Sports Charlotte

How will North Carolina's ACC football programs fare in 2026? Everyone has questions to answer, starting with 2025 league champ Duke, which lost their quarterback and top receiver to conference rival Miami, the national runner-up. Is it make or break time for Bill Belichick in Chapel Hill? Can NC State finally put together an elite season? Can Wake Forest back up a surprisingly strong 2025 with more success?

After going 1-11 in coach Tim Albin's first season, what can the 49ers do to improve in 2026? In a word: everything. We're talking offense, defense, schedule and health. #football #charlotte

Charlotte native Akbar Majeed, founder of Concrete2Green, an urban soccer advocacy group, has broken into moviemaking as director and producer of the documentary "Can We Kick It," which debuted in May 2026 in New York City. The documentary examines the evolution of soccer in urban America and the road ahead to make the sport more mainstream in the U.S. #soccer #documentary

The Hornets shocked the NBA – and Charlotte – by trading LaMelo Ball to Minnesota for Naz Reid and a raft of draft picks and a $41 million contract exception. What in the world were the Hornets thinking, and what else is on the horizon?

The Hornets have the 14th and 18th picks in the 2026 NBA Draft. Do they exercise both picks, trade up or use that capital to go after a center with offensive skills. We debate, you decide!

The Panthers participate in voluntary practice sessions this week, and we're looking for answers to a few burning questions. The Carolina Ascent go for their first Gainbridge Super League title Saturday when they take on Lexington SC. We preview the USA-Senegal soccer friendly and bid Wilfried Zaha adios.

Charlotte Hornets standout Kon Knuppel earns First Team All-NBA, which isn't a surprise considering a historic first season. We preview Carolina Ascent's semifinal match against Sporting JAX in the Gainbridge Super League semifinals.

The Golden Bulls add former New Haven and UCLA quarterback Parker McQuarrie to compete with Josh Jackson, a Central Connecticut State transfer, for the starting position. Charlotte-Mecklenburg coaches sound off on the lack of a supplemental pay increase. Also: what will the Charlotte Hornets do with the 14th and 18th picks in next month's NBA Draft?

It's Truist Championship week in Charlotte with a strong field going after a $20 million purse. Charlotte Hornets extend coach Charles Lee's contract after a 25-win improvement year-over-year. Also: Panthers rookie camp is here – who bears watching?

The new 49ers basketball coach joins Cameron Williams to talk about the transition to Charlotte, expectations and adding transfers to the 2026-27 roster.

It's opening day of the 2026 NFL Draft. What will the Carolina Panthers do with the 19th overall pick? Predictions and projections are all over the place. The Hornets go on summer vacation in a better place but work to do if they're going to improve on a 44-win regular season. Also, the latest on spring football drills at Johnson C. Smith and Charlotte.

The Hornets advanced to the second round of the NBA Play-In tournament by beating Miami. LaMelo Ball escaped serious punishment after tripping Bam Adebayo – was it fair or foul? Panthers general manager Dan Morgan says Carolina's leaving all options open with the 19th pick in the NFL Draft, but should they?

The Hornets and Pistons close out Charlotte's home regular schedule. The Hornets still have play-in seeding to determine. Also: what will the Carolina Panthers do with the 19th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft?

Six games remain in the regular season and the Hornets are in the midst of fighting for optimal postseason seeding. Wes Miller is adding to the Charlotte 49ers staff, and there'll be at least two North Carolina alumni.

New 49ers coach is a North Carolina native and a proven winner. Can he deliver NCAA Tournament berths? Also, the latest from the start of spring football.

Queens takes on Purdue in the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament. Can the 15 seed Royals pull off the upset against the second seed Boilermakers? With Aaron Fearne out at Charlotte, who's on the 49ers' wish list to replace him? The Charlotte Hornets will retire jersey No. 30 to honor Dell Curry, a cornerstone of the franchise as a player, broadcaster and ambassador.

Did the first week of the NFL year yield success for the Carolina Panthers through free agency signings? Also, Inter Miami and international superstar Lionel Messi takes on Charlotte FC.

College basketball has our attention: The ACC quarterfinals revolved around a pair of 80-79 games – Clemson topped North Carolina and Duke squeezed by Florida State. Both were nail-biters, by the way. The Charlotte 49ers played their best half of basketball of the season to beat Tulane 74-60 in the American Conference quarterfinals.

Golden Bulls coach Maurice Flowers joins the podcast to talk about the 2026 schedule, which includes a pair of games against 2025 NCAA Division II playoff teams, a trip to Canton, Ohio, for the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic and an eight-game CIAA slate.

Not only are the Charlotte Hornets the NBA's hottest team, they're box office at Spectrum Center for the first time in a long time. A double-digit beatdown against Boston made the case. Also, we take a peek at the ACC basketball tournament ahead of its tip-off in Charlotte next week.

The Charlotte Hornets welcomed back a pair of starters after four-game suspensions and picked up where they left off. Johnson C. Smith faces a tall task at the CIAA basketball tournament.

A look ahead to new Charlotte athletics director Kevin White meeting the 49ers community and media. Also, the 49ers pick up a big American Conference win to remain in the top four.

Can the Hornets continue their hot streak as the NBA season winds toward its regular season finale? The road to playoff positioning starts with Houston and Cleveland, two of the top teams in the West and East, respectively. Charlotte FC opens its fifth season as a Major League Soccer franchise Saturday against St. Louis. What are the expectations? We have predictions, too!

The Hornets' win streak ends, but go into All-Star Weekend with 11 in 12 games. More importantly, they're serving notice to the NBA they'll tangle with anyone. Also: Charlotte's athletics director search is targeting a hire by mid-March.

It's Super Bowl Week, but the Panthers supplied an inductee to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the NFL Rookie of the Year. The Charlotte Hornets notched their eight straight game, a streak last accomplished in 1999.

Don't look now, but the Charlotte Hornets are on a four-game heater, their longest win streak in two years. What's behind the improvement? Also, the Charlotte 49ers have climbed into a three-way tie for first in the Atlantic Conference.

The Pro Football Writers of America name Panthers receiver Tetairoa McMillan NFL rookie of the year – a first for Carolina. D.J. McFadden is formally introduced to the West Charlotte High community as Lions head coach.

The Carolina Panthers gave the Los Angeles Rams all they could handle in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs. What will they do for an encore? Charlotte FC returns to training in preparation the the 2026 MLS season.

The Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams square off in the NFC Wild Card round in Charlotte. It's Carolina's first postseason appearance since 2017. The Hornets might have found some defensive fortitude with three straight games in which they've held opponents under 100 points. They're 2-1 in those contests.

The Carolina Panthers' season comes down to one game – against Tampa Bay for the NFC South title and a spot in the playoffs. The Charlotte Hornets are dealing with injuries again and the guys offer what they're looking forward to in 2026.

The podcast celebrates Christmas by examining the Carolina Panthers' run to the NFC South lead after beating Tampa Bay. Former Charlotte 49ers football coach Biff Poggi makes his case for the permanent job at Michigan. We're taking a look back at Hough High's first state football title.

We're bringing the curtain down on the high school football season. Hough High and Raleigh Millbrook tangle in the North Carolina 8A title game. Both teams are 13-0, have high-scoring offenses and the state's best defenses. Also, the latest on Sam Greiner's ouster at West Charlotte a year after winning a state title.

A couple of basketball schools are set to decide the ACC football championship Saturday in Charlotte. Who had that on their Bingo card in August? Hough High prepares for its first North Carolina 8A football title game against Raleigh Millbrook.

The most anticipated hight school football game of the year is here! Hough, No. 1 in The Post's Magnificent Seven, takes on No. 2 West Charlotte Friday in Cornelius. Meanwhile, across the Mecklenburg County line, No. 3 Independence looks to spring an upset against Weddington. Also, we take a look back at Johnson C. Smith's historic football season and look ahead to 2026.

The two most recognizable names in Charlotte sports are also the topic of debate as to whether they should stay in the Queen City. Bryce Young and LaMelo Ball are the faces of the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte Hornets, respectively, but are they deserving? If not, what's the next step?

Another busy week for men's and women's basketball that we'll review. Plus, football takes on No. 4-ranked Georgia. Can the 1-9 49ers pull off an upset for the ages between the hedges?

Which Panthers team will show up for their lone national TV game at San Francisco? The NC high school football postseason moves into some big-time matchups with Myers Park taking on West Charlotte and Richmond Senior headed to Independence.

We review the Golden Bulls' first-ever berth in the NCAA Division II football playoffs as well as the CIAA title game after they rolled Virginia Union 45-21. JCSU opens the tournament against Frostburg State Nov. 22 in Charlotte, but what will it take to get to the second round?

The Hornets broke up their losing streak with a sound victory against Milwaukee. Question: Can coach Charles Lee get enough production from the supporting cast to overcome the absence of LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller? Charlotte 49ers men's and women's basketball take losses against Davidson and LSU respectively.

JC Smith takes on Virginia Union in the CIAA football title game. Who has the edge? A week after toppling Green Bay, Carolina implodes against one-win New Orleans. Week 2 of the North Carolina high school football playoffs kicks off with a couple of games between teams in The Post's Magnificent Seven on the schedule.

Johnson C. Smith can clinch a berth in the CIAA football title game with a win against rival Livingstone at the Commemorative Classic; the Charlotte 49ers are a heavy underdog to East Carolina. The Carolina Panthers can move two games above .500 with a win against the New Orleans Saints. And high school football playoffs kick off.

The season is riding on one game for Charlotte FC when they take on New York City FC Friday in the first round of MLS playoffs. And Charlotte 49ers basketball had a good week with the men's and women's teams coming up with wins.

The Crown is one game of exiting the MLS postseason after losing Game 1 of their best-of-3 series against New York City FC. The Hornets are 2-3 after their first five games. Are they in a good place or more of the same?

Previewing Saturday's Johnson C. Smith's showdown against Fayetteville State with a berth in the CIAA title game on the line. Also, The Panthers try to get off the mat at Green Bay. Mecklenburg's top high school teams prepare for the postseason. Who's got the upper hand for a chance at a state title?

Can the Panthers extend their win streak to four games by taking down the Bills? We discuss what it'll take to make a definitive statement against a preseason favorite to reach the Super Bowl. Also, we review this week's Magnificent Seven high school football teams.

The new-look Hornets blitzed the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA opener for both teams. What does success look like for the Bugs in coach Charles Lee's second year?

In a move no one saw coming, Charlotte 49ers athletics director Mike Hill was fired on Oct. 16, a year after signing an extension with the university and two days before the homecoming football game. Hill was a polarizing figure to 49ers fans and alumni, mostly because the football and basketball teams struggled during his seven-year tenure. We're talking next steps and ponder the timing and reasoning behind Hill's dismissal

Is there growing faith in the Carolina Panthers after last week's 30-27 win against the Dallas Cowboys? Rico Dowdle looks like he's capable of lead back duty. Is Dave Canales finally hitting stride as head coach? All up for debate.

From Clemson to Wake Forest, we review the conference's media days in Charlotte and handicap Carolinas schools' chances of hoisting the tournament trophy in March.

The Panthers' comeback win against Miami erased the memory of an ugly loss at New England, but was it a turning point? Also, Week 7 of the Magnificent Seven high school football rankings.