Global Sport Matters Global Sport Matters

After a recent proposal by the U.S. Department of Education on transgender athlete participation in schools, hosts Kenneth L. Shropshire and William C. Rhoden welcome Katie Barnes of ESPN to the show to discuss the recent history of legislation and rulings around transgender participation in youth sports, how it relates to Title IX, and what the future might hold as the U.S. determines it policies for who can compete, and how.

As the NFL Draft approaches, hosts Kenneth L. Shropshire and William C. Rhoden discuss the event, the large pool of Black quarterbacks likely to be selected in the first round, and what it means to watch the evolution in real time. Plus, with C.J. Stroud of Ohio State reportedly performing poorly on IQ-type tests, it's time to ask why these reports leak and who it benefits.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts signed an NFL record-breaking contract his week, but how does it affect Lamar Jackson and his contract dispute with the Baltimore Ravens? Hosts Kenneth L. Shropshire and William C. Rhoden break it down, plus why another Jackie Robinson Day came and went in MLB, and what to make of the Women's Tennis Association once again hosting events in China after a prolonged resistance over the disappearance of athlete Peng Shuai.

After a record-breaking NCAA Women's Final Four, hosts Kenneth L. Shropshire and William C. Rhoden discuss the attention around Caitlin Clark and Iowa, the sudden success of Kim Mulkey at LSU, and the future for Dawn Staley and South Carolina. What role did race play in how Clark and Angel Reese were covered? How has NIL helped women's college basketball? And more!

With the NCAA tournaments and NFL free agency in full swing, hosts William C. Rhoden and Kenneth L. Shropshire discuss the role that name, image and likeness has played in creating the anonymous men's Final Four and powerhouse women's Final Four. Then, they use the idea of freedom in today's NCAA to transition to Lamar Jackson, who made his trade request public from the Baltimore Ravens this week but seemingly remains in a stalemate with the entire NFL.

As the men's and women's NCAA tournaments begin this week, Global Sport Matters podcast hosts Kenneth L. Shropshire and William C. Rhoden take a look at whether this is the beginning of a dynasty for Dawn Staley and South Carolina as well as the ongoing fallout from a murder around the Alabama men's basketball program. First, a check in on the dueling priorities around Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and where his free agency could go from here.