Screen Shots: September 18th-24th, 2025

Welcome to Screen Shots! This is where I tell you what sporting events you should watch on TV every week! Make sure you subscribe so it comes straight to your inbox! Have your own suggestions? Shoot me an email at [email protected]!

A little WNBA MVP debate in this week’s episode! A long season has come down to A’ja vs. Phee. Who ya got? I’ll tell you who I’d pick if I had a vote! Also, let’s talk about some other players who received consideration throughout the season!

Now, to the sports!

Thursday, September 18th, 2025

• Track & Field: World Championships coverage begins at 7:00 am (ET) on USA Network

As a reminder, check your local listings because World Athletics has been awful at putting out a broadcast schedule. The headliner of the day is superstar Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. She has destroyed everyone in the 400m hurdles, so this time around, she’s seeing what she can do in the open 400m. Her 48.29 in the semis broke the American record set by Sanya Richards-Ross in 2006. We still acknowledge Marita Koch’s 47.60 as the world record despite the rampant doping program of the East Germans at the time, but whatever. Can Sydney do the impossible and take that down, too? Or will Marileidy Paulino remind everyone that she’s still the standard in this discipline? We’ll find out at 9:24 am (ET).

• College Volleyball: #6 Kentucky Wildcats @ #3 Louisville Cardinals at 6:00 pm (ET) on ESPNU

Two of the top programs in the nation AND in-state rivals. What more can I say?

• WNBA Playoffs: Indiana Fever @ Atlanta Dream at 7:30 pm (ET) on ESPN2

My big concern for the Dream is they’ve got a little bit too much “too cool for school” going on. This reared its ugly head in game 2 when a woefully undermatched Fever team came out and punched them in the mouth. On the bright side, now we get a winner-takes-all game 3 between a franchise named in tribute to Dr. King and, well, Fever fans. Perfect timing, too!

• WNBA Playoffs: Seattle Storm @ Las Vegas Aces at 9:30 pm (ET) on ESPN2

Another reason not to play with your food as the favorite: superstar A’ja Wilson appeared to hurt her elbow early in the 3rd quarter of game 2. How serious remains to be seen, but a 2-0 sweep would allow for some rest time. Now, that elbow will be put to the test after the Aces blew a 12-point 4th quarter lead. The Aces go as A’ja goes. If she isn’t herself, then a do-or-die game 3 is really just the latter.

Friday, September 19th, 2025

• Track & Field: World Championships coverage begins at 7:00 am (ET) on USA Network

The marquee event of the day is the men’s 200m. Love him or hate him, Noah Lyles has dominated this event during world majors. Since 2019, he’s walked away with 3 golds and 2 bronzes. A 4th world championship would match Usain Bolt. However, Letsile Tebogo is back and beat him during the 2024 Olympics. Can he do it again? Start time is 9:06 am (ET).

• WNBA Playoffs: Golden State Valkyries @ Minnesota Lynx at TBD (ET) on ESPN2

If Golden State forces game 3, give Natalie Nakase the Coach of the Year trophy.

• WNBA Playoffs: New York Liberty @ Phoenix Mercury at TBD (ET) on ESPN2

Do you know how handsome, charismatic, and smart you have to be to drop an episode critiquing Alyssa Thomas’ ability to close out games hours before a game that she failed to close out? There might not have been a crunch time to struggle in if Satou Sabally didn’t go Game 7 John Starks. I’d write off the Mercury and this potential game 3 if not for the MCL sprain Stewie suffered at the end of game 1. This series feels like a contest to see who gets slaughtered next round.

Saturday, September 20th, 2025

• Track & Field: World Championships coverage begins at 6:00 am (ET) on CNBC

A couple of interesting events for your early Saturday viewing pleasure. The women’s shot put final is always a favorite of Coach Johnson’s. The field is particularly tight, so it’s going to come down to who handles the bright lights the best. The event starts at 6:45 am (ET). Then, check out the women’s 5000m, featuring the 4 fastest competitors in the history of the event at 8:29 am (ET). The men’s 800m ends things at 9:22 am (ET) with the entire podium from the 2024 Olympics running it back.

• English Premier League: Everton @ Liverpool at 7:30 am (ET) on USA Network

With the world championships about to end, it’s time to get back to our official Saturday morning sport! It feels like Liverpool is always on the schedule, and that’s probably because they’re hooping. Through 4 matches, they are the only team without a draw or a defeat. So yeah, good luck to Everton!

• College Football: #17 Texas Tech Red Raiders @ #16 Utah Utes at 12:00 pm (ET) on Fox

Big 12 football feels a lot like high-level high school football in terms of explosiveness and excitement, and these two epitomize that to the fullest. Red Raiders QB Behren Morton battled through injuries to put up gaudy numbers last year. The injuries are still in need of battling, but the stats are on pace to be even gaudier. What can he do against a Utah team that’s out to prove last year’s 5-7 record was a fluke?

• College Football: #9 Illinois Fighting Illini @ #19 Indiana Hoosiers at 7:30 pm (ET) on NBC

Speaking of flukes in the opposite direction, nobody outside of Bloomington believes that the Hoosiers’ College Football Playoff run was real. A big part of that was a weak schedule. Enter a top-10 matchup against Big Ten foe Illinois. A win here starts chipping away at the cupcake narrative that’s been building for the Hoosiers.

Want more college football talk? Check out this week’s Nameless College Football Show, where we talk about these games and more!

Sunday, September 21st, 2025

• WNBA Playoffs: Semifinal coverage begins at 3:00 pm (ET) on ABC/ESPN

Damn, that was quick! As you saw above, we don’t know who’s in it yet. The second game starts at 5:00 pm (ET) on ESPN.

• NFL: Dallas Cowboys @ Chicago Bears at 4:25 pm (ET) on Fox

My dirty little secret is that the Cowboys were my first favorite NFL team, and I still understand the appeal. However, I can’t imagine putting myself through that every single week. The outcomes are either A) close, stressful win that is more of a relief than an enjoyment B) close, painful loss that makes you question life or C) embarrassing blowout loss. The good news is that if you aren’t a fan, then you can have endless entertainment!

• MLB: Seattle Mariners @ Houston Astros at 7:00 pm (ET) on ESPN

Getting down to the wire, the AL West is still a toss-up between these two. It’s utterly insane that at the time of this writing, these teams have played over 150 games each, yet are only separated by Seattle’s half-game lead. If you need more reason to tune in, Mariners C/DH Cal Raleigh is closing in on 60 home runs.

Monday, September 22nd, 2025

• NFL: Detroit Lions @ Baltimore Ravens at 8:15 pm (ET) on ABC

These teams are as good at lighting up the scoreboard as they are at disappointing in the playoffs! Lucky for us, it’s the regular season! The Lions got on track after a week 1 stinker by putting up 52 on the Bears. Despite a 1-1 record, Baltimore has scored 40+ points both weeks. This should be a blast!

Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025

• Spanish LALIGA: Real Madrid @ Levante at 3:30 pm (ET) on ESPN2

Look, as long as Kylian Mbappé is at his peak and I’m aware that his team is playing, his games will be in here. 4 goals in 4 LALIGA matches so far. So yeah.

• WNBA Playoffs: Semifinal coverage begins at 7:30 pm (ET) on ESPN

2 games back-to-back!

Wednesday, September 24th, 2025

• MLB: Tampa Bay Rays @ Baltimore Orioles at 6:35 pm (ET) on FS1

The Rays are not going to make the postseason, so this will be your last nationally televised opportunity to see Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero until next season. Don’t blow it!

As always, thank you for reading! Make sure you are subscribed so you get this in your inbox first thing every Thursday! And tell your friends! See you next week!