The Lead

Four years ago, Colin Kaepernick ignited a national debate that is once again in full swing in the wake of George Floyd's killing. But before Kaep took a knee during the national anthem, WNBA players were staging protests and aligning themselves with the Black Lives Matter movement. Today, The Athletic’s Gina Mizell joins us to talk about how that movement took hold and grew within the league. And we’ll hear about a current WNBA player, Bria Hartley, who was recently on the front line of protests in Minneapolis.Read Gina Mizell's story about Bria Hartley:https://theathletic.com/1850990/2020/06/03/by-peacefully-protesting-in-minneapolis-bria-hartley-seeks-better-world-for-son/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thursday is a big day for basketball fans, with the NBA’s Board of Governors set to vote on a proposed plan for the league to return to play. In other words, barring something unexpected, the NBA is coming back. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Shams Charania to discuss the details of the plan (22 teams playing at Disney World in Orlando), the impact of Adam Silver’s leadership, and how this move ultimately reflects on the NBA. Read Shams Charania’s story about the NBA’s plan to return: https://theathletic.com/1852061/2020/06/03/sources-reveal-details-of-adam-silvers-proposal-of-22-team-nba-restart-plan/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

MLB players and owners are still at an impasse over how many games the 2020 season will have and how much players will be paid. Some fear that the two sides are so far apart in negotiations that the season is now in serious jeopardy. The Athletic’s Jayson Stark joins us to discuss what this standoff is about and what’s at stake not just for the season, but for the future of the sport.Read Jayson Stark's story about the threat to the 2020 season:https://theathletic.com/1843384/2020/05/29/stark-memo-to-baseball-dont-drive-off-this-cliff/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As massive protests over the killing of George Floyd continue to erupt across the country, athletes have once again been at the center of an important national conversation. The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar joins us to talk about the athletes, coaches, and sports figures who are (and are not) speaking up, including everyone from Colin Kaepernick to Michael Jordan. We also discuss why this feels like a significant moment in the history of the country and of athlete activism.Follow Michael-Shawn Dugar's coverage of the NFL and more:https://theathletic.com/author/michael-shawn-dugar/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While pro sports in the U.S. remain on hold, overseas soccer leagues are picking up steam. After getting approval from the British government on Saturday, the Premier League is now officially scheduled to resume play on June 17th. The Athletic’s Jack Pitt-Brooke joins us to discuss what these games will look like, which teams could benefit from a new rule change, and who will claw their way into the Champions League.Follow Jack Pitt-Brooke's EPL coverage:https://theathletic.com/author/jack-pitt-brooke/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ten years ago today, Phillies ace Roy Halladay made baseball history by throwing just the second perfect game in team history and 20th perfect game in Major League Baseball history. The Athletic's Matt Gelb joins us to remember that remarkable performance, to talk about Halladay’s tragic death in a plane crash three years ago, and to discuss the unexpected gift that the star pitcher gave to teammates and others in the organization.Read Matt Gelb's story about Roy Halladay:https://theathletic.com/1832548/2020/05/26/the-perfect-game-gift-with-time-roy-halladay-watches-mean-more-to-phillies/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On Tuesday, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced that the regular season was officially over, and the league would go directly to a new playoff format when play resumes -- perhaps as early as late July or early August. The Athletic’s Craig Custance joins us to discuss this new, 24-team postseason format, which teams could benefit, and why the level of play actually might be higher than what fans are used to.Follow Craig Custance's NHL coverage:https://theathletic.com/author/craig-custance/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Newcastle United is in the process of being purchased by a new ownership group, led by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman. MBS, as he is known, is widely believed to have ordered the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, an incident that sparked international outrage. James Montague, an author and contributing writer for The Athletic, joins us to discuss the highly polarizing takeover and one woman’s quest to stop it from happening.Read James Montague's story about Newcastle's potential new owners:https://theathletic.co.uk/1788335/2020/05/02/why-does-saudi-arabia-want-to-buy-newcastle-united/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At the start of Memorial Day weekend, the basketball world lost an icon when Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan died at the age of 78. Sloan coached the Utah Jazz for 23 years, leading them to 19 postseason appearances, and back-to-back trips to the NBA Finals against Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls. Today, we're joined by Tony Jones of The Athletic to discuss Sloan's life and legacy, including the legendary toughness — and loyalty — that defined him throughout his career.Read Tony Jones's tribute to Jerry Sloan: https://theathletic.com/1819959/2020/05/22/remembering-jerry-sloan-1942-2020/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Warning: This episode contains graphic material related to sexual assault that may not be suitable for all audiences.Sarah Klein is one of the first known victims of former gymnastics team physician and serial sexual predator, Larry Nassar. As an adult, Sarah struggled with anxiety, depression, and a range of physical ailments. Then, Sarah connected with a therapist named Dr. Liz Goldman, who also had been a victim of sexual assault -- by a middle school wrestling coach. The two women formed a powerful connection that eventually flipped the doctor-patient relationship on its head, and both women continue to draw strength from one another. This story first aired in November of 2019 and won a Webby award last week, so we are re-airing it today.Watch all three parts of Armen Keteyian's video story about Sarah and Liz:https://theathletic.com/video/23-silent-no-more/?source=theleadpodcastIf you are a survivor of sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit https://hotline.rainn.org/ and receive confidential support.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.