Last month, Pro Padel League (PPL) — the top U.S. professional padel league — raised a $10M seed round led by Left Lane Capital, a VC firm backing other startup leagues like LOVB and Shaun White’s Snow League. This week, we spoke with PPL CEO Mike Dorfman about why investors and sponsors are seizing the padel opportunity in the U.S.

Hope you like bear hugs because the 2025 NFL Draft starts tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET from Green Bay, Wisconsin. That’s right, the pick is (almost) in.

Digital insurance company Gainbridge made a major play by teaming up with the United Soccer League (USL) yesterday. The USL’s Super League is now called the Gainbridge Super League, the first-ever title partnership for a U.S. pro soccer league. The partnership illustrates how brands are starting to recognize opportunities at all levels of the flourishing U.S. soccer pyramid.

Yesterday, AI–powered sports marketing data insights platform Relo Metrics officially added NWSL data to its Relo Census product, which the company touts as a must-have tool for marketers. By adding the soccer league’s data, brands can now see the ROI of NWSL sponsorships in real time, which will likely encourage even more investment in the league.

After grinding through 82 regular-season games, it’s time to wipe the slate clean. Sixteen NHL playoff teams are contending for the Stanley Cup, the hardest trophy to win in sports.

Yesterday, insurance company Aflac detailed the expansion of its existing WNBPA partnership, which includes increasing the prize pool at WNBA All-Star competitions this summer. Aflac’s creative — and visible — campaign illustrates the continued opportunity for brands to benefit from making big plays to close the gender pay gap.

Count ’em — not one, not two, not three, not four, but five Canadian NHL teams are playoff-bound this season, the most since 2017. That means five chances to end Canada’s 32-year Stanley Cup drought. Eh-xcellent.

It’s here — the Northern Super League (NSL), Canada’s new pro women’s soccer league, makes its long-awaited debut tonight at 109 p.m. ET, with Calgary Wild FC taking on Vancouver Rise FC in the inaugural match. Ahead of the first whistle, here’s everything you need to know about the NSL, including how it stands to impact the Great White North’s footy landscape.

The March Madness superstars may be done dancing, but the high-stakes hoopla is far from over. Tonight marks the start of the drama-filled NBA Play-In Tournament, so today’s special edition has everything you need to know about the postseason action ahead. Let’s ball.

Emotional, thrilling, and historic — yesterday was Rory McIlroy’s ultimate masterpiece. As you read, the Irishman beat England’s Justin Rose in dramatic fashion, draining a birdie putt on the first playoff hole to win his first-ever green jacket at the 89th Masters.

Crown them: No. 5 seed Austin is your inaugural League One Volleyball (LOVB) champion after sweeping No. 6 Omaha in three sets during yesterday’s title match. But Austin’s dominant win only tells half the story — here’s how the underdogs rose to the top in a playoff weekend filled with twists.

The hype around projected No. 1 WNBA Draft pick Paige Bueckers is reminiscent of last year’s frenzy around aforementioned Fever star Caitlin Clark. Her entry into the league spurred spending around the Fever, the W, and Clark herself, and it seems the same is expected for Bueckers and her potential landing place, the Dallas Wings