
Waiver Wire Gems: Key Players to Watch Before the Trade Deadline
A look at the most compelling waiver wire additions ahead of the fantasy baseball trade deadline, highlighting breakout performances and potential trade impacts.
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning ESPN across Football, Basketball, Soccer.

A look at the most compelling waiver wire additions ahead of the fantasy baseball trade deadline, highlighting breakout performances and potential trade impacts.

A look at Virginia Tech's 2026 linebacker corps, highlighting returning stalwarts, emerging recruits, and the depth challenges ahead.

Real Madrid is reportedly preparing a $153.8 million offer for teenage Ivorian winger Yan Diomande, a move that would underscore the club’s aggressive recruitment strategy following a second‑place La Liga finish and a World Cup‑winning Spanish side.

ESPN’s Heather Dinich says Colorado’s recent 3‑9 season and massive transfer influx leave the program unlikely to contend for a playoff spot in the upcoming season.

The Minnesota Wild are still trying to acquire Dylan Larkin, but Detroit's offer falls short, leaving the deal frozen. Meanwhile, Kirill Kaprizov's $17‑million AAV is becoming the new benchmark in the NHL.

The NHL will release the complete 2026‑27 schedule on July 16, announcing 84‑game seasons, four preseason contests and broadcast plans on ESPN and Sportsnet, while forward Jake Guentzel celebrates an Olympic gold medal.

The league reveals the start date, schedule details, outdoor events and broadcast plans for the upcoming season.

The Carolina Hurricanes open the 2026‑27 NHL season on September 29 by hosting the Florida Panthers, raising their Stanley Cup banner, and headlining a triple‑header on ESPN that also includes Rangers‑Bruins and Blackhawks‑Golden Knights matchups.

Boston will open its next NHL campaign on September 29, 2026, with tickets set to go on sale July 17, 2025, after a presale for newsletter subscribers.

Vegas will begin its tenth campaign earlier than ever before, facing Chicago in a matchup that highlights both historical dominance and a compressed schedule.

The upcoming July 15 match pits fifth‑place Indy Eleven against eighth‑place Miami FC in a pivotal USL Championship encounter.
Arkansas alumni Darius Acuff Jr., Meleek Thomas and Trevon Brazile are making early impressions in the Las Vegas Summer League, delivering standout performances that have caught the eye of coaches and media outlets.

The league announced the start date, broadcast lineup and the upcoming schedule release, highlighting new divisional matchups and special programming.

A look at the Vols’ 2026‑27 roster, the national rankings they’ve earned, and what a 5‑seed could mean for their tournament path.

The Cavaliers will open the 2026 campaign on Aug. 28 at Penn State, then welcome Rutgers, Ohio State, Liberty, James Madison and Monmouth to Charlottesville, where every regular‑season home game is free to the public.

The Panthers will kick off the new campaign on the road, starting with a Cup‑banner ceremony against the Hurricanes on Sept. 29, then heading to San Jose, Anaheim and Los Angeles before finally returning home for their first game on Oct. 10.

The Savannah Bananas announce a partnership with Benji Pasek and Justin Paul to debut "Show Starts Now" at the 2026 ESPY Awards, blending sports entertainment with Broadway flair.

The Cyclones opened the 2025‑26 season with a perfect 16‑0 record and a No. 2 seed, but ESPN analyst Joe Lunardi now places them on the five‑seed line for 2026‑27. With key returners and added depth, the program seeks to translate early success into an even higher national standing.

The Mid-American Conference will stream its 2026 Football Kickoff Media Day on July 22 from Detroit’s Ford Field, showcasing head coaches, student‑athletes and interactive fan engagement.

The Flyers will start the 2024‑25 NHL season with a home matchup against the Penguins, followed by a back‑to‑back stretch, while goalie prospects rise and the front office eyes free‑agent signings. Across the league, Detroit parts ways with Steve Yzerman.
The 2026 Enshrinement Festival in Canton will introduce a national tailgate, free concerts, drone‑enhanced balloon displays, and the construction of a $19 million event venue, while veteran broadcaster Pat McAfee returns to the airwaves.
Jim Phillips discussed a 68% rise in football viewership, the addition of SMU, Cal and Stanford, strategic scheduling, record revenue, and a 2026 replay transparency expansion.

ESPN projects the Tigers to finish with eight regular‑season victories, a figure above the current Vegas total, while navigating a demanding schedule and a competitive ACC race.

Columbia University announced its 2026 men’s soccer schedule, featuring a 15‑match regular season that opens at home versus Army West Point, a blend of home and away fixtures through September, and a November tournament that awards an automatic NCAA berth.