Sports
ESPN Launches New Direct-to-Consumer Service, Enhanced ESPN App
- ESPN linear networks now available direct to fans for first time ever
- Enhanced ESPN App launches new features and elevated, personalized viewing experience for fans
- Special Bundle Offer at Launch: Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited for $29.99/month for first 12 months

ESPN launched today its new direct-to-consumer streaming service and a set of new features on an enhanced ESPN App, making ESPN’s full suite of 12 networks and services available directly to fans for the first time ever. The unique combination of ESPN DTC within the updated ESPN App gives fans more choice and unprecedented access to all of ESPN, with an elevated viewing experience that makes watching sports more personalized, dynamic and engaging for fans than ever before. A sports fan’s dream.
The combined launch arrives in time for a prime stretch of live sports programming across ESPN networks and services, anticipating the kickoff of the college football and NFL seasons, US Open tennis, international soccer, men’s and women’s college soccer, volleyball, field hockey, and more. Plus, the start of the WNBA playoffs, PLL playoffs, and NBA and NHL seasons, as well as a WWE Premium Live Event in the next few weeks.
“This is a monumental day for all of us at ESPN, for The Walt Disney Company and, most importantly, for our fans,” said Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN. “ESPN DTC and the ESPN App are a powerful combination marking a major turning point in how we serve sports fans – anytime, anywhere – for years to come. We’ve put a lot of hard work into this launch, with the full force of ESPN and Disney behind it, and we can’t wait for fans to experience all of ESPN in the ESPN App. The best part is, we’re just getting started. What we’re launching today will evolve with regular enhancements over time. As we have since 1979, we’ll continue to listen, adapt and innovate, with sports fans at the center of everything we do. There is no finish line.”
“ESPN is the preeminent digital sports platform, and this launch marks the most significant advancement of the product in years,” said Adam Smith, Chief Product & Technology Officer, Disney Entertainment & ESPN. “Even more exciting – it is only going to keep getting better. This new era kicks off at a time of incredible momentum at ESPN, and across Disney’s streaming business and products, that’s driven by an amazing partnership between storytelling and technology and a central focus on the fans.”
Visual Assets: ESPN DTC / ESPN App Photos and Video
All-New Features in the ESPN App.
In addition to ESPN DTC, the enhanced ESPN App is introducing an expansive set of new features and functionality including a personalized SportsCenter For You, a vertical video carousel for mobile devices, a synchronized two-screen experience for live games, and multiview options for connected TV devices. Fans will also be able to enjoy integrated live game stats, real-time ESPN Fantasy stats and results, live ESPN BET information, personalized in-game commerce, and more. All of these new features are available to all fans who subscribe to ESPN, whether through a traditional pay TV package or directly with an ESPN DTC subscription.
- SC For You (Beta) – A personalized, daily version of SportsCenter delivering highlights, news and must-see video tailored to each fan’s favorite teams, leagues and sports interests. Powered by a combination of AI technology and ESPN storytellers, SC For You complements the iconic show and expands what the SportsCenter brand can be for fans in a new era. With AI-generated commentary derived from the voices of SportsCenter anchors Hannah Storm, Gary Striewski and Christine Williamson, along with ESPN Digital & Social commentator Omar Raja, SC For You will be available on the ESPN mobile app, ESPN.com and select connected TV devices.
- ESPN Verts – A swipe-able, personalized vertical video experience that reimagines and modernizes the way fans watch video on the ESPN App on mobile devices. The new “Verts” tab on the ESPN App is part of the app’s core navigation, and Verts carousels in the main app feed let fans easily scroll through vertical short-form videos powered by a faster, more advanced personalization algorithm.
- ESPN StreamCenter – A new second-screen experience that allows fans to match the ESPN App experience on their mobile device with the ESPN App on their connected TV as they watch a live event. StreamCenter eliminates information lag and spoilers by enabling fans to synchronize live games on their connected TV device with stats and automated alerts on their mobile device, while also presenting fans with Gamecast, ESPN Fantasy, ESPN BET information and more, right in the palm of their hand. Fans can even control the ESPN App live stream on their connected TV from their mobile device.
- Multiview – Fans can watch up to four games simultaneously on the ESPN App on connected TV devices. ESPN first launched Multiview on select CTV devices in 2017 and is now bringing this feature to all major connected TV platforms.
- Catch Up To Live – Highlights are part of ESPN’s DNA, and the new Catch Up To Live feature allows fans to watch quick-turn highlights of all the key plays they missed when joining a live game already in progress. For games where it is available, a fan can watch all the highlights – or just the ones they want – and choose to “Go Live” or “Play from Start” at any time.
- Commerce by Fanatics – Through a new agreement with Fanatics and ESPN’s new interactive features on connected TV devices, fans are able to browse and shop sports merchandise and gear related to the content they watch, easily completing a purchase from their mobile device using a QR code.
- ESPN on Disney+ – Last December, ESPN+ content was integrated into Disney+. Now, the full ESPN content lineup is available on Disney+ for bundle subscribers – continuing the evolution of Disney+ as an all-in-one destination where fans can watch all the award-winning entertainment, sports, news, and family programming from The Walt Disney Company. Disney+ is also introducing a new “Live” hub, letting fans easily find all the sports, news, Disney+ Streams and other content live at any moment, in one place. The Live hub is launching on select platforms initially and rolling out to all major platforms in the coming weeks.
The Most and Best Live Sports.
Designed to give fans more choice and flexibility, ESPN DTC will offer two plans, including an Unlimited plan for $29.99/month that gives fans access to all 12 of ESPN’s linear networks and services – ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes – in addition to ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX.
This extraordinary access will serve fans with more than 47,000 live events each year, plus on-demand replays, original programming, and more.
ESPN’s unmatched rights portfolio at launch includes recently announced agreements with the NFL and WWE; NBA; NHL; MLB; WNBA; UFC; UFL; SEC; ACC; Big 12; College Football Playoff; 40 NCAA championships including the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship; LaLiga, Bundesliga, NWSL, and FA Cup soccer; Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open tennis; The Masters, PGA Championship, PGA TOUR, and TGL golf; Little League World Series baseball and softball; Premier Lacrosse League; and more.
ESPN’s leading studio shows and original programming include the iconic SportsCenter, Get Up, First Take, NFL Live, The Pat McAfee Show, Pardon the Interruption, College GameDay, NBA Today, Inside the NBA, The Rich Eisen Show, and others, along with a deep, on-demand library featuring 30 for 30 films, ESPN Originals, and more.
More Options to Get All of ESPN.
Bundling options available for fans include a special offer at launch for the ESPN DTC Unlimited plan with Disney+ and Hulu for $29.99/month for the first 12 months. Fans with subscriptions to the Disney+, Hulu and ESPN bundles will be able to watch ESPN content within Disney+ seamlessly alongside Disney and Hulu entertainment and family programming. Also, Hulu + Live TV plans include access to the full ESPN Unlimited experience within the ESPN app.
Also, the recently announced ESPN DTC and Fox One bundle will be available on October 2 for $39.99/month, and an ESPN DTC bundle with NFL+ Premium that includes NFL Redzone for $39.99 will begin on September 3.
Fans can visit stream.espn.com for more information on ESPN DTC options and pricing.
Star-Powered, Multi-Platform Marketing.
ESPN has launched a comprehensive, multi-platform marketing campaign, headlined by “Coach” John Cena and powered by bold brand collaborations with Complex, Lyft, Samsung, and more. From subway takeovers and pop-up fan experiences to high-impact giveaways and attention-grabbing out-of-home activations, this campaign is built to immerse fans in ESPN like never before.
In recognition of the launch of ESPN DTC and the enhanced ESPN App, Thursday, August 21, has been proclaimed “National ESPN App Day” by the National Day Archives.
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Sports
YSU Collegiate Invitational Presented by Southwoods Health Meet Information
2026 Youngstown State University Indoor Track & Field 14th Annual Collegiate Invitational Meet Presented by Southwoods Health will start at 1 pm | Friday, Jan. 16
Entry Registration Opens up on Direct Athletics :
Friday, December 19 at 5pm
Time Schedule of Events
Running Events start at 1pm
All Field Events start at 1pm
Running Events — Rolling Schedule Women first, Men to Follow
1pm Women 5000M
Men’s 60M Hurdles Qualifying Round
Women’s 60M Hurdles Qualifying Round
Women’s 60M Dash Qualifying Round
Men’s 60M Dash Qualifying Round
Men’s 5000M
Men’s 60M Hurdles PRELIMS
Women’s 60M Hurdles PRELIMS
Women’s 60M Dash PRELIMS
Men’s 60M Dash PRELIMS
Women’s Mile Run
Men’s Mile Run
Women’s 400M
Men’s 400M
Women’s 60M Hurdles FINALS
Men’s 60M Hurdles FINALS
Women’s 60M Dash FINALS
Men’s 60M Dash FINALS
Women’s 500M Dash FINALS
Men’s 500M Dash FINALS
Women’s 800m
Men’s 800m
Women’s 200M Dash
Men’s 200M Dash
Women’s 3000M Run
Men’s 3000M Run
Women’s 1600M Relay
Men’s 1600M Relay
Field Events Start at 12noon
Seeded Women’s Pole Vault
Seeded Men’s Pole Vault
Unseeded Women’s Pole Vault
Unseeded Men’s Pole Vault
Women’s High Jump–Men’s High Jump to follow
Women’s Weight Throw–Men’s Weight Throw to follow
Men’s Shot Put–Women’s Shot Put to follow
Men (West Pit) and Women (East Pit)
Long Jump–Triple Jump follow 20 minutes upon completion of Long Jump
**Finals in field events will consist of the top Nine marks from the qualifying rounds.**
Meet : Open NCAA sanctioned Indoor Track & Field Competition.
Timing: Fully automatic FinishLynx system
Location: The Watson and Tressel Training Site (WATTS) on the YSU campus. The WATTS features a full-length Shaw Sportexe Power Blade HP+ synthetic turf system football field, a 300-meter state-of-the-art mondo track surface, two long-jump pits, a high-jump pit, four batting cages, protective netting, training room and locker rooms.
GPS address: 651 Elm St. | Youngstown, OH 44555
Entries: Entries are due by Tuesday, January 13 by 7pm on Direct Athletics, consisting of event entries with best marks from the previous year or realistic projected marks. All entries will be done on-line at www.directathletics.com.
Please visit the Direct Athletics website at your earliest convenience in order to familiarize yourself with how the entry process works.
Also, please limit FIVE athletes per event. If you have an event with more than five quality athletes, please text Brian Gorby at (330) 519-7591 and we’ll help to get more entry’s added, if needed.
We always try to help accommodate additional team /individual additional Entry’s.
**Note: Please check YSUsports.com after the entry deadline for changes or adjustments to the meet time schedule!
Internet Entry Lists: Final entry lists will be posted on our website, YSUsports.com on Thursday, January 15. Please check to make sure your athletes are entered correctly. If there are mistakes or scratches, please email bdgorby@ysu.edu & ysutrackmeets@gmail.com .
Entry Fees: $ 500 per each team, men & women genders are separate, consisting of 10 or more individuals in unlimited events are paid online, when you complete Entry’s on Direct Athletics or $ 25 per individual event entry & paid online at Direct Athletics.
ENTRY FEES
$ 25 per ENTRY (i.e. 2 events entered would be $ 50 ) Entry fees must be paid in advance online when you enter on DirectAthletics (all major credit and debit cards accepted).
Relay only Entry’s $ 7 per runner for a total of $ 28 per relay team.
REFUND POLICY
Outside of meet cancellation, there is a strict NO REFUND policy on entry fees.
Absolutely no refunds will be processed due to scratches, change of plans, inability to travel, illness, injuries, etc.
Spikes: ONLY 1/4 inch or shorter pyramid spikes will be allowed and all spikes will be checked prior to events. NO pin or needle spikes, spike elements, or any other type of spike will be allowed.
High Jump: All high jump competitions will be conducted on the Mondo surface.
Sections/Heats/Flights: Flights will be seeded by distance with best marks in the latest sections/flights.
Finals in field events will consist of the top nine marks from the qualifying rounds.
There will be prelims and finals in the 60 and 60h. All other races will be run as sections against time with the fastest heats being run first.
Implement Weigh-In: 30 minutes prior to event at the Throws area.
Sports
Texas A&M volleyball advances to national championship with sweep of Pitt
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KBTX) – Texas A&M head coach Jamie Morrison and his squad have fought through the postseason for the ability to practice together one more time, he said.
This edition of Aggies will get the maximum number of practices a team can hold.
Thursday, third-seeded A&M swept No. 1 seed Pitt (29-27, 25-21, 25-20) to punch its first-ever ticket to the NCAA Tournament national title game inside Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center.
The Aggies will face Southeastern Conference-mate Kentucky Sunday at 2:30 p.m. for a shot to hoist a national championship trophy.
“This is crazy,” middle blocker Ifenna Cos-Okpalla said. “This is an absolute crazy experience. We have had faith in ourselves all year, from the first game of the season. We knew that we were capable of this, but now living it, like, ‘Wow.’ This is insane. It’s really cool.”
Outside hitter Kyndal Stowers paced the Aggies with 16 kills, followed by Logan Lednicky’s 14. Pitt’s Olivia Babcock was the match’s leading attacker with 22 kills.
A&M dominated the service line through the match, which included six service aces.
The Aggies went hit-for-hit with Pitt through an opening set that saw 17 ties and eight lead changes. Pitt weathered four Aggie set points, and had two of their own, before A&M finally put Set 1 away with a kill from Stowers.
Pitt put together an 8-0 run through the middle of the second set to take a 15-11 lead, but the Aggies immediately countered with their own 9-2 run to pull the match back in their favor. A 4-0 run ultimately put the set on ice, giving the Aggies a 2-0 lead.
A&M has built upon the experiences of the season and this set is was no different. In the Aggies’ Elite Eight win over Nebraska, the Cornhuskers put together an 8-1 run through the middle of the marathon fourth set that the Aggies ultimately dropped. Thursday, they cut off the skid before it cost them a set.
“We were like, ‘Hey, we’re not doing that again,’” Stowers said. “’They’re going on a run right now. We’re going to recognize that, props to them for what they’re doing, but we are going to go respond and we’re not going to let that keep happening.”
A&M closed out the third set on a 5-1 run to claim the match.
The Aggies hit .382 to Pitt’s .344 in the match.
“I’m proud of our team just because we talk a lot about staying present and enjoying moments and I thought, in all of those moments, we enjoyed every single second of it,” Morrison said. “Every single time we were pushed, we talked a lot about responses, and we had a response and that’s all you can ask for in these moments.”
The Aggies will be out for revenge Sunday, as Kentucky is the only squad that downed the Aggies in SEC play this season in a 3-1 Wildcat win in Reed Arena. It will be the first time in the history of the tournament two SEC teams will face each other in the championship game.
“Y’all keep hearing, ‘Why not us?’” Lednicky said. “Like, literally, ‘Why not us?’ I think we are considered the underdog in a lot of moments, just because we haven’t been here before. But we know we have all the right pieces so, ‘Why not us?’”
KBTX reporter Dylan Chryst Watkiss contributed to this report from Kansas City, Mo.
Copyright 2025 KBTX. All rights reserved.
Sports
Two Rams Named to the CSC Academic All-District Team
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The 2025-26 Academic All-District® Women’s Volleyball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
The CSC Academic All-District® teams include the student-athletes listed at the links above.
Academic All-District® honorees were considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot.
For WSSU, Aria Caldwell and Zoe Chesson were named to the team.
Student-athletes selected as CSC Academic All-America® finalists are denoted with an asterisk and will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced Jan. 13, 2026.
The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2025-26 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs. The NAIA CSC Academic All-America® program is partially financially supported through the NAIA governance structure.
Sports
Olivia Babcock Named Back-To-Back AVCA National Player of the Year
KANSAS CITY – The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) named Olivia Babcock the 2025 AVCA National Player of the Year on Friday. Babcock becomes just the fifth player in the award’s history to earn the honor in back-to-back seasons. Additionally, she was honored as the inaugural AVCA Rightside Hitter of the Year, an award introduced this season.
Babcock once again swept the sport’s top individual accolades in 2025, earning AVCA National Player of the Year, ACC Player of the Year and AVCA East Coast Region Player of the Year honors. She is the only player in Pitt history to be named a three-time AVCA First Team All-American and was recently selected as the Pittsburgh Regional Most Outstanding Player after leading the Panthers to their fifth consecutive National Semifinal.
Earlier this season, Babcock set the program’s single-match kills record with 45 against North Carolina. She is the only player in NCAA volleyball this year to reach that mark and the first since Cincinnati’s Jordan Thompson recorded 50 kills against UConn on Nov. 3, 2019.
Anchoring the Pitt offense, Babcock averaged personal-best marks of 5.17 kills per set and 2.09 digs per set. She earned AVCA National Player of the Week honors earlier this season and was named ACC Offensive Player of the Week five times during the 2025 campaign.
Sports
Men’s Volleyball Individual Match Tickets On Sale
HONOLULU – Individual match tickets for the 2026 University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball season are currently on sale. Tickets may be purchased at www.etickethawaii.com or at the Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center box office (Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.).
Season tickets are still on sale starting as low as $150. Click here to purchase season tickets.
In addition, several promotions are also available for individual match tickets.
Save & Serve Wednesdays: $5 Tickets available while supplies last
Military: 30% off all matches & 50% off on April 17th match
Hawai’i Hero’s Night: 50% off for First Responders on January 8th match
*All special offers are based on availability and only in select seating areas.
Link to purchase individual games online: https://hawaiiathletics.evenue.net/events/MVBI
Individual Ticket Prices:
Lower Level (only single seats available)
Lower Level Sideline – $25
Lower Level Baseline
Adult – $24
Senior citizen (65 and over) – $20
Youth (ages 4-High School) – $15
Upper Level Sideline
Adult – $20
Senior citizen (65 and over) – $15
Youth (ages 4-High School) – $10
Upper Level Baseline
Adult – $17
Senior citizen (65 and over) – $10
Youth (ages 4–High School) – $8
#HawaiiMVB
Sports
Kalei Edson, Kamille Gibson Join Houston Volleyball
“We are really excited to add two players that have played at a high level for two seasons,” Rehr said. “Kalei will compete as our setter while Kamille will make an impact on either pin. This is just the beginning for the 2026 volleyball team.”
KALEI EDSON | SETTER | JUNIOR | AUBURN
Edson arrives in Houston following two seasons with the Auburn Tigers. She played in all of the team’s 28 matches in 2025, contributing the second most assists on the team with 482, an average of 4.72 per set. Edson also added 177 digs, 19 aces and five double-doubles throughout the season. In 2024, she earned the SEC Freshman of the Week honor on Oct. 14 and excelled at the service line, leading her team with 30 aces at a rate of 0.32 aces per set.
Overall, Edson has 956 assists in 54 career matches, also recording 49 aces and 331 digs.
Edson collected numerous prep and club accolades, including USA Volleyball Junior National All-America and 2023 USAV GJNC All-Tournament Team honors. She was also a 3A All-State and All-South Region honoree and a PrepVolleyball First Team All-State selection. Ranked as the #9 overall prospect in Illinois, Edson was the #3 setter in the country. Across her prep career, she posted over 700 assists along with 800 kills, 100 aces and 100 blocks.
KAMILLE GIBSON | OUTSIDE HITTER | JUNIOR | OKLAHOMA
Gibson, a two-year contributor at Oklahoma after a season at Tennessee, brings a significant offensive mind to Houston while also being a prolific presence on defense. Across two seasons, she tallied 421 kills along with 97 blocks for 500.5 points. Primarily a right-side, Gibson averaged 2.29 kills per set while at Oklahoma.
Last season, Gibson posted 194 kills for a .387 kill percentage while adding 60 blocks. She played in 26 of the Sooner’s 27 matches and started in 16, missing just eight sets across the entire season.
A Crossroads, Texas, native, she prepped at Braswell High School while playing club for TAV. She finished her high school career with 1,161 kills, 500 digs and 137 blocks and was named to the District 5-6A first team in 2021 and to the second team in 2020.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Volleyball by providing NIL opportunities or by joining the Point Houston Club which provides financial support directly to Houston Volleyball for needs beyond its operating budget.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarVB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team’s Facebook page at UHCougarVB. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at @UHCougarVB.
– UHCougars.com –
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