Ben Strauss

A mishandled moment at the WNBA Finals offered a window into a larger dynamic, according to interviews with nearly 20 reporters and officials around the WNBA.

ESPN is reportedly is paying Pat McAfee north of $15 million per year in a quest to gain more currency with a younger generation of sports fans.

In a battle for scoops and attention, it’s ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski vs. his former protégé, the Athletic’s Shams Charania. Every second counts.

The dispute, over the “carriage fee” Charter paid to carry the networks, was the latest example of how cord-cutting is upending the cable TV model.

It was an embarrassing moment for ESPN: a game, aired on its flagship network, between two teams that its announcers were telling viewers had no business playing each other. It only got stranger from there.

The NHL is leaving NBC and has added a deal with Turner Sports to go with one with ESPN.

Industry analysts see investment value in developing professional leagues and growing college events.

Chris Glass, who served as a senior vice president and executive producer at the network, had been at MASN since 2006.

The NHL’s new seven-year deal locks in four Stanley Cup finals on ABC and about 1,000 out-of-market games on ESPN+.

Gomez died unexpectedly at his Phoenix home Sunday afternoon, according to ESPN.