When former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White asked to join the WNBA, their request was quickly dismissed as a “stupid publicity stunt.” But the friction it caused over trans athletes has fueled public attention and boosted the league’s ratings.

Stephen A. Smith, 57, has stirred debate after stepping in for Molly Qerim as the host of ESPN’s First Take. His remarks about the Dallas Cowboys prompted a call-out from another star on the show, igniting fresh controversy for the popular sports program.