Sports columnist

Mirjam Swanson

Mirjam Swanson is a sports columnist for the Southern California News Group. For the previous four years, she covered the Clippers, the NBA and the L.A. Sparks. Before that, she wrote about LeBron James and the rest of the Dream Team at the 2004 Olympics (where, yes, they took bronze), Tiger Woods winning the U.S. Open on one leg, and also had a tour reporting on city government, education and the occasional bear in a backyard

Washington’s Kiki Iriafen runs down the court during a game against the Connecticut Sun on May 18, 2025, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis)

Swanson: Kiki Iriafen’s smooth evolution from WNBA rookie to All-Star

July 18, 2025 at 12:13 p.m.

The former Harvard-Westlake and USC star had a goal of playing in the WNBA, but being an All-Star in Year 1? “Not even on my radar.”

The peculiar summer of LeBron James, left, the anticipation of JuJu Watkins’ return and the ending of Tuesday night’s All-Star game are topics discussed in The Audible this week. (Photos by The Associated Press)

The Audible: Monitoring LeBron, waiting for JuJu, watching the long ball

July 17, 2025 at 2:58 p.m.

Southern California News Group columnists Jim Alexander and Mirjam Swanson discuss some of the week’s sports issues.

Shooting guard Bradley Beal has reportedly agreed to join the Clippers on a two-year, $11 million contract after securing a buyout from the Phoenix Suns. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Swanson: Clippers get steal in Bradley Beal and look good – on paper

July 16, 2025 at 3:47 p.m.

The team that won 50 games last season is more talented now, but it’s also substantially older than other potential contenders – which leads to questions.

Angels’ Mike Trout looks on after striking out during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Swanson: Angels’ 1st half ends with a loss and puzzling draft pick

July 13, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

Forever dancing to their own beat – one step forward, two steps back – the Angels use the No. 2 overall pick to select the 18th-ranked prospect, UCSB right-hander Tyler...

Kathy Aicher and Deb Turner, members of the displaced Altadena Town and Country Club pickleball community, play a game at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. The group stayed connected through their pickleball WhatsApp chat which became a lifeline and hub for thousands of people affected by the Eaton fire. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Swanson: Some heroes play pickleball – ask Eaton Fire survivors

July 11, 2025 at 5:31 p.m.

Word of the wildfire spread through a WhatsApp group that has evolved into a go-to hub for Altadenans navigating life in the fire’s aftermath.

Center Deandre Ayton, left, and power forward John Collin were key offseason additions for the Lakers and Clippers, respectively. (Photos by Getty Images)

The Audible: On the Lakers’ and Clippers’ moves and baseball’s trade deadline

July 10, 2025 at 4:54 p.m.

Southern California News Group columnists Jim Alexander and Mirjam Swanson discuss some of the week’s sports issues.

Former Angels and Yankees pitcher Jim Abbott sits inside Yankee Stadium during filming of the documentary “Southpaw.” (Photo courtesy of ESPN)

Swanson: Jim Abbott’s legacy explored in ESPN documentary

July 10, 2025 at 3:16 p.m.

“Southpaw” showed the former Angels one-handed pitcher, who threw a no-hitter with the New York Yankees, that there’s more to his story than even he realized.

After fans wondered why the Lakers weren’t making any splashy moves in the first two days of free agency, General Manager Rob Pelinka brought aboard a pair of young players, 26-year-old center Deandre Ayton and 23-year-old wing Jake LaRavia to replace departing free agent Dorian Finney-Smith. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Swanson: What if Lakers’ Rob Pelinka knows what he’s doing?

July 3, 2025 at 3:12 p.m.

Fans clamored for the Lakers to hurry and sign a free-agent center, but the GM waited for a better option to clear waivers and got Deandre Ayton at a discount.

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, warming gup in front of fans in the Dodger Stadium Centerfield Plaza area prior to a game in 2021, could go down as just the third member of the 3,000-strikeout club to pitch for just one team. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Swanson: Clayton Kershaw on verge of true blue, rarefied history

July 1, 2025 at 9:50 p.m.

Three strikeouts and the Dodgers’ left-hander is in, as just the 20th member in Major League Baseball’s exclusive 3,000-strikeout club.

New Lakers star Luka Doncic, right, sits next to LeBron James on the bench before a game against the Clippers on Tuesday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. The trades the Lakers made over the past six weeks appear to have short- and long-term benefits. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Swanson: LeBron is right, Lakers need win-now moves … to impress Luka

June 30, 2025 at 1:06 a.m.

The Lakers do have to meet a superstar’s expectations, but that star is now Luka Doncic – despite the familiar pressure coming from LeBron James’ camp.

All Stories