The Athletic Show

The MLB regular season officially kicked off Wednesday, and we are getting you prepped with the help of Keith Law, senior baseball writer for The Athletic, who joins the show to break down the three most striking storylines heading into Opening Day and what they reveal about the trajectory of the upcoming season. Then, the crew discusses how the high volume of transfers, NIL money and the introduction of NBA-style offenses has fundamentally reshaped college basketball. Finally, olympic sprinter Jordan Lyles sits down with Marcus Thompson to pull back the curtain on his polarizing public persona and share his ambitious master plan to elevate track and field to the same commercial heights as major American team sports.

Hosts & Guests

Zena Keita @itszenakeita

Robert Mays @robertmays

Marcus Thompson @thompsonscribe

Keith Law @keithlaw.bsky.social

Mix: Matt Shilts

Executive Producer: Maggie Burbank

Producer: Jen Bradley

A Production of The Athletic, Ode Studios, and Banner Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The WNBA and Players Association have agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement so it's full steam ahead for 2026 season. What will the new agreement mean for players and the league moving forward? The NBA is inching closer to 32 teams. We’re joined by The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov to discuss the inevitable return of the Seattle SuperSonics, the Vegas gold rush, and the "talent dilution" debate. Plus, which Western Conference team is getting shipped East?  And we do a deep dive into the parallel pressures facing Duke’s men and UConn’s women. College sports writer Scott Dochterman joins Zena to explain why anything short of a Final Four is a failure for these powerhouses and decide which pro teams would be the perfect match for the biggest stars from each program.

Hosts & Guests

Zena Keita @itszenakeita

Robert Mays @robertmays

Scott Dochterman @ScottDochterman

Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov

Mix: Matt Shilts

Executive Producer: Maggie Burbank

Producer: Jen Bradley

A Production of The Athletic, Ode Studios, and Banner Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steph and Dell Curry sit down with The Athletic's Marcus Thompson for a wide-ranging conversation. From the "Originator" to "The Second," they discuss the evolution of the NBA, the rivalry for "NBA Family Royalty" against the Jameses, and a candid look at how the youth sports complex is failing American-born players. Also, Robert shares the intel from three crucial phone calls. By checking in with an NFL coach, a front-office executive, and an Athletic insider, he reveals what the league really thinks about the recent free agency frenzy. And, is the Prediction Market Loophole gambling or a financial exchange? Hannah Vanbiber joins the show to discuss the rise of platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket. We explore why federal regulation makes these markets legal in all 50 states—and why the traditional sports betting world is sounding the alarm.

Hosts & Guests

Zena Keita @itszenakeita

Robert Mays @robertmays

Marcus Thompson @ThompsonScribe

Hannah VanBiber @HannahVanbiber

Mix: Matt Shilts

Executive Producer: Maggie Burbank

Producer: Beret Remak

A Production of The Athletic, Ode Studios, and Banner Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WNBA superstar Napheesa Collier joins us to discuss how her new league, Unrivaled, is giving players the ultimate power move: options. She also weighs in on the WNBA CBA negotiations and more. Also, the Atlanta Hawks' controversial "Magic City Monday" is coming next week. A theme night honoring the legendary local institution known for adult entertainment. Should pro sports leagues act as a moral compass or is this just another "uniquely Atlanta" marketing win?. Then The Athletic's Carl Anka joins the show with 100 days to go before this summer's World Cup. He discusses that and also Wrexham’s Hollywood-style rise and Tottenham facing relegation as the Premier League season winds down.

Hosts & Guests

Zena Keita @itszenakeita

Robert Mays @robertmays

Jason Goff @Jason1Goff

Carl Anka @Ankaman616

Mix: Matt Shilts

Executive Producer: Maggie Burbank

Producer: Jen Bradley

A Production of The Athletic, Ode Studios, and Banner Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Hollinger joins the show to discuss whether the league's tanking problem has finally reached a breaking point. We explore radical solutions—from abolishing the draft entirely to a "split-season" format—and look at a mathematical formula that could finally reward teams for being competitive, even when they’re losing. Then, Shakeia Taylor from The Athletic drops by to discuss her deep dive into "The Bayou Barbie’s" systematic ascent. We look at how Angel Reese has curated a brand that spans from the Victoria’s Secret runway to the Unrivaled 3x3 court, all while navigating a high-profile comeback from injury. In our main story, it’s almost March, and the madness is already bubbling over. Brendan Marks and Zena Keita give us the ultimate lay of the land for the Men’s and Women’s tournaments. Are the Duke men the team to beat? Can the Darryn Peterson saga derail Kansas? And how is NIL rewriting the "one-and-done" playbook? With parity on the women's side at an all-time high, we look at UConn’s quest for perfection, the dominance of JuJu Watkins, and why the stars of the women's game are sticking around to build the best rivalries in sports.

Hosts & Guests

Zena Keita @itszenakeita

Robert Mays @robertmays

Jason Goff @Jason1Goff

John Hollinger @johnhollinger

Brendan Marks @BrendanRMarks

Mix: Matt Shilts

Executive Producer: Maggie Burbank

Producer: Jen Bradley

A Production of The Athletic, Ode Studios, and Banner Studios.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, The Athletic's Lindsay Schnell joins us live from Milan to recap the Winter Olympics, breaking down the must-watch events from the final weekend. Then, the hosts dive into a heated debate over The Hardest Coaching Job in Sports with The Athletic's Jets reporter Zack Rosenblatt. Finally, baseball season is almost here! Derek VanRiper gives us a full MLB spring training preview, discussing Tony Clark’s shocking resignation, the robot ump debate, the overhauled New York Mets, and whether the Seattle Mariners are the best team in the AL.

Hosts & Guests

Zena Keita @itszenakeita

Jason Lloyd @ByJasonLloyd

Jason Goff @Jason1Goff

Lindsay Schnell @Lindsay_Schnell

Derek VanRiper @DerekVanRiper

Zack Rosenblatt @ZackBlatt

Mix: Matt Shilts

Executive Producer: Maggie Burbank

Producer: Jen Bradley

A Production of The Athletic, Ode Studios, and Banner Studios.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Senior Writer for The Athletic, Rustin Dodd, and world-class coach Matt Hetherington stop by to explain why table tennis is the ultimate "brain sport." From helping pro athletes sharpen their reaction times to potentially warding off dementia, we explore why you should trade your running shoes for a paddle. With icons like LeBron James, Steph Curry and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sidelined for the 2026 NBA All Star Game, Bulls writer Joel Lorenzi weighs in on whether a "US vs. The World" format or a 1v1 tournament save a weekend that’s lost its soul? Also, the "Quad God," figure skater Ilia Malinin often has math-defying performances, but is his technical dominance making the sport "ugly"? We discuss the evolution of scoring, the legalization of the backflip, and more.

Hosts & Guests

Zena Keita @itszenakeita

Robert Mays @robertmays

Jason Goff @Jason1Goff

Rustin Dodd @rustindodd

Matt Hetherington @mhtabletennis

Joel Lorenzi @JoelXLorenzi

Mix: Matt Shilts

Executive Producer: Maggie Burbank

Producer: Jen Bradley

A Production of The Athletic, Ode Studios, and Banner Studios.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zena and Jason welcome Dave DuFour to break down the final preparations for the Big Game, featuring a special sit-down between Robert Mays and Matt Ryan. Also, Jordy Fee-Platt joins the show to share the incredible "backyard" origin story of Olympic skier Ryan Cochran-Siegle and how his family’s "fun-first" philosophy built a gold-medal dynasty. Finally, we dive into the madness of the NBA trade deadline with The Athletic's Joe Vardon - did your team find a missing piece, or are they stuck in the league's new "two-tier" economy? 

Hosts & Guests

Zena Keita @itszenakeita

Robert Mays @robertmays

Jason Goff @Jason1Goff

Dave DuFour @DaveDuFourNBA

Joe Vardon @joevardon

Jordan Fee-Platt @jfeep

Editor: Matt Shilts

Executive Producer: Maggie Burbank

Producer: Jen Bradley

A Production of The Athletic, Ode Studios, and Banner Studios.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame just delivered the shock of the century by passing on Bill Belichick in his first year of eligibility. Is this a case of "Spygate" karma, or is the Hall out of touch? This week, we dive into the fallout of the snub heard ‘round the sports world. Bryson DeChambeau is at a crossroads that could dismantle pro golf as we know it, leading us to ask: Do we even need professional leagues anymore? From the WNBA’s labor war to the rise of "Unrivaled," we explore how player power is breaking the monopoly. Finally, we go deep on "The Unicorn." The Athletic’s Jared Weiss joins us to discuss Victor Wembanyama’s evolution from a basketball prodigy to a civic leader in San Antonio, proving that the most interesting thing about the Frenchman isn’t his wingspan—it’s his soul.

Hosts & Guests

Zena Keita @itszenakeita

Robert Mays @robertmays

Jason Goff @Jason1Goff

Jon Greenberg @jon_greenberg

Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA

Editor: Matt Shilts

Executive Producer: Maggie Burbank

Producer: Stephen Lorenzo

A Production of The Athletic, Ode Studios, and Banner Studios.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NHL players are back on the world stage for the first time in 12 years! Pierre LeBrun sits down with Brady Tkachuk to discuss the fierce USA-Canada rivalry and the race to finish the Olympic arena in Italy before the puck drops. Fresh off the 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame announcement, the crew welcomes Zack Meisel to discuss the strange fraternity of players who were nominated but fell into the "one-vote" category. Plus, the team debates who belongs in the inaugural "Hall of Very Good.”

Hosts & Guests

Zena Keita @itszenakeita

Robert Mays @robertmays

Jason Goff @Jason1Goff

Pierre LeBrun @PierreVLeBrun

Brady Tkachuk @Wingmenpod

Zack Meisel @ZackMeisel

Editor: Matt Shilts

Executive Producer: Maggie Burbank

Producer: Stephen Lorenzo

A Production of The Athletic, Ode Studios, and Banner Studios.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.