Illustration: Kelsea Petersen / The Athletic; Photos: Chris Unger, Tim Heitman, Paras Griffin / Getty

Sports Business

Inside Stephen A. Smith’s near-$40M-a-year bonanza as he launches into political prime time

Andrew Marchand

Follow Sports Business 

Kareem Elgazzar / Associated Press

NFL

How many more times can Bengals risk Joe Burrow before it’s too late?

Paul Dehner Jr.

Follow the NFL

Illustration: Kelsea Petersen / The Athletic, Photos: Brian Babineau, Deborah Robinson, Jeff Vinnick / Getty Images

NHL

NHL player poll: Next face of the league? How much to pay McDavid, Kaprizov? More short-term deals?

Michael Russo

Follow the NHL

Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; Photos: Tim Warner / Getty Images, Paul Chapman, Malcolm Emmons, RVR Photos / Imagn Images

NCAAF

How Arch Manning’s first 5 starts compare to uncles Peyton, Eli and grandfather Archie

Manny Navarro

Follow NCAAF 

Illustration: Kelsea Petersen / The Athletic; Photos: Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images

MLB

The ‘rising fastball’ was a tantalizing myth. Then teams started teaching Induced Vertical Break

Chad Jennings, Dennis Lin and Eno Sarris

Follow the MLB 

Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images

NBA

Why voiding Kawhi Leonard’s contract would be a huge problem for the NBA

John Hollinger

Follow the NBA 

Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Photos: Elsa, Ethan Miller / Getty Images

WNBA

WNBA fandom costs rise as growing popularity drives up ticket prices

Ben Pickman

Follow the WNBA 

Getty Images

EPL