SI
Joan Niesen

Joan Niesen

Joined: Sep 17, 2019

Staff writer Joan Niesen returned to SI in 2014 after first coming to SI as an intern while in graduate school. She covers college football and the NFL.

How Sylvia Fowles Balances Being a Lynx Star and a Second Life Dealing With Death
WNBA

How Sylvia Fowles Balances Being a Lynx Star and a Second Life Dealing With Death

The Minnesota Lynx star talks about balancing her basketball responsibilities while working toward a degree in mortuary science.

Joan Niesen
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Clemson Gets the Stop It Needed to Survive Sluggish Effort Against UNC
College

Clemson Gets the Stop It Needed to Survive Sluggish Effort Against UNC

Mack Brown elected to go for two in a bid to upset the nation's No. 1 team, a decision that ultimately had Clemson walking away with a one-point win in Chapel Hill.

Joan Niesen
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After an Uncharacteristic 2018, Wisconsin's Staunch Defense Is Back
College

After an Uncharacteristic 2018, Wisconsin's Staunch Defense Is Back

Despite coordinator stability, the Wisconsin Badgers' usually-strong defense took a step back last year. Here's how they righted the ship for the 2019 season.

Joan Niesen
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How Vladimir Tarasenko’s Son Took a Secret Stanley Cup Nap—Before the Blues Won
NHL

How Vladimir Tarasenko’s Son Took a Secret Stanley Cup Nap—Before the Blues Won

Before Vladimir Tarasenko even hoisted the Stanley Cup following the Blues’ Game 7 win in Boston, his wife and newborn son had already secretly spent a day with it back in St. Louis.

Joan Niesen
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Winners and Losers of Week 3 of the College Football Season
College

Winners and Losers of Week 3 of the College Football Season

UCF is riding high after an important win over Stanford while the ACC had a rather puzzling weekend to lead the most notable winners and losers from Week 3.

Joan Niesen
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Florida Rallies Past Kentucky but Loses Feleipe Franks in Tough Blow for Gators
College

Florida Rallies Past Kentucky but Loses Feleipe Franks in Tough Blow for Gators

A road comeback win over the Wildcats was clouded by the loss of entrenched starting QB Feleipe Franks.

Joan Niesen
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Dillon Gabriel Leads UCF to Important Power 5 Win Over Stanford
College

Dillon Gabriel Leads UCF to Important Power 5 Win Over Stanford

The true-freshman QB had 347 yards and four touchdowns as the Knights delivered their biggest regular-season win since they rose to national prominence with an undefeated 2017.

Joan Niesen
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Ahead of 100th Meeting, Is the Penn State–Pitt Rivalry at Risk of Fading Away?
College

Ahead of 100th Meeting, Is the Penn State–Pitt Rivalry at Risk of Fading Away?

With the Panthers and Nittany Lions playing each other for the 100th time this week, it’s uncertain when they will meet again. The intrastate rivalry lost its charm long ago, but will it endure after Saturday’s contest?

Joan Niesen
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Bryant-Okwuegbunam Connection at the Center of Missouri's Work-in-Progress Offense
College

Bryant-Okwuegbunam Connection at the Center of Missouri's Work-in-Progress Offense

Joan Niesen
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Coastal Carolina's Viral Jayhawk Piñata Was the Cherry on Top of Its Upset of Kansas
College

Coastal Carolina's Viral Jayhawk Piñata Was the Cherry on Top of Its Upset of Kansas

Joan Niesen
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Ranking the Most Bizarre College Football Coach Quotes of This Century
College

Ranking the Most Bizarre College Football Coach Quotes of This Century

Joan Niesen
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The Insatiable Curiosity of Jonathan Taylor Drives His Relentless Dominance
College

The Insatiable Curiosity of Jonathan Taylor Drives His Relentless Dominance

Joan Niesen
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