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Margaret Fleming

@margaretfleming.bsky.social

111 followers 40 following 46 posts

Writing about the business of soccer and women's sports for Front Office Sports ⚽️ Chicagoan in NYC. Northwestern Grad. Trying to get better at Bluesky. ✉️: margaret@frontofficesports.com Read my stories here: frontofficesports.com/author/margar…

Posts Replies Media

Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 3h

The Women's Pro Baseball League's legal drama keeps heating up. New today: the fired board member is fighting for her seat on the board back. Mina Kim says CEO Keith Stein removed her from the board "in retaliation for her probing of his misconduct." frontofficesports.com/article/wome...

frontofficesports.com

Fired Women’s Baseball Board Member Fights For Job Back - Front Office Sports

The Women's Professional Baseball League’s biggest investor says she was unlawfully fired from the board by CEO Keith Stein.

Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Women's baseball update: the legal case is still alive, for now. CEO Keith Stein fired Mina Kim from the board last week and tried to end her legal case. The judge didn't throw out the case yet, and said Kim has until Friday to choose her path forward. frontofficesports.com/article/wpbl...

frontofficesports.com

WPBL Records Case Alive Despite Board Member’s Firing

The judge didn’t immediately accept the CEO’s motion to dismiss the case.

Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

College basketball player Aminata Seck has been in ICE custody since Aug. 7. She says DHS didn't tell her about a hearing or removal order. Yesterday, a judge said Seck "demonstrated that she did not receive notice," and allowed her to re-open her case. frontofficesports.com/article/amin...

frontofficesports.com

College Basketball Player in ICE Custody Allowed to Re-Open Case

Kentucky State’s Aminata Seck can reopen her case, a judge ordered. Seck argues she was never notified of her final removal order from DHS.

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Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

My story from last week: frontofficesports.com/article/amin...

frontofficesports.com

College Basketball Player Has Been in ICE Custody for Weeks

Aminata Seck says she didn’t know about an immigration hearing or removal order issued last year.

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Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Big news in the case of college WBB player Aminata Seck. Seck's motion to reopen her case in immigration court was granted yesterday, her lawyer tells me. She'll remain in ICE custody, but this opens the door for her to plead her case in front of a judge. Story to follow.

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Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The new women's baseball league crowned its inaugural champions last week. Behind the scenes, the WPBL's story just got a lot messier. A board member seeking financial records rejected a $600K offer to drop her case. This morning, the CEO fired her. frontofficesports.com/article/keit...

frontofficesports.com

WPBL CEO Fires Board Member After $600K Offer to Drop Case

The WPBL’s largest investor wanted financial records from the CEO. Before a judge ruled on her request, the CEO fired her from the board.

Reposted by Margaret Fleming

jen ramos-eisen @jenramose.online · 30/09/2026

I can't say I was surprised by this. #WPBL frontofficesports.com/article/keit...

The CEO of the Women’s Pro Baseball League offered a board member $600,000 to drop her legal fight against him and the league for financial transparency.

She refused, and now, the CEO is firing her from her WPBL board position, effectively squashing her legal campaign.

Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The Women's Pro Baseball League boardroom saga continues. This morning, WPBL CEO Keith Stein fired Mina Kim from the board. Kim was pushing for WPBL financial records in court. This effectively ends her case before the judge issued a ruling. frontofficesports.com/article/keit...

frontofficesports.com

WPBL CEO Fires Board Member After $600K Offer to Drop Case

The WPBL’s largest investor wanted financial records from the CEO. Before a judge ruled on her request, the CEO fired her from the board.

Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

This morning, Women's Pro Baseball League CEO Keith Stein fired the league's largest investor, Mina Kim, from her board position. Kim has been seeking financial records from Stein and the WPBL in Delaware court. This effectively ends that legal fight. Story coming shortly.

Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Some fans who sold World Cup tickets on FIFA's resale market are still waiting for their refunds. FIFA said it would send money within 60 days, but four fans tell FOS they're still waiting, while receiving confusing updates from FIFA. frontofficesports.com/article/worl...

frontofficesports.com

World Cup Ticket Sellers Still Waiting for FIFA Refunds

People who sold World Cup tickets through FIFA’s marketplace are still waiting for refunds more than two months after the tournament ended.

Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

When legal drama at the Women's Pro Baseball League recently became public, I started asking questions. I spoke with people close to the league as well as the CEO at the center of the controversy. Here's my investigation into the WPBL's "power struggle:" frontofficesports.com/article/wpbl...

frontofficesports.com

Vicious Infighting Is Jeopardizing the Future of Women's Baseball

The WPBL is the first league of its kind in decades. It’s been beset by corporate infighting since before the first pitch was thrown.

Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

If you want to keep up with women's sports at FOS, you also need to follow @colincsalao.bsky.social, who will continue his stellar coverage of women's basketball and tennis. He'll be on the ground at the U.S. Open, and has been crushing the WNBA beat all summer.

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Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Quick personal news update! Now that the World Cup is over, I'm still on the men's and women's soccer beats, but I'm also bringing women's sports back as a main coverage area! I'm especially excited about track, college sports, and 2028 Olympics prep. ⚽️🏃‍♀️🏐🥍🥎

Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

The Chicago Stars will return to Northwestern's lakeside stadium in 2027. Upgraded Martin Stadium remains for at least another NWSL season. With football moving, rent will go up for the Stars, who still eventually want to move to Ryan Field, per source. frontofficesports.com/nwsl-chicago...

frontofficesports.com

NWSL's Stars Will Return to Northwestern Lakeside Stadium Next Year

It was unclear what Northwestern would do with the popular temporary facility, or where the NWSL team would play in 2027.

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Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

FIFA quietly suspended USA's team manager & security officer for the R16 match. U.S. Soccer acknowledged the suspensions but didn't comment, nor did FIFA, but they may be tied to Balogun celebrating the R32 win after a red card. With @dpyoung13.bsky.social: frontofficesports.com/fifa-us-socc...

frontofficesports.com

FIFA Quietly Suspended Two U.S. Soccer Officials Before Belgium Match

The team manager and head of security were suspended ahead of Monday night’s loss in Seattle.

Reposted by Margaret Fleming

Eric Wahl @ericwahl.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Lovely piece by @margaretfleming.bsky.social for @frontofficesports.bsky.social remembering Grant: frontofficesports.com/world-cup-gr...

frontofficesports.com

The World Cup Comes to Grant Wahl’s Hometown

“Truly nobody else in the world would’ve been better positioned to tell that story than him.”

Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Four top-ranked teams in the World Cup will train at U.S. high schools this summer. Some of the schools already have a side business as soccer training sites, all offer top-notch facilities and tons of privacy, and one is a repeat World Cup host from 1994. frontofficesports.com/prep-schools...

frontofficesports.com

The Elite High Schools Hosting World Cup Teams

From San Diego to New Jersey, four elementary and high schools are serving as base camps for World Cup teams this summer.

Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

FIFA is allowing Zohran Mamdani to sell 1,000 tickets to New Yorkers for $50 apiece, the cheapest anywhere for the tournament. “We are making sure that working people will not be priced out of the game that they helped to create," Mamdani said today. frontofficesports.com/zohran-mamda...

frontofficesports.com

Mamdani Gets 1,000 Cheap World Cup Tickets After FIFA Talks

The New York City mayor said on the campaign trail this fall that he’d reached out to FIFA about ticket prices.

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Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Philadelphia's Fan Fest is free and open for 39 days. Its train is $2.90 to matches and $0 back. How is the city doing it? The host committee tells me it started fundraising in 2020, and its private funding total will come out to about $60M to $65M. frontofficesports.com/philadelphia...

frontofficesports.com

How Philadelphia Built a $140 Million World Cup War Chest

In Philadelphia, about $60 million in private funding allows for things like a free Fan Fest and free subway rides home during the World Cup.

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Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

The Trump administration says Iraqi players were not denied visas. "Currently, there are no known issues affecting the Iraq National Team players, and they remain on track to compete in the World Cup," says Andrew Giuliani of the World Cup Task Force. frontofficesports.com/world-cup-ir...

frontofficesports.com

White House Says No Issue With Iraqi Soccer Visas at World Cup

The Iraqi players are still on track to play, but visas for all World Cup travelers are a concern ahead of the tournament.

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Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

One month out from the World Cup, FIFA still has thousands of pricey tickets left unsold. I spoke about FIFA's strategy with ticketing experts, who called the prices "aggressive" and the strategy "harsh." frontofficesports.com/fifa-world-c...

frontofficesports.com

Why So Many World Cup Tickets Remain Unsold One Month Out

FIFA is drip-feeding tickets to the public and keeping prices high despite a lack of demand and a large inventory remaining.

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Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Trump "wouldn't pay it either" to see USMNT for $1,000 in LA. Mamdani is in "active negotiations" with FIFA about ticket prices. Congresspeople are writing FIFA demanding answers. On yesterday's ticket drop, and what politicians are saying this week: frontofficesports.com/trump-zohran...

frontofficesports.com

Politicians From Mamdani to Trump Furious at World Cup Prices

Trump said he would not pay $1,000 to watch the U.S. Men’s National Team.

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Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

FIFA is selling a singular ticket to the final in New Jersey on July 19 for $32,970. This week, president Gianni Infantino said FIFA doesn't control high costs on its resale site. But this price comes straight from FIFA.

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Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

I wrote about Atlanta's evolution as a soccer city, with insight from US Soccer, AMBSE, Atlanta United, MLS, and the NWSL: frontofficesports.com/us-soccer-tr...

frontofficesports.com

How Atlanta Unexpectedly Became the Epicenter of U.S. Soccer

U.S. Soccer is opening a new national HQ in Georgia as the World Cup comes to Atlanta, and an NWSL franchise is coming soon.

Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Last night, the MLS commissioner posted "Liar liar pants on fire" at the Premier of British Columbia. A league source tells me Don Garber was at dinner in Vancouver, and the few people with access to his account were either at the meal or asleep in NY. frontofficesports.com/vancouver-wh...

frontofficesports.com

MLS Says Commissioner Was Hacked Amid Whitecaps Fight

Don Garber’s Twitter account called a local politician a “liar.” He later said his account was “compromised.”

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Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

The NWSL added a new expansion team in Columbus today. "This is a city that has long been at the heart of American soccer," said commissioner Jessica Berman. Expansion fees for 2026 & 2028 clubs: Boston: $53M Denver: $110M Atlanta: $165M Columbus: $205M frontofficesports.com/nwsl-columbu...

frontofficesports.com

NWSL Will Add Its 18th Team in Columbus

The city and county just approved $50 million in public funding for the training facility and team.

Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

The NWSL is making a "major announcement on the future of soccer in Columbus" this afternoon at 3:30PM ET. Commissioner Jessica Berman, members of the bidding ownership group, local officials, and the Crew are all attending.

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Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Today I went to New Jersey Transit's press briefing where they announced $150 round-trip World Cup train tickets, and the host committee unveiled an $80 shuttle bus. The details behind the high prices, and FIFA's spicy response, in the story below: frontofficesports.com/nj-transit-b...

frontofficesports.com

New Jersey World Cup Games Will Have a $150 Train and $80 Bus

New Jersey officials do not want to cover the transit costs for World Cup fans this summer.

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Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

A judge approved Grand Slam Track's plan to exit bankruptcy today. GST will pay 70% of what it owes athletes and 14% to vendors. Then it'll try to start over—whether it can is another thing. Full story, including how some athletes almost gave up money: frontofficesports.com/grand-slam-t...

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Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

NEW: The NWSL is working on a policy where brands have to make a deal with the league for players to wear their cleats without covering logos or being fined. Nike & Adidas are in, but players have existing deals other brands, too. The WNBA has a similar rule. frontofficesports.com/nwsl-brand-d...

frontofficesports.com

NWSL Moves to Restrict Which Brands Players Can Wear on the Field

The NWSL wants brands to cut a deal with the league to have their marks shown on TV.

Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

When FIFA announced its new prediction-market partner last week, experts told us they'd never heard of ADI Predictstreet. Turns out, it hasn't launched yet. My colleague Ben Horney and I did some digging. Here's what we found. frontofficesports.com/fifa-world-c...

frontofficesports.com

Why Did FIFA Do a Deal With an Obscure Prediction Market?

The World Cup’s official prediction market is a UAE-backed company licensed to operate in Gibraltar. Experts say the deal raises questions.

Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

I interviewed Rep. Nellie Pou, who represents the district in New Jersey where the World Cup final will be played. She told me DHS is "100%" withholding federal security funds from World Cup host cities for political reasons amid the shutdown. frontofficesports.com/nellie-pou-t...

frontofficesports.com

House Dem. Says DHS Is Intentionally Withholding World Cup Money

“I don’t have any doubt that they are using that for political reasons,” Rep. Nellie Pou told FOS in an interview.

Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Iran didn't go to FIFA's planning meetings this week. Trump said "I really don't care" if Iran is at the World Cup. FIFA wants everybody involved. On Iran's unclear World Cup future, with weigh-in from some political experts: frontofficesports.com/trump-iran-w...

frontofficesports.com

No Iran Soccer Staff at FIFA Event With World Cup Future Unclear

Trump said Thursday he doesn’t care if Iran plays in the tournament.

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Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

100 days to go until the World Cup! Here are seven major questions that still need to be answered ahead of the tournament: frontofficesports.com/world-cup-qu...

frontofficesports.com

7 Biggest Questions For World Cup With 100 Days Until Kickoff

Geopolitics and funding are dominating World Cup conversations with 100 days until the tournament starts this summer.

Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Iran's World Cup future is uncertain following Saturday's attacks by the U.S. and Israel. The president of the Iranian soccer federation: “What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope.” frontofficesports.com/irans-world-...

frontofficesports.com

Iran’s World Cup Future Unclear After Attacks

The joint attacks by Israel and the U.S., one of the World Cup host nations, killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

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Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

New story from the Epstein files: his foundation gave $60K to a MD girls soccer powerhouse between 2004 and 2006. This happened around the time prosecutors say he abused underage girls, and during an investigation into those crimes in Florida. Full story here: frontofficesports.com/epstein-mary...

Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

Kristi Noem says FEMA was in the "final stages" of reviewing World Cup grant applications before this month's DHS shutdown. As the World Cup gets closer, cities still don't have the hundreds of millions worth of federal funding earmarked for security. frontofficesports.com/world-cup-dh...

frontofficesports.com

How DHS Shutdown Is Blocking Hundreds of Millions From World Cup

Last year's One Big Beautiful Bill Act was supposed to send $625 million to the World Cup cities. They haven't received it yet.

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Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

I'm excited to share that starting today I'll be focusing on soccer for FOS! It's a huge year for the sport in the US and I'll mostly cover the World Cup, but I'm also pumped to write about the NWSL, MLS & Europe. Football friends, reach out! ✉️: margaret@frontofficesports.com

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Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

LA28 confirms Casey Wasserman will remain chair of its organizing committee. "We found Mr. Wasserman's relationship with Epstein and Maxwell did not go beyond what has already been publicly documented." Earlier today, Abby Wambach quit his agency. frontofficesports.com/abby-wambach...

frontofficesports.com

LA28 Stands By Casey Wasserman After Reviewing Epstein Ties

"Mr. Wasserman should continue to lead LA28 and deliver a safe and successful Games,” the executive committee of the LA28 board said.

Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

The Washington Post shuttered its sports department this morning. Our story on the layoffs and the many sports journalists who were impacted: frontofficesports.com/washington-p...

frontofficesports.com

Washington Post Eliminates Sports Department in Mass Layoffs

The Jeff Bezos-owned paper is cutting hundreds of jobs and getting rid of its sports section.

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Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

We've been tracking all the major sports figures whose names appear in the latest batches of Epstein files. We'll keep updating this story as we know more. frontofficesports.com/epstein-spor...

frontofficesports.com

All the Sports Figures in the Latest Epstein Emails

New documents released by the DOJ show a number of major pro sports team owners emailed Epstein or were mentioned in his emails.

Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

As Trump has increased his sports travel, I've been asking the Secret Service how much it costs for him to attend these events. The Daytona 500 is the priciest trip so far at $560K. Including the Super Bowl, the agency spent ~$800K for 2025's first 4 events. frontofficesports.com/trump-secret...

frontofficesports.com

Secret Service Reveals More About Spending on Trump’s Sports Travel

The Secret Service expensed $561,842.63 for the president’s February trip to the Dayton 500, as he continues to travel the nation for sports.

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Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

I've connected with local reporters from the game Cori Close blasted for having "no media." These reporters didn't need a UCLA presser for their stories, but Close's point—why no one was there to ask UCLA questions after the top-20 matchup—remains. frontofficesports.com/ucla-ohio-st...

frontofficesports.com

'No Media Here': UCLA Women's Coach Rips Lack of Coverage

Several outlets covered the game remotely, but only a small handful attended the game in Columbus and didn’t stay for the UCLA media availability.

Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

Investors have provided Grand Slam Track with up to 8-figures in emergency financing. It's not enough to pay all of the league's debts, but GST sent athletes half of what they are owed this morning. Next they'll turn to vendors. Exclusive for FOS: frontofficesports.com/grand-slam-t...

frontofficesports.com

Investors Keep Grand Slam Track Alive With 8-Figure Lifeline

The cash will help Grand Slam pay off a portion of its debts, including half of what it owes athletes, but doesn’t fully bail out the league.

Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Trump became the first president to attend the Super Bowl this year, and his 5 1/2 hour trip to New Orleans cost the Secret Service at least $120,000 in payments to hotels and the NFL. New docs offer a window into the costs of Trump's sports-heavy second term: frontofficesports.com/trump-super-...

frontofficesports.com

Trump's Brief Super Bowl Visit Cost Secret Service More Than $120K

Records obtained by FOS show the Secret Service spent at least $120,000 on the president's five-hour visit.

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Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

Yesterday we reported that MLS has granted an exemption to the supporters group of the Columbus Crew to display a Palestinian flag for their team's new striker, Wessam Abou Ali. MLS has banned Israeli and Palestinian flags since 2023. frontofficesports.com/mls-columbus...

frontofficesports.com

MLS Says Columbus Fans Can Fly Palestinian Flag After 2-Year Ban

The league gave Crew fans an exemption after their team paid a $7.5 million transfer fee to sign Palestinian forward Wessam Abou Ali.

Reposted by Margaret Fleming

Dennis Young @dpyoung13.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

Weeks ago, Grand Slam Track said the $3 million it owed athletes was coming "imminently." Those payments have not been made, the league admits it's "struggling" to make them, and its future is in doubt. Some new reporting with @margaretfleming.bsky.social frontofficesports.com/grand-slam-t...

frontofficesports.com

Grand Slam Track Admits It Is 'Struggling' To Pay Athletes

The running startup said it would pay athletes $3 million by a July 31 deadline. Two weeks later, runners have not been paid, and Grand Slam’s future is in doubt.

Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

Does the trial mark a referendum on the most insidious parts of the sport, or another entry in its long history of violence? “This wasn’t about five men in a hotel room. It was about a kind of illness that’s produced through generations of men’s hockey and men’s hockey culture,” says one expert.

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Margaret Fleming @margaretfleming.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

Hi Bluesky! I finally made an account so I could share this story. The Hockey Canada allegations exposed the sport's dark history of abuse, then the verdict fractured the hockey world. Where does hockey go from here? Free to read on Front Office Sports ⬇️ frontofficesports.com/after-hockey...

frontofficesports.com

Where Does Hockey Go After the Hockey Canada Verdict?

The trial brought more attention than ever to a long history of sexual violence, but a massive split remains over the sport’s path forward.