Sports Wars

Wondery

You can binge all episodes of Sports Wars exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. Find Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts.

Sports rivalries can fuel fans and athletes to fight and argue for years. But what’s the real story behind these epic battles?

From Wondery, the company behind “Business Wars”, “Gladiator” and “The Lead” comes SPORTS WARS, a new series that offers an immersive look at some of the greatest athletic rivalries of all time: two superpower nations facing off in the Miracle on Ice. The battle for the starting quarterback gig in Green Bay between Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. And many more.

Host Dan Rubenstein (Sports Illustrated, SB Nation) will take you from the grudge matches to the pranks, from the tantrums to the triumphs: what really happened, who was right, who was wrong -- and you can decide whose side you’re on.

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Our Editor's Take

Competition is embedded in our DNA, and sports are embedded in our culture. In Sports Wars, host Dan Rubenstein lays out the fierce battles, the passive aggressiveness, and the fisticuffs—covering everything from college competition to the Olympics.

What’s the greatest rivalry of all time? The greatest team of all time? The greatest player of all time (the G.O.A.T.)? There may be no definitive answer, but Wondery's Sports Wars does an incredible job of trying to answer these perennial questions. Each half-hour episode of Sports Wars provides listeners with the perfect set-up for a listening binge or just a quick fix of entertainment.

Sports Wars explores today’s divisive issues in the NBA, NFL, NHL, college football, and more. Rubenstein is a tremendous host, pulling years of experience into a focused podcast covering everything from tension on the pitch to stress on social media. Sometimes, the real stories are even more dramatic than the gossip fans hear through the grapevine. Rubenstein's Sports Wars is a must-listen for sports fans across the world.

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SportsSports

Play Trailer

Introducing Sports Wars

Introducing Sports Wars

Brett Favre vs. Aaron Rodgers. Michael Jordan vs. Isiah Thomas. And many more...You can binge all episodes of Sports Wars exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. Find Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Season 20

Conor vs Khabib | Worlds Apart | 1

Conor vs Khabib | Worlds Apart | 1

You can binge all episodes of Sports Wars exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. Find Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts.One boy is from Dagestan. His father teaches him to be a disciplined wrestler, a devout Muslim. The other boy grows up in Ireland. He feels like the world is out of his control, and he channels his rage into boxing. While the two may come from different backgrounds, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor find themselves on the same path. It's a path that, one day, will lead them straight into each other's crosshairs—in UFC’s Octagon.You can binge all episodes of Sports Wars exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. Find Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Conor vs Khabib | Rising Stars | 2

Conor vs Khabib | Rising Stars | 2

Conor falls on hard times. His fix? A glass of whiskey. And another. Soon, it’s time for an intervention. Meanwhile, Khabib begins his ascent. He's crushing his opponents. And he's ready for someone who can actually challenge him.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Conor Vs Khabib | Closer than Ever | 3

Conor Vs Khabib | Closer than Ever | 3

Conor and Khabib are on a warpath. They’ve been trading insult after insult. And finally, their feud is ready to boil over. But while their first meeting gets rough, the rivalry is about to get much more heated—and violent.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Conor vs Khabib | The Fight | 4

Conor vs Khabib | The Fight | 4

The fight is only days away, and Conor McGregor decides to make things personal. His insults get heated and bitter. And they make Khabib fume. But when the two step into the Octagon, there’s only one thing that matters. Who’s going to take the win?You can binge all episodes of Sports Wars exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. Find Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Conor vs Khabib | The Road Ahead | 5

Conor vs Khabib | The Road Ahead | 5

When the fight ends, it’s not business as usual. Chaos erupts, and both camps dive headfirst into a brawl. Both Conor and Khabib will have to grapple with the aftermath—and what it means for each of their legacies.You can binge all episodes of Sports Wars exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. Find Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Season 19

Globetrotters vs. The World | Survival of the Misfits | 1

Globetrotters vs. The World | Survival of the Misfits | 1

You can binge all episodes of Sports Wars exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. Find Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts.Before LeBron, and before MJ—before Magic, Bird, and even Bill Russell, basketball was defined by one name. Globetrotters. The Harlem Globetrotters would go on to change the world. But in the beginning, the squad faced an uphill battle. They were an upstart touring team, trying to become a profitable sports organization. Yet few Americans considered basketball a sport worth watching. And the Globetrotters struggled to gain a footing amid a national crisis: the Great Depression.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Globetrotters vs. The World | Playing for American Pride | 2

Globetrotters vs. The World | Playing for American Pride | 2

The Globetrotters face off against their biggest rival, the Harlem Renaissance. But as they emerge in the national spotlight, the Trotters will confront an even larger challenge: a divided America, and a decade that changes the country.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Globetrotters vs. The World | The Disease of More | 3

Globetrotters vs. The World | The Disease of More | 3

The Globetrotters have become America’s basketball team. But already, they're starting to unravel. Players are tired of their second-class status. Tired of all the unfair treatment they have to put up with. And as they turn against the team’s owner, their future remains in serious doubt.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Globetrotters vs. The World | Father Time | 4

Globetrotters vs. The World | Father Time | 4

The Globetrotters land a new star. But then, their fortune takes a turn for the worse. Abe heads to the hospital, and soon, the team has to reinvent itself.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Globetrotters vs. The World | A Legacy for Sale | 5

Globetrotters vs. The World | A Legacy for Sale | 5

The Globetrotters become a corporate hot potato. They're sold and resold, with little concern for the team's pioneering heritage. But that changes when an ex-player steps in. He has deep pockets—and a big plan to restore the Globetrotters’ legacy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Season 18

Serena vs. Venus | East Compton Hills Country Club | 1

Serena vs. Venus | East Compton Hills Country Club | 1

You can binge all episodes of Sports Wars exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. Find Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts.They’re legends. Records breakers. Stars who’ve dominated the biggest stages in tennis. Yet Serena and Venus Williams rose to fame under some of the most unlikely circumstances. And the two would not only face off against the tennis establishment. They’d have to struggle through a complicated sibling rivalry.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Serena vs. Venus | Serena Means Business | 2

Serena vs. Venus | Serena Means Business | 2

Serena Williams won't accept second place. But there’s someone standing in her way. To be the best, Serena will have to take down another star player—her sister Venus.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Serena vs. Venus | A Sister Slammed | 3

Serena vs. Venus | A Sister Slammed | 3

When Serena Williams looks across the court, she doesn’t see her sister Venus. Instead, she sees her biggest competition. It’s a shift that not only alters their matches, but changes the Williams family itself.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Serena vs. Venus | Your Doubles Partner | 4

Serena vs. Venus | Your Doubles Partner | 4

Serena’s competitive streak starts to boil over. And with a strain now between them, Venus and Serena embark on a very different path.Support us by supporting our sponsors!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Serena vs. Venus | A Sister Stands Alone | 5

Serena vs. Venus | A Sister Stands Alone | 5

Serena has become a role model. A sports icon. But now, she’ll have to bear the weight of success—all on her own.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Serena vs. Venus | Rennae Stubbs: On the Court | 6

Serena vs. Venus | Rennae Stubbs: On the Court | 6

Rennae Stubbs is a six-time Grand Slam champ, and a winner of almost a thousand professional tennis matches. Stubbs, who's now a tennis commentator for ESPN, sits down with Dan to discuss the Williams sisters—what makes them unique forces in the history of tennis, and what it's like to play against them.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Season 17

Baseball After 9/11 | Mets Magic | 1

Baseball After 9/11 | Mets Magic | 1

For the last twelve years, John Franco has been living a dream. The 40-year-old relief pitcher is playing ball for the Mets, in his hometown of New York City. But everything changes for Franco, his teammates, and the country on the morning of September 11, 2001. And in the days that follow, the Mets, led by Franco and Mike Piazza, will do their part to help America heal from a national tragedy.You can binge all episodes of Sports Wars exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. Find Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts.Support us by supporting our sponsors!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Baseball After 9/11 | Yankees Magic | 2

Baseball After 9/11 | Yankees Magic | 2

Derek Jeter and the Yankees are hard at work. But that work is off the field, as the Bronx Bombers try to help New York City recover from the terrorist attacks of September 11. One way to help? Pull off a historic comeback in the playoffs, and make it to the World Series. It’s one of the greatest tests the team will face.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Baseball After 9/11 | The World Series | 3

Baseball After 9/11 | The World Series | 3

The Yankees have rallied their way to a fourth consecutive World Series appearance. But they face the upstart Arizona Diamondbacks, a team determined to write its own history. It’s now crunch time for the Yankees. And they’ll have to fight for a title—under the most dramatic circumstances imaginable.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Baseball After 9/11 | Joe Garagiola Jr.: Making History | 4

Baseball After 9/11 | Joe Garagiola Jr.: Making History | 4

The 2001 World Series will forever be remembered as the time baseball—in some small way—helped New Yorkers heal from the terrorist attacks of September 11. In this historic series, the Yankees went head to head with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Our guest is Joe Garagiola Jr., who was then the general manager of the Diamondbacks. Garagiola joins Dan to share some behind-the-scenes stories from that incredible run. He also reflects on the importance of sports in times of national upheaval.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.