Why Are 24 Million Americans Obsessed With Pickleball?

The NFL is finally back, so we’re talking to friends of the pod Madeline Hill and Charlotte Wilder from “The Sports Gossip Show” about the storylines they’re watching as the new season gets underway, the teams and players they’re most curious about, and how we as fans should deal with off-field drama.Then, as we observe the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, we’ll talk with Craig Woodall about the loss of his older brother Brent, an accomplished athlete who died in the South Tower that day. We dive deep into the role sports, teammates and resilience have played in Craig’s life in the years since and the many gifts his grief has given him. Show Notes Overcome: Rebuilding Hope After Losing My Brother on 9/11 Brent Woodall Lives On | Cal Athletics Face the Storm: Lessons Learned form Loss on 9/11 | TED Talks If you can, support the Brent Woodall Foundation  How Sports Helped a Nation Heal After 9/11 | Yahoo Sports Show CreditsHost: David GreeneExecutive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom GrahslerSenior Producer: Michael OlcottProducer: Michaela WinbergAssociate Producer: Bibiana CorreaTalent Booker: Britt KahnEngineers: Mike VillersTile Art: Bea WallingTheme Song: Emma MungerSports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

Elle Duncan is back on the show, and this week, we’re prepping for her upcoming trip to Melbourne, Australia, for Week 1 of the NFL season. Elle will be leading Netflix’s broadcast of the matchup between the LA Rams and San Francisco 49ers, which is the first regular-season NFL game ever to be played in Australia. Then, we’re sitting down with Mary Cain. In her prime, she was one of the fastest girls in the country. She signed to run professionally with Nike before she even graduated high school. Mary’s future in the sport looked bright — that is, until 2016, when she suddenly quit. But Mary didn’t just lose interest in running. She says she experienced abuse by her coaching staff at Nike, and that they ignored her pleas for help when her mental health declined. She went on to sue Nike and came out with a memoir about her experience called “This is Not About Running.” Content warning: This episode discusses emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, as well as extreme weight loss practices, self-harm, and thoughts of suicide. Please listen with care.  Show Notes This is Not About Running | Mary Cain I Was the Fastest Girl in America, Until I Joined Nike | NYT Distance runner Mary Cain files $20M lawsuit against ex-coach Alberto Salazar, Nike over alleged abuse | ESPN Mary Cain’s nonprofit Atalanta Show CreditsHost: David GreeneExecutive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom GrahslerSenior Producer: Michael OlcottProducer: Michaela WinbergAssociate Producer: Bibiana CorreaTalent Booker: Britt KahnEngineers: Mike VillersTile Art: Bea WallingTheme Song: Emma MungerSports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

The US Open is in full swing, and injuries have knocked out some of the biggest athletes in the men’s tournament. But there’s no shortage of star power on the women’s side: Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala is on fire, inspiring “Eala-mania” all over the world. To get us up to speed on the tournament, we chat with Giri Nathan, senior correspondent at the tennis outlet The Second Serve. After that, we attempt to answer one of the inescapable questions of our time: Why are so many people obsessed with pickleball? Clare Frank was a firefighter for more than 30 years. When she retired, she stumbled into the game. At first, she didn’t quite get the hype — but like so many retirees who came before her, Clare quickly became captivated by pickleball. In her latest book, “Just One More Game: A Pickleball Quest,” Clare dives headfirst into the world of pickleball to try to figure out how it has become the fastest-growing sport in the United States. Spoiler alert: It’s not just your grandmother’s game anymore.Show Notes Just One More Game: A Pickleball Quest by Clare Frank How Pickleball Got Its Name | USA Pickleball Wanna play? Find a pickleball court near you Pickleball is the Worst | Rick Reily Alex Eala is Catching The WTA’s Best Off Guard | Defector  Show CreditsHost: David GreeneExecutive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom GrahslerSenior Producer: Michael OlcottProducer: Michaela WinbergAssociate Producer: Bibiana CorreaTalent Booker: Britt KahnEngineers: Mike VillersTile Art: Bea WallingTheme Song: Emma MungerSports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

We are officially in the NFL preseason. Players are competing for spots while coaches are tasked with building their rosters — and trimming the fat. Today we’re joined by The Athletic’s senior football writer Nick Baumgardner to talk NFL roster cuts. Who’s on the chopping block, and what is the preseason is telling us so far?Then, have you ever screamed at the TV after your kicker missed a field goal? Ever said to yourself, “Man, even I could’ve made that”? Well, journalist and author Stefan Fatsis actually convinced the Denver Broncos to let him try. He joined the team as placekicker for preseason training camp, and then went on to write a book about it called “A Few Seconds of Panic.” He shares what it’s like when you get the chance to get off the couch and attempt to play one of the highest-pressure, most make-or-break positions in football.  Show Notes “A Few Seconds of Panic: A Sportswriter Plays in the NFL” | Stefan Fatsis A Sport Writer’s Stint as an NFL Kicker | The Wall Street Journal Paper Lion: Confessions of a Last-String Quarterback | George Plimpton Welcome to Detroit: A Detroit Lions Podcast  Show CreditsHost: David GreeneExecutive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom GrahslerSenior Producer: Michael OlcottProducer: Michaela WinbergAssociate Producer: Bibiana CorreaTalent Booker: Britt KahnEngineers: Mike VillersTile Art: Bea WallingTheme Song: Emma MungerSports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

This week, Elle Duncan joins us to talk about the culture wars engulfing the WNBA, and how political noise is obscuring amazing play on the court. We’ll also discuss the startup energy around Netflix’s live sports coverage, as well as the nostalgia of baseball’s Field of Dreams game.Then we’ll sit down with the man who’s making sports talk feel like equal parts newsroom, comedy club and family dinner. Dan Le Batard is the co-founder of Meadowlark Media, the company behind award-winning shows like Pablo Torre Finds Out. A longtime sports journalist and broadcaster, he’s built a career around bringing curiosity, humor and humanity to sports. We’ll talk about why he founded Meadowlark, how loss has shaped his drive to keep going, and why sports make us act in strange ways.Show Notes Like What You Heard? Check out the LeBatard Show on YouTube Podcaster, former MLB exec David Samson mourns loss of daughter: ‘The magic of Kyra’ For LEBO | Dan LeBatard’s eulogy for his brother David “LEBO” LeBatard Father knows Dan Le Batard best: ‘Papi’ Gonzalo on working with son | ESPN Elle Duncan Joins Netflix to Lead Live Sports Coverage » TUDUM  Show CreditsHost: David GreeneExecutive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom GrahslerSenior Producer: Michael OlcottProducer: Michaela WinbergAssociate Producer: Bibiana CorreaTalent Booker: Britt KahnEngineers: Mike Villers, Charlie KaierTile Art: Bea WallingTheme Song: Emma MungerSports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

Let’s talk about one of the most unexpected developments in sports right now: how did the Boston Red Sox turn their season around? Today we’ve got journalist Jamie McClellan on the show, who produces a podcast for the Ringer about Boston sports called Off The Pike. He’s going to help us understand how the team turned what looked like a lackluster season into one that just might be worthy of a championship run.Then, we are talking to one of the biggest sports fans I know: Killer Mike. Yes, the rapper Killer Mike. If you’re wondering why we’re bringing a Grammy-winning musician onto this sports show, it’s because he rides for Atlanta sports teams harder than anyone I know. We’re going to talk to Killer Mike about why Atlanta gets a bad rap as a sports town, and why he disagrees wholeheartedly. Plus, what sports and music have in common, and offer us as a people — especially when we feel the most divided.Show Notes Listen to Killer Mike’s music  Sid Bream’s Iconic ‘92 Slide | MLB Deion “Prime Time” Sanders Career Mini Movie | NFL Throwback City of Atlanta doesn't deserve win | ESPN Off the Pike with Brian Barrett | Ringer NFL Show CreditsHost: David GreeneExecutive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom GrahslerSenior Producer: Michael OlcottProducer: Michaela WinbergAssociate Producer: Bibiana CorreaTalent Booker: Britt KahnEngineers: Mike VillersTile Art: Bea WallingTheme Song: Emma MungerSports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

As the 2026 World Cup comes to a close, we sit down with two key figures in bringing the beautiful game to the United States.First, we hear from former U.S Soccer President Alan Rothenberg, the architect of the 1994 World Cup, who was a key figure in the World Cup back to the United States this year. He walks us through what this year's competition could mean for the future of soccer in our country.Then, we dive deep with U.S. soccer legend Landon Donovan. Six-time MLS Cup Champion and the U.S. men’s all-time leader in goals and assists, Landon has single-handedly changed how we view soccer in America. But after his 16-year career, one of the toughest challenges he faced was confronting his relationship with his father. We’ll get into Landon's new self-titled memoir, which shows how an under-privileged kid from Southern California can grow up to be one of the best soccer players the United States has seen. Show Notes Landon: A Memoir  Final 6 Minutes of USA v. Algeria | FIFA Every Single Landon Donovan World Cup Goal | FIFA Landon Donovan opens up about forgiving his father | FOX Landon Donovan’s 2010 World Cup goal: the moment that changed soccer in the United States | Onefootball Show CreditsHost: David GreeneExecutive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom GrahslerSenior Producer: Michael OlcottProducer: Michaela WinbergAssociate Producer: Bibiana CorreaTalent Booker: Britt KahnEngineers: Mike VillersTile Art: Bea WallingTheme Song: Emma MungerSports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

The 2026 All-Star Week is officially underway in Philadelphia, and we’re talking about it with John Stolnis. He’s the co-host of a podcast called Hittin’ Season, which is all about baseball and especially the Philadelphia Phillies. He’ll tell us what to expect from the exhibition game and what it means as we head into the rest of the baseball season.Then we’ll speak with an eight-time All-Star himself: Darryl Strawberry. He spent 17 years in the MLB playing for the Mets, the Dodgers, the Yankees, and the Giants. He won three World Series and racked up 335 home runs and 1,000 RBI’s. But his legacy isn’t as simple as those exceptional stats.Since he retired in 1999, Darryl Strawberry has lived a million lives: from a Florida state prison, to cancer treatment, to the pulpit as a newly minted minister. In this episode, he tells us about each chapter in his life story.Show Notes Another Life: Discovering the Healing Power of Purpose on My Long Journey from Player to Preacher | Darryl Strawberry with Jerome Preisler Remembering when Mets star Darryl Strawberry hit a HR off the roof in Montreal | SNY Take a look back at some of Strawberry’s best moments | MLB Fame, fortune, failure: Darryl Strawberry’s story of addiction and redemption | WAPT Hittin’ Season Show CreditsHost: David GreeneExecutive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom GrahslerSenior Producer: Michael OlcottProducer: Michaela WinbergAssociate Producer: Bibiana CorreaTalent Booker: Britt KahnEngineers: Mike VillersTile Art: Bea WallingTheme Song: Emma MungerSports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

Long before he became the governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro was just a kid calling into radio stations to talk through the highs and lows of being a sports fan. In this special episode, recorded live at the World Cup, we spoke with Governor Shapiro to talk about what it means for the city of Philadelphia to host a global event. We’ll dive into his earliest sports memories, hear about the rise in sports gambling on kids' phones, and learn if sports really bring us together in the way we think they do.Then, we sit down with journalist Colby Itkowitz, who has covered Governor Shapiro for years. We’ll talk about what to look out for in 2028 and the authenticity of sports fandom in politics.Show Notes Gov. Josh Shapiro on antisemitism, Trump and 2028 | Washington Post Rahm Emanuel shares why Chicago said no to the FIFA World Cup & talks possible presidential run | NBC Chicago How much of an economic boom is the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the U.S. hosting cities? | NPR Dr. J famous "Rock the Baby" Cradle Dunk against the Lakers Governor Josh Shapiro speaks at Eagles Super Bowl Parade | FOX 29 Philadelphia Show CreditsHost: David GreeneExecutive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom GrahslerSenior Producer: Michael OlcottProducer: Michaela WinbergAssociate Producer: Bibiana CorreaTalent Booker: Britt KahnEngineers: Mike VillersTile Art: Bea WallingTheme Song: Emma MungerSports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

Some of the best athletes in the world are in the United States right now, competing in World Cup games all over the country. For American athletes, the pressure to perform on their home turf can be intense. But that’s nothing new. Dominique Dawes has been there before. She was a part of the U.S. women’s gymnastics team in 1996, when the Olympic Games came to Atlanta. She competed on a squad that became known as the Magnificent 7, who the world believed had a shot to win the first team gold medal in women’s gymnastics in American history. To get to the top, Dominique would have to survive racism, abuse, and the all-consuming pressure of the world stage, all while she was still a teenager.In this episode, we’re going to turn back the clock 30 years, when all eyes were on seven American teenagers hoping to make history — and on U.S. soil. If the pressure didn’t get to them first.Show Notes The Chicago mayor who said ‘no’ to the World Cup – a dome on Soldier Field was the last straw | The Athletic Dominique Dawes 1996 Floor Final | The Gym Spot Kerri Strug Vaults at Atlanta 1996 | Olympics Olympian Dominique Dawes shares emotions, details about recent miscarriage | TODAY The Dominique Dawes Academy Show CreditsHost: David GreeneExecutive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom GrahslerSenior Producer: Michael OlcottProducer: Michaela WinbergAssociate Producer: Bibiana CorreaAdditional Production: Sherri Daye ScottTalent Booker: Britt KahnEngineers: Mike VillersTile Art: Bea WallingTheme Song: Emma MungerSports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.