonight the race for the national championship starts in earnest in the heart of college football: Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. That showdown between Indiana and Notre Dame is just an appetizer for a full meal of games this weekend that could somehow create more questions than answers as we enter year one of this new 12-team bracket. So today, our intrepid expert Ryan McGee joins us to break down the

The 1970s were a tough decade for the New York Jets. After winning the Super Bowl in 1969, they quickly became the laughing stock in the NFL, unable to post a single winning season throughout the decade. But in 1981, four promising young defensive lineman changed everything. Mark Gastineau, Adbul Salaam, Marty Lyons and Joe Klecko became such a prolific force on the Jets defense that they earned the moniker ‘The New York Sack Exchange’. These players are the subject of the newest ESPN 30 for 30 Film 'The New York

It's hard to believe that Indiana, which has lost more college football games than any other FBS program, has earned a spot in the inaugural twelve team college football playoff. And no matter what happens in their instate showdown with Notre Dame Friday night, it's already been a dream season for head coach Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers. A decade ago, Cignetti made a risky bet on himself, moving from a title-winning assistant role under Nick Saban at Alabama to head coach at little-known IU-Pennsylvania. But now his confident style has

It started out as a rumor — one that most people thought was a joke — but now it’s all very, very real: Bill Belichick is the new head coach of the University of North Carolina football team. Just what would make someone with eight Super Bowl rings decide that an ACC afterthought should be the next stop in his career? And while many people could argue that the transfer portal and NIL deals are making the college game look more like the NFL every year, there is still one more

After 15 weeks of NFL football, the playoff picture is becoming more clear. But almost as important as who is going to get in, is how they are going to get there. We saw both the Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks finish their games with questions about the health of their signal callers. While in Detroit, the Lions, already seriously injured on defense, suffered through more pain in a loss to the Buffalo Bills. But that’s what happens at this time of year. Nobody is playing healthy. Except for Ben

Few rivalries are as bitter as the ones that exist between two teams in one city. Ask New York Mets fans and New York Yankees fans, where the hatred can divide households. Or Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox fans whose team alliances mix with the pride in their neighborhoods. While out west, Los Angeles Lakers fans play the big brother, to their neglected stepsiblings, Los Angeles Clippers fans. Well across the pond on Sunday, in the United Kingdom, Manchester will be the site of one of those rivalries as Manchester

In 2008, Lisa Salters reported an E60 documentary called Blood Brothers about the family of former NBA star Carlos Boozer and their quest to save their son, Carmani, from sickle cell disease. But it turns out that journey was just the tip of the iceberg, because in April of this year — 16 years later — Blood Brothers was back on for a very different reason. ESPN NBA Draft Analyst Jonathan Givony joins host David Dennis, Jr. to take us through Lisa and E60’s reporting from 2008 and April of this

The field for the College Football Playoff is set and with a new expanded 12-team format, this looks to be the most exciting path to the title that we have ever seen. And as we are quickly reminded, no matter how big the playoff bracket gets, someone is always going to be left out, and that someone is always going to have something to say about it. But what about those other 36 bowls? The ones that have nothing to do with winning a national title? Are they nothing more than

The Emirates NBA Cup is now in year two and we're all still trying to feel out what place it will take in the league’s attention economy. But one thing is clear –– nearly everyone is thrilled to have some bigger stakes on the table this early in the NBA season. Are the Oklahoma City Thunder ready to avenge their playoff elimination against the Dallas Mavericks? Can the New York Knicks prove their new offense-first approach to be a winning formula? Are Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors ready to

14 weeks into the 2024 NFL season, and the playoff picture is starting to come into focus. The Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles are in. And both the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers are sure to punch their tickets to the postseason soon. In the NFC, the competition for the rest of the landscape is fierce, while in the AFC, all but one of the teams currently slated for the playoffs has more than a 90% chance of making it in. So today, Michele Steele and

The 2024 Formula 1 season wraps up this weekend in Abu Dhabi and in many ways nothing is different, but at the same time, everything has changed. First off, you have Max Verstappen. The Dutch driver wrapped up his fourth straight title a couple weeks ago. But his team, Red Bull, has somehow fallen off the map. And now legendary names like McClaren and Ferrari – who haven’t won a team title in decades – have once again raced their way to the top of the standings. Now, just add a

In recent years MLB’s Hot Stove has been kind of lukewarm. Even with big ticket free agents on the market, the pursuit of free agents dragged well into the New Year each winter. But ESPN’s Jeff Passan tells today’s host, David Dennis Jr., that won’t be the case with Juan Soto this offseason. The transcendent lefty slugger has virtually every big market owner chasing after him with a blank checkbook, looking to change the fortunes of their team with one big transaction. And with Soto looking to find his new home

It’s been more than a decade since the Philadelphia 76ers began their so-called “process” to tank-the-team, earn high draft picks, and set themselves up for a bright future. This strategy has now become the norm across sports, and for the Sixers’ sake, it did yield them Joel Embiid, the team’s first MVP winner in 22 years. But it’s also been filled with crisis after crisis. Two number one picks that flopped and big time trades, first for Jimmy Butler and then James Harden, that ultimately went nowhere. This year, the offseason

The WNBA’s newest team - the Golden State Valkyries - are coming to San Francisco in May. And by the end of this week, we’ll have a better idea of which players fans of bay area women’s basketball will be rooting for. Because Friday’s WNBA expansion draft will welcome the Valkyries first players. ESPN’s Kevin Pelton covers the W and is here to explain how all of this expansion stuff works – and how a new CBA should help the Valkyries use not just the expansion draft, but also trades and

There were two big games on the week 13 NFL schedule - the Philadelphia Eagles at the Baltimore Ravens, and the San Francisco 49ers at the Buffalo Bills. And we did watch Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts, and a suddenly transcendent Eagles defense make a statement against Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers and the rest of the Ravens, during Sunday night football we saw Josh Allen potentially cement his MVP campaign against Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers. But Ben Solak wants us to know that there were also unexpected stories across the league.

We have arrived at Thanksgiving eve. And while you may be getting your stomachs ready for a meal full of all the fixings, don’t forget the annual football feast you will soon digest as well. Between the NFL and college, it’s four days of high stakes games to squeeze-in between all the family festivities. Will Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins finally beat the cold weather curse? Have the Chicago Bears and Caleb Williams turned the corner with new Offensive Coordinator Thomas Brown? Who will bolster their playoff case as Texas

The San Jose State Spartans were preparing for another hopeful – but largely uneventful – women’s volleyball season in 2024. But then a publication outed a player on that team as transgender and from there the protests and backlash grew seemingly by the day. Player lawsuits, coach accusations and boycott threats, and that was just from inside their own locker room. Soon teams all over the San Jose schedule decided to forfeit their matches, but also never gave an official reason why. So today, ahead of the Mountain West Conference Tournament,

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and that means we’re entering the stretch run in the NFL. A dozen weeks into the season, and some teams are starting to separate themselves from the pack. Like the Detroit Lions, who week after week keep bullying their opponents, and the Kansas City Chiefs, who just find ways to win seemingly every Sunday. And then there’s the Philadelphia Eagles, who are looking to stake their claim in the NFC. So before we sit around the Thanksgiving table and tell each other what we’re thankful

This weekend, two top-ten women’s college basketball teams — the USC Trojans and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish — face off in Los Angeles. It will be a battle between two of the league’s biggest stars, USC’s Juju Watkins and Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo. Another player to watch coming this season is UConn’s Paige Bueckers, but you already know that because she has been the player to watch since she was in middle school. All three of these stars are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to a

For Washington Commanders fans, the Daniel Snyder ownership era was a brutal 24-year stretch. The once proud franchise became a laughingstock both on the football field and off, as the NFL and Congress launched various investigations into misconduct, sexual harassment, and financial improprieties. Then in 2023, financial executive Josh Harris bought the team and oversaw its decision to draft budding superstar quarterback Jayden Daniels. Even with close losses to good teams over the last two weeks, optimism in the nation’s capital is at its highest level in decades. Actor Jeffery Wright

11 weeks into the NFL season, playoff possibilities are starting to take shape. But who has a shot at each conferences’ coveted Number 1 seed? It's the envious position every team desires as it ensures not only an extra week of rest and recovery when the playoffs start, but also home field advantage all the way through the conference championship round. That would be the easy road to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. So today, we are joined by our intrepid NFL expert Bill Barnwell, who looks at every squad

A generation later, the images of one of the worst scenes to ever take place in an NBA arena are still shocking. A cup full of liquid hurtling through the air, striking Indiana Pacers small forward Ron Artest, and setting off a powder keg - as coaches, security, members of the Pacers, and fans came to blows in the stands, the tunnel, and on the court itself. When the bad blood between the Pacers and rival Detroit Pistons boiled over in Auburn Hills, it was impossible to ignore the sight of

There was a lot of action across the NFL in week 11. And games ending on blocked field goals in back to back weeks was just the tip of the iceberg. Because even as the Chicago Bears failed to end their now 11 game losing streak against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field, we also saw Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs and the rest of the Detroit Lions put up a league high 52 points on a hapless Jacksonville Jaguars team missing Trevor Lawrence. In one

On Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, UFC 309 will take place, and the main event will be the long-delayed match between arguably the greatest of all time in Jon Jones and possibly the greatest heavyweight of all time in Stipe Miocic. Even though these two are getting all the hype, there are still plenty of questions. Is this the fight everyone wants to see? What do these two fighters have to prove? When it’s over, will these two legends fight anymore or walk away with their legacies? And what about

In 1986, 20-year-old Mike Tyson became the youngest Heavyweight Champion ever, kicking off four years of utter dominance that made him one of the biggest icons in sports. But by the time he officially retired in 2005, it was hard to imagine ever seeing him in a ring again. So news that, in 2024, he would fight a 27-year-old Jake Paul in an officially sanctioned fight caught everyone by surprise. Today, Andreas Hale joins David Dennis Jr. to explain why Mike Tyson remains a fixture of sports culture and explores whether

The Bears were already a mess coming into last Sunday’s matchup against the Patriots. But since they fell 19-3 to the hapless Pats at Soldier Field, things have gotten even worse. On Tuesday, head coach Matt Eberflus announced the firing of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron as one last hail mary to try and rescue this season. Courtney Cronin covers the Bears and is here to discuss what made this team crumble and what is to come for quarterback Caleb Williams and the whole team as they face some of the best

The NBA season is officially in full swing and for many it’s a start that no one could have predicted. Who would have thought that even a few weeks into the season the Milwaukee Bucks would be fighting to stay out of the NBA cellar? Or that the Cleveland Cavaliers would be putting up numbers that King James couldn’t even muster during his reign? And let’s not forget the Golden State Warriors, who are going back to their old championship playbook and now find themselves sitting near the top of an

Coming into the season, few, if any, NFL watchers would have picked the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals to win their divisions. But here we are, after ten weeks of play, and both teams are in first place and control their own destiny toward a division title. For each of them, the sudden resurgence of once written-off quarterbacks have been a crucial piece of the puzzle. Today, Ben Solak joins Michele Steele to break down how Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray got their grooves back. Plus, the Niners get a bittersweet

The National Women's Soccer League playoffs kick off tonight with a matchup between No. 1 Orlando Pride and No. 8 Chicago Red Stars, followed by more quarterfinal round matches on Saturday and Sunday. But both on and off the pitch, the NWSL has arrived in a new era. Jeff Kassouf, lead women’s soccer writer at ESPN, is here to discuss the league’s recent seismic shifts, including the players’ new collective bargaining agreement – both the unprecedented power it gives players and the ripple effect it’s creating for management. Plus, a preview

Jerry Jones has built the Dallas Cowboys into the most valuable sports franchise in the world. But the 28 years since they last won a Super Bowl have been marked by a remarkable string of playoff failure. And this season, after three losses in a row, it looks like the letdowns in Big D will continue. Back in the offseason, former Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz identified a challenge very unique to Jerry’s team when he said “there’s [fans] literally going on tours while you’re lifting in the weight room… it’s

The dawn of a new college basketball season is here, and as we have all learned, change,and lots of it, is the new normal. From rosters rebuilt through the transfer portal, to programs making a name for themselves with the power of NIL deals – all we can say is welcome back to the chaos on the road to the Madness. There are some notable faces to follow this year like Cooper Flagg, the generational talent looking to bring a title to Duke and the duo of dynamic freshman at Rutgers

Who’s in and who’s out? Tonight’s reveal of the college football playoff rankings should serve as a less contentious appetizer to your election night viewing. And with the sport expanding the field to twelve teams for the first time in history, the eager anticipation is coupled with some confusion about how this whole thing is going to work. Today, Heather Dinich, who’s been using her weekly column to play-act as a committee-of-one all season, is here to answer all your questions. How can a school like BYU get a higher seeding

The end of the action on Sunday afternoon marked the mathematical midpoint of the 2024 NFL season. Exactly 186 games had been played, and Sunday Night’s matchup between the Colts and Vikings kicked off the season’s second half. So we figured it was time to check in on some teams midterm grades. Michele Steele and Ben Solak go through who is acing text after test across the league, and who could use a little extra time in study hall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The hype for an all time classic World Series was real when the Dodgers-Yankees matchup was locked in. Two of the most iconic franchises in MLB history battling for a ring for the 12th time in history, and the game's two biggest stars — Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge – shining on baseball’s biggest stage. But in the end, this series was over before it even got started, and the Dodgers celebrated their 8th world championship on enemy soil. So today, ESPN Daily’s own Clinton Yates reports from the heart of

Ahead of this weekend’s New York City Marathon, filmmaker and long-distance runner Nicole Teeny shares the incredible story behind her new 30 for 30 podcast GIRL v. HORSE. The conversation encompasses the surprising history of humans facing animals in contests of endurance and her own personal quest to accomplish the unthinkable: defeating a literal horse in a 50-mile ultramarathon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Monday brought news that head coach Stephanie White was leaving the Connecticut Sun, followed by speculation that she would be moving to a new team in the coming days. White was the seventh head coach to leave or be fired in the WNBA this offseason, meaning a majority of the league’s twelve teams will be under new leadership next season. Considering the explosive growth the league saw in 2024, it’s clear that the stakes are ramping up for leaders at every level. So with college basketball tipping off next week and

On the eve of November, the college football calendar finds itself in a rare situation for this time of year as it is chock full of chaos. From undefeated teams looking to make school history, to historic powerhouses trying to hold on to their relevance, all eyes are now focused on what’s next and who will be able to claim the coveted spots in the expanded college football playoff. And this looks to be the new normal as NIL, the transfer portal and conference realignment have given birth to a whole

This year, week 8 in the NFL was a holiday. No, not Halloween, but, National Tight Ends Day. And the Tight Ends were front and center, none more than George Kittle - the holiday’s “creator.” But since you heard plenty about it on every broadcast, today, Ben Solak is here to break down the Sunday night brawl between the 49ers and Cowboys. And to explain just how wild the end of the Commanders and Bears game was. To say nothing of the Lions putting up 52 points on the Titans, or

Yankees, Dodgers, World Series. Those words evoke memories of Major League baseball becoming the national pastime generations ago. Both franchises fielded some of the absolute giants in the history of the sport. Babe and Jackie. Mantle and Koufax. And today Ohtani and Judge. So as the baseball world gets ready for game one of the Fall Classic, we turn to Claire Smith, a legend in her own right, to tell us about the legacies of these two teams. And to put into perspective the passing of another legend, Fernando Valenzuela, who

The story told of World War II and America is one of triumph over the Axis powers of Germany and Japan; a time when our entire nation stood together as one. It has served as both an anchor and a beacon of virtue in our nation’s history. But often forgotten from this time is the Executive Order signed by President Roosevelt that called for forcible removal of all Japanese Americans from the West Coast to inland internment camps. This order ripped apart families, their homes and their livelihoods. But as these

There’s one thing for certain, the San Antonio Spurs sure can pick ‘em. From David Robinson to Tim Duncan and now Victor Wembanyama, whenever the Spurs have the No. 1 pick in the draft, they always seem to get their hands on a generational talent. And no one knows that more than lifelong Spurs superfan Shea Serrano, who has lived and breathed all of it. Today Serrano joins us to break down the vibe in San Antonio, gauge how close they are to a championship, and game out how long Gregg

The NBA season starts tonight, and much has happened since the end of the NBA Finals. The Eastern Conference has loaded up on top, with the Knicks and the 76ers making big moves over the summer to compete with the reigning champion Celtics. Over in the Western Conference there is as competitive a race to the playoffs as ever, where almost every team has a chance to make it to the postseason. Today Tim Bontemps joins the show to survey which off-season moves are most likely to pay off, why the

Week 7 in the NFL featured several of the biggest regular season battles that we’ve seen this season. While a Super Bowl rematch between the Chiefs and 49ers sort of fizzled out. Games between the Packers and Texans, and Lions and Vikings came down to the wire. And that’s before we even look at the newest toy in Aaron Rodgers toybox. So today, Ben Solak helps us understand all the highlights and stand out moments from Sunday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It wasn’t until the late 1960s that Black men were really allowed to play quarterback in professional football. And it took another 20 years or so for Black stars to emerge at the position. The lineage of runs from James “Shack” Harrris, the first black player to start a season at quarterback in the history of pro football, to Doug Williams, the first black player to start and win a Super Bowl, to Michael Vick, the first black quarterback to go first in the draft, to Warren Moon, the first black

Though the play has been a bit ugly at times, the New York Yankees are sitting pretty with a 2-0 lead over the Cleveland Guardians in the ALCS. Meanwhile, the New York Mets are looking to keep their improbable run alive as they face a crucial Game 4 against the prohibitive favorite L.A. Dodgers. No doubt October baseball takes on a different flavor when both New York teams make deep runs. So today, as these two series swing to new venues, Jeff Passan gives us his insider’s view on the League

The New York Liberty were one of the original franchises when the WNBA debuted in 1997. And despite the chaos of getting a professional sports team off the ground in six months, they were able to hit the ground running, making multiple appearances in the Finals. That magic run screeched to a halt as quickly as it started and the Liberty suddenly found themselves exiled out of New York City and playing in a 90-year-old arena in front of a handful of fans So today, Michael Voepel tells the story of

On Sunday, Jerry West became the first person inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player and contributor. West, who passed away in June of this year, left behind a legacy as a player, coach, executive, and is known for literally being the logo of the NBA. But he was also known for his obsessive pursuit of greatness, one that often left him incapable of enjoying the fruits of his labor. Today, ESPN senior writer Baxter Holmes details the impact that the feud between West and the

One season, one achilles injury, and a meager two wins in 2024 is all the Robert Saleh - Aaron Rodgers pairing has to show for itself with the Jets. Saleh is out as head coach of Gang Green after a rough start to the season. But for Saleh, his team, and pundits everywhere, it came as a surprise. Especially considering that with a win tonight, the Jets would be in first place in the AFC East. So today, ESPN NFL Nation reporter Rich Cimini, who’s covered the Jets since the first

On the eve of yet another chapter of the iconic Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma, Barry Switzer – at the age of 87 – stands alone as the link from college football’s colorful past to its explosive present. And his story is a true American tale. From growing up as the son of a bootlegger to winning national titles at Oklahoma to running a sought-after Airbnb on game days, Coach Switzer has always pledged to take care of everyone in his world. But what happens when that world isn’t

With NBA media days behind us and preseason games under way, we are officially counting down the days until the start of the NBA season on October 22. And though the defending champion Boston Celtics are looking to run it back with more or less the same roster, there are plenty of new faces in new places for us to get used to. Today, Brian Windhorst tells us why Bronny James’ arrival might actually be exactly what LeBron and the Lakers need, why the Oklahoma City Thunder are one of the

Postseason baseball is theater in the greatest sense. Taking the scale of sport’s longest season and distilling it down to a short series just ratchets up the intensity like nowhere else. And this year, the bad blood between the teams in all four of the divisional series creates a soap opera like none other. So today, MLB Insider, Jeff Passan, looks ahead at tonight's ALDS action and checks in on the vibes in the NLDS. And explains how hatred is okay, as long as you mind the line between tension and

In June, we saw the NHL season culminate in an epic Stanley Cup Final. Connor McDavid, the biggest star in the game, nearly led his Oilers back from a three, nothing deficit. But in the end, the Florida Panthers, once the laughing stock of the league, took the title in a decisive game seven. So today, with a new season getting underway, Greg Wyshynski is here to help us get used to the idea of a prestige franchise in South Florida, explain what the Oilers did in the offseason to take

Week 5 was a wild one. No lead was safe, and more than a couple of games came down to last second heroics. We even saw things that we don’t normally see, like a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown sealing the deal in Seattle. Today Ben Solak helps us digest everything we saw on the gridiron on Sunday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A’ja Wilson just finished what is arguably one of the best WNBA seasons of all time. From being the second ever unanimous MVP, to being the first player to have a 1000-point season; to winning an Olympic gold medal and the MVP of that tournament, this doesn't begin to cover all she's accomplished in 2024. Throughout all of this, Wilson’s family and faith has been a guiding light for her and she is constantly driven to ensure she sits atop of the Mount Rushmore of greats the WNBA has ever seen.

Ever since Dikembe Mutombo first stepped on to the court for the Georgetown Hoyas in 1988, his presence was impossible to ignore. The 7’2” center who hails from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, was a shot-blocking machine with a smile, a voice and signature gesture that would make him a star across the world. And beyond his tall stature was a man with one of the biggest hearts on earth, who’s generosity and kind spirit will never be forgotten. So today, Marc Spears joins us to discuss the life and

The soul of the Champions League isn’t the players or the teams, but the fans. And every one of them has a story on how their squad earned their undying loyalty. ESPN’s very own Luis Miguel Echegaray is no different. His tale is of a stirring, intercontinental journey into the ranks of Birmingham’s Aston Villa that continues to be written. So today, as he makes his way to their big Champions League showdown against Bayern Munich, LME explains why he bleeds the Villains claret and blue and explains how a revamped

Last Thursday, the Athletics played their final game ever in Oakland, the city they’ve called home for 57 years. As friend of the show Jeff Passan wrote, baseball in the East Bay was “killed by greed… John Fisher did not have to move this team… This was a choice. A wrong one. History will sneer.” For the conclusion of our Death of a Sports Town series, we trekked to the Oakland Coliseum and bore witness to the sights, sounds, and emotions of a city’s last gasp as a big time pro

Four weeks of the NFL season are just about in the bag, and some things are just starting to come into focus. For example, how even at 3-1, the new look Buffalo Bills are facing an uphill climb against the true contenders in the AFC and how the Minnesota Vikings — who NOBODY saw coming — could shake up the NFC all season. So today, Ben Solak takes us through everything you need to know about the league one month in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The college football landscape, once the bedrock of tradition in sports, now seems to shock us every few months with more changes and teams on the move. And with the transfer portal, NIL and this year’s expanded college football playoff, just about anything and anyone is up for grabs. Which brings to our latest storm on the college football radar: The Pac-12. Left for dead only a year ago, this once-mighty brand is looking to make a comeback by reclaiming their Power 5 status one school at a time. Today Kyle

Three weeks in the question surrounding the 2024 NFL season? Where’s the offense at? With teams practicing less in training camps, starters playing less in the preseason, and more youth than ever lining up under center, things have been kind of ugly for a lot of teams. So our friend Mina Kimes explores how all of that is manifesting at the most important spot on each team. Quarterback. From Caleb Williams’ rocky start in Chicago, to Jayden Daniels’ star turn on Monday Night Football, Mina looks at several situations around the

Major League Baseball is a sport that celebrates its history through, among other things, its records. So when you break a 60-year old mark, people take notice. But when it’s for the most losses in a season, that’s not the kind of attention you ever want for your franchise. That is where the 2024 Chicago White Sox find themselves at 120 losses and counting while dethroning the 1962 Mets’ losing record as being the furthest away from the right side of history. Veteran Chicagoan Jesse Rogers joins the show to take

In covering Oakland’s unraveling as a big time sports town, we’ve documented the greed, the loss, the dubious decisions, and the rich sports community soon to be left behind. But we’ve yet to fully examine the most pertinent question of all––does the Athletics planned move to Las Vegas make any sense at all? Today, in part four of our series Death of a Sports Town, we take stock of why the A’s (and MLB) are so enamored with Las Vegas––a city soon to be the smallest market in the league––why this