By Kenny Griffel, International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame World Cup In celebration of the 2026 World Cup, here are Jewish sportspeople involved in this year’s tournament. In the history …
For some Jewish fans of the New York Knicks, the most salient number related to the team’s NBA championship win on Saturday was not 94 — the team’s final point tally — or 53 — the number of years since the last title. It was 613 — the date of the victory (6/13) and the number of commandments (mitzvot) in the Torah.
Harrison Hochberg is still processing what it means to be a national champion. The University of Michigan junior, who grew up a devoted fan of the school’s basketball program, was part of the team that captured this year’s NCAA Division I men’s basketball title. As one of a small number of Jewish men’s basketball players in the Big Ten Conference, Hochberg has stepped into a rare spotlight, embracing his role as a visible Jewish athlete at the highest level of college basketball. Hochberg reflected on the championship run, celebrating Passover during the Final Four, confronting anti-Semitism.
For the 11th time, the DU Pioneers have secured a national championship in men’s hockey. The team faced Wisconsin on April 11 for the “Frozen Four” title, winning 2-1. A local celebration was scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, at Magness Arena on the DU campus.
The Barclays Center had the energy of a Bar Mitzvah party on March 16 as kippah-clad basketball fans and kids waving posters with Hebrew words of encouragement came to cheer on an NBA first: a game featuring three Jewish players — all Israeli citizens.
Sheina Vaspi, a world-class one-legged skier from Israel, says she was not born to hit the slopes. In fact, she did not take up skiing till she was 16. Vaspi, now 24, was Israel’s first representative four years ago in the Paralympic Games. Four years later, she is again the only Israeli at the Paralympics, which end March 15.
Three words you thought you would never hear: Israel’s bobsled team. Israel — not known for snow — had one in the Olympics this year. For the first time. It made headlines away from the track — for a robbery. For boos. For a bad error on the last day. And for a welcome by fans and fellow athletes throughout.
Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils scored the game-winning overtime goal, Sunday, Feb. 22 to clinch the gold medal for the US over Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina — the first time Team USA has won gold since the “miracle on ice” in the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY.
On the day before the National Football League championship game last Sunday, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold was studying his playbook and reviewing game films. He was reviewing the plays his team could use the next day against the New England Patriots. He was studying the defensive formations and personnel alignments the Patriots could send on the field. He was preparing to put himself into the best mental state for victory.
By Jacob Gurvis All eyes might be on Israel’s unlikely bobsled squad, making its first appearance at the Winter Olympics, but there is a slew of Jewish and Israeli athletes …
New Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman framed his move to Wrigley Field in title-or-bust terms at the Jan. 15 introductory news conference, saying he picked jersey No. 3 with another championship in mind.
“Next year in Jerusalem” — exclaimedat the end of the Passover seder —was conveyed at the end of a different kind of gathering: an NFL game between the Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders.