Sam Fortier
@sam4tr.bsky.social
6.7K followers 190 following 68 posts
National sports feature writer @washingtonpost.com.
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When the WNBA playoffs tip off today, the future of women’s hoops will shine bright.

But off the court, tension between the players and team owners threatens to derail their progress.

I dug into the league’s labor negotiations w/ @kareemcopeland.bsky.social:
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
How much are WNBA players worth? The league’s future lies in the answer.
Players want half of league revenue. The WNBA is preaching “sustainability.” With the current deal set to expire next month, who will blink?
www.washingtonpost.com
I’m not even sure that’s Scott’s most famous moment! ISIS, anyone?
I ranked famous sports press conference moments with my boy (and former TA) @dereklikessports.bsky.social.

🥉 I’m just here so I won’t get fined
🥈 They are who we thought they were!
🥇??

Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/16G1...
Spotify – Web Player
open.spotify.com
Reposted by Sam Fortier
When the WNBA playoffs tip off today, the future of women’s hoops will shine bright.

But off the court, tension between the players and team owners threatens to derail their progress.

I dug into the league’s labor negotiations w/ @kareemcopeland.bsky.social:
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
How much are WNBA players worth? The league’s future lies in the answer.
Players want half of league revenue. The WNBA is preaching “sustainability.” With the current deal set to expire next month, who will blink?
www.washingtonpost.com
Everything went well for Commanders newcomers in Week 1 — including @tomschad.bsky.social:
Will Hobson, @samaha.bsky.social and I spent three months on this story.

We interviewed dozens of people and obtained docs few people have ever seen.

Lots of unanswered Qs about Irsay’s condition at the end and how the authorities investigated his death.
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
In his final months, Irsay got ketamine injections as often as 10-14x per day.

Experts consider that a very high number.

The actor Matthew Perry was at the time of his death receiving 6-8x per day.

More context on Irsay’s doctor:
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
Breaking: NFL owner Jim Irsay secretly relapsed, got ketamine from 'luxury' doctor before death.

➡️ Irsay and Colts execs misled the public
➡️ Irsay overdosed three times between 2020 and May death
➡️ Serious concerns raised about his doctor’s care
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
NFL owner secretly relapsed, got ketamine from private doctor before death
As a recovery doctor provided ketamine and opioids, Colts owner Jim Irsay spent his final years suffering through a relapse that he and executives hid from the public.
www.washingtonpost.com
Thank you, Julie! I had a lot of fun with this one.
I dug into the world of modern NFL stadium event planning to parse a heated debate:

How much are NFL stadiums used?

I found the gap between numbers used by critics (eight) and boosters (200) comes down to mostly private events — like an epic bar mitzvah.
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
D.C. wants 200 events a year at its new stadium. Should bar mitzvahs count?
From bar mitzvahs and weddings to board meetings and conferences, private events increasingly shape the debate over NFL stadiums.
www.washingtonpost.com
Reposted by Sam Fortier
What are the next steps toward a new stadium? What would it be called? How much would the city of D.C. pay toward stadium costs?

Here’s what you need to know about the deal between D.C. and the Commanders. (via @nickijhabvala.bsky.social and @sam4tr.bsky.social)
What to know about the Commanders’ stadium deal with D.C.
There is a long way to go before fans are streaming down East Capitol Street on game day.
washingtonpost.com
Reposted by Sam Fortier
Appreciate you big dog
Thank you for sharing, my guy
I wrote about why we’re obsessed with NFL mock drafts.

It’s a story about hope and identity, and it’s told through the eyes of three people — the forgotten godfather, the modern analyst and the little-known king of the hill.
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
How hope and obsession drive America’s mock draft mania
From the basement to the big board, the NFL’s mock draft culture has captivated both football analysts and ordinary fans.
www.washingtonpost.com