ESPN MCP Server

🏟️ ESPN sports research for AI and data teams

ESPN MCP Server helps sports analysts, app builders, and AI teams get structured ESPN sports data. Find scores, schedules, standings, teams, athletes, news, rankings, odds, and game details without copying pages by hand.

• Give an AI tool access to sports research with ESPN MCP Server.
• Save sports data for apps and reports with ESPN API.
• Check games across leagues with ESPN Scores.
• Get a current or dated board with ESPN Scoreboard.
• Review league or team games with ESPN Schedule.
• Compare team records with ESPN Standings.
• Find recent league stories with ESPN News.
• Get supported polls and lists with ESPN Rankings.

📦 Returned data

Each sports entry is one dataset row. Rows can hold game IDs, dates, scores, teams, standings, athletes, news, rankings, odds, and ESPN links. ESPN does not provide every field for every sport or league. Missing values are not guessed.

🚀 Running the Actor

1. Open the Actor input.
2. Choose one target.
3. Fill in the options for that target. Options for other targets are ignored.
4. For a league target, choose a sport and add ESPN league slugs.
5. Run the Actor and open Sports results.

🎛️ Input

Field	Type	What it does
target	string	Required. Chooses scoreboards, schedules, standings, teams, roster, gameAnalysis, odds, athlete, news, rankings, or search.
scoreboardDate	string	Gets games on this date. Leave it empty for the current scoreboard.
scheduleTeamId	string	Limits a schedule to one ESPN team ID. Leave it empty for the full league schedule.
scheduleStartDate	string	Gets schedule rows on or after this date.
scheduleEndDate	string	Gets schedule rows on or before this date.
rosterTeamId	string	Sets the ESPN team ID for a roster.
gameId	string	Sets the ESPN game ID for game analysis.
oddsGameId	string	Sets the ESPN game ID for available odds and win chance.
athleteQuery	string	Finds an athlete by name or gets details by ESPN athlete ID.
newsKeywords	string[]	Narrows ESPN news. Leave it empty for recent league news.
rankingType	string	Chooses a supported college, MMA, boxing, or tennis ranking.
searchQuery	string	Searches ESPN for a player, team, or league.
sport	string	Sets the sport for league-based targets.
leagues	string[]	Sets one or more ESPN league slugs for a league-based target.

Successful default-input QA run:

{
  "target": "scoreboards",
  "sport": "football",
  "leagues": [
    "nfl",
    "college-football"
  ],
  "scoreboardDate": "2025-11-29"
}

📤 Output

The dataset uses the shape for the chosen target. Optional fields appear only when ESPN provides them.

Scoreboard row

Field	Type	What it does
resultType	string	Is scoreboard.
eventId	string	ESPN game ID.
sport	string	Sport slug.
league	string	League slug.
name	string	Game name.
date	string	Game date and time.
status	string	Game status.
competitors	object[]	Teams in the game.
competitors.teamId	string	ESPN team ID.
competitors.name	string	Team name.
competitors.abbreviation	string	Team short name.
competitors.homeAway	string	Home or away side.
competitors.score	string	Team score.
competitors.winner	boolean	Whether the team won.
venue	object	Game venue.
venue.name	string	Venue name.
venue.city	string	Venue city.
venue.state	string	Venue state.
venue.country	string	Venue country.
sourceUrl	string	ESPN game link.

{
  "resultType": "scoreboard",
  "eventId": "401752921",
  "sport": "football",
  "league": "college-football",
  "name": "Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Wolverines",
  "date": "2025-11-29T17:00Z",
  "status": "Final",
  "competitors": [
    {
      "teamId": "130",
      "name": "Michigan Wolverines",
      "abbreviation": "MICH",
      "homeAway": "home",
      "score": "9",
      "winner": false
    },
    {
      "teamId": "194",
      "name": "Ohio State Buckeyes",
      "abbreviation": "OSU",
      "homeAway": "away",
      "score": "27",
      "winner": true
    }
  ],
  "venue": {
    "name": "Michigan Stadium",
    "city": "Ann Arbor",
    "state": "MI",
    "country": "USA"
  },
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401752921/ohio-state-michigan"
}

Schedule row

Field	Type	What it does
resultType	string	Is schedule.
eventId	string	ESPN game ID.
sport	string	Sport slug.
league	string	League slug.
teamId	string	Team filter ID, when used.
name	string	Game name.
date	string	Game date and time.
status	string	Game status.
competitors	object[]	Teams in the game.
competitors.teamId	string	ESPN team ID.
competitors.name	string	Team name.
competitors.abbreviation	string	Team short name.
competitors.homeAway	string	Home or away side.
competitors.score	string	Team score.
competitors.winner	boolean	Whether the team won.
venue	object	Game venue.
venue.name	string	Venue name.
venue.city	string	Venue city.
venue.state	string	Venue state.
venue.country	string	Venue country.
sourceUrl	string	ESPN game link.

{
  "resultType": "schedule",
  "eventId": "401772891",
  "sport": "football",
  "league": "nfl",
  "name": "Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions",
  "date": "2025-11-27T18:00Z",
  "status": "Final",
  "competitors": [
    {
      "teamId": "8",
      "name": "Detroit Lions",
      "abbreviation": "DET",
      "homeAway": "home",
      "score": "24",
      "winner": false
    },
    {
      "teamId": "9",
      "name": "Green Bay Packers",
      "abbreviation": "GB",
      "homeAway": "away",
      "score": "31",
      "winner": true
    }
  ],
  "venue": {
    "name": "Ford Field",
    "city": "Detroit",
    "state": "MI",
    "country": "USA"
  },
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.espn.com/nfl/game/_/gameId/401772891/packers-lions"
}

Standing row

Field	Type	What it does
resultType	string	Is standing.
sport	string	Sport slug.
league	string	League slug.
group	string	Conference or other group.
position	number	Team place in the group.
teamId	string	ESPN team ID.
teamName	string	Team name.
teamAbbreviation	string	Team short name.
record	string	Win-loss record.
stats	object	League-specific standing facts.
sourceUrl	string	ESPN team link.

{
  "resultType": "standing",
  "sport": "football",
  "league": "nfl",
  "group": "American Football Conference",
  "position": 1,
  "teamId": "2",
  "teamName": "Buffalo Bills",
  "teamAbbreviation": "BUF",
  "record": "0-0",
  "stats": {
    "differential": 0,
    "gamesBehind": 0,
    "losses": 0,
    "playoffSeed": 0,
    "pointDifferential": 0,
    "pointsAgainst": 0,
    "pointsFor": 0,
    "streak": 0,
    "ties": 0,
    "winPercent": 0,
    "wins": 0,
    "divisionLosses": 0,
    "divisionRecord": 0,
    "divisionTies": 0,
    "divisionWins": 0,
    "overall": "0-0",
    "Home": "0-0",
    "Road": "0-0",
    "vs. Div.": "0-0",
    "vs. Conf.": "0-0"
  },
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/buf/buffalo-bills"
}

Team row

Field	Type	What it does
resultType	string	Is team.
sport	string	Sport slug.
league	string	League slug.
teamId	string	ESPN team ID.
teamName	string	Team name.
abbreviation	string	Team short name.
location	string	Team place.
color	string	Team color code.
logoUrl	string	Team logo link.
sourceUrl	string	ESPN team link.

{
  "resultType": "team",
  "sport": "hockey",
  "league": "nhl",
  "teamId": "25",
  "teamName": "Anaheim Ducks",
  "abbreviation": "ANA",
  "location": "Anaheim",
  "color": "fc4c02",
  "logoUrl": "https://a.espncdn.com/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/ana.png",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/_/name/ana/anaheim-ducks"
}

Roster row

Field	Type	What it does
resultType	string	Is roster.
sport	string	Sport slug.
league	string	League slug.
teamId	string	ESPN team ID.
teamName	string	Team name.
athleteId	string	ESPN athlete ID.
athleteName	string	Athlete name.
position	string	Playing position.
jersey	string	Jersey number.
headshotUrl	string	Headshot link.
sourceUrl	string	ESPN athlete link.

{
  "resultType": "roster",
  "sport": "basketball",
  "league": "nba",
  "teamId": "13",
  "teamName": "Los Angeles Lakers",
  "athleteId": "5113969",
  "athleteName": "Cameron Carr",
  "position": "Guard",
  "headshotUrl": "https://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba/players/full/5113969.png",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/5113969/cameron-carr"
}

Game analysis row

Field	Type	What it does
resultType	string	Is gameAnalysis.
eventId	string	ESPN game ID.
sport	string	Sport slug.
league	string	League slug.
name	string	Game name.
date	string	Game date and time.
status	string	Game status.
venue	object	Venue with name, city, state, and country.
attendance	integer	Reported crowd size.
officials	string[]	Game officials.
competitors	object[]	Teams and box-score facts.
competitors.teamId	string	ESPN team ID.
competitors.name	string	Team name.
competitors.score	string	Team score.
competitors.winner	boolean	Whether the team won.
competitors.statistics	object	Team statistics.
leaders	object[]	Leaders with category, athleteId, name, and value.
playerStatistics	object[]	Player rows with athleteId, athleteName, teamName, and statistics.
scoringPlays	object[]	Plays with period, clock, text, and score.
sourceUrl	string	ESPN game link.

{
  "resultType": "gameAnalysis",
  "eventId": "401810171",
  "sport": "football",
  "league": "nfl",
  "name": "Game",
  "officials": [],
  "competitors": [],
  "leaders": [],
  "playerStatistics": [],
  "scoringPlays": []
}

Odds row

Field	Type	What it does
resultType	string	Is odds.
eventId	string	ESPN game ID.
sport	string	Sport slug.
league	string	League slug.
provider	string	Odds provider.
details	string	Odds text.
spread	number	Point spread.
overUnder	number	Total line.
homeMoneyline	number	Home moneyline.
awayMoneyline	number	Away moneyline.
homeWinProbability	number	Home win chance from 0 to 1.
awayWinProbability	number	Away win chance from 0 to 1.
sourceUrl	string	ESPN game link.

{
  "resultType": "odds",
  "eventId": "401810171",
  "sport": "football",
  "league": "nfl"
}

Athlete row

Field	Type	What it does
resultType	string	Is athlete.
athleteId	string	ESPN athlete ID.
athleteName	string	Athlete name.
sport	string	Sport slug.
league	string	League slug.
teamId	string	ESPN team ID.
teamName	string	Team name.
position	string	Playing position.
jersey	string	Jersey number.
headshotUrl	string	Headshot link.
profile	object	Profile facts.
profile.displayName	string	Display name.
profile.age	integer	Age.
profile.height	string	Height.
profile.weight	string	Weight.
profile.birthPlace	string	Birthplace.
profile.status	string	Athlete status.
seasonStatistics	object[]	Season facts with name, value, and displayValue.
careerStatistics	object[]	Career facts with name, value, and displayValue.
gameLog	object[]	Games with eventId, date, opponent, and statistics.
splits	object[]	Splits with name and statistics.
sourceUrl	string	ESPN athlete link.

{
  "resultType": "athlete",
  "athleteId": "1966",
  "athleteName": "LeBron James",
  "sport": "basketball",
  "league": "nba",
  "profile": {
    "displayName": "LeBron James"
  },
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/1966/lebron-james"
}

News row

Field	Type	What it does
resultType	string	Is news.
sport	string	Sport slug.
league	string	League slug.
headline	string	Story headline.
description	string	Story summary.
publishedAt	string	Publish date and time.
byline	string	Writer or desk.
imageUrl	string	Story image link.
sourceUrl	string	ESPN story link.
keyword	string	First keyword that found the saved story.

{
  "resultType": "news",
  "sport": "baseball",
  "league": "mlb",
  "headline": "Fantasy baseball lineup advice for Saturday: Brewers' Gasser offers upside",
  "description": "Everything you need to know to set your fantasy baseball lineups for Saturday's MLB action.",
  "publishedAt": "2026-07-24T19:40:20Z",
  "byline": "ESPN Fantasy",
  "imageUrl": "https://a.espncdn.com/photo/2026/0724/r1693310_608x342_16-9.jpg"
}

Ranking row

Field	Type	What it does
resultType	string	Is ranking.
rankingType	string	Ranking family.
rank	number	Current rank.
previousRank	number	Prior rank.
name	string	Ranked name.
entityId	string	ESPN entity ID.
record	string	Team record.
points	number	Ranking points.
sourceUrl	string	ESPN link.

{
  "resultType": "ranking",
  "rankingType": "collegeFootball",
  "rank": 1,
  "previousRank": 1,
  "name": "Hoosiers",
  "entityId": "84",
  "record": "16-0",
  "points": 1650,
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/84/indiana-hoosiers"
}

Search row

Field	Type	What it does
resultType	string	Is search.
entityType	string	Athlete, team, or league.
entityId	string	ESPN entity ID.
name	string	Entity name.
sport	string	Sport slug.
league	string	League slug.
description	string	Entity details.
imageUrl	string	Entity image link.
sourceUrl	string	ESPN link.

{
  "resultType": "search",
  "entityType": "team",
  "entityId": "2",
  "name": "Boston Celtics",
  "sport": "basketball",
  "league": "nba",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/bos/boston-celtics"
}

💳 Pricing

This Actor uses pay-per-event pricing. You pay for each ESPN sports row saved to the dataset. A run with no saved sports rows does not create this charge. Cost depends on how many rows the chosen target returns.

🔌 Integrations

Use the dataset with the Apify API, downloads, schedules, webhooks, and supported Apify integrations. This guide shows how to connect an Actor to other tools:

❓ FAQ

Do I need an ESPN account or API key?

No ESPN account or ESPN API key is needed for this public sports research.

Can it place bets or give betting advice?

No. It only returns ESPN odds data when available. It does not place bets, make picks, or promise an outcome.

Why are some fields missing?

ESPN data differs by sport, league, game, and date. The Actor keeps available data and does not make up missing values.

Can I request several unrelated targets in one run?

No. Choose one target for each run. You can add several league slugs of the same sport to supported league targets.

Can I use the output outside an MCP client?

Yes. A regular Actor run saves structured rows to an Apify dataset for viewing and export.

📝 Changelog

0.0: Initial release

🆘 Support

For issues, questions, or feature requests, file a ticket and I'll fix or implement it in less than 24h 🫡

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Made with ❤️ by Maxime Dupré