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Illinois Football
Illinois Basketball
Illinois
Big Ten Conference
Big Ten
College Football
NCAA
Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Women's Basketball
Illinois Volleyball
Illinois Men's Basketball
Transfer Portal
NCAA Tournament
College Football Playoff
Basketball
College Basketball
Michigan
NBA
Ohio State
Brad Underwood

A daily look at the latest in sports, mostly focused on the Illini. A variety of guests join the program, and the News-Gazette sportswriters make Mondays their own.

PublishesDailyEpisodes300Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Sports

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for SportsTalk

Latest Episodes

Joey Wright chats with Mike Wallner about the upcoming UI Open in Savoy.

Joey Wright and Evan Conn chat with Junction FC coach Mark Sikora and two-time UI Open winner David Keenan.

Steve Kelly and Loren Tate get you caught up on the sports news of the day and then welcome News-Gazette sportswriter Scott Richey to the studio to talk Illinois sports.

Joey Wright and Loren Tate chat with St. Joseph-Ogden baseball coach Josh Haley after the Spartans' Class 2A state championship.

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Justin Franzen
Athletic Director at St. Joseph-Ogden High School
St. Joseph-Ogden High School
Episode: Justin Franzen | 6-12-26
Kam Buckner
Former Illini State Representative, guest
Illinois political sphere / Illini connections
Episode: SportsTalk 6-9-26
Travis Tate
NBA analyst/guest
Sports media
Episode: SportsTalk 6-9-26
Jenna Hall
New Illinois softball coach
Illinois softball program
Episode: Jenna Hall | 6-8-26
Josh Haley
Head coach, St. Joseph-Ogden Spartans baseball
St. Joseph-Ogden High School
Episode: Josh Haley & Tom Kimball | 6-4-26
Tom Kimball
Head coach, Unity Rockets baseball
Unity High School
Episode: Josh Haley & Tom Kimball | 6-4-26
Scott Ritchie
Illinois basketball writer
newsgazette.com
Episode: Josh Haley & Tom Kimball | 6-4-26
John Staab
Champaign Central baseball coach
Champaign Central High School
Episode: News-Gazette Sports Page | 6-1-26
Shauna Green
Illini women's basketball coach
University of Illinois
Episode: SportsTalk 5-27-26

Hosts

Joey Wright
Host of Sports Talk on DWS / News-Gazette; long-running local radio presence
Steve Kelly
Host of the show; prominent local sports radio voice
Loren Tate
Co-host; conducts interviews and discusses Illinois athletics
Scott Richey
Co-host / guest analyst; News-Gazette beat writer

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 23 ratings
  • Great content, questionable audio quality

    As a long time Illini football season ticket holder, living outside CU, I greatly appreciate this podcast. I give the content an A grade, but the production (and this is true for each and every WDWS podcast) a C grade. Feedback, over modulation and callers that you can’t hear are a constant and definitely a problem.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    illinidodgers
    United States4 years ago
  • Terrific Show

    Fantastic post game show, very capable house, Scott, Evan, Trent. Terrific regular callers including Steve from Peoria. Does tend to attract some Negative Normans who like the sound of their own complaints, but they quickly crawl back into their cracks when the light comes out on Illini wins.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Erebiz
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Audio quality and production sometimes notes as a point of feedback in reviews.
Prospective guests should fit the Illinois sports ecosystem and local community angle.
Content covers a lot of Illinois sports, with strong local flavor and knowledgeable hosts.

Top Sports Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Justin Franzen | 6-12-26
Q: Justin, what do the Spartans look like and what can we expect to see tonight?
The team has a lot of seniors who bring leadership and a deep, balanced lineup with players capable of having big days, emphasizing team-first attitudes and strong pitching depth.
Josh Haley & Tom Kimball | 6-4-26
Q: How does familiarity with your opponent affect preparation and scouting this week?
We expect a similar matchup as earlier in the season; we've planned for different looks on the mound and prepared to adapt to their lineup while keeping our routine consistent.
Josh Haley & Tom Kimball | 6-4-26
Q: What kind of game are you expecting on Saturday and what are the keys to victory?
A highly competitive sectional final with two well-mattered teams; keys include pitching rotations, leveraging fresh arms, and limiting mistakes to support a tight, well-pitched game.
SportsTalk 5-27-26
Q: What are the expected implications of the Five for Five changes on Illinois recruiting and rosters?
The hosts and Shauna Green discuss that Five for Five could expand rosters and affect how players are recruited, with particular attention to transfers and high school players determining roster space and eligibility.
D.A. Points | 5-7-26
Q: What was it like to learn you're entering the Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame?
DA Points described the moment as a complete shock yet deeply meaningful, sharing how supportive his family was and how the recognition reaffirmed the value of his career and hard work.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About SportsTalk

What is SportsTalk about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A fast-paced local-sports show centered on Illinois athletics, with a rotating cast of hosts who riff on early-season results, recruiting news, and postseason implications while weaving in interviews with high school and college coaches, beat writers, and former Illini players. Episodes frequently cover IHSA and Big Ten happenings, college basketball and baseball, and the broader landscape of Illinois sports, often mixing game recaps, scheduling chatter, and community-local perspectives. Noteworthy is the consistent emphasis on Illinois programs and Midwest prep-to-college pathways, along with a strong anchoring by News-Gazette reporters and veteran radio hosts who blend analysis with light, relatable banter. Potential listeners include Ill... more

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How many subscribers and views does SportsTalk have?

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How many episodes of SportsTalk are there?

SportsTalk launched 9 years ago and published 300 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact SportsTalk?

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What guests have appeared on SportsTalk?

Recent guests on SportsTalk include:

1. Justin Franzen
2. Kam Buckner
3. Travis Tate
4. Jenna Hall
5. Josh Haley
6. Tom Kimball
7. Scott Ritchie
8. John Staab

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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