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The 2023-2025 World Test Championship was the third edition of a new competition – which replaced the ICC Champions Trophy – designed to crown the world’s best men’s test team. It was launched with the goal of promoting the game of test cricket and building an audience for it across multiple platforms. It has drawn criticism from fans and the press, including from Wisden’s Cricketers’ Almanack, which called it “a shambles masquerading as a showpiece”.

But it has also attracted interest because of its unprecedented prize money for the two finalists: USD $5.76 million, a figure that is more than double that awarded in the previous two championships. That, along with the fact that this final will take place at Lord’s – with an additional day in case of bad weather – makes it a major event.

The reason why it has been scheduled to take place in England – as opposed to any other neutral venue – is a matter of economics and logistics. England is a good choice for this type of event because it offers strong crowds, an enticing time zone for India and pitches that provide a fair contest between bat and ball. The fact that the final has been played in England several times over the past two years has been a source of irritation for some of the game’s top teams, especially Australia and India. They argue that it unfairly rewards teams from the larger, richer nations at the expense of smaller countries.

The NFL draft isn’t just about snagging elite rookie talent, but securing reliable veterans who can anchor iffy offenses as well. That’s especially important in 2025, as a herd of healthy wide receivers could take on more injury risk than usual and the top running backs are expected to deal with varying degrees of RB1 health luck.

In this range, I’m targeting a few veteran lottery tickets who may be undervalued. Javonte Williams is a solid option, as he ranked 13th in missed tackles last season (per Fantasy Points Data) and has little competition for carries from Miles Sanders and fifth-round rookie Jaydon Blue. In addition, he’s the rare running back who can also offer significant PPR points, as his career-high 94.4 target share and 6.7 TD upside show.

Meanwhile, Anthony Richardson is a safe play in the early second, as his hefty carries fueled a RB18 finish last year. In terms of his underlying stats, he actually ranked better than Saquon Barkley in both rushing yards and expected touchdowns last season despite missing time with injuries. Finally, Tyson Spears is a sleeper worth considering in the third round, as his elusiveness showed flashes as a 2023 rookie and he should be the team’s lead back given the Chargers’ low rate of 11 personnel. If he can return to his 2023 form, Spears is poised for an RB2 finish.

The UEFA Champions League is the premier European club competition for European professional football clubs. Founded in 1955, the competition was known as the European Cup until 1992, when it was revamped to include a group stage and a knockout phase. Real Madrid won the first four editions, establishing the tournament as one of the most important sporting events on the continent.

The 2024-25 season marked the start of an overhaul, replacing the group stage with a league phase. The top eight teams advance to the round of sixteen, where they are ranked according to their performance in league phase play and then placed into one of four seeding pots for the knockout phase playoffs. A draw system determines matchups, and each team plays eight different opponents over the course of the league phase, with a combination of home and away games.

During the league phase, if a match ends in a tie, extra time is played and, if necessary, penalty shootouts are used to decide the winner. At the end of the league phase, clubs with the highest aggregate goals advance to the quarterfinals, semifinals and final, which are both played as single two-legged matches on a Saturday.

Five of the thirty-two qualified teams are automatically promoted to the Champions League, while the remaining thirteen enter through a three-round qualifying process. The first qualifying round takes place between national champions, while the second and third rounds are open to the best runners-up in each of UEFA’s tiers.

Any sincere fan can display a level of emotional attachment and angst to the personal affairs of their favorite athletes. However, a balanced approach that prioritizes more substantial issues, along with a critical mindset, can help individuals navigate sports celebrity gossip in a manner that aligns with their values and promotes healthier societal discourse. This week, Madeline and Charlotte welcome back Angie Sullivan, co-host of the political pop culture show I’ve Had It Podcast and an avid sports fan. She and the gals discuss Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig’s personal matter, WNBA star Suni Lee’s relationship with NBA boyfriend OG Anunoby and Chauncey Billups’ indictment on illegal sports betting.

When ice hockey takes center stage at the Olympics, fans are treated to a spectacle of skill and grit. Whether it’s Sidney Crosby’s golden goal at Vancouver 2010 or the U.S.’s “Miracle on Ice” upset of the Soviet Union in 1980, Olympic hockey games are legendary in their own right. But what happens when a game goes into overtime? Both the NHL and the Olympics use a modified sudden-death, three-on-three overtime format, but there is one big difference: The Olympic version requires five shooters from each team, while the NHL only uses three.

When the men’s teams from Canada and Sweden met for the gold medal in the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, no winner emerged after a scoreless 10-minute period of overtime. So, the game had to be decided by a shootout. Five players from each team took a turn shooting against the opposing goalie, and each time, the goalies traded chances until one side led.

The first shot was taken by Eric Lindros, now of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He skated toward Swedish goalie Tommy Salo and slid the puck into the top corner of the net. But the puck hadn’t crossed the goal line completely, so it was ruled no goal and the shootout continued.

The final shootout was between Mark Johnson and Vladimir Tretiak, two of the greatest goalies in hockey history. After a back-and-forth exchange of shots, Tretiak took his turn. Johnson, the shortest player on the team, gathered himself and skated in on Tretiak, juking him to create space for his shot. The puck slipped into the net to give the United States its first gold medal in 42 years, and a new Olympic legend was born.

For two weeks each summer, the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens becomes tennis central. Spectators flock to Flushing Meadows for the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the season that begins on Sunday and ends on Labor Day weekend.

This year, a number of intriguing story lines are set to play out at the main tournament site. Will last year’s champion Aryna Sabalenka repeat in New York? Can Jannik Sinner rebound from a Cincinnati Open semifinal loss to make another deep run in the majors? Can Victoria Mboko, an 18-year-old Canadian who thrilled her home crowd with a stunning win at the Canadian Open this month, ride that momentum to a second U.S. Open title?

Those questions and more will be answered when the tournament gets underway. The first round starts Sunday, Aug. 24, with a host of marquee matches.

The opening round features a handful of top seeds taking on qualifiers or lower-ranked players, but there are a few notable matches to keep an eye on. One of those is a match between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. The top-ranked men’s duo are former US Open champions and they could meet in the quarterfinals. Also, look for the battle of the younger generation between American Tommy Paul and Jakub Mensik. Both are ranked in the mid-20s and have proven their mettle against top-tier players this season. They’ll face off on Stadium 17.

In an era of social media-fueled fame, viral sports moments capture the hearts and minds of fans across the globe. Whether it’s an amazing play, a tearful goodbye, or a groundbreaking debut, these moments become global conversations and inspire millions of shares, reactions, and memes. As 2025 draws to a close, let’s take a look back at some of the most memorable sporting moments of the year.

Authenticity: The real deal

One of the most important factors that distinguish remarkable sports moments is authenticity. Whether it’s a heartwarming goodbye, a tearful ovation, or a groundbreaking debut, these moments resonate because they are genuine. This authenticity creates an emotional bond with spectators that extends beyond the game.

High stakes: Creating a sense of expectancy

Remarkable sporting moments often occur in high-stakes competitions where athletes push their limits. The tension and exhilaration builds as they recognize that a single event can transform their careers and etch their names right into history. The improbable Rugby World Cup win of 1995 by South Africa’s national team is an excellent example of this phenomenon.

When the stakes are high, athletes can experience an exhilarating rush that elevates their performances. The awe that is generated by such events can propel them to new heights of success, or it can quickly damage their reputation. Brands can leverage these iconic moments by promoting their association with athletes that resonate with Gen Z audiences. By providing a personalized video journey for fans, brands can enhance the reach and impact of these viral clips.

Whether they brought down Jose Mourinho or marched against their club owner, these fan protest stories remind us that the capacity of fans to mobilize in support of social causes is a defining feature of fandom. They also show that, even when a movement fails, it can help us understand the constraints on fan activism more generally.

As IC and the HPA demonstrate, many fan activist groups recruit through preexisting community structures, but the media they create serves as the impetus for action. The powerful experiences created by these self-created media inspire a wish to help, which is often rooted in previous community experiences.

But the way in which this wish is expressed can affect the success of a movement. For example, the personal details shared about the teenager whose death spurred the Seattle protest led to more positive attitudes toward both the cause and the people involved in the demonstration. In contrast, news stories that highlighted his criminal past and speculated about his involvement in the murder weakened support for the protest.

Similarly, the personality of celebrities may influence which issues they choose to embrace or avoid. For instance, Tom Phillips examines the failure of Kevin Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy, Dogma) to rally fans around his attempt to pressure Southwest Airlines for changes in their policies on body size and weight discrimination, and Cheuk Yi Lin explores how Hong Kong’s erotic pop star has offered queer fans new language and images to express their own sexual identities, but failed to motivate them into institutional politics.

Gender equality in sports is not only essential for women’s health and well-being, but is also a key driver in the fight against gender discrimination. It can be catalysed by the presence of female athletes as role models, which is a critical factor in changing societal perceptions around gender inequality and social injustice. It is thus imperative to support and empower female athletes and to invest in the development of a broader range of gender-inclusive strategies.

Despite the global commitment to gender equality, there remains an urgent need for more research and policy initiatives to ensure that women have equal access to sport. Many of these challenges are rooted in the cultural context, with a persistent lack of knowledge on how to address the complex dynamics of gender equality as a core barrier. Physical education teachers and coaches are often unaware of the various dimensions of the issue, limiting their ability to implement and promote policies that support gender equality in sports.

To overcome these barriers, a new study protocol has been developed to serve as a tool for gathering and assessing data on the status of gender equality in sports. The study protocol consists of 20 content indicators that are evaluated through separate analyses and graded using a 10-point scale, offering a more nuanced understanding of the challenges and progress in this area. It encourages national evaluators to meet annually and produce national reports that highlight the latest evidence on the issue of gender equality in sports, and the most effective ways to promote and advance women’s presence in sport and leadership structures.

Athlete endorsements are a powerful marketing tool that leverage the credibility, visibility, and differentiation of athletes to directly impact consumer purchasing decisions. They are a distinct and effective alternative to traditional advertising, as they provide an authentic and human connection to brands, creating deeper loyalty and brand trust.

Athletes generate intrinsic trust and admiration from their fans, who connect with them on a personal level. They also often share similar challenges and struggles with the audiences they engage, creating a sense of relatability that increases brand credibility and appeal. These positive emotional connections drive a higher percentage of purchases, making athlete endorsements an increasingly potent marketing strategy.

The key to a successful partnership is ensuring that the athlete’s values and image are aligned with the campaign goals and creative. For example, Nike’s recent “Dream Crazier” campaign with tennis champion Serena Williams was a great fit as her advocacy for social justice and empowerment resonated strongly with the audience. The campaign was also enhanced by her active participation in the creative process, which ensured the messaging felt genuine and authentic to the audience.

To measure the effectiveness of athlete endorsements, marketers use a variety of quantitative and qualitative metrics to assess performance. Metrics such as engagement rates, follower growth, and sales uplift offer insights into the overall success of a campaign. More in-depth analyses can reveal longer-term impacts, such as shifts in consumer perceptions and loyalty. Legal professionals play a critical role in implementing compliance protocols and including indemnification terms that are balanced with the risk of potential litigation.