The Food and Drug Administration authorized a device called the "Q-Collar" that may help reduce the risk of traumatic brain injuries "associated with repetitive sub-concussive head impacts" sustained during sports.
Why it matters: Impact athletics, such as football, are a major cause of TBI-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations and deaths across the U.S. every year.
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.
