Victor Wembanyama Lands Nike Signature Shoe Line After Historic Season
Victor Wembanyama has reportedly agreed to a new long-term deal with Nike that will include his first signature sneaker line. The Swoosh all but confirmed the news in a post revealing the superstar’s new logo. The agreement follows his recent five-year, $252 million max extension with the Spurs, as well as his being named the cover athlete for NBA 2K27. Wembanyama claimed first-team All-NBA honors and won Defensive Player of the Year unanimously in 2025-26 after averaging 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and an NBA-best 3.1 blocks per game.
‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Tops ‘Avengers: Endgame’ with Record $72M in Previews
Spider-Man: Brand New Day swung into theaters with a record-breaking $72 million from Thursday previews, setting a new all-time mark and surpassing Avengers: Endgame‘s previous $60 million record. Starring Tom Holland and Zendaya, the latest Spider-Man film is now tracking well above early projections for its opening weekend. Strong reviews and audience reception have fueled the momentum, with the film earning a 90% critics score and 98% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Brady, Messi, Bieber Among Celebrities to Appear in ESPN’s Fanatics Fest Special
ESPN and Fanatics Studios are bringing fans behind the scenes of Fanatics Fest with the second edition of Fanatics Fest: All Access, premiering Aug. 4. Hosted by Karl-Anthony Towns and Jordyn Woods, the hour-long special highlights the event’s biggest moments, celebrity appearances, athlete interviews, and the Fanatics Games competition. The show will feature appearances from stars including Tom Brady, Lionel Messi, Victor Wembanyama, Kevin Hart, and Justin Bieber, who won the $1 million competition prize.
Ohtani’s One-of-One Card Becomes Third-Most Expensive Ever Sold
A one-of-one Shohei Ohtani Topps Dual Gold Logoman Autograph card has sold for a staggering $11 million after being pulled by a collector in Florida. Featuring game-worn Gold Logoman patches from Ohtani’s back-to-back NL MVP seasons, plus signatures in both English and Kanji, the card is now the third-most expensive sports trading card ever sold publicly. The record-setting sale underscores Ohtani’s growing legacy as one of the most collectible athletes in the world.
Concert Boom Continues as Live Nation Posts Record Attendance
Live Nation set a new second-quarter attendance record with 49 million concertgoers as demand for live events continued to accelerate. The company reported $7.7 billion in revenue, up 9% year over year, with concerts generating $6.4 billion. Ticketmaster also posted a record quarter, bringing in $852 million in revenue and selling 90 million fee-bearing tickets. Through mid-July, Live Nation had sold 143 million tickets, 14 million ahead of last year’s pace.
Soccer Leaders Unite Against FIFA’s Private Investment Proposal
FIFA‘s proposal to sell a 20% stake in the commercial rights to its tournaments to private investors is facing overwhelming opposition. Football’s governing bodies across Europe, Asia, and the Americas have rejected the plan, giving opponents enough support to likely defeat it if put to a vote. Critics argue the World Cup should remain under football’s control rather than outside investors, especially after FIFA generated record revenue from the 2026 tournament.
New York Sues Kalshi Over Prediction Market Operations
New York has sued prediction market platform Kalshi, alleging it is operating an illegal gambling business by offering wagers without state approval. The lawsuit seeks to block Kalshi’s operations in the state and could pursue penalties totaling up to $36 billion. Kalshi argues it operates as a federally regulated financial exchange and says New York lacks the authority to shut it down, setting up a major legal battle over the future of U.S. prediction markets.
Sony Pictures Prepares for Comeback After Quiet Quarter
Sony Pictures reported a mixed first quarter, with revenue falling 13% year over year to $1.98 billion as a lighter theatrical slate weighed on film sales. Despite the decline, operating income climbed 21% thanks to lower marketing costs. The company expects a major rebound with Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Elsewhere, Crunchyroll surpassed 21 million paid subscribers, while Sony Music posted strong growth fueled by renewed demand for Michael Jackson‘s catalog following the Michael biopic.
Microsoft Makes Market History With Record $450B Value Surge
Microsoft made stock market history on Thursday after adding roughly $450 billion in market value in a single day, the largest one-day gain ever recorded. Shares surged 16% following stronger-than-expected earnings, fueled by 43% growth in Azure cloud revenue, its fastest pace since 2022. The record-breaking rally surpassed Nvidia‘s previous single-day market value increase and highlighted continued investor confidence in Microsoft’s AI and cloud computing leadership.
Women’s College Hoops Players Unite in Largest Athlete Union Effort Yet
More than 100 women’s college basketball players have joined a unionization effort through the United College Athletes Association, seeking a collective voice in negotiations with schools. The group aims to advocate for athlete protections, compensation, safety standards, and academic rights. Oregon State became the first team to formally file for recognition, with 10 of 13 players signing union cards. The movement marks the largest organized push by college athletes to pursue collective bargaining rights.
Image: Stacy Revere / Getty Images
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