Before he takes the mound to represent the United States in the World Baseball Classic for the first time, Paul Skenes writes a letter to the next generation.

Hi, I’m Lily and I play volleyball for Notre Dame. Two years ago, I got a text about AI deepfake nudes — of me, and other female athletes — being posted online. It turned my life into a horror movie. I survived. Many people don’t. I’m telling my story now, for all of us.

“I don’t need a break, or a fresh start. I just want to be in Edmonton, playing hockey. I want to get back there again, whatever it takes. If that sounds like a robot, then I guess I’m a robot.” Connor McDavid, in his own words.

“I’d wake up early in the morning, and the first thing I’d do was bet.” New England Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte opens up about his past struggles with gambling addiction.

A letter from Elsa Mendoza to her son, Fernando.

Baseball is for everyone. In 2022, Kelsie Whitmore shared her goal of playing pro baseball and making the sport attainable for all. Three years later, she was drafted first-overall in the Women's Pro Baseball League. playerstribu.ne/Kelsie

“I was born for Showtime, bro.” This is George Pickens.

“It was almost like Chad crammed 100 years of personality and laughs and dance moves into five years of life.” Notre Dame QB CJ Carr remembers his brother, Chad, on the anniversary of his passing.

After his final game, Clayton Kershaw is a champion once again. His kids couldn’t be prouder. 💙

“You’re gonna be the best one there. You’re gonna win!” Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s daughter, Vlaimel, leaves her dad an adoring voicemail that tugs on the heartstrings.

“Every waking second, my dad sacrificed for my dream.” This is George Russell.

“I just wanted to keep it real with you, Chicago. I believe in myself, I believe in this group.” Pete Crow-Armstrong has some things he’d like to say.

On the first anniversary of their passing, we remember John and Matthew Gaudreau.

Two years ago, Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson lost his mom to cancer.⁠ ⁠ He honors her memory with this letter for her, and for those still battling. #HockeyFightsCancer

When he was 14, Jordan Love lost his father and almost quit football. The story of the Green Bay Packers QB, in his own words.

“They will ALWAYS say, You can’t, you can’t, you can’t. They will be wrong.” VJ Edgecombe opens up about his journey from Bimini to the @sixersnba.bsky.social.

In 2024, Ronald Acuña Jr. wrote about how his love for baseball started early: “The first thing to know about me is that as a kid growing up in La Sabana, Venezuela, I basically only needed two things: A newspaper and some tape.⁠” playerstribu.ne/Acuna

On New Year’s Day, Jack Bech lost his brother, Tiger, in the New Orleans terror attack.⁠ ⁠ There’s so much that he never got to say, so he wrote this letter to him after being drafted by the @lasvegasraiders.bsky.social.

Four years ago, Alisson Becker lost his father. He pens this letter to his family — at home and at Liverpool.

🚨 895 🚨⁠ ⁠ HE’S DONE IT! Alexander Ovechkin is the NHL’s new leader for career goals scored.

“You’re such a great role model to me because you help people. You’re funny. You’re kind. And you’re always there for others.” ⁠ ⁠ Before UConn takes the court for the national championship game, Paige Bueckers’ little brother, Drew, left his sister a touching message. 🥹

Today, Elena Delle Donne announced her retirement. In 2015, she remembered one of the biggest games of her life — leading Delaware to their first-ever Sweet Sixteen: ”That was my last-ever home game at the Bob Carpenter Center, our home court. That was also the best game I’ve ever played.”

Carmelo Anthony is a first-ballot Hall of Famer. In 2015, Paul Pierce listed him as one of the toughest players he’d ever played against: “If you give him space to shoot, he’ll make it many more times than he misses it. To put it plainly, he’s not a fun assignment on defense.”

Welcome to Tokyo — through the eyes of the one and only Kike Hernández. From the locker room to the batting cages to the diamond, go behind the scenes with the L.A. Dodgers in Japan. 📹

“Imagine being 14 years old and the expectation is to make the big leagues. Not the dream, the expectation….. I wanted so badly to be great. So I wanted to do whatever it took.” ⁠ This is Bobby Witt Jr.’s journey, in his own words.

“You made a kid from Spartanburg, South Carolina’s dreams come true.”⁠ ⁠ Deebo Samuel says goodbye to the @sanfrancisco49ers.bsky.social.

“What the New Day has meant to me ... where this last DECADE has taken us? It’s beyond literally my wildest dreams. Because I’m someone who didn’t have wildest dreams.” This is the story of Ettore “Big E” Ewen.

“Sometimes there isn’t a good explanation for why bad things happen, but what’s in your control is how you react.” After a season-ending knee injury, CJ Baxter is dedicated to being the best teammate he can be. He wrote this for his Texas football family. @texasfb.bsky.social

“That’s why I wanted to write this. To get the memories down on paper.” At 16 years old, Jamal Musiala’s dreams came true when he was called up to FC Bayern. Now at 21 years old, he reflects on his football journey. This is his story. playerstribu.ne/Musiala