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Tom Brady walks away, WNBA ratings soar, and ESPN snags CP3: 2025 Sports Media Predictions

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Tom Brady walks away, WNBA ratings soar, and ESPN snags CP3: 2025 Sports Media Predictions

The famous wrestler Sting, in describing his character change in 1996 from a clear babyface to a darker, enigmatic character, offered the perfect axiom about predicting the future. Noted the Stinger: “The only thing that’s for sure about Sting is nothing’s for sure.”

This would be the same for sports media. There are some trends that look obvious (increased investment in women’s sports media; legacy media consolidation and layoffs; Netflix becoming a bigger sports player; more media leaning into sports betting revenue), but who knows? Still, we bring you some guesses for 2025.

1. Tom Brady will walk away from broadcasting before the start of the 2025 NFL season

I’ve previously said I’d put down big money that Brady will not finish his 10-year, $375 million contract with Fox, given all his various business interests away from broadcasting, including ownership. That remains true. The safer prediction would be that Brady walks away from his Fox deal after three or four years. But I’m going bold and saying Brady gets deeper involved with the Las Vegas Raiders in the offseason and decides to go all in with NFL ownership and his production company by the start of the next NFL season.

2. WNBA viewership will go up in 2025

This isn’t a moment for women’s sports; it’s been a movement for some time. Game 5 of the WNBA Finals — a 67-62 overtime thriller won by the New York Liberty — averaged 2.15 million viewers, the most-viewed WNBA Finals game in 25 years. The finals averaged 1.6 million viewers, up 115 percent over last season. It capped a fantastic year of viewership for the league — and this is where we absolutely mention that the catalyst for the viewership explosion was interest in Caitlin Clark. Overall, there were 32 WNBA television windows among its media partners that topped 1 million viewers during the 2024 season, including the WNBA Draft. That crushed the previous record of 15.

Next season will see new partners NBC and Amazon Prime Video as part of a long-term TV rights deal, and you should expect them to invest serious marketing dollars. Under the new agreements, Disney, NBC and Amazon will distribute more than 125 regular-season and playoff games nationally each season, including a minimum of 25 regular-season games on Disney platforms, 50 regular-season games on NBCUniversal platforms and 30 regular-season games on Amazon Prime Video. The league will also get a bump from a new franchise (Golden State Valkyries) and more offseason exposure for star players thanks to the new 3-on-3 women’s basketball league, Unrivaled, launching in January 2025.

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Clark’s star will continue to rise, and if you think bad-faith actors knocking her for culture-war points are going to have an impact on viewership, I’d refer you to those who predicted NFL viewership was forever done. It’s arrow up for the WNBA.

3. ESPN Flagship will be an immediate hit

ESPN’s direct-to-consumer streaming service, code-named “Flagship,” will allow consumers to access the entire suite of ESPN networks without a traditional pay-TV subscription. That includes the full programming lineup of ESPN+ and what currently airs on linear ESPN. There will also be integration with ESPN Fantasy and ESPN Bet. Reports indicate a starting price of between $25 and $30 per month, and the price point is what I think will attract consumers initially. I think early subscriber numbers will exceed expectations, especially given recent big increases at YouTube TV.

The research firm MoffettNathanson, which provides trends in media, communications and technology to institutional investors, put out a note this month projecting that “after an initial investment of $75 million in FY (fiscal year) 2025 to get the service up and running (anticipating a launch at the tail end of FY 2025 in time for the start of the NFL season), we project an initial one million paid subscribers in FY 2026, driving subscription revenues of just over $200 million and ad revenues of $20 million.” I predict that number is higher by FY 2026.

4. Kevin Harlan will call NBA games for Amazon Prime Video

Ian Eagle has an agreement in place as one of Amazon’s lead broadcasters, and I predict Harlan joins him. A 1-2 game-calling combination featuring Eagle and Harlan will give the streamer massive instant credibility in the live-game space.

5. ESPN will opt out of its current MLB contract after the 2025 season

This is probably as close to a layup prediction as it gets. MoffettNathanson said opting out could save Disney/ESPN as much as $600 million in expenses, although most expect a restructured contract. Will ESPN get local games for Flagship?

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6. UFC will be split between ESPN and Netflix

No inside intel from me — just a guess that UFC ends up echoing WWE and lands with both Disney and Netflix for its product. And thus begins Netflix going in big on sports rights.


The UFC’s Dana White will be looking for — and getting, according to Richard Deitsch’s prediction — huge media deals in 2025. (Steve Marcus / Getty Images)

7. ESPN finally commits to a dedicated women’s basketball daily studio show during the WNBA season

You have a transcendent audience draw in Clark, a litany of interesting All-Stars from A’ja Wilson to Kelsey Plum and an appetite for storylines both on and off the court. If ESPN wants the credit for building women’s basketball in America, as it always does, this isn’t even up for discussion given the multiple outlets it has. If this isn’t something that exists next year, the network should be crushed for it.

8. The Pac-12 will land at least one name-brand media company for its media rights

In November, the Pac-12 announced that Octagon will serve as the agency of record to guide the conference through the media-rights landscape. That signals to me that someone with some weight is going to bite, and I’ll take a flier that it will be WBD Sports, whose 2024 was defined by losing rights to the NBA on TNT. The 2026-27 season has Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, San Diego State and Utah State joining Oregon State and Washington State. The league needs one more football-playing school to reach the threshold to remain recognized as a conference within the FBS division.

9. ESPN rents an active player or coach for the NBA Finals

It’s been clear for some time that ESPN management does not want a two-person booth for its NBA Finals coverage. It’s also clear that the network desires a notable name (e.g., Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers) to sell on the marquee.

Who could that be? My colleague Andrew Marchand posited in this piece in June that ESPN should already be courting the likes of LeBron James or Steph Curry in the event they would ever considering broadcasting. That’s an interesting long-term play. What I think is very likely for 2025 is someone such as Chris Paul becoming a guest game analyst for the Finals. Longtime NBA coach Monty Williams would also be an interesting one-off.

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(Top photo: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)

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Navy tops Army with late touchdown as Trump’s attendance in Baltimore sparks protests

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Navy tops Army with late touchdown as Trump’s attendance in Baltimore sparks protests

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For the second year in a row, the Navy Midshipmen have won the Commander-in-Chief Trophy.

The Midshipmen earned a gutsy 17-16 victory over Army in one of the greatest rivalries in sports.

Navy got out to a scorching-hot start, as they scored a touchdown on their first drive, with Blake Horvath rushing for 45 of the 75 yards on the drive and running in for the score. He also had an 11-yard pass.

 

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President Donald Trump greets players after the coin toss and before the start of the 126th Army-Navy Game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen at M&T Bank Stadium, Saturday, in Baltimore, Md. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Army, though, answered right back with an identical drive, going 13 plays for 75 yards — this one ended with Cale Hellums punching one in.

Navy’s offense was stalled for a long while after, as their next three drives ended in a punt, fumble, and interception. In the meantime, the Black Knights were able to tack on three more field goals to go up, 16-7. Late in the third, the Midshipmen finally added more points on the scoreboard with a field goal that cut their deficit to three.

Early in the fourth, Navy forced an Army interception. Navy had the ball at the goal line but fumbled on a quarterback sneak, losing seven yards. Horvath hit Eli Heidenrich in the end zone, though, and the ensuing kick gave the Midshipmen their first lead since the first drive of the game. 

Navy promptly forced a three-and-out and got the ball back with less than five minutes to go. Navy lost a fumble when trying for a first down that would have iced the game, but the play was reviewed, and the call was reversed. Thus, Navy had a fourth-and-1 and kept the offense on the field. They got the first down that iced the game.

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US President Donald Trump tosses a coin before the college football game between the US Army and Navy in Baltimore, Maryland, on December 13, 2025.  (Photo by Alex Wroblewski / AFP via Getty Images)

CHICAGO RADIO HOST RIPS CUBS PLAYER FOR TURNING POINT EVENT ATTENDANCE, LIKENS IT TO ‘NAZI-ADJACENT PEP RALLY’

With the win, Navy earned the Commander-in-Chief trophy by also defeating Air Force earlier in the year.

The game was its usual old-school ground-and-pound style of football, as there were only 24 pass attempts compared to 86 runs.

President Donald Trump attended the game for the seventh time, and his second in as many years since being elected again. Trump participated in the coin flip, but not before protesters wielded lewd signs opposing Trump on the street leading up to the stadium. 

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Protests were expected for the game in the blue city, as Trump has suggested sending the National Guard to Baltimore to help address the city’s rampant crime. Baltimore consistently ranks among U.S. cities with high crime rates, often appearing in the top 5 for violent crimes, especially homicides and robberies. 

U.S. President Donald Trump (2nd-L) walks onto the field for the 126th Army-Navy Game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen on Dec. 13, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. The teams are competing for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, with President Trump attending the rivalry for the second consecutive year.  (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

The protests against Trump also come on the same day that officials said two U.S. Army soldiers and a U.S. interpreter were killed in an ambush attack in Syria. 

Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.

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Jarred Vanderbilt hoping for an opportunity to help Lakers on defense

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Jarred Vanderbilt hoping for an opportunity to help Lakers on defense

Perhaps Jarred Vanderbilt and his ability to defend can help the Lakers and their reeling defense.

Perhaps Vanderbilt can return to the rotation to help the Lakers’ defensive woes while guard Austin Reaves is out for approximately a week because of a mild left calf strain.

And perhaps Vanderbilt and the Lakers can get some immediate results for shoring up their defensive shortcomings when they face the Suns in Phoenix on Sunday afternoon.

The 6-foot-8 Vanderbilt is hopeful that his opportunity will come against the Suns and he turns that into a positive for the Lakers.

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“Oh, yeah, I’m pretty eager,” he said after practice Saturday. “I mean, obviously, I think a lot of the stuff we lack, I think I can help provide on that end.”

In the last 10 games, Vanderbilt had only a three-minute stint against the Philadelphia 76ers because Jake LaRavia took a shot to the face that loosened a tooth.

The return of LeBron James and Vanderbilt’s offensive deficiencies left him out of the rotation. During much of that time the Lakers were winning, which meant Vanderbilt spent time on the bench.

In 15 games, Vanderbilt is three for 10 (26.6%) from three-point range. He was asked how he has been handling things.

“Good,” Vanderbilt said. “Controlling what I can control. Keep showing up to work, doing my part, supporting the team.”

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Vanderbilt was asked if coach JJ Redick or any assistants have spoken to him about his role.

“Kind of here and there, I guess,” Vanderbilt said.

Vanderbilt was seen after practice Saturday working with an assistant coach on his shooting, just like he did after practice Friday and like he has done while not playing.

Redick said Reaves, who played against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night, wasn’t sure when the calf became an issue, and “we’re obviously gonna be cautious with it.”

“It’s a mild strain, Grade 1, and he’ll be out for a week,” Redick said, adding, “I would venture to say every player is a little bit different, but players now are becoming more cautious — to use that word again — more cautious when they get those diagnosis with the calf. Everything looks clean. It’s not in the deep part.”

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The Lakers have looked at the last 10 games during the film sessions as a barometer for their defensive problems. But in reality, the Lakers have not been very good on defense all season while producing a 17-7 record because of their stellar offense.

“It’s been a trending thing even when we was winning, so I think like you said, the defense still wasn’t there, but we was just outscoring everybody,” Vanderbilt said. “So, I think obviously during the loss, it’s an appropriate time to address certain things just so it won’t keep lingering and get worse.”

The Lakers are 18th in the NBA in points given up (116.8), 22nd in opponents’ field-goal percentage (48.1%) and 27th in opponents’ three-point shooting (38.2%).

They will face a Suns team that defeated them Dec. 1 at Crypto.com Arena. The Lakers were unable to stop Collin Gillesipie, who had 28 points and was eight for 14 from three-point range, and Dillon Brooks, who had 33 points.

It hasn’t gotten better in the ensuing days. The Spurs loss was the Lakers’ third in the last five games.

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“Nobody likes to go watch film after you get your ass kicked,” guard Marcus Smart said. “It’s tough because the film never lies. And it exposed us a lot, which we already knew. We were just winning a lot of games. So it was mitigated that way, but it was straight to it: We have to be able to guard.

“The scouting report against us is we’re not guarding people. And if we want to be great in this league and do what we’re trying to do, you have to be able to guard, especially in the West. These guys are no joke, and they’re coming. And especially [if] you got the Lakers across your jersey. They’re definitely coming with everything they have. So you can’t be expecting any surprises. And that’s what it was. It wasn’t no sugarcoating anything. It was, ‘This is what we got to do.’ We’ve been asked. Let’s fix it.”

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Michigan football staffer who had alleged affair with Sherrone Moore still employed by university

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Michigan football staffer who had alleged affair with Sherrone Moore still employed by university

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The football staffer who allegedly had a romantic relationship with fired head coach Sherrone Moore is still employed by the University of Michigan.

The woman has served as Moore’s executive assistant. 

“There is no change in her employment status,” a Michigan spokesperson told Fox News. 

The woman received a massive pay bump between 2024 and 2025.

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Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore appears via video in court in Ann Arbor, Mich., Dec. 12, 2025. (Ryan Sun/AP Photo)

The individual allegedly linked to Moore, whose LinkedIn profile lists her as an executive assistant to the head football coach at the University of Michigan, made just over $58,000 in 2023 and 2024, according to public payroll information. In the 2025 fiscal year, though, her salary jumped to $99,000, according to a salary disclosure report from the University of Michigan.

During Moore’s arraignment Friday, prosecutors alleged he and the staffer had been in an “intimate relationship for a number of years,” which they say the woman ended on Monday. Prosecutors further claim Moore sent multiple text messages and made phone calls that prompted the woman to report the situation to the university and cooperate with its investigation.

Moore was released from jail Friday on $25,000 bond, according to police records obtained by Fox News Digital. 

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However, it’s unclear whether Moore will be returning home to his family. 

Moore’s attorney, Joseph Simon, declined to say whether the coach will be going home to his wife and three children while speaking to reporters at an Ann Arbor courthouse Friday. 

FIRED MICHIGAN COACH SHERRONE MOORE ACCUSED OF STALKING VICTIM ‘FOR MONTHS’ IN POLICE DISPATCH AUDIO

“I’m just going to not answer that question,” Simon said when asked if Moore was “going to be able to go home.”

Moore has been married to wife Kelli since 2015, and they have three daughters together — Shiloh, Solei and Sadie. Simon also declined to comment on the “mood” of his client after Moore was charged. 

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The conditions of Moore’s release require him to wear a GPS tether and continue mental health treatment and forbid him from communicating with the victim.

Moore was fired Wednesday, and the University of Michigan quickly announced it found credible evidence he had an “inappropriate relationship” with a staffer. Moore was then detained by police Wednesday after news of his dismissal broke. 

Moore was arraigned in court Friday on stalking and home invasion charges. According to prosecutors, he faces a felony charge of home invasion in the third degree and two misdemeanor charges of stalking and breaking and entering without the owner’s permission.

Both misdemeanor charges are related to a “domestic relationship.”

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Michigan Wolverines head football coach Sherrone Moore during warmups before a game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Wrigley Field in Chicago Nov. 15, 2025. (Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)

When Moore was fired from his position as head coach, prosecutors said, it prompted him to visit the woman’s home. 

Moore then allegedly “barged” his way into the residence, grabbed a butter knife and a pair of kitchen scissors and began threatening his own life. According to prosecutors, Moore allegedly told the staffer, “My blood is on your hands” and “You ruined my life.” 

Prosecutors claimed Moore “terrorized” the staffer and that they believed him to be a “risk to public safety.” 

Fox News’ Patrick McGovern contributed to this report.

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