The Lead

The NHL Playoffs began this weekend, and the first few games have not disappointed. The Athletic's James Mirtle joins us today to break down the biggest and most fascinating storylines to follow in this year's playoffs. Can Connor McDavid's individual brilliance lift the Edmonton Oilers above mediocrity? Can the offensively talented Pittsburgh Penguins give "Sid the Kid" a fourth shot at the Cup?...

Early on this season, Anthony Edwards looked like a 19-year-old rookie trying to figure things out in the NBA. But lately, the number one pick in the 2020 NBA Draft has flipped the switch. Today, The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski on how Edwards managed to level up his game and make a run at Rookie of the Year, and what the team’s core of Edwards, D’Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns is trying to p...

So far, 2021 has been the year of the pitcher -- and none have been better than Mets ace Jacob DeGrom. But what has made DeGrom's performance this year so remarkable is that, among other things, he’s throwing harder as he gets older. Tim Britton, who covers the Mets for The Athletic, recently spoke with people who know DeGrom and have worked with him over the years, to try and figure out how DeGro...

Will the Seattle Storm (and their big three of Breanna Stewart, Sue Bird, and Jewell Loyd) repeat their dominance from last season? What will young superstar Sabrina Ionescu look like this season after missing almost all of last year with an injury? And who will bring home MVP, Rookie of the Year, and Championship honors in 2021? The Athletic's Chantel Jennings joins us to answer all of these ques...

The Carolina Panthers turned some heads in the 2021 NFL Draft by selecting cornerback Jaycee Horn eighth overall, when Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields was among the players still available. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Joe Person to look at why the Panthers made Horn their choice, and how he was groomed for success by his dad — former New Orleans Saints Pro Bowl wide receiver Joe Hor...

The Milwaukee Bucks have been one of the best regular season teams in the NBA over the past two seasons, but that success hasn't really translated to the playoffs. To try and improve their fortunes in the postseason the team acquired guard Jrue Holiday this offseason in a blockbuster trade. Today we're joined by The Athletic's Eric Nehm who fills us in on how the Holiday experiment has been workin...

Tom Wilson is a feared man. The Washington Capitals winger has served multiple suspensions during his NHL career and is considered by many to be the most reckless and dangerous hockey player in the entire NHL (while also being a very good player). And all of that is why the hockey world was thrown into turmoil this week after Wilson made two very dangerous plays in a game against the New York Rang...

Over the last week, the focus of the football world was supposed to be on the NFL Draft. Instead, all eyes have been on the league’s reigning MVP, Aaron Rodgers. Today, The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman on how things have unfolded since Rodgers dropped the news that he no longer wants to be in Green Bay, the many things he’s been up to this offseason (including hosting Jeopardy!, and his engagement t...

The Washington Wizards have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA recently, and have been making a big push toward the playoffs. And while some long-suffering fans are thrilled about the prospect of playoff hoops returning to Washington D.C., others feel the team is shooting itself in the foot by eliminating their chances at a lottery pick in the NBA Draft. The Athletic's David Aldridge, who ha...

In today's Champion's League semifinal match between Paris St. Germain and Manchester City, one player in particular will be heavily scrutinized and critiqued -- PSG's Brazilian superstar, Neymar. For years, he has dazzled the soccer world with his incredible skills, and simultaneously enraged many fans and opponents with his over-the-top antics. The Athletic's Jack Lang, who has written extensive...

The 2021 NFL Draft is officially behind us, and over the course of three days in Cleveland, we saw the expected (Trevor Lawrence to the Jags), the unexpected (the Bears trading up to get Justin Fields) and the confusing (the Raiders). Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Sheil Kapadia, who hands out his letter grades for some of the best, worst and strangest moves from the 2021 NFL Draft — a...

The 2021 NFL Draft started out as everyone expected, with Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson going first and second overall to the Jaguars and Jets. From there, things got interesting. Today, The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue joins us to break down the biggest and most surprising moments of the night, including the 49ers choosing Trey Lance, the Bears’ bold trade up for Justin Fields, the Bengals reuni...

The NFL Draft always brings intense speculation, insight and analysis. But it also brings some of the most emotional moments in sports -- moments when players and their families realize a lifelong dream and see their futures transformed in a single moment. Today, The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner brings us the story of Western Michigan wide receiver D'Wayne Eskridge, a converted track star who has f...

Just three years ago, the Carolina Hurricanes were in the midst of a decade-long NHL playoff drought. Today, they have the best record in the league and have already clinched a playoff berth. Along the way, the team captured the hearts and minds (and in some cases, the ire) of the hockey world with their elaborate 'Storm Surge' celebrations. Sara Civian, who covers the 'Canes for The Athletic, joi...

Stephen Curry put up historic numbers in April and almost single-handedly dragged this Warriors team into playoff contention. The two-time MVP has made a strong case for a third trophy, and silenced many of his critics in the process. Today, The Athletic's Zach Harper joins us to talk about Curry's incredible performances over the past few weeks and to break down the rest of the NBA's Western Conf...

Much of the debate around this year’s NFL draft, which kicks off on Thursday, has been about the talented group of quarterbacks at the top of the class. From Clemson's Trevor Lawrence to BYU's Zach Wilson, and Ohio State's Justin Fields to North Dakota State's Trey Lance, many NFL teams will be betting big on a potential franchise QB -- and hoping their pick pays off. The Athletic's Andy Staples j...

Just three seasons ago, the Colorado Rockies won 91 games and reached the postseason. Now, in 2021, they are considered by many to be the worst team in baseball. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Nick Groke to look at the series of missteps that took the Rockies from contender to punchline, and how they went from one of the proudest days in their history — the signing of Nolan Arenado to...

It has been one of the most spectacular collapses in sports history. On Sunday, many of the world's largest soccer clubs announced that they were forming a new 'Super League' -- by invitation only, and accessible only to the wealthiest and most historic teams in the land. But then came the backlash. Fans, players, managers, sponsors, pundits, and non-participating teams cried foul and created such...

When Mike Trout signed his record breaking contract with the Los Angeles Angels two years ago, some people were surprised that the best player in baseball was choosing to stay with a team that had only made the playoffs once in a decade, and didn’t look like it would be a World Series contender any time soon. Since then, things have arguably gotten even worse, with the Angels finishing below .500...

The Brooklyn Nets have gone all-in on winning the NBA title this year, but for much of the season, their Big Three of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving has had a hard time just staying on the floor. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Alex Schiffer to look at how Steve Nash and the Nets have tried to weather a storm of injuries and absences, and whether time is running out on their que...

The NFL Draft is fast approaching and LSU's Ja'Marr Chase is widely expected to be the first receiver to come off the board. Chase burst onto the national scene during the Tigers undefeated championship run in 2019, but he raised some eyebrows by choosing to opt out of the 2020 season over COVID-19 concerns. Today, we're joined by The Athletic's Larry Holder to talk about how Ja'Marr and his famil...

Last weekend, there was a fresh new voice calling out the starting lineups inside Chase Center, and getting Golden State Warriors fans hyped in the process. It belonged to Aaron 'Showtime' Taylor, a man who cut his teeth as a basketball announcer inside San Quentin State Prison -- and who spent more than 25 years behind bars. The Athletic's Marcus Thompson II has been following Taylor's incredible...

Major League Soccer is still not making money, and only about a quarter of the league’s teams turn a profit, according to Forbes. And yet the cost of buying an MLS team, or buying into the league, is skyrocketing -- and growing at a much faster rate than the NFL, NBA, or MLB. We've also seen celebrities like Will Ferrell, Matthew McConaughey, Magic Johnson, James Harden and others become partial o...

While the defending champion L.A. Lakers are trying to stay afloat until they get LeBron James and Anthony Davis back, the team that shares an arena with them has been taking things to another level. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Law Murray to look at why things have really started to click for Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers. Plus, the challenges that this pandemic — and...

The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the best teams in the NHL this year and goalie Jack Campbell has been a major factor in their success. As a teenager, Campbell was touted as the next great phenom in American hockey, but his time with the Dallas Stars was derailed by injury and a loss of confidence. After getting traded to Los Angeles, Campbell met Dusty Imoo, a coach who is described as a sort-o...