The New Chapter in Sports Fandom Is Here

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What to look out for in our latest episode.

The New Chapter in Sports Fandom Is Here

What's going on: Sometimes fandom starts with a book. A few chapters later, readers begin following players on Instagram, showing up early to watch warm-ups IRL — and, yes, staring at jawlines. The fiction-to-fandom pipeline is nothing new, but it’s now driving a surge of interest in UK hockey (much like with the NHL in the US), according to the Financial Times. Women now make up nearly half of one league’s 2025 UK attendees — packing and selling out arenas, FT says. Some teams get it, with players reading from sports romance books, like Icebreaker, in the locker room. Others? Not so much. The UK’s governing body for ice hockey called the FT’s framing “absurd and inaccurate.” Maybe just take the W on ticket sales?

Our take: Hockey isn’t the only game thriving on steamy sport-book subplots. F1 has seen a steady rise in female enthusiasts and is in its own fanfic era. Many teams seem to be clearly in on it. Take this slo-mo video of a driver’s postrace ice bath (as if they don’t know exactly what they’re doing). Critics say it’s just sexualizing and dehumanizing the athletes — with allegations that fans can take it too far. But as spectators and teams navigate this new chapter, others say it’s only bringing more women into sports — even if they’re wearing bedazzled jerseys repping a fictional player. Who knows? Their next piece of merch might just come from the team store.

Related: The Sports Romance Books That Should Be First on Your Roster (NYT Gift Link)

Pick Six

More sports talkers you don't want to miss.

🎥 Timothée Chalamet’s latest role turns him into an unlikely athlete — and the sport isn’t quite what you’d expect. (The Hollywood Reporter)

🗣️ Napheesa Collier ditched a meeting with the WNBA commissioner — and who she met with instead might be the ultimate play. (CBS Sports)  

🌅 That 5 am workout might be wrecking your progress. Time to hit snooze? (Sports Illustrated) 

🏈 QB Josh Allen’s throwaway pass accidentally kicked off the funniest fan chase of the season. (USA Today)

⚽ Keira Knightley’s got a few plotlines drawn up for a Bend It Like Beckham sequel. Get her a whistle now. (AP)

👀 Just when you thought UNC’s football program couldn’t get any more chaotic… Paging Bill and Jordon. (NBC Sports)

Timeout...

Caroline Hendershot, reporter for the New York Jets and co-host of Well Played, tackles listener Qs.

There’s no undefeated team in the NFL. What does it mean for the rest of the season or the upcoming matchups?

With the Eagles and the Bills losing this past week, this is just the fourth season there are no undefeated teams entering week six of the NFL. While it’s on the earlier side this year, an increase in competition, injury risk, salary caps, free agency, and the fact that anything can happen are helping to make it more likely we may never see another undefeated team. In the almost 60-year history of the Super Bowl-era NFL, the 1972 Miami Dolphins are the ONLY team to achieve an undefeated season. 

Put Us in Coach

On this week’s episode of our sports and pop culture show, Well Played, cohosts Blake and Caroline break down:

• Why the internet’s coming for Ayesha Curry 

• How Elle Woods is still that girl

• Which celeb Angel City FC defender Gisele Thompson dreams of seeing in the stands (spoiler: he’s not like us)

Plus: Watch how long it takes Blake to catch that Caroline’s been slipping Taylor Swift lyrics into every story. Dare we say she’s a...mastermind?

Just Trust Us

Here are today’s recs to help you live a smarter life…

For anyone preparing for next year’s World Cup, Hollister just dropped a new line of hoodies and tees with everyone’s favorite club teams. Find your fave.  

Big deal alert: You can snag these easy wireless earbuds at up to 50% off during Prime Day. 

It’s fleece season. Instead of digging around for your old one, treat yourself to this oversized half-zip fleece from FP Movement and bring on the cozy.