The Lead

At age 14, Mikey Williams was considered by some to be the best basketball player his age in the country. He had millions of followers on Instagram and celebrities like Drake asked for his jersey and invited him backstage. He even had LeBron James serving as a mentor. But questions about his basketball abilities began to pile up. And then, earlier this year, his life took a very dark turn. Today, we bring you a cautionary tale about pressure, fame, and basketball in the age of social media.Guest: Jeff Eisenberg, Yahoo! SportsRead Jeff's full story about Mikey Williams hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You might not guess it from watching him play football, but for much of his life, the odds have not been in C.J. Stroud’s favor. He saw his father go to prison at age 13, and reportedly did so poorly on the S2 cognition test that many people expected him to fail in the NFL. Today, we look at how Stroud’s self-belief helped propel him past the obstacles in the path, and redefine what’s possible for a rookie quarterback as he powers a Houston Texans renaissance.Guest: Zak Keefer, The AthleticRead the full story hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you’ve watched a Philadelphia Eagles game recently, chances are you’ve gotten a close look at arguably the NFL’s most controversial play. The Tush Push (or Brotherly Shove, or Two-Cheek Sneak, if you prefer) has become the Eagles not-so-secret weapon, a play that’s been both criticized — and imitated — across the NFL. Today, we look at why the play has become so polarizing in such a short amount of time, how Jalen Hurts and the Eagles do it better than anyone else, and what the future holds for this particular kind of shove. Guest: Kalyn Kahler, The AthleticRead the full story hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A living nightmare finally came to an end for Liverpool's Luis Diaz on Thursday when his father was released by kidnappers in Colombia. Luis Manuel Diaz had been held captive for nearly two weeks, despite a massive push by the Colombian government to have him set free. Today, we look at how the kidnapping took place, the group behind it, and how Diaz’s teammates -- and the soccer community -- ultimately rallied around the man they call 'Lucho.'Guest: James Pearce, The AthleticFind more of James's coverage hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At age 22, in his fourth year in the league, Anthony Edwards is on the verge of making the leap to NBA superstardom — a journey that can be traced back to the gritty neighborhood in southwest Atlanta that made him who he is. Today, we look at Edwards’s unlikely rise, and full circle return to his hometown, and the loving family that propelled him forward in the aftermath of tragedy. Plus, the hope that Edwards is bringing to long-disappointed Timberwolves fans in his new home city of Minneapolis.Guest: Jon Krawczynski, The AthleticRead the full story hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Week 8, Joe Burrow boarded the Bengals' team plane in an alien mask — then went into alien mode in a dominant performance against one of the NFL's best teams. That was a welcome sight for the Bengals, eight weeks into a season where the franchise QB has mostly looked like anything but himself. Today, we revisit the team's tumultuous start, and the injury that threatened to derail Cincy’s Super Bowl hopes before the season got underway. Guest: Paul Dehner Jr., The AthleticListen to Hear That Podcast Growlin’See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Iowa's Caitlin Clark rewrote almost every individual record in women's college basketball last season, and led the Hawkeyes to within a game of a national championship. What followed can only be described as "Caitlin Clark Mania" -- a series of honors that included everything from bobblehead dolls to a butter sculpture. lToday, we break down Clark's evolution as a player and her contributions to the rich legacy of women's basketball in Iowa. Plus, can she take her team to the promised land in what might be her final college season?Guest: Emma Baccellieri, Sports IllustratedRead Emma's full story about Caitlin Clark hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It is the World Series showdown that basically no one saw coming: Bruce Bochy’s Wild Card Texas Rangers, against a team that finished 16 games back in their own division — Torey Lovullo and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Today, we break down the low points that both of these teams had to navigate just to get here. Plus, the story of the journeyman outfielder (Adolis Garcia) who knocked out the reigning champs, and the rookie outfielder (Corbin Carroll) whose power/speed combo helped lead Arizona to their first World Series trip in more than two decades.Guest: Stephen Nesbitt, The AthleticSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last week, the Las Vegas Aces became the first back-to-back WNBA champions in more than two decades. And, as we have come to expect with the Aces, they let everyone know just how much fun they would be having at the championship parade. But along with all the winning and the highly visible fun, the Aces have also been quietly transforming the WNBA. Today, we explain how the Aces have gone from an idea to a budding dynasty that is now pushing women's basketball forward.Guest: Tashan Reed, The AthleticRead Tashan's full story about the Aces hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Milwaukee Bucks became the favorites to win the NBA title the moment they swung the blockbuster trade for Damian Lillard. But along with all the excitement from that trade, Milwaukee is also facing some big questions. How will this team respond to the loss of one of its most popular players, Jrue Holiday? Can they break the trend set by some recent super teams, with a first-year head coach in Adrian Griffin? And, after an unsettling summer, will Lillard's arrival calm concerns in Milwaukee that Giannis Antetokounmpo has one foot out the door?Guest: Eric Nehm, The AthleticSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.