For an athlete to go from merely making it to the pro level of his sport to becoming a star, he must have dedication to his craft. That means not only working on his skills, strength and conditioning, but also being committed to his health. In recent years, athletes have shown more focus on...

Liz LozaApr 17, 2025, 09:00 AM ET Close Liz Loza is a writer for fantasy football, women’s basketball and betting at ESPN. Liz also appears on “Fantasy Football Now” and contributes to the Fantasy Focus Football podcast. The trajectory of an NFL draft prospect’s career doesn’t always align with fans’ preferred timing. Often, however, a...

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele had his 2025 MLB season cut short because of an elbow injury suffered against the Texas Rangers on April 7. Because of it, Steele will undergo surgery on Friday, April 18, to repair the injury. It will be interesting to see if Steele will be ready to pitch at...

  The Miami Dolphins faced a significant drain of experience this offseason when longtime left tackle Terron Armstead announced his retirement. Without Armstead, the Dolphins appear poised to promote Patrick Paul, who showed potential during his three rookie starts last season. Not everyone agrees with this succession plan, however. FOX Sports host Colin Cowherd recently...

Marcel Louis-JacquesApr 15, 2025, 01:22 PM ET Close Marcel Louis-Jacques joined ESPN in 2019 as a beat reporter covering the Buffalo Bills, before switching to the Miami Dolphins in 2021. The former Carolina Panthers beat writer for the Charlotte Observer won the APSE award for breaking news and the South Carolina Press Association award for...

Ilia Topuria is done playing the waiting game. The undefeated Spanish-Georgian fighter has made it clear that he wants only one thing: a title fight with Islam Makhachev. After vacating his featherweight belt and announcing his move to lightweight, Topuria was widely expected to receive a title shot. But with Makhachev reportedly hesitant, the situation...

  The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially wrapped up their top-30 visits. According to a report by team insider Nick Farabaugh, they hosted their final prospect on Wednesday. They had Toledo DT Darius Alexander in for a visit. Steelers pre-draft visitor today: Toledo DT Darius Alexander That’s the final visit of the cycle. We now know...

Josh WeinfussApr 14, 2025, 01:45 PM ET Close Josh Weinfuss is a staff writer who covers the Arizona Cardinals and the NFL at ESPN. Josh has covered the Cardinals since 2012, joining ESPN in 2013. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and a graduate of Indiana University. TEMPE, Ariz. —...

The Houston Astros have started the 2025 season 7-9, which has caused many fans to panic. Starting at 7-9 isn’t as bad as it appears. Historically, the Astros have been slow starters before turning things around and making a run for the playoffs. While initial frustrations are unavoidable, the team’s history of resilience and grit...

  The New Orleans Saints suffered a huge potential setback in their quest to return to the NFL playoffs when quarterback Derek Carr suffered a shoulder injury last week. The franchise and its fan base are seemingly in waiting right now as it is determined what course of treatment he will need to overcome this...

Katherine TerrellApr 11, 2025, 10:24 PM ET Close Katherine Terrell came back to ESPN to cover the New Orleans Saints in the summer of 2022. She left the company in 2019 after joining in 2016 to cover the Cincinnati Bengals. Katherine is a graduate of LSU and a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native, and she has...

The vibes were tense. The overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers stung badly, but it was Jimmy Butler III’s limp off the floor that had Golden State Warriors fans holding their breath. With the play-in tournament on deck and postseason hopes hanging in the balance, the Warriors’ emotional backbone and clutch king offered an...