Sports Illustrated

ON THE COVER

Jacket and pants by MAGLIANO Shirt by TONYWACK Glasses by CHROME HEARTS Watch by AUDEMARS PIGUET Gloves by ERL THIS PAGE Jacket by JACQUEMUS Shirt by TONYWACK Pants by MAGLIANO Glasses by CHROME HEARTS Watch by AUDEMARS PIGUET Gloves by ERL

RINGING ENDORSEMENT

During the production of Christy, Sydney Sweeney (below) was awed that the film’s subject was “so full of happiness and joy” after enduring such a difficult life.

SCORECARD

WHEN KELLY PANNEK got a call in September 2023 to join PWHL Minnesota, everything was finally falling into place. The launch of the Professional Women’s Hockey League had been announced just a few days earlier, and the first puck was set to drop in...

GREATER RAIDER?

Behind All-american JT Toppin, Texas Tech is a threat to improve on last year’s Elite Eight run.

CAPITAL GAINS

Jayden Daniels earned his Power List spot with the ultimate flex: turning around Washington’s fortunes— and doing it his way.

BUT CAN HE PLAY QUARTERBACK?

There will at least be a star on one side of the ball in Cleveland, where All-pro edge rusher Myles Garrett rescinded his trade request and re-upped for ‹ŒŽ‘ million over four years.

The NBA champs are set up for both short- and long-term success

LAST MONTH, as the confetti fell from the rafters inside Paycom Center, the two men most responsible for Oklahoma City’s first NBA title shared a long embrace. Sam Presti, the bespectacled executive hell-bent on building a champion in one of the...

LINEUP

SLAM DUNK DECISION Cooper Flagg smoothly elevated himself from the courts of Maine to the clear choice as the top player in this year’s NBA draft.

ASHTON JEANTY

And the Return Of the RB

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POWDER K EG Bryce Harper powered the league’s third-best offense, which helped Philly to 95 wins and the top spot in the NL East—a position the gents on the cover will be coveting this year.

Canelo Álvarez Lindsey Vonn Tony Dungy Nneka Ogwumike

LINEUP

SHOT IN THE ARM Travis Hunter’s play gave Colorado a boost (the Buffs upped their regular-season win total from four to nine) and earned the twoway talent the Heisman Trophy—as well as our Breakout Star of the Year award.

ADRIAN WOJNAROWSKI

Bombs away! By leaving ESPN, the newsbreaker became the biggest story of the year

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GREEN L IGHT Boston made it look easy last year, as Finals MVP Jaylen Brown led the C’s past Dallas in five games. But there are new threats emerging out West.

POWER FORWARD

Angel Reese earned a place on our influence list by helping to push women’s hoops to new heights on the floor and in its fandom.

LINEUP

AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER 2024 | VOLUME 135 | NOS. 7/8

LINEUP

FAST STARTER Long before she was an Olympic hero and the greatest female swimmer ever, Katie Ledecky made her SI debut as a €‚-year-old Face in the Crowd (page ††).