Kahlil Haywood

New York

Sports Culture Editor at Blavity

I make sure everything remains raw | 🖊@Blavity Editor | Past: @EBONYmag @dailymail @MadameNoire | 📚 WILD TONGUES CAN'T BE TAMED

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Articles

Why Parity Is Quickly Becoming The WNBA's Calling Card

6 days ago | blavity.com | Kahlil Haywood

Variety is something that the WNBA can proudly hang its hat on this season. As we enter the second year of what is most undoubtedly a WNBA boom period, its success doesn’t hinge on one entity. Coming into this season, a retooled Las Vegas Aces seek to be once again crowned champions. With the legendary A’ja Wilson at the helm, she always has to be seen as a threat to the throne.
Here's Why The New York Liberty Needed Natasha Cloud

6 days ago | blavity.com | Kahlil Haywood

One of the hardest things to do in sports is to repeat as champion. That’s the position that the New York Liberty find themselves in. After an exhilarating series in 2024, the Liberty won their first title in franchise history. They did it in a city that hadn’t won a basketball championship in 50 years, so it was a big deal. But with the WNBA expansion draft on the horizon, the roster would face some challenges. Not to mention, expiring contracts and potential player retirements.
Is Draymond Green Really Depicted As An Angry Black Man By The Media?

2 weeks ago | blavity.com | Kahlil Haywood

Once you’re in the NBA playoffs, it becomes anyone’s game. Any team has a chance to win a title, and it’s that hope that Golden State’s Draymond Green plays with. The fervor that the former defensive player of the year plays with is with that possibility in mind. I have great respect for that in a vacuum. However, it’s that same fervor that, at times, has morphed into careless and violent play. So, when Green picked up one of his most recent technical fouls, it was met with disdain by him.
Here's Why Michael Jordan Joining NBC Sports Is So Special

3 weeks ago | blavity.com | Kahlil Haywood

This has been an exciting week for the NBA as the playoffs rage on. But there was also some courtside news that dropped with NBC reporting they signed Michael Jordan for the upcoming NBA season. He’ll serve as a special contributor, marking his first media role in his career. It’s a ground-shaking announcement that further bolsters NBC Sports’ basketball coverage with an already all-star cast of talent.
The WNBA Is Capitalizing On Its Historic Momentum This Season

3 weeks ago | blavity.com | Kahlil Haywood

The WNBA has been the talk of the sports world for the better part of the last two seasons. Particularly last season, with the additions of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese to the fold, the talent pool is deeper than ever. As much as the WNBA has seen record growth in their regular season viewership, as well as their playoffs, they’re now seeing growth elsewhere, too. What I’m realizing during the WNBA’s preseason is that their cultural imprint is deepening.
Was Kobe Bryant Right About James Harden?

1 month ago | blavity.com | Kahlil Haywood

In what I was hoping wouldn’t be the case, the Los Angeles Clippers lost to the Denver Nuggets in game seven of the NBA playoffs last week. The loss is James Harden’s fourth loss on a fourth different team. In this loss, Harden only took eight shots and scored a dismal seven points. It isn’t the type of performance that you expect from a perennial all-star. Well, it isn’t what you expect as it pertains to other players.
How This Year's NBA Playoffs Is Restoring The Feeling With Fresh Talent

1 month ago | blavity.com | Kahlil Haywood

The 2025 NBA playoffs are in full swing. In this first round, we’ve witnessed mostly competitive match-ups throughout. The reason for competition being as fierce is in part due to officiating. The referees have been letting the players play. From no-calls to double technical fouls, referees are trying their darnedest to let the players decide the games. One of the biggest critiques of this modern era of the NBA is that it isn’t as physical of a game.
Why Does The NFL Want To Humble Shedeur Sanders?

1 month ago | blavity.com | Kahlil Haywood

The dust has finally settled, and Shedeur Sanders has been drafted in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns. The former starting quarterback of the Colorado Buffaloes was predicted to be taken in the first round of the NFL Draft. What ensued last week was quite the contrary. Sanders dropped all the way down to the fifth round. This was even with the general understanding that he possesses the talent enough to be drafted in round one. So, what does one extrapolate from that?
How Jade Cargill, Naomi And Bianca Belair Stole The Show At WrestleMania 41

1 month ago | blavity.com | Kahlil Haywood

Now that the dust has settled on WrestleMania 41, it’s clear that the “Big 3” did their thing. Jade Cargill, Naomi and Bianca Belair certainly made their presence known on the show of shows. After what was ultimately seen as a lackluster night, the main event’s attention quickly turned. They turned to the other matches of the weekend. In truth, the women’s division of the WWE did nothing but excel once again this past weekend. However, the performances of the Big 3 stood out among the others.
Cannabis, Culture, and the New Reality for Black Men

1 month ago | ebony.com | Kahlil Haywood

To steal a famed rap lyric, “What a time, to be alive!” I, much like many of you, have been around long enough to see the thoughts around cannabis consumption change. For the majority of my 36-year existence, cannabis consumption was seen as a less esteemed act. Certainly, in West Indian communities, those attitudes were a bit more quelled. But generally speaking, it seemed that your elders much rather that you not indulge. This was compounded by the terms that were used to describe the plant.