Sports News Report
League: NCAAMSport: College SportsCountry: United StatesCategory: Scores & Results

Kai Spears wins defamation case against New York Times

6 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Aug 21, 2026, 4:36 PM

Last updated Aug 21, 2026

Kai Spears wins defamation case against New York Times
Summary

Kai Spears, a former Alabama basketball player, won a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times in a ruling issued on August 20, 2026. The jury in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama awarded Spears $9.25 million after finding the newspaper liable for linking him to a murder scene incorrectly. The case stemmed from a March 2023 article that falsely identified Spears as a passenger in a car involved in a fatal shooting in Tuscaloosa. The Times later corrected the error but described the situation as an honest mistake. This verdict marks a significant moment as it is the first defamation case lost by the Times in the U.S. in over 50 years.

Source Links
Yahoo SportsCBS SportsThe Guardian Sport
By the Numbers
  • •Spears was awarded $9.25 million in damages by an Alabama jury.
  • •The lawsuit followed a March 2023 article linking Spears to a murder scene.
  • •The Times later issued a correction and acknowledged the error.
  • •This case is the first defamation loss for the Times in over 50 years.
  • •Spears’ family expressed their gratitude for the verdict.
Latest Updates
  • 4:36 PMYahoo Sports — New York Times forced to pay Alabama basketball player $9.25 million in damages
  • 3:53 PMYahoo Sports — New York Times Loses $9.25M Defamation Verdict to Ex-Alabama Player
  • 3:46 PMCBS Sports — Ex-Alabama basketball player awarded $9.25 million in a defamation case against the New York Times
  • 12:32 PMThe Guardian Sport — Former Alabama basketball player wins $9.25m in defamation case against New York Times
  • 1:59 AMYahoo Sports — New York Times loses first defamation trial in more than 50 years to ex-Alabama player Kai Spears
  • 1:12 AMYahoo Sports — Former Alabama basketball player Kai Spears wins defamation case against New York Times
What they're saying
"

Kai Spears incorrectly linked to death of young mother Times says it had not lost libel case in more than 50 years An Alabama jury has awarded $9.25m in damages after finding that the New York Times defamed a college basketball player by incorrectly reporting that he was at the scene of a fatal shooting. Kai Spears, who played for the University of Alabama men’s team, sued the Times in 2023 after it published a report, citing a person familiar with the investigation, that said he was a passenger in a car involved in the shooting. The Times reported that the person had spoken “on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.” Continue reading...

"

In March 2023, Billy Witz falsely reported that Kai Spears, then an Alabama Crimson Tide basketball player, had been in the passenger seat of Brandon Miller’s car at the time of a fatal shooting in Tuscaloosa that January. Spears later sued The New York Times for defamation. Spears’ lawsuit made it to civil trial in the…

"

Former Alabama men's basketball walk-on Kai Spears won a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, which incorrectly linked him to a murder scene

Related Teams & Leagues
NCAAMCollege Sports

Sources

External links

Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.

Related Stories

Last 14 days