It is the training drill that helped transform Raheem Sterling from a zippy winger who narrowly reached double figures each season into a back-post assassin who was among the most lethal goalscoring wingers in Europe. The change happened in the 2017-18 season, Pep Guardiola’s second in charge of Manchester City, the club Sterling returns to…

This article is part of The Next Generation series. As the greats, such as Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal become the past, and Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek handle the present, The Athletic explores the next generation: the rising stars who will be tasked with securing tennis’ future. Over the last seven years the ATP…

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Aaron Rodgers took the field on Thursday night and the crowd at MetLife Stadium roared, their conquering hero arriving at his coliseum. It didn’t go so well last time, but there wasn’t a hint of “here we go again,” no reintroduction to the Same Old Jets. Think about what this fan…

A one-of-a-kind autographed Caitlin Clark WNBA Draft card sold at auction for $84,000 on Thursday night, breaking the record for the most expensive women’s basketball card. The previous record was set in January of this year when an autographed 2022 Bowman University Caitlin Clark Superfractor (a 1/1 parallel) sold for $78,000. The card in this…

Nine NFL teams are still looking for their first win of the 2024 season after recording two consecutive losses to open their schedules. Historically, starting 0-2 has meant the odds are stacked against you. The Athletic’s Austin Mock’s playoff odds reflect that. None of the current 0-2 teams have better than a 44 percent chance to…

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons’ defensive players talk about Patrick Mahomes like he’s an actor, and the NFL’s leading man is coming to Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday night. “When the play breaks down and you’ve got it all covered and you’ve done it all right, there’s a second part to the play. There’s…

MIAMI – The Veuve Clicquot had been poured and the commemorative T-shirts handed out. Only then, once there had been time for it all to sink in, could his awestruck teammates fully comprehend the latest demonstration of greatness by Shohei Ohtani. They marveled not only at his latest milestone, becoming the first player to hit…

It is not an accident that you are seeing more in-uniform interviews from NFL players this season. Here’s why: Last May, the NFL broadcasting department sent out a memo on the topic to the league’s chief executives, club presidents, general managers, head coaches and public relations directors. The memo outlined access changes for the NFL’s…

NEW YORK — It took until the final day of the 2024 WNBA season for the playoff bracket to be settled, but the Atlanta Dream claimed the eighth and final postseason spot on Thursday night with a 78-67 over the New York Liberty. Atlanta entered the evening needing a win to clinch its second consecutive…

College football conference play is (mostly) underway and the stakes will be raised accordingly. The sport dips its toes this weekend with ranked matchups in the Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC featuring College Football Playoff favorites and some remaining question marks. Let’s rank the top 10 games of Week 4, starting with a few…