Other Sports, VAN-WIN
Some sports unfold far from the biggest stadiums yet demand just as much precision, endurance, courage, and flair. Discover athletic pursuits that broaden the meaning of competition.
Other Sports Encyclopedia Articles By Title
van der Westhuizen, Joost
Joost van der Westhuizen was a South African rugby union football player who was an unusually powerful scrum half......
van Vollenhoven, Tom
Tom van Vollenhoven was a South African rugby football player who reached the pinnacle of success in both rugby......
Vassall, Henry
Henry Vassall was an English rugby player who is credited with introducing the three-threequarter formation into......
Veeck, Bill
Bill Veeck was an American professional baseball club executive and owner, who introduced many innovations in promotion.......
venationes
venationes, (Latin: âanimal huntsâ), in ancient Rome, type of public spectacle that featured animal hunts. Contests......
Verlander, Justin
Pitcher Justin Verlanderâs baseball resume is a testament to how he has dominated his position and his sport for......
Verstappen, Max
Max Verstappen is a race-car driver competing in Formula One (F1) under the Dutch flag. He is the sportâs youngest......
Vettel, Sebastian
Sebastian Vettel is a German race-car driver who in 2010, at age 23, became the youngest person to win the Formula......
Vick, Michael
Michael Vick is an American professional gridiron football quarterback who was the highest-paid player in National......
Villeneuve, Jacques
Jacques Villeneuve is a Canadian race-car driver who in 1995 became the first Canadian to win the Indianapolis......
Vines, H. Ellsworth, Jr.
H. Ellsworth Vines, Jr. was a U.S. tennis player of the 1930s who bounced back after a series of losses at age......
VinĂcius JĂșnior
VinĂcius JĂșnior is a Brazilian football (soccer) player known for his exceptional speed and dribbling, which have......
Vizquel, Omar
Omar Vizquel is considered one of the greatest fielding infielders in the history of baseball. The Venezuelan shortstop......
volleyball
volleyball, game played by two teams, usually of six players on a side, in which the athletes use their hands to......
Vrabel, Mike
Mike Vrabel is an American football coach and former player who is especially known for his tenure with the New......
Vyalbe, Yelena
Yelena Vyalbe is a Russian cross-country skier who excelled at every distance in international competition in the......
Wade, Dwyane
Dwyane Wade is an American professional basketball player who was one of the best players of his era and who won......
Wagner, Honus
Honus Wagner was an American professional baseball player, one of the first five men elected to the Baseball Hall......
Wagstaff, Harold
Harold Wagstaff was an English rugby player who was a member of the noted Huddersfield team of 1914â15. Wagstaff,......
Wakefield, William Wavell Wakefield, Baron
William Wavell Wakefield, Baron Wakefield was one of Englandâs finest rugby union players, known for his quickness......
Wallace, Perry
Perry Wallace was a trailblazer in college basketball who became the first Black varsity basketball player in the......
Walsh Jennings, Kerri
Kerri Walsh Jennings is an American beach volleyball player who, with her partner, Misty May-Treanor, won Olympic......
Walsh, Bill
Bill Walsh was an influential American gridiron football coach, whose âWest Coast offenseâ changed pro football......
Walsh, Courtney
Courtney Walsh is a Jamaican cricketer who in 2001 became the first bowler to attain more than 500 Test wickets.......
Walter Camp on football
Walter Camp (1859â1925) virtually invented American football, splitting it off from British rugby by such changes......
Walton, Bill
Bill Walton was an American collegiate and professional basketball player who is considered one of the best all-around......
Wambach, Abby
Abby Wambach is an American association football (soccer) player who was one of the sportâs leading forwards. She......
War Admiral
War Admiral, (foaled 1934), American racehorse (Thoroughbred) who in 1937 became the fourth winner of the American......
War Emblem
War Emblem, (foaled 1999), American racehorse (Thoroughbred) who in 2002 won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness......
Warne, Shane
Shane Warne was an Australian cricketer who was one of the most effective bowlers in history, with good disguise......
Warner, Kurt
Kurt Warner is an American professional gridiron football quarterback who won two National Football League (NFL)......
Warner, Pop
Pop Warner was an American college gridiron football coach who devised the dominant offensive systems used over......
Was Andrés Escobar Killed for Scoring an Own Goal?
The murder of Colombian football (soccer) player Andrés Escobar just days after the team suffered a shock exit......
Was Maradonaâs âHand of Godâ Goal Legal?
âUn poco con la cabeza de Maradona y otro poco con la mano de Diosâ (âA little with the head of Maradona and a......
Washington, D.C., International
Washington, D.C., International, United States flat horse race attracting leading horses from all over the world.......
Washington, Kenny
Kenny Washington was one of the first African American college gridiron football stars on the West Coast and one......
water polo
water polo, sport played in a swimming pool by teams of seven with a buoyant ball resembling an association football......
Waugh, Mark
Mark Waugh is an Australian cricketer who, with his twin brother, Steve, dominated cricket in Australia in the......
Waugh, Steve
Steve Waugh is an Australian cricketer who set the record for most international Test appearances (168; later broken......
Weah, George
George Weah is a Liberian politician and a former football (soccer) player who served as president of Liberia from......
Weaver, Earl
Earl Weaver was an American professional baseball player and manager whose career managerial record of 1,480 wins......
Webster, Mike
Mike Webster was an American professional football player who won four Super Bowls (1975, 1976, 1979, and 1980)......
Weissmuller, Johnny
Johnny Weissmuller was an American freestyle swimmer of the 1920s who won five Olympic gold medals and set 67 world......
Wembanyama, Victor
Victor Wembanyama is a French professional basketball center who, since being selected by the San Antonio Spurs......
West, Jerry
Jerry West was an American basketball player, coach, and general manager who spent four noteworthy decades with......
Westbrook, Russell
Russell Westbrook is an American former professional basketball player known for his obsessive work ethic and ferocious......
Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, leading U.S. dog show competition, held annually by the New York City-based Westminster......
What are torpedo bats?
The torpedo bat, also called the bowling pin bat, is a new baseball bat design that became widely known during......
What Are Yellow and Red Cards in Football?
Few moments in football (soccer) attract more attention than when a referee pulls out a yellow or red card. These......
What Country Has Won the Most World Cups?
The FIFA World Cup is the premier event in football (soccer)âand one of the worldâs biggest sporting competitions.......
What does âpit stopâ mean?
A pit stop is a brief halt during an automobile race or journey for refueling, maintenance, or rest. The phrase......
What is baseballâs Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS)?
The Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS) is an instant-replay mechanism that Major League Baseball (MLB)......
What Is DRS in Cricket?
In cricket, âDRSâ refers to the âDecision Review System,â a set of technologies introduced in 2008 to help umpires......
What Is the Finalissima?
The Finalissima is a football (soccer) match played between the winner of the European Championship and the winner......
What Is the Offside Rule in Football?
The offside rule in football (soccer) is designed to prevent players from gaining an unfair advantage by positioning......
What is the open era in tennis?
In the sport of tennis the term open era refers to the periodâbeginning in 1968 and continuing to the present dayâin......
What Is the Super Bowl Era in the NFL?
The Super Bowl era in the National Football League (NFL) refers to the period that started in 1967 and continues......
Whatâs the Tush Push in the NFL?
Itâs fourth down, and the offense is just inches from the goal line. What play does the team run? In some cases,......
When Representing Your Country Becomes Political
When it comes to sporting events, there is perhaps nothing more stirring than the sight of victorious athletes......
Which National Teams Have Participated in the FIFA World Cup?
Since the inaugural World Cup, held in 1930 in Uruguay, about 88 different menâs national teams have participated......
Whirlaway
Whirlaway, (foaled 1938), American racehorse (Thoroughbred) who in 1941 became the fifth winner of the American......
White, Reggie
Reggie White was an American professional gridiron football player who was one of the most dominant defensive linemen......
Whitfield, Mal
Mal Whitfield was an American middle-distance runner, world-record holder for the 880-yard race (1950â54), for......
Whitney, Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney was an American businessman who turned inherited wealth and a variety of interests......
Whitney, John Hay
John Hay Whitney was an American multimillionaire and sportsman who had a multifaceted career as a publisher, financier,......
Who has won the most NCAA menâs basketball championships?
Since 1939 the NCAA has been crowning a menâs basketball champion. It is one of the most coveted titles in college......
Who has won the most NCAA womenâs basketball championships?
In 1982 the first NCAA womenâs basketball champion was crowned, as Louisiana Tech defeated Cheyney State College......
Who Invented the High Five?
The high five is one of the most popular and recognizable gestures in the worldâsecond, perhaps, only to the traditional......
Who is Jen Pawol, the first woman to umpire a Major League Baseball game?
As a girl growing up on Long Island, New York, Jen Pawol wanted to play Little League, but that wasnât what girls......
Who Is Marty Supreme Based On?
Marty Supreme (2025) stars Timothée Chalamet as a gifted, cocky, slick-tongued table tennis player determined to......
Who Really Invented Baseball?
You may have heard the charming tale of how war hero Abner Doubleday invented baseball in Cooperstown, New York.......
Whoâs won the most NASCAR Cup Series championships?
Since 1949 NASCAR has been crowning a season champion, using a scoring system that awards drivers points in each......
Why Are Basketball Hoops 10 Feet High?
Throughout gyms, parks, and driveways around the world, basketball hoops are almost always 10 feet (3 meters) off......
Why do baseball players chew gum?
Baseball players chew gum to help them maintain focus and stay relaxed during games. Players have described the......
Why Do Some People Call Football âSoccerâ?
One of the best-known differences between British and American English is the fact that the sport known as football......
Why Do Tennis Players Wear White at Wimbledon?
The Wimbledon Championships are the oldest and most prestigious of the four tennis Grand Slam tournaments. (The......
Why Does a Football Swerve?
A football, or soccer ball, swerves because of the Magnus effect, in which air moving around the ball creates an......
Why Does âKâ Stand for a Strikeout in Baseball?
The box score of a baseball game is filled with all kinds of shorthand, which is necessitated by the desire for......
Why Is Shubman Gill Not Playing in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup?
It is not unusual to see teams shake up their rosters ahead of a major cricket tournament. However, more than a......
Why Is the Indy 500 Held on Memorial Day Weekend?
The first full year of auto racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was 1910. Races were held over the weekends......
Wickenheiser, Hayley
Hayley Wickenheiser is a Canadian ice hockey player who is widely considered the greatest female hockey player......
Widener, George D.
George D. Widener was a U.S. financier, breeder, owner and racer of Thoroughbred horses. Scion of a wealthy Philadelphia......
Wightman Cup
Wightman Cup, trophy awarded the winner of womenâs tennis matches held annually from 1923 to 1989 between British......
Wightman, Hazel Hotchkiss
Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman was an American tennis player who dominated womenâs competition before World War I. Known......
Wilhelm, Hoyt
Hoyt Wilhelm was an American baseball player who pitched knuckleballs that fluttered over the plate, baffling major......
Wilkens, Lenny
Lenny Wilkens was an American professional basketball player and coach, considered to be one of the gameâs most......
Williams, Jalen
Jalen Williams is an American professional basketball player who was a key contributor to the Oklahoma City Thunderâs......
Williams, Serena
Serena Williams is an American tennis player who revolutionized womenâs tennis with her powerful style of play......
Williams, Smokey Joe
Smokey Joe Williams was an American baseball player who was an early star of the Negro leagues. Williams was a......
Williams, Ted
Ted Williams was an American professional baseball player who compiled a lifetime batting average of .344 as an......
Williams, Venus
Venus Williams is an American tennis player whoâalong with her younger sister Serenaâredefined the sport with her......
Williamson, Zion
Zion Williamson is a power forward for the New Orleans Pelicans and one of the most explosive players in the National......
Wills, Helen
Helen Wills was an outstanding American tennis player who was the top female competitor in the world for eight......
Wills, Maury
Maury Wills was an American professional baseball player and manager, who set base-stealing records in his playing......
Wilma Rudolph: The Chattanooga Choo Choo
Wilma Rudolph was not a newcomer to Olympic competition, having won a bronze medal in the 4 Ă 100-metre relay at......
Wilson, Aâja
Aâja Wilson is a star center for the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA. Wilson was named the leagueâs Most Valuable Player......
Wimbledon Championships
Wimbledon Championships, major international tennis tournament played annually at Wimbledon, a neighborhood in......
Winfield, Dave
Dave Winfield is the only person to have been drafted by teams in Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball......
Winkfield, James
James Winkfield was an American jockey, the last African American to win the Kentucky Derby. In 1898 Winkfieldâs......
Winkler, Hans GĂŒnter
Hans GĂŒnter Winkler was a German equestrian champion who was the most decorated Olympic show jumper of all time,......