ESPN Daily

Nationals superstar Juan Soto has won a World Series, made a highlight reel’s worth of big hits, and holds a batting title. All that at 22 years old. A fan favorite in Washington, Soto is known for his swagger and disregard for baseball’s traditional decorum, as well as his megawatt smile. Jeff Passan recently talked with Soto for ESPN’s Cover Story, and he joins the show to explain how Soto’s swing - and his presence - are changing baseball for good. Then, Bill Barnwell runs through the biggest NFL news in trades and free agency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The men’s Sweet 16 begins this weekend, full of unlikely contenders and March stalwarts. Oral Roberts is the Cinderella of the tournament so far, but Loyola Chicago has the power of 101-year-old nun Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt on their side. Gonzaga’s on the brink of a perfect season, but they’ll likely have to get through another #1 seed like Baylor. Myron Medcalf joins us from Indianapolis to preview the next set of matchups, based on his analysis on the tournament so far. Then, Ryan McGee tells us why Bristol Speedway’s become a dirt track this weekend -- the first NASCAR race on dirt in 50 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Texans QB Deshaun Watson has been named in over a dozen civil lawsuits filed by a number of Houston area women over the last several days, alleging varying degrees of sexual misconduct and assault. ESPN investigative reporter John Barr takes us through the timeline and details of the cases, and where the legal action could go from here. Then, Texans reporter Sarah Barshop brings us up to speed on the team and NFL’s responses, and what this means for Watson’s future on the field in Houston and around the league. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the time since we reached out to basketball pro Jeremy Lin about the mass shooting in Atlanta where eight people died - six of them women of Asian descent - ten more people have died in a Colorado shooting. Jeremy Lin joins us to share experiences with Pablo as first generation Asian Americans. Lin details his evolution on speaking out against stereotypes, understanding systemic injustice, and framing his identity in the limelight of sports during the NBA’s “Linsanity” period. Plus, what he’s focused on now around levers of social change and his basketball career. Then, Pablo pays tribute to a bird that met its demise via a pitch from Hall of Famer Randy Johnson, 20 years ago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In his second NBA season, at just 20 years old, Zion Williamson is putting up numbers that land him alongside legends like Magic Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal. Maybe you caught him in the All-Star Game, but if you haven’t been watching Pelicans games, you’re missing the evolution of a unique basketball talent. ESPN’s Andrew Lopez shares Zion’s accomplishments, and what it’ll take to get him to MVP status. Then, the most famous bowler of all time is retiring after 41 (yes, 41!) years. We remember Pete Weber’s career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This year’s March Madness hasn’t come without its share of controversy. Michigan’s Isaiah Livers and others have tweeted and donned shirts with the phrase #NotNCAAProperty. And women’s players cried foul online over a paltry weight room and other disparities with the men’s team. It was just the latest example of social media’s power for college athletes, and that includes growing followings across all sports and types of schools. ESPN college sports reporter David Hale details new options and support for player empowerment and profit. And he explores what NIL (name, image, likeness) reform can look like. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gonzaga freshman Jalen Suggs and UConn freshman Paige Bueckers are the faces of the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments. But the two stars go way back: they grew up in neighboring Minnesota cities, and first met when they both were in elementary school. As their basketball careers took off, Suggs and Bueckers stayed in touch and have relied on each other for support, and have remained friends off the court. Katie Barnes shares the story of their unique friendship, and whether NCAA championships are in their future. Then, Sue Bird makes a case for her UConn Huskies to win another women’s championship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re still many weeks away from the 2021 NFL Draft, and free agency is in full swing. Bill Belichick and the Patriots have been aggressive in acquiring new pieces, while his ex-QB Tom Brady and the Bucs have been focused on bringing back the roster that won the Super Bowl. Louis Riddick breaks down the latest moves as only he can, shares insights from behind the scenes, and tells us what comes next. Then, as the NCAA tournament kicks off, Dave Fleming confirms a trend among male fans ... who get a certain surgery in vast numbers every March. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Serena Williams. Tom Brady. Roger Federer. What really goes into making a G.O.A.T.? And extending that greatness for decades? Reporter, best-selling author, and current host of the podcast How To!, David Epstein is one of sports’ top mythbusters. His books The Sports Gene and Range delve into athletes’ lives, minds and habits to find the building blocks of success. Epstein applies his findings to trends like more superstars performing well as they age, and why getting kids to specialize in one sport might actually lead to injury rather than wins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are all NBA superstars destined to leave smaller market teams for Brooklyn, L.A. or Miami? Across the league, high-performing players are gravitating to coastal teams and bigger markets. The trend’s been building for years, increasingly splitting the league into teams that “have” or “have not.” Kirk Goldsberry plots the map and salary data, why this trend is bad for the NBA, and what strategies could turn things around. Then, as part of ESPN’s Women’s History Month celebration, hear from Lisa Salters’ sit-down with NFL referee Sarah Thomas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices