The WNBA on Friday approved the sale of the Atlanta Dream, previously co-owned by former Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.), to an ownership group that includes former Dream star Renee Montgomery.
Why it matters: The Atlanta Dream and Loeffler were at odds throughout 2020, as the Trump-allied senator frequently criticized the Black Lives Matter movement. Players openly campaigned in favor of Loeffler's Democratic opponent Rev. Raphael Warnock, who ultimately defeated her in January's special election.
MLB terminated its "in-game coordinator" social media program two weeks ago in a move that could drastically alter how teams engage with their fans online.
The backdrop: MLB created the program in 2015 to keep pace with the rise of social, deploying IGCs to some 25 different clubs to complement the in-house social team and be a liaison between league and club.
54% of Americans think it would be a good idea to give NBA players early access to the COVID-19 vaccine in order to increase public confidence in it, according to a survey administered last week by The Harris Poll.
1,961 adults were surveyed; 68% said they'd likely get the vaccine as soon as it became available.
39% said they'd be more comfortable getting the vaccine if NBA players publicly received it first, led by Black (55%) and Asian (54%) respondents.
The state of play: Through Wednesday, 13.6% of Americans have received at least one dose, and 6.2% have received both, per the CDC.
The body of John Geddert was found on Thursday, just hours after the former USA Gymnastics coach was charged with 24 counts of criminal misconduct, according to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
What they're saying: “My office has been notified that the body of John Geddert was found late this afternoon after taking his own life. This is a tragic end to a tragic story for everyone involved," Nessel said in a statement.
A new fitness and wellness vertical has emerged amid the pandemic. Dubbed the "high-performance lifestyle" (HPL), it combines physical health, mental health and technology.
Why it matters: HPL aims to track and optimize human performance. Athletes have been doing this for decades; now, thanks to data democratization, anyone can.
