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Priya Desai

Priya DesaiPriya DesaiPriya Desai

WRITER PRODUCER JOURNALIST

WRITER PRODUCER JOURNALIST WRITER PRODUCER JOURNALIST

stateofplaywithpriya.substack.com

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FEATURE WRITING PORTFOLIO

A Vaccine Cost Me Almost Two Years of My Life

What happens when an illness lands in the crosshairs of a political debate—and empathy becomes collateral damage?

A Predatory Culture, a Viral Reckoning—and Now What?

The University of San Francisco men’s soccer team regularly sends players to the pros, but it has become better known on campus for the countless accusations of sexual assault and harassment against its members.

A Dream Re-Routed: A Routine Check-in With ICE Destroys Collegiate Soccer Career

Lizandro Claros Saravia was just keeping ICE apprised of his college scholarship. Days later, he and his brother were deported to El Salvador and have continued picking up the pieces of their lives in Nicaragua.

NCAA Athletes Are Facing Food Insecurity

A 2019 study found that nearly one-quarter of Division I student-athlete respondents had suffered recent food insecurity. What does that mean in the age of a pandemic?

Defying Limits: A Cheer Squad's Championship Fight

The James Monroe Eagles were not only new to nationals, but competitive cheerleading in general. The team came together just two years ago. With limited practice space, and very little funding, getting to nationals was a struggle.

American Basketball Players Overseas Are Stuck In Limbo During Coronavirus Pandemic

What seems like an easy decision to come home, can mean forgoing a salary that a player is dependent on. Here is a look at life overseas for American basketball players during the coronavirus pandemic.

Dany Garcia Has Big Plans for the XFL

After she and her ex-husband purchased the bankrupt league in August, Garcia became the first woman to own a professional sports league. As an XFL return in 2022 nears, Garcia is ready for the challenge ahead.

FEATURED DOCUMENTARIES

The WNBA Turns 25 and Is Just Hitting Its Stride

As the WNBA prepares to tip off its 25th season on Friday, Candace Parker, A'Ja Wilson and Sue Bird reflect on the business of basketball and the importance of representation. Priya Desai spoke with the WNBA's past present and future stars on what needs to change and how the league became the first voice on social issue and how they touch sports leagues. 

Sportsperson of the Year: Megan Rapinoe

Playing the world’s game, on the world’s stage, under attack by a world leader, she dominated. And in doing so without fear, Megan Rapinoe became a voice for so many across the world.

Do We Owe Ricky Williams an Apology?

Ricky Williams has launched his own brand of cannabis, and has also dived headfirst into the world of astrology. The former NFL running back spent 11 seasons with the Saints, Dolphins and Ravens, and became synonymous with the debate of marijuana's role in sports—which is as relevant as ever.  Priya Desai spent a day with Williams to talk about his evolution from the NFL's cautionary tale to an advocate on mapping your own journey. 

High School Football, COVID-19 and the Pain of the Deep South

For Black teenagers in a region shaped by centuries of suffering, high school football can be both escapism and an escape route. Priya Desai traveled to southwest Georgia to document what happened when the coronavirus came to a small rural town, endangering players’ families and challenging their dreams.

Soccer Star Deported After Reporting Scholarship To ICE: How He's Starting Over

Priya Desai traveled to Nicaragua to film the story of Lizandro Claros-Saravia who was supposed to head to North Carolina to start college. Instead, the former high school star athlete was deported after informing ICE of his soccer scholarship to Louisburg College.  

Sportsperson of the Year: Naomi Osaka

What's Not known for being comfortable as a public figure off the court, U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka came to understand the power of her fame, then wielded it in eye-catching ways to confront racial injustice and police violence.

Sacremento Kings' Harrison Barnes Tackles Wealth Gap In Black and Brown Communities

Harrison Barnes has teamed up with the app Goalsetter to help "draft" 1 million Black and Brown kids to financial freedom by providing them their first savings account with $40 already deposited, and access to financial literacy content.

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