Born and raised in Southern California, Matthew Wadleigh brings his West Coast perspective to The Sporting News as a freelance writer. He grew up cheering for San Diego teams—a journey with more valleys than peaks, though Aztecs basketball has provided some memorable highs.
Matthew studied journalism at Fresno State, where he witnessed future stars up close before they became household names. He watched Derek Carr sling passes, Davante Adams haul in touchdowns, Paul George develop his smooth game, and Aaron Judge crush baseballs before they reached the big time.
His byline has appeared across the sports media landscape at outlets like ClutchPoints, Sportscasting, and Fansided. College sports fans might recognize his work from Trojans Wire, UCLA Wire, and Buffaloes Wire, where he’s covered the ups and downs of major programs. Matthew’s writing blends analytical depth with the passion of someone who’s spent a lifetime following the games we love.
