Spelling Bee 98: Tradition, Talent, and Triumph

The Scripps National Spelling Bee is back in D.C. for its 98th year, with 247 spellers from across the globe competing for a $50K prize, a trophy, and the title of champion. Hosted for the first time by ESPN’s Mina Kimes, the event features a powerhouse field including top contenders from last year’s finals, with Indian-American spellers dominating recent decades—30 of the last 36 champions. After a grueling written test, 95 finalists remain, ready to battle through oral rounds using the Merriam-Webster Unabridged dictionary. The competition, interrupted by war and pandemic, is more intense than ever—and the winner will be crowned Thursday night. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/e807f2ad02dcfa7e