The championship began on April 26th at the Par 72 Pinehaven Country Club. At the end of a competitive day one, Wellesley and New York University, ranked 9th in division III, were tied with 302 strokes. For these types of championships, five Wellesley players will hit, but the four top scores are recorded. On a par-72 course, therefore, the team value was shockingly only 14 strokes over par (288). Even more impressive were Wellesley’s places on the podium: sophomores Sarah Yeh and Audrey Wang were tied for first place overall, both only shooting one over par. Meanwhile, classmate Kaurvaki Bajpai was ranked seventh overall, tied with first-year Savannah Boyd.

On day two of competition, the Blue continued to impress. They shot 310, which combined with their prior score for 612 overall, good for first place. New York University came in second with 618. Wang won the individual competition, matching her score from the day before with another 73. Yeh was able to capture second place with a score of 39 on day two. Boyd and Bajpai remained tied in seventh place. Wang and Yeh received first-team all-conference accolades, while Boyd and Bajpai won second-team all-conference honors. To win the competition was impressive enough, but to do it led by underclassmen is all the more staggering. The program clearly has the potential to continue getting better and better.

With the win, the Blue have earned a berth to the Division III National Championships for the first time as a team. They will take place from May 13-16 at the Kingsmill Resort & Spa in Williamsburg, Va and can be viewed through the NCAA website. The Wellesley News commends our sibs on the golf team for making history and wishes them continued success at the Championships.

Contact the editors responsible for this story: Julee Sharma, Finley Tipton, Katie McCabe

Injury is part of the risk of playing a sport, especially at higher levels.  According to Utah Medicine, ACL tears in particular can occur if there is a change in direction, sudden stop in movement, an incorrect landing or a collision (Utah Medicine). Though these are common movements in many sports, a 2016 study in the Journal of Orthopedics found that compared to men, women tear their ACLs 3.5x more in basketball and 2.8x more in soccer. Watkins now joins a star-studded list of female athletes who tore their ACL during their career, including fellow basketball players, Sue Bird, Paige Bueckers and Cameron Brink; as well as soccer stars, Megan Rapinoe, Sam Kerr and Kristen Press. 

One of the most disheartening aspects of ACL tears for athletes can be the treatment and recovery process that lies ahead. After the tear occurs, athletes most often need surgery —an ACL graft is the common procedure —  and then the rehabilitation lasts a year (or more) — or more — before they can return to play. Although the immediate impact of Watkins’ injury was the end of her 2025 season, many were quick to point out that she will likely miss a portion of her junior season. A promising aspect of ACL injuries when contrasted with others is that many great athletes have made full comebacks following the repairing surgery. Nonetheless, the duration of the rehab and the mental setbacks of such a serious injury are an athlete’s worst nightmare.. With the increasing popularity of both basketball and soccer for young girls, it is likely that ACL tears will continue to be a serious problem for female athletes specifically. To combat this issue, more resources need to be poured into injury prevention at all levels of play. 

Initial research has attempted to understand the reason female athletes experience ACL tears at such a disproportionate rate. Studies such as one conducted by Johns Hopkins Medicine point to anatomical differences as the reason. Factors such as women’s quad to hamstring ratio being higher or the duration in which their leg muscles fire have also been mentioned. Additionally, it is more difficult for female athletes to put on muscle that supports the knee, meaning the joint is usually looser than men’s. Assertions have also been made that the difference is due to female sex hormones like estrogen, or even lack of core strength,  but they are yet to be proven (Journal of Orthopedics 2016). This field of research remains limited as the first study on men’s ACL tears was published in the early 1900s, while research focusing specifically on women did not begin until the 1990s. 

In 2024, Harvard Professor Sarah Richardson published a study exposing the bias within existing ACL research. She pointed out that ACL studies often use metrics that are inconsistent across men’s and women’s athletics due to a difference in resources. For example, women spend more time in active competition because they typically have smaller rosters. This is opposed to men’s teams, which have the personnel to invest into more practice time, which can aid injury prevention. Richardson also noted differences in funding, saying that “Expenditures on collegiate Division I men’s sports in the USA are double that of women’s sports, including substantial differences in resources for recruiting, scholarships and coaches’ salaries.” More money is poured into ACL tear prevention training, pre and post-game recovery, and overall sports medicine in male programs. The difference in resource allocation may be a huge factor in gender-based ACL tears.

The tragic timing of JuJu Watkins’ ACL tear is yet another reminder that women’s sports need to be invested in just as much as men’s. If genetic differences truly do account for disproportionate ACL tears in female athletes, then there needs to be more research to understand and address them. Furthermore, resources for college and professional programs need to be distributed fairly in order to improve the quality of play for female athletes. Every player should be able to compete in their sport without the looming threat of a life-altering injury.

Contact the editors responsible for this story: Julee Sharma, Finley Tipton, Katie McCabe

It wasn’t easy. In fact, it almost slipped away again.

The final round was vintage Augusta drama. McIlroy entered Sunday in a tie for the lead, but nerves showed early with a double bogey on the first hole. He steadied himself and clawed back into rhythm with a string of birdies, including a crucial one at the 15th. But a second double bogey on the 13th nearly unraveled everything. That setback, combined with a scorching round from Justin Rose, meant McIlroy had to birdie the 17th just to keep pace. A bogey on the 18th dropped him to 11-under, tying Rose and forcing a playoff.

For many watching, it felt like a cruel repeat of past Augusta heartbreaks. McIlroy’s history at the Masters is littered with collapses, most famously in 2011 when he blew a four-shot lead in the final round. Year after year, he returned with renewed hope, only to fall just short. In recent years, the pressure seemed to mount with each missed opportunity. A career Grand Slam was no longer just a goal; it became a narrative, a burden.

But this year, McIlroy approached the Masters with a different energy. He spoke less in press conferences and played more freely throughout the tournament. His swing looked fluid. His putting was consistent. Most importantly, he seemed mentally composed, even when the round threatened to spiral.

In the playoff, McIlroy drew on every bit of that poise. Both players returned to the 18th tee. McIlroy hit a clean drive, then stuck his approach within ten feet of the hole. Rose’s second shot landed further out, and his birdie attempt slipped past the cup. McIlroy, with a chance to win the tournament outright, drained the putt with quiet confidence. No roar, no jump, just a subtle fist pump and a long exhale.

“I didn’t make it easy today. I certainly didn’t make it easy,” McIlroy admitted to reporters according to The Masters website. “I was nervous. It was one of the toughest days I’ve ever had on the golf course.” 

Indeed, McIlroy’s win at Augusta wasn’t just a triumph of talent. It was a triumph of resilience. Since his last major win in 2014, he has faced a rotating cast of younger challengers, changes in the golf landscape and increasing scrutiny. But through it all, he remained a central figure in the game, not only as a competitor but also as a voice of reason and leadership during golf’s turbulent split between tours.

This Masters felt like the closing of a chapter. The 35-year-old didn’t just win a tournament; he completed a journey. He proved that persistence still has a place in modern sport, that heartbreak can be rewritten.

Behind McIlroy, a leaderboard packed with stars added to the tension. Patrick Reed made a run, but faltered late. Scottie Scheffler couldn’t generate enough momentum. Other contenders faded as Augusta’s back nine claimed its usual toll. In the end, it was two veterans, McIlroy and Rose, who stood atop the field. And it was McIlroy who had the final say.

This win alters the trajectory of his legacy. Without a Masters, McIlroy was a generational talent with an asterisk. With it, he’s a confirmed legend. The green jacket completes the set. More than that, it frees him from the weight of expectation that’s followed him every April since his early 20s.

Contact the editors responsible for this story: Julee Sharma, Finley Tipton, Katie McCabe

Many pre-game rituals begin when athletes establish a correlation between game performance and events that occurred beforehand. Once the seed of this connection is planted, athletes  can begin to associate this event with playing well. These superstitions are not based on fact, but merely personal belief about correlation.. According to CBS News, “Superstitions can combat anxiety through the placebo effect, meaning someone thinks their ‘remedy’ fixed their problem when in reality, it was something more in their control.” Even though these superstitions are not based on scientific fact, they still serve a purpose, and can boost athletes’ confidence.

To learn more about athletes’ superstitions, I turned to the players closest: Wellesley athletes. Each player described a unique ritual, emphasizing that these superstitions are very common but deeply personal.

For soccer player Anna Mytko  ’24, her routine relies on order — she always puts her left cleat on first. When she steps onto the field, she reaches down and rips a piece of grass out. “I’ve done this since club soccer,” Mytko said. “It’s become instinctual, and the repetition gives me a peace of mind before the game.” Similarly, Emily Kulhanek ’27 on the softball team relies on a precise routine to achieve athletic success, every game day she makes overnight oats with frozen fruit and peanut butter . 

For volleyball player Caroline Meyer ’27, meditation is key. She dedicates time in the locker room to envision how she wants to play and what her team needs from her. During this time, Meyer always listens to NLE Choppa. “His music gets me excited and ready to play,” Meyer explained. “If I don’t listen to him I won’t play well.”

For some athletes like lacrosse player Mallory Kennison ’27, their superstitions involve rituals happening many hours before a game. “I have to shave my legs the night before a game,” Kennsion shared. “In high school, I didn’t shave my legs once, and we lost a game we shouldn’t have lost. Ever since then, I make sure to never miss a day.” 

Although these practices vary in process, the habitual act of these superstitions can give athletes a sense of control. The outcome of a game, match or meet is heavily impacted by skill, decision-making and team performance. Yet chance remains a key factor in athletics: referees vary, players get injured, mistakes happen. Because of this, athletes often desire “controlling the controllables.” With familiar personal rituals, each player has their own way of doing what they can to win the game.

While these rituals may provide a sense of ease to athletes, an over-reliance on them can be detrimental. In situations when an athlete skips their routine, they can feel uneasy or out of control, not because their athletic skill has changed in any way, but because they are so focused on the uncompleted task — they believe they have already lost their chance to play well before the game has even started. This dynamic draws a correlation between skipping a routine and poor performance, not as a result of superstition, but because of a lack of concentration for the game at hand.

At the end of the day, humans are creatures of habit drawn to repetition and comfort. For athletes, this comfort comes in forms on and off the field. Pre-game superstitions will most likely remain a common practice as young athletes search for control and routine.

Contact the editors responsible for this story: Julee Sharma, Finley Tipton, Katie McCabe

Basketball defeated three conference opponents this year, improving their conference record from last year, with triumphs over Clark, Mount Holyoke College and Wheaton College. Trinity Barrow ’27 had an outstanding year, leading the Blue in points, assists and steals per game. Ava Shane ’28 led the team in rebounds per game. Forward Caitlin Windross ’25 will be greatly missed next year; she averaged an impressive 7.2 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Overall, the team improved this season, with a strong first year class and an improved position in the New England Men and Women’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC).

Swim and Dive finished 6th out of 10 teams at the NEWMAC championships, which took place from Feb. 20 through the 23. The Blue saw strong performances from Emily Richardson ’26 who finished 7th in the 1650 Free, Maya Hart ’25 who finished 8th in the 200 Breaststroke, and Cecilia Cai ’25 who finished 8th in the 200 Free. The 400 medley relay team of Hart, Lily Fender ’28, Chelsea Park ’27 and Ariana Mitsuoka ’25 also took 6th overall. It was a great effort to end a strong swim and dive season.

The Track and Field squad hit the New Balance track last weekend to compete in the New England Division III Championships, with showings from juniors Claire Peng and Emily Brydges on day one. Peng ran a personal record time of 3:08.55 to take 10th overall in the 1000m race, while Brydges took 20th in the 5k. On day two of the competition, Charlie Barron ‘25 took 29th overall in the 400m dash, while classmate Erin Dickinson took 22nd in the triple jump. Track and field will look to continue improving as the outdoor season picks up this Spring.

Lacrosse and Tennis have shined in the beginning of their spring seasons. Tennis opened the spring with an upset over #30 in Division III, Skidmore College, 4-3, after big wins from first-years Nandini Patel, Kotistha Modak, Sophie Buttorf and sophomore Suzanne Xu. After a disappointing loss to Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), the Blue returned with a triumphant shutout of Trinity College and a 6-1 win over Bates on March 2nd. Next up, the Blue will take on Denison University, Hope College and George Fox University in Orlando during Spring Break. Meanwhile, lacrosse has achieved its first win of the season against Gordon College, who beat them in overtime last year. The team has a strong first year class, a new coach, and after a disappointing overtime loss to Husson University on Saturday March 1, 11-10, they are looking forward to redemption with a home game against the US Merchant Marine Academy on March 10th.

Last but not least, fencing will be finishing its season soon with the NCAA Northeast Regional. As of a Feb. 12 coaches poll, the Blue are ranked 5th in all of Division III. After a dominant season, they are expected to do amazing things at the competition, which will take place March 9. 

Though Blue Crew and softball have yet to compete, their moments are coming very soon: for softball, it will be March 17 against Macalester College, while Crew will row on March 22 at the Washington College Invitational. As all of these teams finish or begin their seasons, the Wellesley News is ecstatic to continue covering their achievements as student-athletes.

Contact the editors responsible for this story: Julee Sharma, Finley Tipton, Katie McCabe

The first quarter saw only one touchdown, a rushing play from star quarterback Jalen Hurts in his second career Super Bowl appearance. In his last appearance, the 2023 Super Bowl, the Eagles lost to the Chiefs in a much closer call, 38-35. Despite throwing an interception at the beginning of the second quarter, which the Chiefs could not capitalize on, Hurts stunned the Chiefs’ defense for the rest of the evening. Patrick Mahomes, the quarterback for the Chiefs, matched the interception with his own later in the quarter, picked off by Cooper DeJean, a rookie who made the play of the game on his birthday. Not only was it an amazing interception, but DeJean was able to return it for a touchdown. At halftime, the Eagles were up 24-0, a shockingly bad showing for the Chiefs.

The halftime show from Kendrick Lamar was incredible — he played many hits from his most recent album, “gnx,” including “tv off” and “squabble up.” He also featured SZA, Samuel L. Jackson, and Serena Williams in the performance. Perhaps this provided the Eagles with even more energy for the second half, as their dominance did not waver for the rest of the game.

After an Eagles field goal improved the score to 27-0, and the Chiefs failed to score on yet another drive, Hurts threw a touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith for over 50 yards, bringing the score to 34-0. The Chiefs managed one touchdown before the fourth quarter, but failed on the 2-point conversion, which was an interception thrown by Mahomes.

There was a notable lack of rushing plays from the Eagles compared to their games from the rest of the season, when they heavily relied on Saquon Barkley, their star running back. After spending six seasons stuck with the New York Giants, with whom he could not come close to the Super Bowl, he was quietly let go and the Eagles picked him up on a $37.75 million contract for three years. With the Eagles, he fit in as a natural leader and set the single-season record for rushing yards this year with an astonishing 2,504 yards. Though he only rushed for 57 yards in the Super Bowl, he served as a huge threat to the defense, drawing their focus away from Hurts’ passing plays.

In the fourth quarter, the Chiefs already looked defeated, and the Eagles began to celebrate long before the clock ran out. Mahomes was stripped of the ball on one of the Chiefs’ last chances to score, a devastating blow that snuffed out any remaining momentum they had. The score was 40-6 with five minutes remaining, and though the Chiefs managed to increase it to 40-22, they had stopped celebrating. For Kansas City fans, it may have been heartbreaking, but for the majority of dynasty-haters watching the Super Bowl, it was the perfect ending.

Hurts was named the Super Bowl MVP, Travis Kelce unfortunately did not propose, and the city of Philadelphia took a lot of damage. Though it was a complete blowout, this Super Bowl was still a joy to watch.  

Contact the editors responsible for this story: Julee Sharma, Finley Tipton, Katie McCabe

Concerning trends in this season’s viewership should not come as a surprise to the NBA. In fact, the last 5 NBA Finals averaged about 11 million viewers, just over half of the 20 million who tuned in during the 2016 Finals. But why? NBA fans and critics alike have their theories, including but not limited to: the season is too long, games are slowed by too many foul calls, teams take too many 3’s, and star-players are sitting out too often. Fans claim that the style of play in the NBA is not what it used to be, but it seems as though their attention spans suffer the same decay. Commissioner Adam Silver, aware of the concerning trends, has employed a plethora of new rules and gimmicks to recapture the attention of fans. 

NBA fans have grown especially critical of “star-players” regularly sitting out games under the justification of avoiding injury and preserving energy. These criticisms are a reminder that professional athletes are just as much entertainers as they are competitors, and therefore they are expected to perform. At the same time, these basketball players make exorbitant amounts of money under the pretext they compete in 82 games a season. As of 2024, NBA players made on average $11.9 million per year — 80 times more than the average WNBA player — so, participation in regular season games is expected for the check they receive. To combat disappointed fans, the NBA introduced new regulations for players that are considered “stars”. According to ESPN, they must be available for nationally televised games, they must have a league-approved reason to sit, there cannot be more than one of these players on the bench, and if on the bench, they must be visible to fans. There is not enough data to determine if these new rules have made a difference in the participation of “stars,” but for the money they make, fans hope that they want to play. 

Another tactic to boost regular season ratings was the introduction of the NBA Cup, an in-season tournament. Inaugurated during the 2023-2024 season, every NBA  team is now sorted into randomized groups and have “NBA Cup” games scattered throughout their regular season schedule. According to CBS Sports, the top teams from each group qualify for a knock-out tournament played in Las Vegas, with players on the winning team taking home $500,000. Despite the Introduction of this event, viewership was still down 1% during the 2023-2024 season. Another approach the league has taken is refiguring the All-Star game. Departing from the classic East vs West game composed of fan-voted players, the NBA has trialled different variations of the game in the past years. The 2025 All Star Game is set to be a four team mini-tournament, with teams drafted by analysts competing in first-to-40 games. One of the teams, Team Candace, is to be managed by WNBA legend Candace Parker, another instance of the NBA turning to support from the W. 

Though these new additions to the league could end up improving competition in the long-run, it is obvious that the NBA has been scrambling over the past few years to remain dominant. The NBA’s struggles have occurred simultaneously to a prosperous few years for the WNBA. According to the WNBA, last year The W averaged 1.19 million viewers per game, an increase of 170%. According to Togethxr, the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game saw a record 3.4 million viewers and the WNBA was recently named the top growing brand of 2024. Caitlin Clark declining to appear at NBA’s all-star weekend is a strong indication of the momentum the WNBA has amidst the lull the NBA is trying to escape. With the NBA looking to support the WNBA, there is space for a collective fanbase to be built, but are NBA fans ready to embrace  women? More importantly, does the WNBA still need the NBA as a crutch? With rapid expansion in the WNBA, there may be a new league rising to the top.

Contact the editors responsible for this story: Julee Sharma, Finley Tipton, Katie McCabe

Flash forward to 2025. The clock ticks down, the ball drops and we substitute these profound “promises to the gods” with gym memberships, eating healthy and procrastinating less. With this newfound motivation, enthusiasm flows through the veins … until January 31.

There seems to be an extremely brief time between when these goals are set and when they are abandoned like our hope for the Clapp Renovation timeline. One flaw in this reconstruction phase is the lack of prior established habits. According to Scientific American, it takes the average human 66 days to develop a habit (far longer than the fleeting motivation that kicks in at the start of the new year). Anybody who has taken PSYC 101 might recognize this process as a form of classical conditioning, where behaviors become ingrained through repetition, creating a stimulus and a response. In regards to building habits, the “stimulus” might be a notification reminding somebody to exercise and the “response” would be getting up to go to the gym. Overtime, this stimulus-response relationship becomes automatic, leading to successful habit formation.

However, without this repetition, the willpower that seemed so powerful on January 1 quickly dissipates.

This struggle is particularly evident in fitness-related goals, which currently stand as the most-searched New Year’s Resolution on Google. Most people who resolve to improve fitness might initially maintain motivation, leading to the stereotypical increase in gym memberships at the start of each year. However, by the end of January, reality settles in and people realize that exercising is difficult, body odor smells vile and the simple option to cancel the gym membership exists.

Although some resolutions may fail, many succeed. The difference often rests in how the goals are set. Resolutions that follow the SMART outline – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-bound – prove to be more likely to succeed. For example, instead of a new runner setting a vague goal like “I will be an Olympic runner this year,” a more defined SMART goal could be to “run a mile in less than seven minutes in five months.” This approach narrows down intentions and creates a structured and manageable path. Many Wellesley athletes are familiar with this approach, as it is one of the philosophies emphasized by Wellesley Sports Psychologist Jenn McGibbon.

While New Year’s Resolutions are occasionally abandoned, they still reflect an honest desire for change and belief in self-improvement. Even when these goals are not met, the effort put into reaching them signifies meaningful progress. Instead of looking down upon unmet goals, they can be viewed as stepping stones.

The overwhelming favorite on the women’s side was #1 seed Aryna Sabalenka, who has been having an incredible comeback after her shoulder injury last year. She had finished last year by winning the US Open and won the Brisbane International tournament coming into the Australian Open. However, second and third seeds Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff were also expected to be strong contenders. What shocked the tennis world was 19th seed Madison Keys’ run; the 29-year-old American had yet to win a major, and though she usually performs quite well, she rarely gets to semi-finals or final matches. 

This year was different. After an easy first two rounds, she beat fellow American and 10th seed Danielle Collins in the third round in a shocking sweep, 6-4, 6-4. She then went on to beat 6th seed Elena Rybakina and Elina Svitolina, both in straight sets, to get to the semi-final. She faced Swiatek, a match she was expected to lose, but she only lost the first set 5-7; after that, she won the next two, 6-1 and 7(10)-6(8). In the finals, her matchup was even more daunting, as Sabalenka had enjoyed a fantastic run on her way to what would’ve been her third championship in a row. However, Keys had other plans — she managed to upset her opponent 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 to become the 2025 Australian Open champion. 

Keys had previously made the semi-finals in Australia as a 19-year-old exactly 10 years ago, but had not gone as far in the tournament since. This year, though, she could not be stopped. After her win, she said tearfully: “I have wanted this for so long … I have been in one other grand slam final and it did not go my way, and I didn’t know if I was ever going to be able to get back to this position … and my team believed in me every step of the way, so thank you so much.”

A main catalyst for the Athletics (and Raiders) relocation discussions can be pinned onto the Oakland Coliseum. According to the Oaklandside, the circular concrete structure has been home to the A’s since 1968, but it is one of the oldest major league stadiums. More concerningly, it has not been well preserved, with families of feral cats infiltrating in 2022. ESPN reports that in the last 10 years, the A’s have pushed for a new site on a number of occasions – all failed due to funding disagreements between the city and team owners. As time went on, the inability for the Athletics to land a new Oakland venue fueled suspicions that owner John Fisher was looking to relocate all along.

John Fisher, the heir to the GAP fortune, bought the Athletics in 2005 for $180 million. Fans have had their problems with him for a while, claiming that he was mismanaging the internal aspects of the organization. Any fan who closely follows baseball would agree that he has systematically traded away the team’s best players. According to NBC Bay Area, he has also ensured that Oakland had some of the lowest payrolls in all of the MLB, raising questions on his financial motives. Due to these decisions, the squad has found very little success over the last two decades, leaving the fanbase disappointed and wanting more. With the A’s Moving to Vegas, the investments have risen and in turn their value has skyrocketed to over $1 billion. Their new field will be right on the Las Vegas strip, and is estimated to cost $1.5 billion as the organization leans into the same tourist market that The Raiders have captured. Now fans wonder: Was this Fisher’s plan all along? Either way, Oakland residents will feel the impact. 

Oakland is home to the Bay’s largest share of low income, as the city has been prone to home, job, and economic insecurity for years. Compared to San Francisco’s median salary of $137,000, Oakland families bring in $94,000/year (datacommons.org). With the departure of The A’s, over 1000 workers on unionized wages were let go. Not only were current jobs terminated, but potential work that could have been distributed for the building of a new stadium never came to be. Live sports events also bring in important economic stimulation for restaurants, hotels and small businesses – all of which are impacted by this decision. Beyond the financial implications of losing the Athletics, they were the last remaining professional team in Oakland. Sports have the ability to unify communities and bring people together, despite whatever hardship a city faces. It gives fans a place to channel energy and express pride with their peers, friends and neighbors. Oakland was no exception. Residents rallied around their teams, despite the lack of funding put into the stadiums and rosters. Yet they had to watch as each team left for a shiny new home in an economically booming city that arguably does not need the team. The A’s leave only devastated Oakland sports fans behind.

Lastly, the A’s departure sends a signal to sports fans everywhere: it’s a commercial business. Baseball, known as “America’s Pastime,” was part of a larger advancement of sports entertainment in the 1950s. The idea was that the average-working American needed diversion from their nine-to-fives and sports boosted the working class ethos. However, as more money has been poured into sports leagues, being a fan has become increasingly more expensive. Practices like sports betting, increased ticket and streaming prices, and pricey team memorabilia have all made sports feel out of reach to the average fan. Sports no doubt play a significant role in many people’s lives, yet leagues like the MLB are moving towards commercialization and away from accessibility.  

So whether or not John Fisher is to blame for the decline and eventual departure of The Oakland Athletics, a few things are certain: Oakland as a community is grieving the loss of all professional sports representation, Vegas has scored a second franchise to build a billion-dollar home for and the landscape of professional sports is irreversibly changing.

Contact the editors responsible for this story: Julee Sharma and Katie McCabe