Pioneers, Prizes and Deals: A Week in Sports

Jen Pawol breaks barriers as the first female MLB umpire. The U.S. Open sets a new prize money record with $90 million, while ESPN and NFL strike a crucial media deal. Shohei Ohtani hits a major milestone, Son Heung-min joins LAFC with a record MLS deal, and more sports updates.

Jen Pawol is set to make history by becoming the first woman to umpire a Major League Baseball regular-season game this weekend, officiating the Atlanta Braves' series against the Miami Marlins. Her landmark achievement reflects growing gender diversity in sports.

The U.S. Open will offer a record-breaking $90 million in prize money this year, the largest in tennis history, signifying a 20% increase from 2024. However, the call for fairer revenue distribution remains as top players benefit more than lower-ranked ones.

ESPN has forged a landmark deal with the NFL, acquiring NFL Network and other media assets while granting the NFL a 10% equity stake. This move, pending regulatory approval, aims to enhance ESPN's upcoming streaming service offerings.

(With inputs from agencies.)