Tough times for Buffalo fans... Both the Bills and the Sabres suffered OT losses to end their 2025-26 seasons.

In a rare and gripping twist, the East’s top two seeds have been knocked out before the conference finals. Knicks-Cavs starts tonight!

Ws up! Conference finals time!

The Knicks are riding a seven-game tear, outscoring opponents by an NBA-record 185 points. But after surviving a gritty ECSF battle, do the Cavaliers have enough to finally cool New York off? Our NBA staff's takes on the ECF: www.nytimes.com/athletic/728...

The Washington Nationals have identified and banned at least one individual from Nationals Park after he unfurled a sign during Sunday’s game that directed fans to a white nationalist website and called for the deportation of “100+ million,” according to a team spokesperson.

SARAH ASHLEE BARKER FTW 🔥 The Portland Fire get their first win of the season.

NBA fans! Do you have a story about how you were blocked from buying playoff tickets (zip code restricted)? Or how you got around the restriction? I’d love to hear from you! You can reply here and I’ll follow up or you can email me at staylor at theathletic dot com.

Los Kemet proves that all three-letter acronyms aren't bad Isaiah Rashad balances the soulful and sordid Bby Kell assumes the princess crown & then covers it in slime T.F. & Muggs invent the dusted chicken And much more at the Rap Up by @slgonsports.bsky.social www.powmag.net/p/the-rap-up...

I'm live in the Discuss tab for Knicks-Sixers Game 3. My first contribution: remembering Larry Hughes. Say hello!

The Chargers play chicken with Eli Manning. The Vikings run out of clock. That's not Bill Belichick, that is a dog! Went through memorable NFL Draft moments. "Who in the hell is Mel Kiper anyway?”

“Losing my brother,” he says, “and understanding what life is really about.” My newest story @theathletic.com on the many dimensions of Aaron Gordon: www.nytimes.com/athletic/721...

From Chris Paul

Azzi Fudd's deep WNBA ties. Lauren Betts' mental health advocacy. Raven Johnson's statement-maker in a boys All-American game. Kiki Rice as Jordan Brand's first NIL athlete (and Allan Houston's cousin!). Get to know tonight's top picks: @theathletic.com

The picks are in and the first rosters in Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo history are being formed 👀 Here’s who each team selected in the 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft.

Just a decade ago, if you were a Yankees fan in New York, you just needed a cable subscription to watch every regular-season game and the playoffs. Now, it could require navigating 10 networks, multiple subscriptions and perhaps thousands of dollars. ✍️ @andrewmarchand.bsky.social on this new era:

The 10 teams in the women’s Sweet 16 trying to win their first NCAA championship www.nytimes.com/athletic/711...

We debated San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama and asked him to make his case for the NBA MVP award. Wembanyama broke down his impact on the court and the importance of defense. “My goal is to make sure there is no debate anymore at the end of the season.”

Lavonte David, a 14-year NFL veteran and Super Bowl champion with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, announced his retirement on Tuesday, ending one of the most notable careers in franchise history.

It was only three seasons ago that men’s college basketball seemed to have no juice and zero household names. But it no longer feels that way. The reason why? NIL.

Let's goooo (I have UCLA winning it all)

Hugh Freeze is on the High Point basketball staff, I just know it to be true

The World Baseball Classic championship game is SET: 🇺🇸 Team USA vs. Team Venezuela 🇻🇪

NFL free agency is here 🔔 Follow our live coverage as a flurry of deals will be signed across the league this week: http://dlvr.it/TRNgwT

NEWS: The Las Vegas Raiders are moving on from Geno Smith, with the quarterback expected to be released after one season with the team, sources tell @diannarussini.bsky.social.

Shohei Ohtani's grand slam, as called in Japan:

Shohei Ohtani is doing Shohei Ohtani things at the World Baseball Classic 🦄 Through the second inning vs. Chinese Taipei, he was just a triple shy of the cycle.

Rich The Factor salutes the orcas. Dave East and Scram Jones rework The Gap Band. KP Skywalka is a linguistics professor. Chris Crack knows a guy who knows a guy. It's Monday afternoon. The Rap Up is here. By @slgonsports.bsky.social www.passionweiss.com/2026/03/02/t...

After back-to-back World Series wins, are the Los Angeles Dodgers good or bad for MLB? We asked. You answered.

Quite a weekend for college ball

NBA draft order should be established by a series of Lincoln-Douglas style debates

THE SEATTLE SEAHAWKS ARE YOUR SUPER BOWL LX CHAMPIONS 🏆

Prince underneath the “Purple Rain” that he physically manifested. Beyoncé shining before a power blackout. One of Katy Perry’s two gyrating sharks in fugue state. I revisited the most talked-about Super Bowl halftime shows. Now, to Diana Ross' getaway chopper:

Activists handed out towels at the entrance of Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara with the slogan “ICE OUT.”

Heard around the nation: "Everyboooooooody, rock your bo— aughhhhhhhhh god dammit"

Prince underneath the “Purple Rain” that he physically manifested. Beyoncé shining before a power blackout. One of Katy Perry’s two gyrating sharks in fugue state. I revisited the most talked-about Super Bowl halftime shows. Now, to Diana Ross' getaway chopper:

The Super Bowl halftime show is music’s biggest night on television. While the performers practice months in advance, most of the camera crew is called in the week of the Super Bowl. @jaynabardahl.bsky.social on how they make it happen ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

Here’s what newcomers should know ahead of Bad Bunny’s halftime set ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...

Bad Bunny got emotional when asked who first believed in him, crediting his mother’s support before his career took off. "I have to say my mom. She believed in me ... She believed that I could be a good person, you know?"

Me on the death of the Washington Post sports section. This isn't a day to be nostalgic. It's a day to be angry. www.theringer.com/2026/02/04/m...

James Harden says goodbye to the LA Clippers

A tribute to Swishahouse legend Michael "5000" Watts. New riddles and refractions from Sideshow Mike Shabb & Niontay drop off-center flows with hidden meanings & direct sedatives. Judah Weston defies the odds A vintage Rap Up from @slgonsports.bsky.social www.passionweiss.com/2026/02/02/t...

“Ethical basketball” was born as a talking point in an ideological battle waged online for years now. It’s an ode to a straight-up version of the game most people grew up playing. And now, it’s a movement that Victor Wembanyama, a student of the game, is preaching to the masses.

One of the last Rap Ups of the year, where @slgonsports.bsky.social highlights the 10 songs that stuck with him the most Ft. The Musalini & DJ.Fresh, Paul Wall, ANKLEJOHN, Papo2oo4 & Subjxct 5, Kamaiyah, Bravo the Bagchaser & X4, Valee x Harry Fraud, & LaRussell www.passionweiss.com/2025/12/22/t...

This year’s College Football Playoff reflects the adage that you get what you pay for. The 12-team field includes the four teams with the largest football budgets, the nation’s two highest-paid coaches and three of the four highest-paid general managers.

With all that happened today, there's no WAY the committee could screw North Texas and James Madison again THIS wee--[committee screws North Texas and James Madison again this week]

Parable symmetry in today's West standings

Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto's "odd couple" friendship is powering the Dodgers closer to a World Series return. http://dlvr.it/TNhGw5

NEWS: Russell Westbrook has agreed to sign a minimum deal with the Sacramento Kings, a source confirmed to The Athletic. The 9x All-Star was an unrestricted free agent before the signing, having last played with the Denver Nuggets. Read more: www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...

The 2025 WNBA Finals feature a desert duel that few would have predicted at the start of the season. ◻️ How do the Aces and Mercury match up? ◻️ Las Vegas’ X-factor? Veteran leadership. ◻️ Phoenix’s X-factor? Deep bench. Let’s preview the series:

WNBA Finals primer, featuring: - A'ja Wilson as a silk and swagger pogo stick - Jackie Young juking across history - Alyssa Thomas diming with torn shoulders - The gym inside the casino inside the resort - "Mighty Mercury" for song of the year