LAST NIGHT'S GAME 1/6/26 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 1/6/26

The Sports Trends Everyone Will Be Talking About In 2026

It’ll be hard to ignore these.

What will everyone be talking about in sports in 2026?

In this episode of Last Night’s Game, Amy and Scott look ahead to the biggest sports moments and trends shaping the year, not through scores or predictions, but through the conversations they’ll spark in real life.

From the Winter Olympics in Milan and the return of NHL players to Olympic hockey, to a World Cup hosted across North America and the global energy of the World Baseball Classic, 2026 is packed with once-every-four-years events that make sports impossible to avoid.

They also dig into why baseball’s momentum is growing, how international fan culture is influencing the game-day experience, and why a UFC fight planned for the White House lawn might be the most polarizing sports headline of the year.

If you want to know where sports stories are heading and how to sound confident jumping into the conversation, this episode gives you the context that matters.

The Last Night's Game podcast is here to take the awkwardness out of the conversation and help you join the sports conversation, even if you don't know the first thing about sports. We break down what's happening in sports in an easy-to-understand, fun way without all of the statistics and jargon, so you never have to exit stage left when the chatter at the office, dinner table or networking event switches to sports.

You can always catch us between podcasts at www.lastnightsgame.com or on social media. If you love us, leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. And if you have feedback or questions, you can email us at theteam@lastnightsgame.com.

Monaco, Milk + McEnroe: The Ultimate Memorial Day Side Dishes

Your weekend just got a lot more interesting.

This week on the Last Night’s Game podcast, we’re gearing up for the wildest weekend in sports. Amy and Scott break down Memorial Day weekend's biggest events, including the iconic Monaco Grand Prix, the milk-soaked madness of the Indy 500, and NASCAR’s grueling Coca-Cola 600. They’ll also preview the French Open’s fresh faces, talk NBA and Stanley Cup playoffs, and explain why you might see tennis fans dressed like carrots. Whether you're in it for the action or just want to sound like you are, this episode is your shortcut to the summer sports scene.

From the Ilona Maher To Mike Tyson To Caitlin Clark: The Sports Year That Was

The good, the bad and the Olympics.

As we wrap up 2024, let's dive deep into the year’s biggest sports moments that are set to influence the future of athletics. In this episode, Amy and Scott discuss groundbreaking performances at the Olympics, the revolutionary success of women’s rugby and the historic 12-team college football playoffs. They also highlight the rise of new WNBA stars and the cultural impact of figures like Simone Biles, Caitlin Clark, Stephen Nedoroscik, Mike Tyson and Ilona Maher. Whether it’s Olympic gold or the evolution of sports viewership, this episode celebrates a year of transformation in sports.

PS: Yes, we're a little early this week, but we wanted to ensure you were covered for the holidays.

Sports Curious, presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkwardness out of the conversation and help you join the sports conversation, even if you don't know the first thing about sports. We break down what's happening in sports in an easy-to-understand, fun way without all of the statistics and jargon, so you never have to exit stage left when the chatter at the office, dinner table or networking event switches to sports.

Beyond the Strip: Las Vegas Lights Up the Sports Scene

It’s more than shows, slots and shopping.

(Podcast length - 21:26 mins)

In this week's podcast episode, we explore the astounding transformation of Las Vegas into a bustling hub of professional sports, defying expectations and redefining its identity beyond dazzling lights and lively entertainment. Join us in uncovering the magic of Vegas and how it challenges stereotypes associated with "Sin City."

Unraveling the World of European Soccer: A Beginner's Guide to Premier League and Beyond

We’re answering your reader questions.

(Podcast length - 26:21 mins)

We're constantly receiving questions about the Premier League and European soccer, so this week's podcast is for you.

With the start of soccer (or football season if you're talking like a local), dive into this week's podcast for a fun, celeb-filled, insightful look into the world's most popular sports league.

Sporting Events We're Looking Forward To In 2023

Football with The Rock, Rihanna and the Women’s World Cup means great times are ahead.

(Podcast length - 4:42 mins)

The best part about January is looking ahead at the year and all the possibilities to be entertained.

Phoenix Open/Super Bowl

February 9 - 12

Phoenix will be the home to two of the rowdiest events of the year – the Super Bowl and The Waste Management Phoenix Open. Leading up to the Super Bowl (with the final round on Super Bowl Sunday) is the Waste Management Phoenix Open, which is hands down the biggest party of the golf season. The 16th hole is surrounded by stadium seating and is known for its’ wild and tipsy crowd.

We all love the Super Bowl (February 12), the commercials, the music and the food. Rihanna is this year’s halftime entertainment. LIFT ME UP

The Launch of the XFL

The XFL is back, but this time it’s under the watch of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. It seems like everything Johnson touches turns to gold, and he’s hoping that’s the case for the defunct football league he purchased for $15M. The new league, which starts February 18, will have eight teams. What’s different about The Rock’s XFL? He has already established a five-year TV deal with major networks, and he’s partnering with the NFL (National Football League). If you’re wondering what XFL stands for, it doesn’t stand for anything, so feel free to use your imagination. NEW AND IMPROVED?

World Baseball Classic

March 8 - March 21

The World Cup (soccer) brought the world together at the end of 2022, and now it’s baseball’s turn. The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament featuring Major League Baseball caliber players representing their countries. The event is traditionally every four years but was canceled in 2021. Taichung, Tokyo, Phoenix and Miami will be the four host cities of the 2023 World Baseball Classic, with Miami hosting the championship game. BATTER UP

FIFA Women’s World Cup

July 20-August 20 in host countries Australia and New Zealand

Will the US Women’s National Team claim the title of best in the world for the third time in a row? 31 other nations will do their best to stop that from happening – the largest field to date. With the expanded field comes newbies to the tournament, including Morocco, the Philippines, the Republic of Ireland, Vietnam and Zambia, which will play in the World Cup for the first time. GLOBAL PHENOMENON

Ryder Cup

September 29 to October 1 in Rome, Italy

A biennial event that we love is the Ryder Cup. The tournament that pits the USA vs. Europe against each other provides global bragging rights, camaraderie, and teamwork in a mostly individual sport. Expect to see your favorites hitting the links as friends become foes. Team Europe hasn’t ruled out inviting LIV golfers to play, but the US has decided against including any players who defected from the PGA for the Saudi-backed golf league. FORE!

Honorable mention

As Las Vegas natives, we must show a little love for our city, which will host its first-ever F1 (Formula One) race in November 2023. The race will take place at night on the iconic Las Vegas Strip. FROM SIN CITY TO SPORTS CITY

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LAST NIGHT'S GAME 12/28/22 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 12/28/22

The Top Sports Moments of 2022

Out with the old and in with the new.

(Podcast length - 5:03 mins)

This is our most challenging job of the year – narrowing the list of the best sports moments of 2022. We're highlighting the top moments of the year in no particular order.

The Rise of Pickleball

Everyone picked up a pickleball racket in 2022, from the Kardashians to Melinda Gates, Michael Phelps, Jamie Foxx, Owen Wilson, and Drew Brees to Leonardo DiCaprio. Pickleball had its own primetime television celebrity tournament and has been featured in Vanity Fair. What's one thing that LeBron James, Tom Brady and entrepreneurs Mark Cuban and Gary Vaynerchuk have in common? They've all invested in Major League Pickleball.

The World Cup

Soccer’s World Cup took place in a Muslim country in the Middle East for the first time and was uneventful for the most part. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo played in their last World Cup tournament, hoping to land the elusive international win. Messi and his Argentinian team prevailed, winning the tournament. The people of Argentina are also winners as they are the beneficiaries of all of the Budweiser beer that the official beer sponsor wasn't allowed to sell at the games.

The US Men's National Team (USMNT) qualified for the World Cup for the first time in eight years, but the US Women's Team (USWNT) also benefitted. Thanks to their new collective bargaining agreement, the USWNT pocketed at least $6.5M from the men's team reaching the World Cup knockout rounds—more than they received for winning two successive World Cups.

Basketball

In February, the WNBA’s (Women’s National Basketball Association) Brittney Griner was detained in Russia for bringing cannabis-derived oil cartridges in her luggage into the country. As time passed, it seemed like her chances of being released dwindled, but social media never allowed us to forget her. #WeAreBG trended for months as fans, the WNBA and NBA fought to get Griner home. Griner arrived home in time for Christmas following a prisoner swap. She and her wife, Cherelle, are now using their platform to bring home retired US Marine Paul Whelan, who has been captive in Russia for four years.

Tennis

Rafael Nadal set the men's Grand Slam record at 22, while his main competition Novak Djokovic was forced to miss grand slam tournaments due to his COVID vaccination status. Serena Williams, who has 23 grand slam wins, announced her evolution away from tennis. She gave us an epic going away match at the US Open, which boasted nearly 7M viewers on ESPN, a record for tennis on the network.

Golf

The LIV Golf League created a divide in the professional golf world. The Saudi-backed league, led by golf legend Greg Norman, promised fewer tournaments with larger payouts. Big names like Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau left the PGA. LIV players were ineligible to compete in any PGA tournaments or the postseason. Although in 2023, they will be eligible to play in The Masters.

winter Olympics

The 2021 Winter Olympics in Beijing finally happened in early 2022. A few notable moments for the US included American Erin Jackson winning a medal in speedskating, the first African American woman to do so, and snowboarder Shaun White retiring after his storied Olympic career. Norway topped the medal count, with the US coming in fifth on the list.

Baseball

Aaron Judge had a great 2022. New York Yankees' star was named the American League MVP and TIME's Athlete of the Year. This season he broke Roger Maris' single-season American League home run record, which stood for more than 60 years. The cherry on top is the coveted free agent signed a massive nine-year deal worth $360M to stay with the Yankees.

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LAST NIGHT'S GAME 2/2/22 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 2/2/22

What You Need To Know Ahead Of The Winter Olympics

Let the games begin.

(Podcast length 6:06 mins)

The athletes to watch for and the storylines that’ll have everyone buzzing both here at home and in Beijing.

Transcript

1. Only six months after the Summer Olympics, the Winter Olympics will kick off on Friday, February 4 and run through February 20. Look for a few events to take place before the Opening Ceremony on the 4th. There will be 3,000 athletes taking over Beijing and surrounding areas to compete in 15 sports in 109 medal events. Beijing is the first city to host both the Winter and Summer Olympics. LET THE GAMES BEGIN

2. Like the Summer Olympics, you will see families of the Olympians cheering from their couches just like the rest of us. Thanks to COVID, the only fans able to attend any of the events come from the host nation. One more reason to hit the couch (or throw a party), it's the first time the Super Bowl and the Olympics have run at the same time, and NBC will air both. Ad time is "nearly sold out" for both events, of which the Super Bowl is charging $6.5 million. According to NBC Universal, some sponsors support both events, namely streaming services. THE MORE THE MERRIER

3. Athletes like snowboarders Shaun White and Chloe Kim will be returning to the Winter Games. White will be back for his fourth and final Olympics. Keep an eye on US speed skater Brittany Bowe who gave up her spot in the 500m race after her competitor, who was ranked No. 1, fell during the Olympic qualifier. Bowe will compete in the 1000m, 1500m and even the 500m after the US picked up an extra spot after some countries returned their quota spots for the event. Bowe will be one of the flag bearers for the Opening Ceremony. KARMA

For more on the Team USA athletes to follow, click here.

4. Artificial snow is a standard fixture at the Winter Olympics as host countries struggle to get enough natural snowfall to hold the event. Beijing will be the first host to rely entirely on artificial snow. For the first time in the history of the Games, they will also be using carbon dioxide in ice-making at four of their ice sports competition and training venues. By not using the traditional route of Freon, the new process will help reduce carbon emissions equal to 3,900 cars per year and cut emissions from ice-making to nearly zero. Organizers would have to plant about 1.2 million trees to achieve a similar carbon reduction. EARNING GOLD BY GOING GREEN

5. Athletes on Team USA have been encouraged to use burner phones in China due to cyber security and surveillance risks. Athletes have also been warned about speaking out about China's treatment of the Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups. These human rights violations caused the US, Japan, Britain and Australia to declare a diplomatic boycott of the games, citing "genocide and crimes against humanity" in Xinjiang. (What does a diplomatic boycott mean?) Athletes were told to stay silent and that they could speak out upon returning home to ensure their safety. CAN NEVER BE TOO SURE

FYI: Beijing is 13 hours ahead of the Eastern Time Zone and 16 hours ahead of the Pacific Time Zone. An event that starts at 10:00 a.m. local time Monday will be at 9:00 p.m. EDT Sunday.

Sports Curious, presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkward out of the conversation and help you join the sports conversation, even if you don't know the first thing about sports. We break down what's happening in sports in an easy-to-understand, fun way without all of the statistics and jargon, so you never have to exit stage left when the chatter at the office, dinner table or networking event switches to sports.

You can always catch us between podcasts at www.lastnightsgame.com or on social media. If you love us, make sure to leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts.

LIKE US? SHARE US WITH YOUR FRIENDS.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME 5/12/21 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 5/12/21

Athletes Who Own Professional Sports Teams

Only the best will do.

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(Podcast length - 5 mins)

Have money make money?

Transcript

1. Athletes and the biggest names in Hollywood love investing in women’s sports, especially the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League). Angel City FChas the most notable investors, including Jennifer Garner, Natalie Portman, Eva Longoria and athletes Mia Hamm, Serena Williams, Candace Parker and her daughter Lailaa and tennis icon and activist Billie Jean King. Not to be outdone, NHL (National Hockey League) superstar Alex Ovechkin (Washington Spirit) and the No. 2 tennis player in the world (and the highest-paid female athlete ever) Naomi Osaka, is now an owner of North Carolina Courage. SMART INVESTING

2. The hot ticket item (after an NWSL team) is buying a stake in a NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) team. Both Michael Jordan and Mr. Worldwide himself, Pitbull, became owners of a NASCAR team before this year’s season started. Jordan’s team is a new team led by the only Black driver in the pro circuit of NASCAR, Bubba Wallace. The car features Jordan’s longtime jersey number No. 23. Pitbull is the co-owner of the Trackhouse Racing Team, which has the No. 99 car of Daniel Suarez. FAST MONEY

3. Joining Justin Timberlake as an NBA (National Basketball Association) owner are the NFL’s (National Football League) Larry Fitzgerald (Phoenix Suns) and Aaron Rodgers (Milwaukee Bucks). Former NBA players Shaquille O’Neal (Sacramento Kings) and Dwyane Wade (Utah Jazz) have diversified their assets with team ownership. HOOP DREAMS

4. One sport that you might not think of is Esports. The sport is the fastest growing sport globally, with viewers watching more than 2.1 billion hours of Esports videos worldwide. You may have heard of cities across the country building dedicated Esports arenas, and that’s why. David Beckham, also the owner of Inter Miami CF (MLS), launched Guild Esports in 2020. The company has already gone public on the London Stock Exchange. He joins the long list of athlete investors in Esports, including Steph Curry (Team SoloMid), Alex Rodriguez (NRG Esports), Michael Jordan (aXiomatic), Michael Strahan (NRG Esports) and Mike Tyson (Team Fade 2 Karma). NUMBERS DON’T LIE

5. LeBron James has his hands in everything and it all seems to be turning to gold with his stake in Liverpool FC, who won the UEFA Championship in 2019. Also looking for a return on their investment is the NBA’s Kevin Durant, an owner of the Philadelphia Union (MLS – Major League Soccer). GOAL!

Sports Curious presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkward out of the conversation and help you join the sports conversation, even if you don't know the first thing about sports. We break down what's happening in sports in an easy-to-understand, fun way without all of the statistics and jargon so you never have to exit stage left when the chatter at the office, dinner table or a networking event switches to sports.

You can always catch us between podcasts at www.lastnightsgame.com or on social media. If you love us, make sure to leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. And if you have feedback or questions, you can email Amy at amy@lastnightsgame.com.

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LAST NIGHT'S GAME 8/6/20 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 8/6/20

I Like Flat Bats And I Cannot Lie

Decoding cricket and its tea breaks, champagne and skyrocketing popularity for women who play it.

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(Podcast length 6 mins - transcript is below)

We’ve heard from a lot of you that you’d like to know more about cricket. It’s not commonly played in the U.S. but it’s continuing to gain popularity especially as participation in high impact sports like football declines.

So, we went straight to the expert, our Last Night’s Game southern hemisphere correspondent and massive cricket fan, Toby, to understand the ins and outs of the game and the culture surrounding the sport. He gave us the low down on how to fit in, what we needed to know and most importantly, what we needed to eat and drink when watching a match.

Transcript

While cricket seems like the proper sport where you’d dress like you’re going to a garden party, is that the case?

Well, Cricket is largely played in countries that were former British colonies, hence the perception around the proper attire. If you are going to sit in a ‘members’ area at some of the famous grounds around the world such as Lord’s in London, or the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia, you’d need to wear a suit and jacket for men and equivalent for the ladies.

However, if you are sitting in the general crowd at the ground...anything goes.

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The moment you realise there’s no pool deck at The Gabba this cricket season... We still had a cracking day 1 of the #DomainTestSeries! Day 2 Gates open 8.30am • First ball 10am • See you then, Brissy!

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Baseball is synonymous beer, hot dogs and Cracker Jacks, what kinds of traditional food should we make sure we eat when we’re watching a match and what should we drink?

Lots of water! Cricket games can take a long time, and they are played outdoors. But, traditionally, drinking beer at the cricket is considered part of the activity (much like baseball) although options have developed. The Lord’s Cricket Ground in London (considered the home of cricket) is famous for its members sipping champagne while watching the action.

Must also be noted that because cricket is played by many different cultures around the world, what is appropriate to drink at the game changes from country to country. Same with food. The foods served at the cricket are often synonymous with the local cuisine where the game is being played. In Australia it might be pies or chips, in the United Kingdom - pork sausages, and in the likes of India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka, local spicy foods.

You mentioned that games can last for a long time. What are we talking about?

It depends on the game. There are three formats of cricket:

1. Test cricket, which goes over five days;

2. One-day cricket, which goes for one day; and

3. T20 cricket, which takes four hours.

In test cricket, the players pay in two-hour intervals each day and stop for ‘lunch’ (40 mins) and ‘tea’ (20 mins). Test cricket is the traditional format of cricket, and both teams wear all white uniforms. In the other formats, the players wear team oriented colored clothes.

Is there a “Super Bowl” of cricket? A big matchup that we could get excited about (and maybe catch on TV in the states)?

One day cricket has a World Cup held every four years. The last Men’s World Cup was held in London last year and had an amazing final. In recent years, women’s cricket has exploded. The Women’s World Cup was held in Australia earlier this year and it was the second highest attendance at a women’s sporting event in the world (86,174 attended the final). Katy Perry was the pre-game entertainment.

Who is the Cristiano Ronaldo of the sport? (I.e. the most popular cricket player)?

India is the largest cricket nation in the world, and the captain of their national team is therefore the most revered player in the world, his name is Virat Kohli.

What do we need to know about the game itself?

Cricket’s closest cousin is baseball but there are more differences than similarities. For one, the wicket keeper who stands behind the batter wears gloves, but the remaining fields do not wear gloves.

Here’s a great video that explains cricket in an easy to understand way in less than two minutes. (Don’t let the terms intimidate you - that’s normal). In addition to that, here are a few key terms that might help you up your game.

Bowler - is the pitcher
Over - is made up of six pitches. Each bowler, bowls six pitches and that is then called an over. Another bowler then bowls from the other end of the pitch.
Wickets - is used to define both the clay-based pitch that the batter bats on and the three wooden stumps at each end that the bowler is trying to hit.
‘Howzat!’ - is what the bowler yells to appeal to the umpire when he thinks he has a batter out and wants the umpire to make a call.

Sports Curious presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkward out of conversation and help you join the sports conversation, even if you don't know the first thing about sports. We breakdown what's happening in sports in an easy to understand, fun way without all of the statistics and jargon so you never have to exit stage left when the chatter at the office, dinner table or a networking event switches to sports.

You can always catch us between podcasts at www.lastnightsgame.com or on social media. If you love us, make sure to leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts.

The Sports Trends Everyone Will Be Talking About In 2026

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Sporting Events We're Looking Forward To In 2023

Phoenix Open/Super Bowl

The Launch of the XFL

World Baseball Classic

FIFA Women’s World Cup

Ryder Cup

Honorable mention

The Top Sports Moments of 2022

The Rise of Pickleball

The World Cup

Basketball

Tennis

Golf

winter Olympics

Baseball

What You Need To Know Ahead Of The Winter Olympics

Athletes Who Own Professional Sports Teams

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I Like Flat Bats And I Cannot Lie

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