Your morning is started off right with the greatest sports story of the day on ESPN Daily. We provide you with an inside peek at the most intriguing stories at ESPN, as reported by the best reporters and insiders worldwide, from Monday through Friday.While the number of episodes in the show feed on many podcast providers is limited, the playlist above and the list below have the complete collection of ESPN Daily episodes. Recent episodes may only show up in the playlist above, depending on the day and hour.

Dec. 21: The Uncertain Future of Golf and Tiger Woods

Golf and Tiger Woods go hand in hand. For many years, Tiger led the PGA Tour to unprecedented heights as its face. However, professional golf’s future is currently inquestion, given that the contentious LIV Golf, which is supported by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, has completely upended the sport. As a new era in golf begins, Woods spearheads efforts to preserve the circuit that gave rise to his legacy while also assisting in the reimagining of the game he adores. Michael Collins, the resident authority on Tiger Woods for ESPN, joins the show today to discuss Tiger’s prospects going forward and why the game may need him more than ever.

Dec. 20: Getting Griner Out Part 2: Behind the Scenes of the Deal that Brought Brittney Home

What will it take to get Brittney Griner safely back home was a constant issue after her detention in February 2022 at a Moscow airport. It required an arms dealer known as The Merchant of Death, Viktor Bout, to be exchanged for prisoners between the United States and Russia. ESPN’s T.J. Quinn kept a careful eye on the topic right away, providing us with the names, locations, and happenings we required to know. One year after Griner’s return to his own country, he detailed the entire incident in detail on ESPN.com earlier this month, including excerpts from his chat with Bout. In the second installment of our in-depth examination of Griner’s incarceration, Quinn describes the discussions that resulted in Griner’s release, and we hearfrom Viktor Bout, who is arguably the most significant individual involved.

December 19: Part 1 of “Getting Griner Out”: Inside Brittney’s Russian Detention

Few reporters followed Brittney Griner’s case as carefully as ESPN’s TJ Quinn after her detention at a Moscow airport in February 2022. He obtained numerous firsthand reports and behind-the-scenes information from numerous people who devoted their lives to securing her freedom from a Russian prison cell throughout her ten-month incarceration. But most of that material could not be released for fear of endangering Griner. TJ was eventually able to write a detailed description of the entire ordeal earlier this month, which happened to be the one-year anniversary of Griner’s return home. Today, we highlight a portion of that reporting—the protracted months that Griner was imprisoned, along with fresh details about her ordeal.within a prison colony built during the Soviet era, the admiration she received from both guards and other inmates, and her valiant demonstration of tenacity and mental toughness. We’ll be back tomorrow with part two: an inside look at the arduous talks to bring Griner home.

Dec. 18: Can the Bills Survive Their Season and Help the Ravens Securing a Playoff Spot? NFL Week 15 recapped by Kevin Clark

After fifteen weeks of the NFL season, we still don’t have all the answers regarding the postseason race, even though we wish we did. The Buffalo Bills, whose season appeared to be finished a few weeks ago, have unexpectedly won back-to-back games against the Chiefs and Cowboys to resurrect their season…and in the process, they made Dallas appear nothing like the contenders we’ve seen in recent weeks. And can a victory on Monday night stop the Eagles, who we believed to be the best team in the NFL, from losing? Kevin Clark returns to the program today to offer his opinions.

from another exciting week of NFL drama and discuss how it prepares for a thrilling final few weeks.

December 15: Andrew Lopez and Victor Wembanyama’s Progress Report

Victor Wembanyama’s debut season is about 25% complete, and it’s going about as well as anyone could have imagined. Through his first 22 games, he averaged more than 19 points and nearly 11 rebounds per game, looking every bit the generational talent—or alien, as LeBron James dubbed him—that was expected of him. We thought now would be a good moment to check in with our resident young basketball phenom reporter, Andrew Lopez, as he tells us what he’s seen from Wemby both on and off the court, especially with the Lakers rematch airing tonight on ESPN.

December 14: Ryan McGee’s Distinct Perspective on College Football: The Bottom 10

In terms of lists,We can’t get enough of the Top 10. These days, it seems like there is a Top 10 list for everything, including Netflix series, pizza flavors, and highlights. What about the Bottom 10, though? That’s right, with the assistance of ESPN’s “Bottom 10” columnist Ryan McGee, we’re forgoing tradition and upending the college football landscape. After a year, McGee offers his perspective on the FBS environment from the bottom up, after his ode to quirky bowl games. And we reflect on a few major programs that may have felt like basement dwellers themselves for a week or so.

December 13: The Air Raid’s Inevitable Changes to Football

Pound and ground. For the first 100 years that collegiate football was played, that was the standard for offenses. However, things changed when a coach by the name of Hal Mumme connected with a LA lawyer by the name of Mike Leach. Playbooks were thrown aside. They threw passes. There were record breakings. Thus was born the Air Raid offense. These days, on game day, everyone is doing this, even Patrick Mahomes and the quarterback from your local high school. And when done well, it’s really entertaining to see. Thus, Dave Wilson tells us today about the origins of this creative attack and how this once-taboo idea transformed the game of football forever.

One thing became evident while the entire baseball community held their breath waiting for any news on Shohei Ohtani’s free agency: this would not be MLB’s take on LeBron James’ The Decision. Ohtani’s camp and the teams that were reportedly in the running for his services—well, most of them—were completely silent. But even with the most optimistic hopes dashed, when the dust settled on Saturday, the statistics remained astounding: Ohtani will join the Los Angeles Dodgers on a 10-year, $700 million contract, with $680 million of that amount being delayed until 2034. Alden Gonzalez so describes how this partnership between the top player in the sport and one of itsthe most marketable clubs merged, what the asking price indicates about each party, and potential ramifications for the Big Leagues.

December 11: Lamar Jackson’s MVP case, the Chiefs shooting themselves in the foot, and the Cowboys exacting revenge on the Eagles: A recap of NFL Week 14 by Jason Reid

One thing we do know as the NFL grinds into December is that there are no gimmes in this league. Consider the AFC, where wind, rain, and an overtime scare from the Rams tested Baltimore’s resolve to hold the top spot in the conference. In the meantime, Patrick Mahomes suffered a homecoming and the Chiefs and Bills engaged in another thrilling game that saw Buffalo go back up to.500. Additionally, the Cowboys in the NFC informed the Eagles that a new monarch has emerged in the East, while the Lions, who not too long agoappeared as though they could defeat anyone; today, they appear as though they would have difficulty defeating most people. Jason Reid joins us today to remind everyone that the playoff journey begins now, as the season approaches its conclusion.

December 8: How Baseball’s Offseason Was Spoiled by Shohei Ohtani

The first big domino to fall at MLB’s Winter Meetings was slugger Juan Soto, acquired by the New York Yankees on Wednesday night. Regarding Shohei Ohtani’s next, more significant transfer, we are unaware of who he will sign with. In order to have a shot to court Ohtani, the biggest free agent baseball has had in recent memory—possibly ever—teams around the Big Leagues have sworn to secrecy. His staff has kept the rumors to a minimum in spite of this. Clinton Yates, who attended the Winter Meetings, takes us behind the scenes to explain why it’s a bad thing that Ohtani and his representatives have been so silent.

for the sports.

Dec. 7: Examining the Unexpected Success of the NBA’s In-Season Tournament

Many have criticized the NBA In-Season Tournament ever since Adam Silver first suggested it. Nationwide, basketball aficionados were furious about everything—the virtues of the game, the court layouts, and the schedule. However, it seems like people are starting to grasp now that the competition is getting closer to the finish. There are now just four teams left in the playoffs, which take place in Las Vegas tonight. The Lakers will have a chance to add more trophies to their collection, but first they have to defeat the now healthy New Orleans Pelicans. Two extremely offensive teams, the Indiana Pacers and the Milwaukee Bucks, will face off in the East. So, today, our friend Ramona

Shelburne appears on the show to talk about the things she took away from the competition, who she thinks has the best chance of winning the inaugural In-Season Tournament, and why the league has been waiting for this very moment.

The Reasons Behind Mark Cuban’s December 6 Mavericks Sale

No sports owner is more tightly connected to a team than Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. When he bought the Mavs in 2000, he was a newly minted billionaire who went by no name. But his aggressive, passionate, and innovative manner completely changed the NBA and established him as a household figure among American businesses. The news that Cuban was selling the Adelson and Dumont families the bulk of the organization’s shares startled the basketball world last week. Thus, why didDid he do it? Longtime Mavericks reporter Tim MacMahon talks about Cuban’s ideology, how he kept control over basketball operations, and why this move could have a big impact on the state of Texas.

December 5: What Makes a Player a “Bust”?Physician Brian Windhorst Explains

The NBA Draft offers supporters of teams that didn’t have much to play for in the previous season a bright future ahead of them: the opportunity to select their franchise cornerstone, someone who can turn their bad luck around and take them to future greatness. That’s the objective, anyway. Six weeks into the NBA season, we’ve reached the time in the schedule where certain rookies are beginning to be referred to as busts, or the B-word. Do certain athletes, though, deserve this nickname unfairly? We were wondering why fans and analysts may be so ready to roll out jokes about rookie Scoot Henderson, who has only played ten games in the NBA.this label. What then is a bust’s precise definition? Who is eligible and who is not? And how often do players manage to overcome this regrettable distinction in the end? To clarify, Brian Windhorst returns to the program.

Dec. 4: NFL Week 13 Recap: Andrew Hawkins, 49ers Ground Eagles, Jordan Love Arrives at Lambeau

With only five weeks remaining in the regular season, it appears that the postseason picture is becoming increasingly jumbled. Some teams, like the young Green Bay Packers, who defeated Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in Lambeau on Sunday night, are gaining traction and making a run for the wild card. Their quarterback, Jordan Love, is not very experienced. The 49ers, who are now atop the NFC, arrived in Philadelphia and made it clear that they are the favorite no matter where they play. In the AFC wild card picture, the Texans are still impressive with rookie quarterback

CJ Stroud made the call. Thus, today Andrew Hawkins tells us why the NFL’s margins are so narrow and what he was searching for on the field on Sunday.

Jeff Passan previews the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings on December 1.

Major League Baseball’s winter meetings traditionally signal the start of the offseason. And the stove is about to get hotter this year with three big names on the market, including the world’s finest baseball player, Shohei Ohtani. Thus, now Jeff Passan explains to us who is available, who is making the purchases, and how astute organizations ought to go about their winter free agency acquisition.

Bill Barnwell Describes the NFL Playoff Picture on November 30.

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, the postseason is officially underway. After competing for 12 weeks, the wheat is starting to separate from the chaff. While some clubs with excellent starts have plummeted down the standings, others who had slow starts have managed to turn things around. Above theThe field will get smaller over the course of the next six weeks as each club competes for a chance to win Super Bowl LVIII. When Bill Barnwell, our NFL expert, visits the show, he shares his predictions for who will advance to the playoffs this year and who will be eliminated in December.

November 29, 2017: Ryan McGee Explains a tumultuous Conference Championship Weekend

Even though the College Football Playoffs don’t officially begin for another month, they have already begun in many respects if you look closely. Look no farther than Rivalry Week fireworks, which, despite their seeming adherence to long-standing customs, are actually laying the groundwork for this weekend’s conference championships, which will determine whether a team wins or goes home. Ryan McGee, our favorite Saturday afternoon activity, joins us to discuss the mayhem that is this unofficial bracket and then dared to look at the uncertain future of college football.

November 28: Is Draymond Prepared for a Shift? Considering His Most Recent Suspension

For Draymond Green, the last two seasons have been turbulent, to put it mildly. Green has been the team’s enforcer for the last ten years of the Warriors dynasty. He has been instrumental in delivering four NBA titles to the Bay Area and has also pushed the boundaries of league regulations. However, with his most recent ban for choking Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, everyone is now unsure of Green’s status with the team. With decades of experience covering Bay Area sports and the NBA, Marc J. Spears brings us inside Draymond Green’s head as well as the Warriors organization, helping everyone figure out how to go ahead.

The fascination of enigmatic and uncommon relics has drawn the most daring and adventurous people to search the ends of the earth throughout human history. The Covenant Ark. the Grail of the Holy. The Dallas Mavericks Barbie is here now. Due to its extreme rarity and lack of availability, the Mavs Barbie has caused collectors worldwide much distress over the years. It is the result of Mattel and the NBA working together to create the doll. In fact, some collectors have even questioned her existence because she is so difficult to find. As the holiday shopping season gets underway, we’re revisiting Jeremy Schaap and Dave Fleming’s chat about his search for Mavericks Barbie, why she’s so elusive, and how Dave helped put an end to his search.an end to a 25-year quest for one collector.

America, it’s that time of year again. It’s time to sit down and enjoy your Thanksgiving meal. Even if our Thanksgiving meal may differ, there is one dish that unites us all: watching the Detroit Lions play. If you’re a Lions supporter, the most of the Thanksgiving games played this century have left you feeling like leftovers gone bad. However, a quick glance at the standings indicates that things are different in Motown now. Therefore, today Eric Woodyard, our resident Michigander and Lions insider, talks us about his upbringing surrounded by this custom, where this top team is headed, and what to anticipate to eat if you drop by Mama Woodyard’s house.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC, commemorated its 30th anniversary earlier this month. The company, which is currently valued at $12 billion, has experienced unheard-of growth in the sports industry. However, the UFC accomplished more than merely invent a fresh kind of sports entertainment. Upending our conception of human conflict, it pulled a relatively unknown fighting technique out of the shadows and into the open. Thus, today Ryan Hockensmith recounts the story of the inaugural UFC event from the perspective of a combatant who had no idea what to expect. Our pals at 30 for 30 Podcasts delved even further into the UFC’s beginnings back in 2017. Watch No Rules: The Birth of UFC, one of their episodes.

The NFL season’s first half saw a number of forgettable primetime games, so tonight’s Monday Night Football contest between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs is guaranteed to be a feast to start Thanksgiving Week. Not only are these the two best teams in each conference, with two quarterbacks on each side vying for MVP, but this is only the second time the Super Bowl on Monday Night Football has been rematched. In order to analyze every significant detail leading up to tonight’s game and share his thoughts on one—well, technically, two—of the most anticipated matchups of the season, Andrew Hawkins joins the show today.

CJ Stroud’s NFL career is only nine games old, but he’s already dominating the league. He put new life into a Houston Texans organization that had been dormant, and he made history. He may be the NFL’s Most Valuable Player this season—forget Rookie of the Year. Clearly. However, Stroud is so much more than just his on-field exploits. Today, ESPN’s Liz Merrill joins the show to discuss Stroud’s background, his influences, and what qualities both as a quarterback and as a person make him unique.

Chances are, even if you don’t watch basketball, you’ve heard of Paige Bueckers. Videos showing her getting buckets became viral even before she set foot on the University of Connecticut campus. The clips date back to her middle school years. She was regarded as the next great thing when she joined UConn in 2020 and had the potential to take the illustrious Huskies program to yet another national championship. However, Bueckers has had ailments over the past few years, which has changed her once-lucky story into one of adversity, perseverance, and mental toughness. In light of this, ESPN’s Alexa Philippou explores Bueckers’ journey back to the court today and demonstrates how her absence from the game has altered her mindset while maintaininga shot at a national championship.

penultimate Saturday, Colorado’s penultimate home game of 2023 ended in pain as they suffered a heartbreaking 34-31 loss to the Arizona Wildcats, their fourth consecutive loss. The Buffaloes need to win out in order to qualify for the bowl despite their current 4-6 record. The prime time games and celebrity players on the sidelines are gone for the time being. What really constitutes a successful season for them, though, given that Deion Sanders took over a team that only managed to win one game the previous season? As Coach Prime’s first season with the Buffs draws to a close, ESPN’s Spencer Hall joins the program to share his thoughts on the first year of the Deion Sanders Experience in Boulder.

When Billy Preston joined the University of Kansas basketball team in 2017, many believed he would be another one-and-done player. However, before he could take that risk, a small collision paved the way for a world of illicit corporate kickbacks that quickly destroyed his prospects. Thus, Paula Levigne joins us today as Kansas and their coach Bill Self—the highest paid coach in the sport—get ready to play Kentucky. She discusses how corporate America, the federal government, and the NCAA put an end to a hoops fantasy before it even got started.

Some of the more bizarre finishes of the season occurred in Week 10. In a thrilling victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in the final seconds, rookie quarterback CJ Stroud virtually “out-Burrowed” Joe Burrow, catapulting himself into the MVP conversation. In other AFC North action, the Baltimore Ravens, who had been gaining ground as a Super Bowl candidate in recent weeks, were defeated by the Browns after a late comeback. With Trent Williams and Deebo Samuel returning, the 49ers offense is back to full capacity and they once again seem like the world beaters from Week 1. And the Detroit Lions defeated the Chargers in Los Angeles, maybe their biggest victory of the year.a shootout, which could slightly warm Brandon Staley’s seat. Thus, Kevin Clark, the host of This is Football, joins the program today to talk about his key learnings from Week 10.

For the past few seasons, Michigan has been among the best teams in college football. They’ve been in the news ever since head coach Jim Harbaugh arrived on campus, for better or worse. And now, in the middle of their perfect season, the team’s story has been overtaken by accusations of sign stealing. The unexpected and occasionally ludicrous developments that have occurred almost daily have given the impression that this scenario was taken straight out of the movie theater. The 600-page manifestos, false play call signs, and spy-camera-equipped sunglasses have jeopardized Michigan’s run for the National Championship. Thus, Mark Schlabach joins the program today to discuss how everything has happened, the tough decisions the Big Ten must make, and the resulting effects. for Harbaugh and Michigan may be.