presser Archives

‘Outright remarkable’: The rising wave of combat sports in Nigeria

Combat sports are enjoying a wave of popularity in Nigeria — largely thanks to two stars, each with a massive social media presence.

On May 30, 2023 by Demi Phillips

IRL

‘Get uncomfortable’: How Renee Hess and her Black Girl Hockey Club are making space for hockey fans of the future

Renee Hess noticed something amiss when she attended her first hockey game in 2016. She started Black Girl Hockey Club to address that.

On May 26, 2023 by Beau Paul

IRL

‘Beyond despicable’: On the heels of a controversial World Cup, soccer in 2023 is being plagued with racism and xenophobia

Soccer is dubbed the beautiful game, but some truly heinous incidents in the U.S., Europe and Indonesia are putting a stamp on the sport in 2023.

On May 8, 2023 by Jacob Schneider

IRL

Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England - May 5th 2019: Sheffield United Premier League Promotion Party 2019

We’re up, we’re down: How promotion and relegation impacts fan-created content and fan identity

Sheffield United content creators, who know the joy of promotion and the pain of relegation, are on the rollercoaster once again.

On May 5, 2023 by Katey Lovell

IRL

‘Good, clean fun’? How social media continues to make men’s and women’s soccer two very different experiences

Soccer’s inability to understand female soccer fans is costing the sport more than $4 billion a year.

On May 3, 2023 by Yara El-Shaboury

IRL

A rainbow lace is seen being tied on a football boot next to a cone during Stonewall's rainbow laces 'Lace Up and Keep It Up' equality and inclusion campaign.

Tackling homophobia in soccer with online tools: Is it working?

Having a World Cup in Qatar put more of a focus on LGBTQ+ fans — but has that greater awareness led to action?

On Mar 30, 2023 by Katey Lovell

IRL

basket ball players playing with blue rectangle in front

Use these analytics bloggers—and not Kenpom—to fill out your March Madness bracket

What to know before joining your office pool.

On Mar 13, 2023 by Adam Huff

Internet Culture

‘I wasn’t imagining these things’: Hubert Davis explores Black hockey player experiences in unflinching documentary, ‘Black Ice’

From the Coloured Hockey League of 1895 to the current state of the NHL, Canadian filmmaker Hubert Davis thinks we need to talk about it.

On Feb 28, 2023 by Phil West

IRL

Soccer players turned filmmakers explore when injuries challenge identity — with a ‘Ted Lasso’ connection

There's a need to talk about mental health in sports. A group of soccer players who became filmmakers show why.

On Feb 24, 2023 by Jeremy Blackmore

IRL Sports

close-up with the puck during a hockey game

Is hockey really for everyone? An ambitious NHL marketing campaign and the complicated case of Ivan Provorov

Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov is the latest in a long line of players to make his stance on the 'Hockey is for Everyone' initiative clear: It's just not for him.

On Feb 14, 2023 by Xandra Harbet

IRL

Dave Ewers scores during the Aviva Premiership Ruby game

Changing the Chiefs: How an online campaign got a rugby team to ditch their racist branding

The Exeter Chiefs are among England’s oldest and most storied rugby teams – and based on its recent logo and branding alterations, one of the most controversial.

On Feb 7, 2023 by Chris Jaworski

IRL

‘I don’t think you know that black lives matter’: How cricket found a critical moment to address its institutional racism

Cricket became the first sport back after the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and used the moment to connect with Black Lives Matter.

On Jan 6, 2023 by Jeremy Blackmore

IRL Sports

laptop and smartphone screen with mobile app for betting in hand with blue Presser rectangle

Win or lose: Chinese smartphones and WhatsApp enable offshore betting, newfound income, and hope for young Zimbabweans

Young bettors in Zimbabwe are connecting on WhatsApp and betting on the World Cup — even though it's illegal.

On Dec 17, 2022 by Ray Mwareya, Deogracias Kalima

IRL

Vicky Losada (Barcelona) of Spain,Tobin Heath and Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC) of USA during the friendly match between Spain and USA at Rico Perez Stadium in Alicante, Spain on January 22 2019

‘Protect your players’: How the digital public square contributed to NWSL’s great reckoning

It took reporters' exposes, players and fans taking to Twitter, and a pair of sobering investigations to try to fix women's soccer. Has it been enough?

On Dec 16, 2022 by Meg Swanick

IRL

2002: The year of the magical basketball shoe

Kids in 2002 wanted to be like Mike. But then they wanted to be like Allen Iverson, too. And some just wanted vintage Chuck Taylors.

On Dec 12, 2022 by Hannah Borenstein

IRL