The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James

Eight matches remain in what's been a pretty thrilling World Cup as the cream of the crop national teams head into what’s sure to be a scintillating quarterfinal round, but the tournament is effectively over for  Santa Fe New Mexican  sports writers Will Webber and James Barron. The U.S. men’s national team is out and so are these two, who tune into soccer but once every four...

Disregarding the world’s most popular sport for most of their days,  Santa Fe New Mexican  sports writers Will Webber and James Barron can’t help but get caught up in the drama of the World Cup when it rolls around every four years. Will filled out his bracket for the knockout rounds on Sunday, and by Monday his pick to win it all (the Netherlands) was sent packing. Neverthel...

The highly anticipated vote on instituting a “one-time” transfer rule took place Monday, with New Mexico Activity Association member schools approving the measure by a narrow 67-60 margin. Student-athletes will now have the option to transfer to another school once without losing eligibility for their respective sports. In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, San...

The New Mexico United launched as an expansion franchise of the USL Championship in 2019 to overwhelming support, leading the league in attendance in its inaugural season and developing an electric atmosphere that generated buzz across the state. While many other Albuquerque-area pro sports franchises have come and gone over the decades, the United has shown to have staying power. Now in its eight...

The biggest sporting event in the world is nearly upon us, but it’s of little concern to Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron. Although it’s summer and prep sports are on hiatus, there’s plenty going on locally to keep them occupied. In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, the guys address some of the feedback they got for their...

Influenced by championship-winning coaches early in his career, St. Michael’s graduate Damian Segura has built his own legacy by becoming one himself. A longtime boys basketball coach at Albuquerque St. Pius X, where he guided the Sartans to four state titles, Segura is now trying to make contenders of Sandia Prep. In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Segura joins&n...

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The celebratory parade in Las Vegas, N.M., had to be put on a hold for a day when the bus of the Class 3A softball champion West Las Vegas Lady Dons broke down in the hours following their 2-1 victory over Cobre in Friday’s final. The misfortune couldn’t spoil their elation from winning their second title in three years, and the Lady Dons broke out in a karaoke session outside of a res...

It’s the last week of spring sports and much remains to be decided, with state softball, baseball and large school track and field squads competing to lift a blue trophy.  Santa Fe New Mexican  sports writers Will Webber and James Barron are looking not blue but red, with the smoldering sun melting their brains and crisping their skin as they cover all the action. In the latest epi...

The 2026 season for the Santa Fe Indian School baseball team is history in the making. The Braves, who finished at the bottom of District 2-3A last year, captured their first-ever district crown in Class 3A on Saturday with a win at West Las Vegas. Now, the determined squad is looking to make some more noise as the No. 2 seed in the Class 3A state tournament. In the latest episode of “The Sp...

In a decade and a half with the West Las Vegas Dons baseball team, Sal Archuleta has seen the program go from an afterthought in its district to a title contender. Now in his fourth season as head coach, Archuleta has the Dons in the hunt for their first district title in more than four decades. Archuleta joins Santa Fe New Mexican sports reporters Will Webber and James Barron in the latest episod...

University of New Mexico sports fans got a big lift late last week with star sharpshooter Jake Hall announcing he’ll be returning to the men’s basketball team for his sophomore season. The only underclassman on the All-Mountain West First Team, Hall will be a key cog for head coach Eric Olen as the Lobos vie for a conference crown and another trip the the NCAA Tournament in the 2026-27...

With state championships in football and basketball in hand, Kamal Stith has visions of a perfect senior year in focus as his attention turns to the track. Santa Fe New Mexican  sports reporters Will Webber and James Barron have spent a lot of time speaking with Stith over the years following big wins and had him back on “The Sports Den” podcast this week for a chat about his deco...

Santa Fe New Mexican  Sports Editor Will Webber has a lot on his mind after returning from the Final Four in Indianapolis — the uncertainty around the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team that will experience a major retooling this offseason, the expansive gap between UNM and the power programs that have the money to stay at the top of college athletics, and a hotel elev...

The rims may be the same height at Hinkle Fieldhouse as they are at The Pit, but they weren’t kind to the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team Thursday as a rough shooting night from 3-point land bit the Lobos in a 74-69 loss to Tulsa in the National Invitation Tournament semifinals in Indianapolis. In a postgame edition of “The Sports Den” podcast,  Santa Fe...

Santa Fe New Mexican  Lobos beat writer Will Webber is about to live out a sports writer’s dream by experiencing college basketball euphoria in Indianapolis, where the NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III and NIT men’s Final Fours will play out in the next handful of days, but is the highlight of his epic road trip from Albuquerque to the Hoosier state already in the rearvie...

They just missed out on the Big Dance but the Lobos have been having fun at home while routing their first two opponents in the National Invitation Tournament. In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron discuss the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team’s NIT run heading into Tuesday night&rsqu...

The most exciting sports week in New Mexico is in the books and three local teams capped it off with a dream ending. In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron are joined by a few newly crowned state basketball tournament champions — Santa Fe Indian School girls coach Khadijha Jackson, Mesa Vista girls coach...

State basketball week is a grinder for  The New Mexican’s  sports guys as they pump out several stories each day, but the excitement generated from the atmosphere and the memorable games keep them going. This season has been no exception. On the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Will Webber and James Barron share their favorite memories through Thursday and lo...

Fans from across the state will pack The Pit and the Rio Rancho Events Center this week to watch their favorite teams vie for a blue trophy at the boys and girls state basketball tournaments. In the latest episode of “The Sports Den,” Will Webber and a dapper James Barron zero in on the quarterfinals matchups that catch their eye, including 3A boys showdowns involving Santa Fe Indian S...

The seedings are set and the most anticipated high school sporting event of the year is about to tip off. In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast,  Santa Fe New Mexican  sports writers Will Webber and James Barron take a look at all the brackets in the state basketball tournament before switching gears to chat with Highlands baseball coach Steve Jones about his retu...

We’re entering the most wonderful time of the year for New Mexico hoops fans with the beginning of postseason play as prep teams position themselves to make a run at a blue trophy. With its first winning season since 2021-22, the Santa Fe High girls basketball team has put itself in the mix to compete at state in Class 5A. The Demonettes are looking to improve their seeding with a strong sho...

After each home game at the Steve Loy Family Foundation Arena, the men’s basketball players at Eastern New Mexico University make the rounds to shake hands and visit with the Greyhound faithful. Head coach Daven Võ says the fans’ relationship with the team is a big reason why ENMU leads the Lone Star Conference in attendance and has created an intimidating atmosphere for visitin...

It’s that time again. Every four years, curling has its moment in the spotlight as sports fans fixate on the mesmerizing Winter Olympic event. Associated with cold climates, the game has also found a foothold in the high desert. In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast,  Santa Fe New Mexican  sports writers Will Webber and James Barron speak with a local curlin...

Dakota Montoya was a surprise pick to some when he was named head boys basketball coach at St. Michael’s in 2024. The Clayton graduate who played football at Eastern New Mexico University said he recognized there were some critics and question marks early on, but he was excited to step up to the challenge of the school’s high standards. Following a state runner-up season in 2024-25, Mo...