MLB's antitrust exemption turns 100 this May. If Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) has his way, it won't reach 101.
Driving the news: Sanders on Tuesday introduced the Save American Baseball Act. If passed, MLB wouldn't have as much free rein to conduct business as it sees fit — particularly in the minor leagues.
New York City Mayor Eric Adamslifted the vaccine mandate for performers and athletes in local venues, allowing the Brooklyn Nets' Kyrie Irving and some other unvaccinated athletes to return to competing in their hometown.
Why it matters: Adams has sought to roll back COVID restrictions as cases fall in the city. The mandate had led Irving to sit out home games.
This is the first March Madness of the NIL era, meaning athletes can monetize their fame during one of the biggest sporting events of the year.
State of play: Social media has been the most lucrative channel for athletes since the NIL era began in July, per marketing platform Opendorse. 34% of compensation has come from posting content, well ahead of signing something (18%) and licensing rights (14%).
Russia's soccer governing body launched a bid to host UEFA's European Championships on Wednesday — a month after the continental organization, along with FIFA, suspended Russia from competing in international competitions.
Driving the news: The Russian Football Union's executive committee on Wednesday decided to “support the decision to declare interest” in hosting the 2028 and 2032 tournaments, it said in a statement, according to AP.
State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Wednesday that an official from the U.S. embassy in Moscow found WNBA star Brittney Griner "in good condition" after they were granted consular access.
Driving the news: "We were able to check on her condition, we will continue to work very closely with her legal team, with her broader network, to see to it that she is treated fairly," Price told CNN's Poppy Harlow.
Women's NCAA tournament teams graduated at a higher rate than men's teams, according to an annual study by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport.
How it works:Graduation Success Rate (GSR) measures how many scholarship athletes graduate within six years of enrollment. If players leave via transfer or the draft, they aren't counted towards the rate as long as they were academically eligible when they departed.
Ash Barty shocked the sports world late Tuesday night (Wednesday in Australia), announcing her retirement from tennis at age 25.
State of play: Barty has held the No. 1 ranking for 114 consecutive weeks, the fourth-longest streak in WTA history. She's the reigning champion of both Wimbledon and the Australian Open, which she won less than two months ago.
