Steve Levy Takes a Jab at Raiders During Stanley Cup Final Preview

During halftime of a WNBA matchup between the Golden State Valkyries and the Las Vegas Aces, ESPN on ABC shifted focus to offer insights on the Stanley Cup Final's Game 3, featuring the Carolina Hurricanes against the Vegas Golden Knights. The segment included sports analysts Steve Levy and Erik Johnson, the latter of whom has recently joined ESPN’s coverage for the finals.

Johnson, who was recruited by ESPN after a notable 17-year NHL career, praised Las Vegas' sporting success, stating, “Vegas just seems to have the winning formula. Four titles in the last four years between the Aces and the Golden Knights. All they do is win here in Vegas, it seems.”

Seizing the moment, Levy humorously pointed out the absence of the NFL team in the conversation, quipping, “No mention of the Raiders, of course.” This remark drew laughter, even from the WNBA commentators, who noted that the Raiders were taking some unexpected heat during an NHL discussion.

The Raiders have struggled significantly, finishing the 2025 season tied for the worst record in the NFL at 3-14 and experiencing four consecutive losing seasons. They have not secured a playoff win since relocating to Las Vegas and last celebrated a postseason victory in 2002 as the Oakland Raiders. With Tom Brady as a minority owner and rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the team hopes to turn the tide and reduce the jokes like Levy's in the future.