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Picture a basketball arena or a football stadium — but filled with fans cheering on teams as they compete head-to-head in their favorite video games. Esports tournaments are the gamer’s version of athletic championships, and they draw a massive audience online and in-person. As esports evolve, they’re merging with traditional sports, and that shift points to the future of entertainment.

Despite its recent growth, the esports industry still faces challenges. Rules and regulations vary across countries, creating confusion about player contracts, gambling and intellectual property rights. Many tournament organizers operate at a loss, hoping that future growth will bring profitability. This creates a gap between top events and grassroots competitions, which can struggle to survive.

In 2025’s first month, the esports calendar is jam-packed with international competitions for popular titles like PUBG Mobile, Counter-Strike and League of Legends. PGL Bucharest, BLAST Rivals Spring 2025 and IEM Raleigh highlight a busy calendar that also includes the 2025 League of Legends World Championship in China.

While fighting games continue to dominate the esports landscape, other genres are growing quickly. The first-ever Fortnite World Cup skyrocketed the popularity of the popular Battle Royale title, and a new tournament for TEKKEN 8 is drawing huge audiences. Meanwhile, new hardware is bringing the experience of playing a video game to a whole new level. The latest consoles allow players to move, gesture and interact with the screen in ways that are impossible on a PC or laptop.

During the Civil Rights Movement, Black fans turned their love of sports into a powerful tool of nonviolent protest. They boycotted pro teams with segregated seating and pressed city leaders to integrate housing, schools and public services. They used newspapers to share boycott information and pickets that were placed on public property such as stadiums and bus stops. Black sportswriters like Jim Hall, Marcel Hopson and Marion Jackson encouraged fandom to be a force for change.

Those tactics still work today. The key to any protest is how it’s framed, and it’s important for journalists to report on the full range of fan activism tactics, from rallies to walkouts and boycotts. In addition, the First Amendment protects freedom of speech and assembly, so fans often express their concerns with chants and signs.

For example, a group of Chelsea fans is planning to protest the club’s owner, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, ahead of the team’s match with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge next week. They plan to wear black to symbolize that the club is “slowly dying,” due to debts and mismanagement.

Gloria Jimenez and Bruce Martin, leaders of the Angel City Brigade that sits during Los Angeles Galaxy home games at Dignity Health Sports Park, have used their stance to highlight the immigration raids in Southern California’s Latino communities. They also have a message for the team’s ownership: “Let’s be a team of color.” Their protest, which will continue until the players and management support their cause, is a prime example of how fans can use their fandom to promote social justice issues.

LOS ANGELES — It was a World Series like no other. After 33 years without a championship team in the nation’s capital, the Washington Nationals took advantage of a shaky start from the New York Yankees and dominated the final four games to win the World Series three-games-to-one on Wednesday night. The clinching victory was only the latest memorable moment in a series full of them, and it also marked one of the most exciting moments since the best-of-seven format was adopted in 1905.

From crazy game-winning home runs to comeback victories, the World Series has always delivered high drama. So we decided to take a look back at the most iconic World Series highlights of all time.

1. Jim Leyritz’s Game 4 home run against Mark Wohlers

While there have been many great World Series moments it is hard to think of any that are more iconic than Leyritz’s game-tying home run in Game 4 of the ’96 World Series. The shot against Mark Wohlers was the defining moment of the Yankees’ greatest dynasty and it is still a famous moment in baseball history.

2. Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series

No one will ever forget Freddie Freeman’s game-winning grand slam in Game 1, which turned Chavez Ravine into blue heaven and won the series for the Dodgers over the New York Yankees. It was a thrilling game and Blue Jays announcer Tom Cheek’s exclamation, “Touch ’em all, Joe!” remains one of the most famous calls in baseball history.

The sport world can be an especially challenging environment for gender equality, with its mix of new and old cases of inequality in sports participation and opportunities, pay, and gender-based harassment. This is why UNESCO is collaborating with the world’s leading players in sports to accelerate efforts to promote women’s leadership and equality in governance models, prevent and respond to gender-based violence, close the gap in investment in girls’ sports and promote equal economic opportunities, ensure women’s equal participation and bias-free representation in media, and promote gender-neutral policies that strengthen, rather than harm, sport for all.

Gender stereotypes in sports still persist, with girls as young as five feeling that they don’t belong in sport. This can be due to an insidious combination of factors, including lack of role models and a perception that sport is only for boys. It also includes the belief that men are better athletes than women, which is based on misinformation and false assumptions.

It is time to dispel the myth that trans athletes have an unfair advantage in sport. The truth is that the vast majority of studies assessing performance in trans athletes have found them to be as competitive as their cisgender counterparts. Moreover, claims that the transgender community poses an “athletic threat” are based on misogyny and not science. It is time to reclaim women’s prizes, their sports and their spaces. This will go a long way toward making the world of sports more inclusive and welcoming to everyone.

The ICC’s World Test Championship has been a success, creating a more structured way of playing the longest form of cricket. The competition has been lauded for its ability to draw crowds to stadiums around the world and for its role in increasing the value of the Test mace. But there are detractors, and many of them are from England. The ECB has a strong aversion to a two-division format, fearing they might miss lucrative rivalries with Australia and India. They also oppose an increase in over-rate penalties, arguing that they penalise players too harshly and can have a negative impact on Test standards.

There’s no denying that the World Test Championship has been a success in bringing crowds back to the game, with both of the finals – between New Zealand and Australia in 2021 and Australia and South Africa in 2023 – being held in sell-out conditions in Southampton and The Oval. But the competition has come under a torrent of criticism, with Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack’s Lawrence Booth branding this week’s final as “a shambles masquerading as a showpiece”.

The criticisms have been numerous, from the scheduling (which saw the Proteas play fewer than the four other top teams in the championship) to a points system that is not well-balanced. But perhaps the most stinging attack has been over the fact that this is the only WTC final to have a reserve day scheduled – a nod to a bygone era of so-called ‘timeless Tests’ and an admission that England’s summer can be fickle.

The 2023 class of athletes who retired includes many names you’ve heard of, like NBA legend Carmelo Anthony and Olympic medalists Megan Rapinoe, Peter Sagan, Tessa Worley and others. But they all have one thing in common: they all walked away from their respective sports in style.

As more and more young athletes train to be elite, they can find themselves facing retirement at a much younger age than in the past. This is especially true for women, who can retire in their late 20s or even earlier. A recent scoping review suggests that this trend may have serious implications for athlete wellbeing.

“Athletes who are unprepared or struggle to adapt to the transition from sport often experience negative psychological states, such as depression and anxiety, which can have a significant impact on their daily functioning,” the report says.

It’s not uncommon for professional athletes to find new careers in business, coaching or politics after retiring from their sport. Many of them also take on public speaking, philanthropy and mentoring roles. Others become product endorsers, such as Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan or Tom Brady.

Athletes often need support after leaving the spotlight, but it can be difficult to find. The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee recently announced a $100 million program to provide post-retirement financial assistance for Olympians. The funding is largely from a gift by Richard Stevens, the CEO of Stone Ridge Holdings Group. The program will pay each U.S. Olympian $100,000 per Olympic Games they compete in — and it will multiply with each additional Olympic Games they participate in.

With the lull of early-season training, testing and tweaking behind us, the club ultimate season shifts gears to one of its most demanding events – the 2025 US Open. The field features all 12 2024 national semifinalists and a host of elite international teams looking to push their American counterparts in some exciting ways.

The tournament, which kicks off with “Fan Week” qualifying from August 18-23 and runs through September 7, takes place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York. The main draw opens on Sunday August 24 with the first round of singles played over three days (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday) in addition to the usual two-day schedule.

It’s impossible to know what the scheduling will look like this year since the decisions about which halves of each draw play on Day 1 and when aren’t announced until after the final round of qualifying is finished (around Wednesday/Thursday Aug 21-22 2025). However, in the past, it has generally followed a similar pattern to other Grand Slams where the top half of the draws plays a Day 1 match while the bottom half goes into the Night session on Days 2-5.

With all the pieces in place, a new champion could emerge from New York this year. In the men’s division, #1 Boston Brute Squad has a strong team that looked good in a 15-8 statement win over #4 Washington DC Scandal at PEC East last month. And while the defense is still missing top-line defender Calvin Brown, the club is loaded with experienced defensive talent and incoming freshmen such as Raleigh transfer Ben Dameron and Aurora’s Anders Juengst who should provide significant depth.

Any sincere fan will, at times, display what may seem like an inordinate amount of emotional attachment and angst over sports celebrity gossip. Whether yelling at a referee or still in mourning over Brangelina, every fan carries a little bit of sports celebrity gossip inside them.

Whether it’s a megastar of music, film or television spotted in the stands or courtside as spectators at a game, a celebrity presence creates a buzz and excitement that often increases viewership and ticket sales for the event. For example, when singer Taylor Swift started showing up to Kansas City Chiefs home games to cheer on tight end Travis Kelce, the team’s viewership and merchandise sales increased dramatically.

This week, we’ve got the latest on a former WWE star who lost her job over Coldplay cheating drama, a surfing star with a gruesome injury and more. Plus, Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard reveals what it’s really like to live in his Subaru and NBA star Suni Lee and her new beau, OG Anunoby, make their relationship official.

Then we’ll talk about how soccer legend Lionel Messi rolled up to America’s best grocery store in slides and bought some American cereal that his kids probably begged him to purchase. And we’ll discuss how a UFC star faced NSFW messages on TikTok, and why Adam Sandler loved starring with Sam Chalamet in “Happy Gilmore 2.” Plus, WNBA superstar Suni Lee and her NBA player boyfriend OG Anunoby finally make their relationship official.

Combat Sports are athletic endeavors that involve forced physical contact between two opponents within a set of rules. They can include weapons handling (fencing, MMA), striking, grappling, kicking or a combination of techniques. Some of the most popular combative sports are boxing, MMA, Muay Thai, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo.

These modalities of fighting are a great way to exercise and strengthen the entire body. They also help develop coordination, balance and flexibility. It’s important to find a discipline that you love practicing and is available in your city. The best way to determine what is your favorite is to try several different disciplines before registering. Also, make sure to wear protective equipment like padded gloves, mouth guards and helmets. You should also practice in a ring or mat to avoid injury during competitions and training.

People around the world have always had a yearning to see two warriors test their mettle against one another in sanctioned and controlled sport. Whether the goal is glory, prize, freedom or national pride, fighting sports have left an indelible mark on culture.

From epic battles between legendary rivals to underdog triumphs, these high-profile events captivate audiences and showcase the incredible skills and dedication of athletes of all ages. But beyond the glamour and drama, the practice of combat sports teaches invaluable life lessons like discipline, perseverance and respect. And for many, the journey toward mastery is as rewarding as the achievement itself.

For sports teams, fans and athletes alike, the future of technology in sports looks bright. As new innovations are incorporated faster than ever before, they have the potential to expand the sport business, improve athletic performance and decrease career-ending injuries. These advancements are revolutionizing the way we watch and play the games we love, while bringing in new revenue streams and improving the quality of the sporting experience for everyone involved.

With so many changes sweeping the industry, it can be challenging for sports organizations to keep up and determine which technologies are worth their investment. To help, Next League’s 2023 Industry Outlook report has identified 7 key sports technology trends that are worth keeping an eye on.

1. Data tracking and collection tech.

With smart sensors embedded in equipment like cleats, helmets, and training gear, sports tech can collect and analyze data to provide valuable insights for optimal athletic performance. This information is used to track player health, evaluate fitness, and monitor injury risk. Additionally, this data is useful for analyzing team and player performance and creating more personalized and effective training programs.

2. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).

With AR and VR, players can see game-changing info overlays on the action – including real-time betting odds – while immersive experiences create an enhanced fan experience. This is driving increased investments in AR and VR in the sports tech sector, where they are used to enhance player training, scouting, and fan engagement. Additionally, these technologies are a great stepping stone to more advanced AI-based solutions for sports teams, clubs and fans.