Ben Wylie
@plottheball.com
Using data to tell better stories about sport at Plot the Ball
https://www.plottheball.com
ben@plottheball.com
Data journalist at Insurance Insider in my day job
https://www.insuranceinsider.com
ben.wylie@insuranceinsider.com
https://www.plottheball.com
ben@plottheball.com
Data journalist at Insurance Insider in my day job
https://www.insuranceinsider.com
ben.wylie@insuranceinsider.com
Pinned
Ben Wylie
@plottheball.com
· Feb 27
Dozen Scoops whet the appetite on Writing shortlists for SJA British Sports Journalism Awards - Sports Journalists' Association
Twelve super-impactful stories vying for silverware at #SJA2024 Awards; 19 more shortlists announced in Writing section, including five all-new categories; "utmost quality exists across the board," sa...
www.sportsjournalists.co.uk
Delighted to be shortlisted in the Data Journalist category at this year's British Sports Journalism Awards for my work at Plot the Ball! 📊🏐✉️ www.sportsjournalists.co.uk/awards-news/...
Reposted by Ben Wylie
Covered in this week’s edition of Plot the Ball:
🏏 Nathan Lyon
🏒 Connor Bedard
🏀 Luka Dončić
⚽️ Vicky López
⚾️ Munetaka Murakami
You can read and subscribe here! www.plottheball.com/p/entering-t...
🏏 Nathan Lyon
🏒 Connor Bedard
🏀 Luka Dončić
⚽️ Vicky López
⚾️ Munetaka Murakami
You can read and subscribe here! www.plottheball.com/p/entering-t...
🏏 Entering the Ashes with an ageing pace attack, Australia might need Nathan Lyon to step up
My Week in Sport(s) 🏏 🏒 🏀 ⚽️ ⚾️
www.plottheball.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Covered in this week’s edition of Plot the Ball:
🏏 Nathan Lyon
🏒 Connor Bedard
🏀 Luka Dončić
⚽️ Vicky López
⚾️ Munetaka Murakami
You can read and subscribe here! www.plottheball.com/p/entering-t...
🏏 Nathan Lyon
🏒 Connor Bedard
🏀 Luka Dončić
⚽️ Vicky López
⚾️ Munetaka Murakami
You can read and subscribe here! www.plottheball.com/p/entering-t...
Covered in this week’s edition of Plot the Ball:
🏏 Nathan Lyon
🏒 Connor Bedard
🏀 Luka Dončić
⚽️ Vicky López
⚾️ Munetaka Murakami
You can read and subscribe here! www.plottheball.com/p/entering-t...
🏏 Nathan Lyon
🏒 Connor Bedard
🏀 Luka Dončić
⚽️ Vicky López
⚾️ Munetaka Murakami
You can read and subscribe here! www.plottheball.com/p/entering-t...
🏏 Entering the Ashes with an ageing pace attack, Australia might need Nathan Lyon to step up
My Week in Sport(s) 🏏 🏒 🏀 ⚽️ ⚾️
www.plottheball.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Covered in this week’s edition of Plot the Ball:
🏏 Nathan Lyon
🏒 Connor Bedard
🏀 Luka Dončić
⚽️ Vicky López
⚾️ Munetaka Murakami
You can read and subscribe here! www.plottheball.com/p/entering-t...
🏏 Nathan Lyon
🏒 Connor Bedard
🏀 Luka Dončić
⚽️ Vicky López
⚾️ Munetaka Murakami
You can read and subscribe here! www.plottheball.com/p/entering-t...
Reposted by Ben Wylie
folks are gonna make way way more of this game than was there
City finished their chances exceptionally well
City finished their chances exceptionally well
November 9, 2025 at 6:03 PM
folks are gonna make way way more of this game than was there
City finished their chances exceptionally well
City finished their chances exceptionally well
Reposted by Ben Wylie
Leading Plot the Ball this week: analysis of Arsenal’s consistency of selection, and how it’s vaulted them into the Premier League’s top tier.
The newsletter also features notes on Laura Wolvaardt, the Irish rugby team, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Macklin Celebrini: www.plottheball.com/p/consistent...
The newsletter also features notes on Laura Wolvaardt, the Irish rugby team, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Macklin Celebrini: www.plottheball.com/p/consistent...
⚽️ Consistent selection made Arsenal a contender — and new talent might finally take them to a title
My Week in Sport(s) ⚽️ 🏏 🏉 ⚾️ 🏒
www.plottheball.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Leading Plot the Ball this week: analysis of Arsenal’s consistency of selection, and how it’s vaulted them into the Premier League’s top tier.
The newsletter also features notes on Laura Wolvaardt, the Irish rugby team, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Macklin Celebrini: www.plottheball.com/p/consistent...
The newsletter also features notes on Laura Wolvaardt, the Irish rugby team, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Macklin Celebrini: www.plottheball.com/p/consistent...
Reposted by Ben Wylie
Putting dead balls into the box is free money
November 8, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Putting dead balls into the box is free money
Leading Plot the Ball this week: analysis of Arsenal’s consistency of selection, and how it’s vaulted them into the Premier League’s top tier.
The newsletter also features notes on Laura Wolvaardt, the Irish rugby team, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Macklin Celebrini: www.plottheball.com/p/consistent...
The newsletter also features notes on Laura Wolvaardt, the Irish rugby team, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Macklin Celebrini: www.plottheball.com/p/consistent...
⚽️ Consistent selection made Arsenal a contender — and new talent might finally take them to a title
My Week in Sport(s) ⚽️ 🏏 🏉 ⚾️ 🏒
www.plottheball.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Leading Plot the Ball this week: analysis of Arsenal’s consistency of selection, and how it’s vaulted them into the Premier League’s top tier.
The newsletter also features notes on Laura Wolvaardt, the Irish rugby team, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Macklin Celebrini: www.plottheball.com/p/consistent...
The newsletter also features notes on Laura Wolvaardt, the Irish rugby team, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Macklin Celebrini: www.plottheball.com/p/consistent...
Reposted by Ben Wylie
a new Expecting Goals newsletter!
a brand new team ratings system, Premier League power rankings, and all the details about how it works, why it works this way, and what I plan to do with it next
www.expectinggoals.com/p/expecting-...
a brand new team ratings system, Premier League power rankings, and all the details about how it works, why it works this way, and what I plan to do with it next
www.expectinggoals.com/p/expecting-...
Expecting Goals Premier League Team Ratings
A new method for evaluating soccer teams in the major European Leagues, and an opportunity to discover whether I am biased against your favorite team or not.
www.expectinggoals.com
October 28, 2025 at 12:18 PM
a new Expecting Goals newsletter!
a brand new team ratings system, Premier League power rankings, and all the details about how it works, why it works this way, and what I plan to do with it next
www.expectinggoals.com/p/expecting-...
a brand new team ratings system, Premier League power rankings, and all the details about how it works, why it works this way, and what I plan to do with it next
www.expectinggoals.com/p/expecting-...
Reposted by Ben Wylie
Broke out the ol' WHO YA GOT for El Clasico: Kylian Mbappe or Lamine Yamal? www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Move over Ronaldo and Messi, Spain's Clasico has a new star battle: Mbappé vs. Yamal
Not since Messi vs. Ronaldo has the Barcelona-Real Madrid rivalry given us a matchup like Yamal vs. Mbappe. So, which superstar would you rather have?
www.espn.com
October 26, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Broke out the ol' WHO YA GOT for El Clasico: Kylian Mbappe or Lamine Yamal? www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Reposted by Ben Wylie
It’s a big weekend of sport — and Reece Walsh is the athlete I’m most excited to see in action.
I wrote about the Australia fullback in today's edition of Plot the Ball, which also features notes on Spain, Alana King, Roki Sasaki and Matthew Schaefer. www.plottheball.com/p/reece-wals...
I wrote about the Australia fullback in today's edition of Plot the Ball, which also features notes on Spain, Alana King, Roki Sasaki and Matthew Schaefer. www.plottheball.com/p/reece-wals...
🏉 Reece Walsh — the NRL’s most dangerous attacker — is getting his chance for the Kangaroos
My Week in Sport(s) 🏉 ⚽️ 🏏 ⚾️ 🏒
www.plottheball.com
October 24, 2025 at 11:19 AM
It’s a big weekend of sport — and Reece Walsh is the athlete I’m most excited to see in action.
I wrote about the Australia fullback in today's edition of Plot the Ball, which also features notes on Spain, Alana King, Roki Sasaki and Matthew Schaefer. www.plottheball.com/p/reece-wals...
I wrote about the Australia fullback in today's edition of Plot the Ball, which also features notes on Spain, Alana King, Roki Sasaki and Matthew Schaefer. www.plottheball.com/p/reece-wals...
It’s a big weekend of sport — and Reece Walsh is the athlete I’m most excited to see in action.
I wrote about the Australia fullback in today's edition of Plot the Ball, which also features notes on Spain, Alana King, Roki Sasaki and Matthew Schaefer. www.plottheball.com/p/reece-wals...
I wrote about the Australia fullback in today's edition of Plot the Ball, which also features notes on Spain, Alana King, Roki Sasaki and Matthew Schaefer. www.plottheball.com/p/reece-wals...
🏉 Reece Walsh — the NRL’s most dangerous attacker — is getting his chance for the Kangaroos
My Week in Sport(s) 🏉 ⚽️ 🏏 ⚾️ 🏒
www.plottheball.com
October 24, 2025 at 11:19 AM
It’s a big weekend of sport — and Reece Walsh is the athlete I’m most excited to see in action.
I wrote about the Australia fullback in today's edition of Plot the Ball, which also features notes on Spain, Alana King, Roki Sasaki and Matthew Schaefer. www.plottheball.com/p/reece-wals...
I wrote about the Australia fullback in today's edition of Plot the Ball, which also features notes on Spain, Alana King, Roki Sasaki and Matthew Schaefer. www.plottheball.com/p/reece-wals...
Reposted by Ben Wylie
Reminder that Wemby was second in the NBA in steals + blocks last season despite playing just 46 games!
October 23, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Reminder that Wemby was second in the NBA in steals + blocks last season despite playing just 46 games!
Reposted by Ben Wylie
With a bunch of new followers, I wanted to re-introduce myself 👋🏻.
Every Saturday, I publish a newsletter called Plot the Ball 📊🏐 — where I use data to tell better stories about sport.
To get this week’s edition in your inbox, subscribe here: www.plottheball.com
Every Saturday, I publish a newsletter called Plot the Ball 📊🏐 — where I use data to tell better stories about sport.
To get this week’s edition in your inbox, subscribe here: www.plottheball.com
Plot the Ball | Ben Wylie | Substack
Using data to tell better stories about sport. Click to read Plot the Ball, by Ben Wylie, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.
www.plottheball.com
November 14, 2024 at 8:38 PM
With a bunch of new followers, I wanted to re-introduce myself 👋🏻.
Every Saturday, I publish a newsletter called Plot the Ball 📊🏐 — where I use data to tell better stories about sport.
To get this week’s edition in your inbox, subscribe here: www.plottheball.com
Every Saturday, I publish a newsletter called Plot the Ball 📊🏐 — where I use data to tell better stories about sport.
To get this week’s edition in your inbox, subscribe here: www.plottheball.com
Reposted by Ben Wylie
At the same time, it IS a common blind spot among analytics type to ignore aesthetic arguments, when the aesthetics are the whole reason the thing exists. As I often say, we’re making a TV show here and if people don’t like the show enough, we all have to go get real jobs.
Are we doing this again? Trying to “solve” a sport via stats and analysis exists on a different scale than the sport being fun/enjoyable. Some “solutions” make stuff more fun, some less, and it’s the responsibility of rule-making bodies to encourage the former and reduce the latter.
My position that the nerds are bad still holds up! Even as an Arsenal fan, who loves the irony of the team that used to be bullied on set pieces dominating them, you can always bet that once the goal becomes to solve the sport, the fun of it will be engineered out in service of math.
October 21, 2025 at 2:08 PM
At the same time, it IS a common blind spot among analytics type to ignore aesthetic arguments, when the aesthetics are the whole reason the thing exists. As I often say, we’re making a TV show here and if people don’t like the show enough, we all have to go get real jobs.
Reposted by Ben Wylie
sports analytics is effectively a stress test on a game's rules and on its governance
analysis will find better ways to win, and then the leagues need to align their rules with what the game ought to be
the NFL model of regular rule tweaks in response to stress-testing is the right one
analysis will find better ways to win, and then the leagues need to align their rules with what the game ought to be
the NFL model of regular rule tweaks in response to stress-testing is the right one
October 21, 2025 at 2:36 PM
sports analytics is effectively a stress test on a game's rules and on its governance
analysis will find better ways to win, and then the leagues need to align their rules with what the game ought to be
the NFL model of regular rule tweaks in response to stress-testing is the right one
analysis will find better ways to win, and then the leagues need to align their rules with what the game ought to be
the NFL model of regular rule tweaks in response to stress-testing is the right one
Reposted by Ben Wylie
Deandre Ayton and Kuldeep Yadav are the focus of the latest edition of Plot the Ball 📊🏐✉️.
Also featured this week: Patrick Mahomes, Real Madrid and Connor Bedard. You can read and subscribe here:
www.plottheball.com/p/deandre-ay...
Also featured this week: Patrick Mahomes, Real Madrid and Connor Bedard. You can read and subscribe here:
www.plottheball.com/p/deandre-ay...
🏀 Deandre Ayton was a top NBA Draft pick — but the Lakers don’t need him to play like one
My Week in Sport(s) 🏀 🏏 🏈 ⚽ 🏒
www.plottheball.com
October 17, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Deandre Ayton and Kuldeep Yadav are the focus of the latest edition of Plot the Ball 📊🏐✉️.
Also featured this week: Patrick Mahomes, Real Madrid and Connor Bedard. You can read and subscribe here:
www.plottheball.com/p/deandre-ay...
Also featured this week: Patrick Mahomes, Real Madrid and Connor Bedard. You can read and subscribe here:
www.plottheball.com/p/deandre-ay...
Deandre Ayton and Kuldeep Yadav are the focus of the latest edition of Plot the Ball 📊🏐✉️.
Also featured this week: Patrick Mahomes, Real Madrid and Connor Bedard. You can read and subscribe here:
www.plottheball.com/p/deandre-ay...
Also featured this week: Patrick Mahomes, Real Madrid and Connor Bedard. You can read and subscribe here:
www.plottheball.com/p/deandre-ay...
🏀 Deandre Ayton was a top NBA Draft pick — but the Lakers don’t need him to play like one
My Week in Sport(s) 🏀 🏏 🏈 ⚽ 🏒
www.plottheball.com
October 17, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Deandre Ayton and Kuldeep Yadav are the focus of the latest edition of Plot the Ball 📊🏐✉️.
Also featured this week: Patrick Mahomes, Real Madrid and Connor Bedard. You can read and subscribe here:
www.plottheball.com/p/deandre-ay...
Also featured this week: Patrick Mahomes, Real Madrid and Connor Bedard. You can read and subscribe here:
www.plottheball.com/p/deandre-ay...
Reposted by Ben Wylie
can't measure height
From @theathletic.com: Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama is taller than everybody else currently in the NBA, it seems. But even his coach has "no clue" how tall he is. nyti.ms/4o2JM8k
October 16, 2025 at 6:09 PM
can't measure height
Reposted by Ben Wylie
lily said i heard yall like long range bangers
October 15, 2025 at 6:08 PM
lily said i heard yall like long range bangers
Reposted by Ben Wylie
Norway will almost certainly qualify for their first men's World Cup since 1998 next month, and they could well do it with a perfect record. Some analysis of what's shaping up to be a serious side for @thetransferflow.bsky.social:
www.thetransferflow.com/p/norway-are...
www.thetransferflow.com/p/norway-are...
Norway are a serious contender heading into the World Cup
After two decades of disappointment, Erling Haaland and Co. have their best team ever.
www.thetransferflow.com
October 14, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Norway will almost certainly qualify for their first men's World Cup since 1998 next month, and they could well do it with a perfect record. Some analysis of what's shaping up to be a serious side for @thetransferflow.bsky.social:
www.thetransferflow.com/p/norway-are...
www.thetransferflow.com/p/norway-are...
Reposted by Ben Wylie
October 14, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Reposted by Ben Wylie
When ASA developed g+ five years ago we talked about the "Messi test": hypothetically, if we had MLS data for the greatest player of all time, would he score well on this all-in-one metric?
Anyway I think it works
Anyway I think it works
October 13, 2025 at 7:56 PM
When ASA developed g+ five years ago we talked about the "Messi test": hypothetically, if we had MLS data for the greatest player of all time, would he score well on this all-in-one metric?
Anyway I think it works
Anyway I think it works
Reposted by Ben Wylie
Covered in this week’s edition of Plot the Ball:
⚽️ Barça Femení
⛳️ Nelly Korda
🏏 Australia
🏈 Travis Hunter
🏉 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Read and subscribe at the link below!
www.plottheball.com/p/despite-th...
⚽️ Barça Femení
⛳️ Nelly Korda
🏏 Australia
🏈 Travis Hunter
🏉 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Read and subscribe at the link below!
www.plottheball.com/p/despite-th...
⚽️ Despite the club’s financial issues, head coach Pere Romeu has Barça Femení back on track
My Week in Sport(s) ⚽️ ⛳️ 🏏 🏈 🏉
www.plottheball.com
October 10, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Covered in this week’s edition of Plot the Ball:
⚽️ Barça Femení
⛳️ Nelly Korda
🏏 Australia
🏈 Travis Hunter
🏉 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Read and subscribe at the link below!
www.plottheball.com/p/despite-th...
⚽️ Barça Femení
⛳️ Nelly Korda
🏏 Australia
🏈 Travis Hunter
🏉 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Read and subscribe at the link below!
www.plottheball.com/p/despite-th...
Covered in this week’s edition of Plot the Ball:
⚽️ Barça Femení
⛳️ Nelly Korda
🏏 Australia
🏈 Travis Hunter
🏉 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Read and subscribe at the link below!
www.plottheball.com/p/despite-th...
⚽️ Barça Femení
⛳️ Nelly Korda
🏏 Australia
🏈 Travis Hunter
🏉 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Read and subscribe at the link below!
www.plottheball.com/p/despite-th...
⚽️ Despite the club’s financial issues, head coach Pere Romeu has Barça Femení back on track
My Week in Sport(s) ⚽️ ⛳️ 🏏 🏈 🏉
www.plottheball.com
October 10, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Covered in this week’s edition of Plot the Ball:
⚽️ Barça Femení
⛳️ Nelly Korda
🏏 Australia
🏈 Travis Hunter
🏉 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Read and subscribe at the link below!
www.plottheball.com/p/despite-th...
⚽️ Barça Femení
⛳️ Nelly Korda
🏏 Australia
🏈 Travis Hunter
🏉 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Read and subscribe at the link below!
www.plottheball.com/p/despite-th...
Reposted by Ben Wylie
My favourite team try of the year so far in test rugby.
New Zealand's attacking shape seems quite simple, but guessing where the next pass is going isn't.
This try illustrates it well and the 3-2 shape they play off sideline rucks from wing to wing.
#RugbyAnalysis
New Zealand's attacking shape seems quite simple, but guessing where the next pass is going isn't.
This try illustrates it well and the 3-2 shape they play off sideline rucks from wing to wing.
#RugbyAnalysis
October 8, 2025 at 9:46 PM
My favourite team try of the year so far in test rugby.
New Zealand's attacking shape seems quite simple, but guessing where the next pass is going isn't.
This try illustrates it well and the 3-2 shape they play off sideline rucks from wing to wing.
#RugbyAnalysis
New Zealand's attacking shape seems quite simple, but guessing where the next pass is going isn't.
This try illustrates it well and the 3-2 shape they play off sideline rucks from wing to wing.
#RugbyAnalysis
Reposted by Ben Wylie
This has been updated! docs.google.com/document/d/1...
October 7, 2025 at 8:24 PM
This has been updated! docs.google.com/document/d/1...