Tag: News

• The women's sports merch industry is worth an estimated $4 billion annually, per a new report.
• But fans have complained about a lack of retailers, minimal options, and low inventory.
• Small companies are stepping up, but questions remain over how bigger brands will meet fans' demand.

As a two-time All-American, two-time World Cup winner, and National Women's Soccer League champion, Ali Krieger has had many unforgettable experiences throughout her career.

One was the first time she saw a fan wearing her jersey.

It was 2007, and Krieger, then 23, was playing for FFC Frankfurt, now known as Eintracht Frankfurt, in the German women's league, Frauen-Bundesliga, when she saw her name emblazoned across a fan's black-and-white jersey.

"It was a moment I'll never forget," Krieger told Business Insider. "Where you just see at a game and someone says, 'Hey, can you sign my jersey?' And they turn around and it's your name on the back."

For her, the experience was a reminder of the passion fans have for the sport and its athletes.

"When you invest in a jersey, that means you really appreciate that person, their character, and what they bring to the game," Krieger said. "And I think if you're worth spending money on that, then, you know, you must be doing something right."

But not all professional female athletes and their fans get to experience a moment like Krieger's.

Female athletes are fighting to get their names on jerseys

At the beginning of the 2023 Women's World Cup, England Lionesses goalkeeper and eventual Golden Glove winner Mary Earps questioned Nike's decision not to sell goalkeeper kits, The New York Times reported. (Other companies, including Adidas and Puma, also did not sell goalkeepers' jerseys throughout the competition.)

What followed was social media backlash from fans and Earps, a statement from Nike, thousands of signatures on a Change.org petition, and a motion from a then-member of Parliament before the company publicly reversed its decision in August.

When Earps' kit was finally released in October, she said it sold out the same day.

The frustration endured at the club level in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) until April 2024. In a Washington Spirit press release celebrating the league's decision to sell goalkeeper kits, the team's goalkeeper, Aubrey Kingsbury, said, "To have goalkeeper kits available for fans in the women's game as they have been for so long in the men's game is not only a long-awaited move in the right direction, it's just good business."

After the league's announcement, Chicago Red Stars and USWNT starting goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher's jersey sold out in less than three hours, Just Women's Sports reported.

While these examples are a good indicator of demand, they also reveal one of the many problems — low inventory — plaguing women's sports merchandising.

Klarna, an AI-powered shopping and payments company, and Sports Innovation Lab, a sports data company, are spotlighting these issues in a new report, "Rep Her: Unveiling the Unmet Demand for Women's Sports Merchandise."

The report used data, including Klarna payment trends, survey responses, Google Trends, transactional data, and an inventory audit, to identify the status of the women's sports merchandise industry, the inequities present in fans' shopping experiences, and the potential size of the market. It also considered a variety of merchandise across professional women's sports leagues, including the WNBA, NWSL, WTA, LPGA, PWHL, and women's volleyball.

Ultimately, Sports Innovation Lab estimates the women's sports merchandise industry is worth $4 billion — conservatively.

Sales are hindered by 'a broken buying experience'

Klarna and Sports Innovation Lab's report identifies what it calls "a broken buying experience," which needs to be addressed before this market can be fully realized.

For starters, people simply don't know where to find merchandise — 32% of fans reported having an issue finding a seller for women's sports merch compared to just 18% of fans looking for men's, according to Sports Innovation Lab's 2024 Women's Sports Merchandise Survey.

And when they do find a seller, some fans are disappointed with the available options. Over a quarter of respondents reported having difficulty finding women's sports merchandise styles they liked, and nearly four-fifths said they think men's merchandise is better quality and has a wider variety.

But even when there is an item fans are interested in, there's a good chance it will be out of stock — more than half of those who intended to buy an item but didn't blamed a lack of inventory.

Ultimately, 79% of fans surveyed said they would purchase more women's sports merchandise if more options were available.

Major brands have made strides but are falling short

While major brands, such as Nike and Adidas, partner with women's professional teams to create merchandise, the report found there are notable shortcomings.

Nike, for example, partners with both the NBA and WNBA, and has provided signature shoe deals to star WNBA players like A'ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark.

However, Sports Innovation Lab's inventory audit found that when comparing products available for men's and women's teams in five of the same cities, 311 pieces of women's apparel were available on the NBA team shops compared to just 38 pieces of women's apparel available on the WNBA team shops.

In February, for the first time, Nike also provided all 14 NWSL teams with "new, reimagined primary and secondary kits," which fans can purchase, and has made NWSL goalkeeper jerseys from all teams available on its website.

Other brands like Adidas and Puma are more prominent in the international women's sports market, thanks to their investments in major international soccer teams, like Manchester United and Germany and AC Milan and Morocco, respectively. On the company websites, these jerseys are also for sale.

In response to low inventory complaints, major brands have previously said it's hard to predict demand. In 2023, Bloomberg reported that retailers like Nike, Adidas, and Puma decided "how many replica and authentic jerseys to manufacture for each of the women's teams" months before the Women's World Cup began in July.

Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden told Bloomberg "there is no formula" for forecasting demand, while Puma CEO Arne Freundt told the outlet "demand was significantly higher" than they had anticipated.

Still, the numbers suggest it's worth the investment.

Merchandise boosts community and exposure

Looking at ticket sales, the NWSL saw a 101% increase, while the WNBA saw a 92% increase from the 2022 season to the 2023 season, per StubHub's 2023 Year in Live Experiences report.

Meanwhile, the WNBA reported that the 2023 season was "its most-watched regular season in 21 years." And of course, there's the Caitlin Clark effect.

Merchandise is also a key factor in how fans of women's sports build community, perhaps even more so than actually attending games. Some 67% of respondents in Sports Innovation Lab's survey reported purchasing women's sports merchandise without ever going to live games.

What brands are missing out on, then, isn't just a revenue opportunity, it's exposure.

"You're a walking billboard when you have a team's logo on your chest or a league's logo on your chest," Angela Ruggiero, cofounder of Sports Innovation Lab and a four-time Olympic hockey player, told Business Insider.

Ruggiero cited the WNBA's signature orange hoodie, which created buzz when NBA stars wore it during the 2020 season. It generated feelings of "That represents me, that's more than sport. I want to wear it, I want to go to a game now because I see all these people in orange hoodies and famous people in orange hoodies and like, wow, this is cool," she said.

As more leagues emerge, like the Professional Women's Hockey League, Athletes Unlimited, and League One Volleyball, the fact that the conversation has shifted to merchandise is a reminder of how far the women's game has come in the last 20 years.

"At the very beginning," Krieger said, "it wasn't really a concern for all of us because we were just so focused on getting our own gear for training and trying to have the accessibility and the resources, and all the things that we needed in order to perform our best just from a player's perspective and then just getting paid what we deserve."

Now that some women's sports, like soccer and basketball, are reaching mainstream conversation, merchandise is another step toward building profitable, sustainable leagues and fanbases.

"It is just such an untapped opportunity," said Megan Gokey, head of business-to-consumer marketing and brand partnerships at Klarna. "The opportunity is there, but brands, retailers, etc. are actually just not keeping up with the demand, which is insane."

Smaller businesses are stepping up

To respond to the increasing excitement around women's sports, smaller brands are paving the way with merchandise.

Media and commerce company Togethxr, which was founded by athletes Alex Morgan, Chloe Kim, Simone Manuel, and Sue Bird, is partnering with Klarna and Krieger to release a limited-edition merchandise collection with a percentage of proceeds going to Billie Jean King's Women's Sports Foundation.

Esther Kim's Playa Society is also making waves with its self-proclaimed "best women's sports merch in the game," with items geared toward fans of NCAA women's basketball, the WNBA, and the USWNT. And Athletes Unlimited sells softball, volleyball, basketball, and lacrosse merchandise.

Business Insider reached out to Nike, Adidas, and Puma about what each company further plans to do in women's sports merchandise. Adidas said it was "unable to identify a spokesperson" for this subject, while a Puma spokesperson was also unavailable. Nike did not respond.

Beyond retailers, team sponsors and partners have a responsibility, too. CarMax, for example, is the marquee partner of the New Jersey and New York NWSL team Gotham FC, as well as a partner of WNBA team New York Liberty. In 2023, the company helped support a "first-of-its-kind" joint merchandise collaboration between the teams featuring the tagline "Pass Her The Torch."

Building the women's game takes an ecosystem of collaboration involving fans, athletes, leagues, team sponsors, and retailers. Whoever steps up to the plate could reap major rewards.

"We've been in this movement as female athletes, but everyone thinks it's now just the moment," Krieger said. "This has been the moment for a long time and we've been moving it along for decades. And so now people are just finally getting interested in it and knowing and seeing that we are valuable and that the investment is real and that it's worthwhile."

• Jeff Bezos filed a plan to sell 25 million Amazon shares worth nearly $5 billion on Tuesday.
• Bezos' move follows Amazon stock hitting a record of $200.43 and a $2 trillion market cap last week.
• Bezos, the world's second-richest person, still holds over 900 million Amazon shares.

Jeff Bezos is cashing out some of his Amazon shares as the stock hit an all-time high this week.

The Amazon cofounder filed a notice with the SEC to sell 25 million Amazon shares worth close to $5 billion on Tuesday.

Bezos filed the notice after Amazon stock prices hit $200.43. Last week, Amazon's market cap also reached $2 trillion for the first time. The company stock was up 32% year-to-date through Tuesday.

Bezos will still have over 900 million Amazon shares after this share sale, Bloomberg reported, so he's nowhere near handing off his stake in the company. But it's yet another big sale he's made this year.

He sold off about 1.1 million Amazon shares at the end of May, which he said would be to fund his nonprofit preschools. The billionaire sold 431,426 shares on May 29 and 667,260 shares on May 30, which were valued at about $117 million at the time.

Bezos also made a big sale earlier this year in February, selling about 50 million Amazon shares worth roughly $8.5 billion. The February sales were the first the billionaire made since 2021, when he stepped down as CEO of Amazon.

Since leaving the top job at Amazon, Bezos has focused on philanthropy and his rocket company, Blue Origin. He still holds about 8.8% of Amazon and serves as the company's executive chairmen.

Bezos' net worth is estimated at $222 billion, according to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index. That places him as the second wealthiest person in the world, behind Elon Musk.

• Google is testing facial recognition security at its Kirkland campus to prevent unauthorized access.
• Some employees have privacy concerns about facial data collection. Others were fine with the tech.
• Google has faced past security issues, including protests and a 2018 shooting at YouTube's HQ.

Google is testing a new security system that uses facial-recognition technology at its campus in Kirkland, Washington — and early reaction from Google employees in the US is mixed.

The interior security cameras collect facial data and are designed to help prevent unauthorized individuals from entering Google's campus, the company said. Google said its security team uses the data to identify people who may pose a security risk.

After news of the system was first reported by CNBC, Business Insider talked to Google employees at various campuses to find out what they thought about the change. The employees requested anonymity to speak freely but their employment has been verified.

One employee who frequently visits the Kirkland office where the technology is being tested told BI that they found out about the new system from reading about it in the news. They said the cameras are discretely placed on ceilings and don't look different from other security cameras.

But the employee said it's a "little dystopian" and people in the office have privacy concerns about the new system.

"A lot are concerned about facial data being stored by Google," the employee said. "Data is extremely valuable."

While people at the testing site can't opt out of facial screening when entering the building, a Google spokesperson said the data is for immediate use and isn't stored. The facial data was initially compared with ID badge images during early testing, but employees could fill out a form to opt out of their badge photo being stored, the spokesperson said. The badge ID images are no longer being used, they added.

Google said the new technology is solely implemented in its Kirkland office at the moment, but employees BI talked to wondered if the system could eventually be rolled out more widely.

An employee who works in the New York office said that they have no privacy concerns with facial recognition technology at the office. They said Google already has security surveillance all over its campuses so this will just make it easier for the security team to do their job.

However, an employee who works in San Francisco said they think the system could be used as a secondary method for monitoring office attendance. That employee said they've been previously flagged for not meeting the minimum number of in-person days.

A Google spokesperson said there were no known plans in place to use the security system for attendance tracking.

The Kirkland employee said some workers suspect the technology is a response to the sit-in protests against Google's $1.2 billion joint contract with Amazon that provides services to Israel's government.

The protest resulted in nine total arrests in Google's New York and Sunnyvale offices, and about 50 employees being fired or placed on leave, according to a complaint filed with the National Labor Relations Board. Google said in a memo that protesters violated multiple company policies, including its code of conduct and policy on harassment, discrimination, retaliation, standards of conduct, and workplace concerns.

Google's vice president of global security Chris Rackow, said at a staff meeting in May that video camera footage helped identify some of the employees who participated in the protest, CNBC reported.

Google has faced security threats in the past.

In 2018, a woman opened fire and injured three people at YouTube's headquarters in San Bruno, California. The shooter's relatives said that, prior to the shooting, she was "upset" with YouTube because of how her vegan-themed videos performed.

A Google spokesperson told BI that for years, the company has tested and implemented "new systems and protections to help keep our people and spaces as safe as possible." In 2021, Google implemented fences at its headquarters in Mountain View, California, according to local publication Mountain View Voice.

An employee who works outside the Kirkland location said they think the new system would impact people working at larger offices who have experienced "some crazy" situations. They said the new system will "hopefully prevent those events from happening."

"I personally don't have too much of an issue with it and maybe even welcome it assuming it works well," the employee said.

Do you have a story about Google? We want to hear from you. Contact the reporter at aaltchek@businessinsider.com from a non-work device and email.

• I spent 12 hours in a regular seat on an overnight train from Berlin, Germany, to Vienna, Austria.
• For less than $50, I got a reclining seat in a seating carriage cabin with five other people.
• I've traveled on Amtrak sleeper cars but in private rooms. I didn't adjust well to the shared space.

In October 2022, I spent 12 hours traveling in a sleeping carriage on an overnight train from Berlin, Germany, to Vienna, Austria.

I had taken overnight trains in the US before, where I'd booked private cabins.

But this was my first time on a sleeper train in Europe — and my first time in an accommodation shared with other guests.

I thought an overnight train would be the best way to travel through Europe and maximize my time exploring during the day. And at $40, it was the cheapest overnight train ride I've ever booked. But ultimately, the ride was too cramped and bumpy to sleep, and I arrived in Vienna feeling exhausted.

To get from Berlin to Vienna in 12 hours, I took Austrian Federal Railway's OBB Nightjet train.

The rail line operates overnight routes between Austria, Italy, France, and the Netherlands, and it goes as fast as 143 miles per hour, according to the company's website.

Nightjet trains have sleeper cars with bunks of three, four, or six, as well as seating carriages.

I booked the latter; they're cabins with six regular assigned seats that deeply recline. Some routes have private cabins, but mine didn't.

"We recommend the sleeper or couchette car for night travel. There is enough space to stretch out. Seated carriages are recommended for shorter journeys," OBB Nightjet wrote in a statement to Business Insider.

"The quality of travel depends not only on the carriages, but also on the route," the statement also said.

To travel by train, I bought a Eurail pass for $477, which gives access to most European trains for a set number of days.

Some trains only require a Eurail pass to ride, while others, including overnight trains, incur an additional discounted price.

Without the pass, the ticket would have been about $40.

With my seven-day Eurail pass, the train trip cost $14. It was the cheapest overnight accommodation.

My journey began at Germany's Berlin Ostbahnhof train station.

I arrived about an hour and a half before my 6:53 p.m. train so I'd have ample time to find the platform.

Since my ticket didn't include a meal, I grabbed food from the McDonald's inside the station.

McDonalds in Germany has different menu items from locations in the US, like the hash brown burger.

Then I went to platform three after viewing on a screen that it was where my train would be arriving.

The train arrived on time and I found and boarded my assigned car, number 254.

Once inside the seating carriage sleeper cars, I saw narrow, dimly lit corridors that opened to small enclosed cabins with six seats in each.

I made my way to my assigned seat in one of these cabins.

During my leg of the journey, three travelers were already in my room when I boarded.

Two others arrived within the first few hours.

I thought the seat was slightly wider than a typical train coach seat.

It had two cushions and reclined far enough to almost lay flat, but not fully.

Each seat came with a small table that slid out from the armrest.

It was large enough to fit my ticket and phone but not much else.

Right away, I thought the room was cramped and lacked enough legroom for each traveler.

However, I was surprised to find ample luggage space on two rows of storage racks above the seats.

I wanted to charge my phone, but I only saw two outlets next to the window in my carriage. I had to communicate with other passengers to take turns using them.

An OBB Nightjet rep told BI that new cars that began running in 2023 have more outlets.

Even though my ticket didn't come with a meal, I checked out the menu to see what was available for purchase.

I thought it had a wide selection with snacks, pasta, and wraps.

Since I had already eaten, I skipped the food and used one of the two shared bathrooms in the car to brush my teeth. The bathroom looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a while.

"Toilets are always cleaned when the trip starts," OBB Nightjet said in a statement to BI. "In addition, our staff is doing regular checks during the night."

Back in my room, someone had turned the lights off. I tried to fall asleep but found it impossible with the constant bumps on the ride and so many people around me.

I had hardly any personal space.

I reclined my seat all the way, but I thought the gap between the seat back and the bottom of the seat made it tough to get comfortable. I didn't see any pillows or sheets provided for guests, either.

The rep for OBB Nightjet told BI that pillows and sheets are only provided for guests in the bunk-style sleeping cars because the seating carriage is not recommended for long-haul trips.

Although seats were assigned, I quickly caught on that other passengers were moving around the car to find less crowded rooms. I followed suit.

I ended up switching to a different cabin with only two other people.

But I knew that someone boarding at one of the many overnight stops could kick me out at any time if the seat I switched to was assigned to someone else.

Even in a less-crowded cabin, I couldn't get comfortable on such a bumpy journey or with the knowledge that someone might wake me up to move.

I ended up staying awake until the morning.

My train arrived in Vienna at 7 a.m., and I was so exhausted that I ran around town looking for any hotel that would take me in so early in the morning.

Splurging on a hotel room upon arrival for a few hours of sleep made me feel like the cheapest ticket on an overnight train ultimately wasn't worth it.

Next time, I'll book a flight or take a train with private cabins.

• Here are the famous people who died in 2024.
• O.J. Simpson, Glynis Johns, Carl Weathers, Chita Rivera, Robert Towne, Donald Sutherland, and Louis Gossett Jr. passed away.
• So did broadcaster Charles Osgood, fashion designer Roberto Cavalli, producer Roger Corman, NBA legend Jerry West, and MLB Hall of Famer Willie Mays.

Below, we look back at those we lost in 2024.

Seth Binzer (aka Shifty Shellshock)

With his tattoos, frosted tips, and high energy, Crazy Town lead singer Shifty Shellshock was the epitome of the late 1990s-early 2000s rap-rock front man.

With that also came a hit song: 1999's "Butterfly," which hit No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and was a staple on the radio and MTV's "Total Request Live."

By 2003, the band had disbanded, and despite an attempt to reunite a few years later, Crazy Town was relegated to one-hit-wonder status.

Shifty Shellshock, whose real name is Seth Binzer, appeared on the first season of VH1's "Celebrity Rehab" in 2007 and the spin-off "Celebrity Rehab Presents Sober House" a few years later.

Binzer died at his home in Los Angeles on June 24 from an accidental drug overdose, according to his manager.

Eric Carmen, 74

Carmen was a rock ballad king whose songs still get constant play to this day.

"All by Myself" was a hit in the mid-1970s. It became an even bigger hit when Celine Dion did her own rendition in 1996.

The Grammy-nominated "Almost Paradise" from the soundtrack to the hit 1984 movie "Footloose" became a staple at school dances and weddings.

Carmen repeated the feat when his song "Hungry Eyes" showed up on the soundtrack for the 1987 classic "Dirty Dancing."

Carmen's death was announced on his website on March 12, stating he "passed away in his sleep, over the weekend." No cause was given.

Roberto Cavalli, 83

The Italian fashion designer was known for his flamboyant designs and game-changing innovations.

Cavalli's use of leopard prints beginning in the 1970s became one of his trademarks. His revolutionary method of printing leather and patchwork denim was beloved by everyone from Madonna to Gwyneth Paltrow.

Cavalli died on April 12. No cause of death was given.

Bill Cobbs, 90

From playing the concerned manager opposite Whitney Houston in "The Bodyguard" to the kind-hearted coach in "Air Bud," Bill Cobbs' ability to play the voice of reason in his roles made him a memorable character actor for decades.

Cobbs' other titles include "The Color of Money," "New Jack City," "The Hudsucker Proxy," "Demolition Man," and "Night at the Museum."

He died at his home in California on June 25 following a recent bout of pneumonia.

Dabney Coleman, 92

Dabney Coleman became a captivating scene stealer in the 1980s thanks to his gruff demeanor and booming voice. Whether he was playing the mean boss opposite Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin in 1980's "9 to 5," or the nasty TV producer in "Tootsie," or chasing Matthew Broderick in "WarGames," Coleman had a talent for playing the heel.

The Emmy winner most recently starred in the HBO hit series Boardwalk Empire from 2011 to 2014 and a 2019 episode of Yellowstone.

Coleman died on May 16. No cause was given.

Eleanor Coppola, 87

As the wife of Francis Ford Coppola, Eleanor had to navigate the stress and complexities of living with one of the greatest directors of all time.

She channeled that by filming her husband while he made his landmark 1979 Vietnam movie "Apocalypse Now."

Her documentary, "Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse," has gone down as one of the most honest accounts of the making of a movie.

Eleanor died on April 12. No cause of death was given.

Roger Corman, 98

To say Roger Corman was the king of B-movies is too simple of a characterization.

For decades, Corman made ultra-low-budget genre movies that featured everything from cheesy monsters to crazed bikers. Corman-produced titles almost always made a profit, and many of them became proving grounds for the directors and actors who would go on to change Hollywood.

After directing the 1967 acid-trip fantasia "The Trip" starring Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda and written by Jack Nicholson, the trio went on to make "Easy Rider," which would usher in the New Hollywood era of the 1970s.

Corman also produced titles directed by then-unknowns like Francis Ford Coppola, James Cameron, and Martin Scorsese before they went on to mainstream studio success.

Corman died on May 9 at his home in Santa Monica, Calif., surrounded by family members.

Joe Flaherty, 82

As one of the original cast members of the Canadian sketch comedy show "SCTV" in the late 1970s, Joe Flaherty — alongside the likes of John Candy, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Dave Thomas, Andrea Martin, Martin Short, and Rick Moranis — created a brand of comedy that was edgier and more outlandish than their competition "Saturday Night Live."

In later decades, Flaherty made scene-stealing appearances as the Western Union worker who gives Marty McFly the 70-year-old letter from Doc Brown in "Back to the Future Part II" and the heckler Donald in "Happy Gilmore."

He was also a regular on TV through the decades, with roles in "Married… with Children," "Freaks and Geeks," and "The King of Queens."

Flaherty died on April 1 following a brief illness.

Louis Gossett Jr.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Louis Gossett Jr. made his stage debut at 17. After building his craft onstage through the 1960s, Gossett Jr. made the jump to screen and in 1977 was cast in the acclaimed miniseries "Roots" opposite the likes of Ben Vereen, LeVar Burton, and John Amos. He went on to win an Emmy for his performance as Fiddler.

He was nominated for seven more Emmys after that, most recently in 2020 for playing William Reeves in the HBO limited series "Watchmen."

He made history in 1983 when he won an Oscar for best supporting actor for his portrayal of the strict drill instructor Emil Foley in "An Officer and a Gentleman." It would mark the first time a Black actor won the prize in that category.

Gossett Jr. went on to star in hit movies and TV shows like "The Principal," "Toy Soldiers," "Iron Eagle," and "Boardwalk Empire."

Gossett Jr. died on March 29. No cause was given.

Norman Jewison, 97

The legendary director was best known for his eclectic filmography that included the drama "In the Heat of the Night," the musical "Fiddler of the Roof," and the beloved comedy "Moonstruck," all of which garnered him best director nominations at the Oscars.

The Canadian filmmaker's specialty was getting top-notch performances out of A-list actors like Steve McQueen ("The Thomas Crown Affair") and Denzel Washington ("The Hurricane").

It often led to Oscar glory for his movies and their stars. Twelve actors received nominations over his 40-year career, with five of his movies earning best picture noms.

Jewison died on January 20. No cause of death was given.

Glynis Johns, 100

The English actor starred in over 60 films and 30 plays, and is known best for playing Mrs. Banks in the beloved 1964 Disney movie "Mary Poppins."

Legend has it that Johns originally thought she landed the role of Poppins. To let her down easy, Walt Disney made sure that she got to sing a big musical number in the movie. It led to the famous "Sister Suffragette" sequence.

In 1973, Johns' breathy voice caught the attention of legendary composer Stephen Sondheim, who cast her in the original Broadway production of "A Little Night Music." Sondheim wrote "Send in the Clowns," the song she performs, with her in mind. Johns would earn a Tony Award for her performance.

She was also nominated for an Oscar for her work in "The Sundowners" (1960).

Johns died on January 4. No cause of death was given.

Toby Keith, 62

Keith became prominent in the 1990s thanks to his hit single "Should've Been a Cowboy."

It would make him one of the decade's top draws in country music.

Keith released 19 studio albums, two Christmas albums, and dozens of songs that topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts in his career.

Keith died on February 5 following a bout with stomach cancer.

Richard Lewis, 76

In an era in the 1970s where stand-up comedy could be a path to superstardom, Richard Lewis was one of the biggest acts.

Often dressed in black and holding his hand up to his temple, his self-deprecating and neurotic style made him a constant visitor to Johnny Carson's "The Tonight Show."

By the 1980s, he hit it big on TV, starring opposite Jamie Lee Curtis on the series "Anything but Love," which ran for four seasons.

His movie credits include the Mel Brooks comedy "Robin Hood: Men in Tights," "Leaving Las Vegas," and John Candy's final role before his death, 1994's "Wagons East." Lewis has said Candy's death was one of the things that finally got him sober.

Lewis introduced himself to a new generation when Larry David's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" premiered on HBO in 2000. For 11 seasons, Lewis played a fictional version of himself as one of David's friends. Though he didn't return as a series regular for the series' final season, season 12, he popped up in a cameo in an episode that aired on February 18.

Back in April, Lewis revealed via a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and would be retiring from stand-up comedy after undergoing four surgeries.

Lewis died on February 27 of a heart attack in his Los Angeles home.

Willie Mays, 93

Regarded as one of the greatest baseball players who ever lived, Willie Mays was astounding to watch.

He could hit and catch, had speed, and pulled off amazing feats that are still remarkable to this day.

One of his most memorable plays happened in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series, which is simply known as "The Catch."

Mays' New York Giants were facing the Cleveland Indians at the Polo Grounds in New York. With the score tied 2-2 in the eighth inning and runners on base, Indians player Vic Wertz hit a towering 420-foot blast to dead center that in today's baseball would be deep in the seats for a homerun. But due to the Polo Grounds' massive outfield, it was in play, and Mays used practically all of it to track down the ball on the run with an incredible over-the-shoulder catch and then threw it into the infield quickly so no runner could score. The Giants went on to win the game in extra innings 5-2, and would go on to win the World Series. Many still regard Mays' catch as one of the greatest moments in baseball history.

Mays would go on to play 21 seasons with the Giants before being traded to the New York Mets for the 1972-73 season, which would be his last. He finished his career with 3,293 hits and 660 home runs.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

Mays died on June 18, no cause was given.

Cindy Morgan, 69

A 1980s icon, Morgan found instant stardom in her film debut playing the stunning Lacey opposite Chevy Chase in the classic 1980 comedy "Caddyshack."

Two years later, she found herself in another iconic work, Disney's "Tron." As Dr. Lora Baines in the real world and Yori, who helps Jeff Bridges after he's sucked into the game world, Morgan once again showed she can shine opposite Hollywood's biggest leading men.

Though Morgan worked steadily the rest of her career, including a multi-episode run on the soap opera "Falcon Crest," she'll be forever known for her performances in two of the biggest movies of the '80s.

Morgan's death was first reported on January 6, though she died on December 30, 2023. No cause of death was given.

Martin Mull, 80

Mull could expertly play self-deprecating or the know-it-all jerk in everything from hit TV shows and movies to commercials. He was known for his roles in movies like "Clue" and "Mr. Mom," and in TV shows like "Rosanne," as boss Leon Carp, and "Arrested Development," as private detective Gene Parmesan. He was also the voice of Red Roof Inn commercials for many years.

Mull died on June 27. No cause was given.

Charles Osgood, 91

The face of "CBS Sunday Morning" for over two decades, Osgood became a fixture in Americans' homes at the end of every weekend thanks to his wit, calming demeanor, and that bow tie.

Osgood had been at CBS since the early 1970s, first as a reporter, then the anchor of the "CBS Sunday Night News" from 1981 to 1987. From 1987 to 1992, he was often on "CBS This Morning."

In 1994, he became the face of "Sunday Morning," replacing Charles Kuralt. He would go on to earn two Daytime Emmys and a Peabody for his work on the show. He ended his run 2016, passing the reins to Jane Pauley.

Osgood died on January 23 after suffering from dementia.

Chance Perdomo, 27

Perdomo was a rising star in Hollywood, having starred in Netflix's reboot "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" and "The Boys" spinoff "Gen V."

The British-American actor died on March 30 as a result of a motorcycle accident, his publicist confirmed.

Tamayo Perry, 49

Perry, a professional surfer, appeared on screen in 2002's "Blue Crush" and 2011's "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides."

Perry died on June 23 after being attacked by a shark while surfing off the island of Oahu in Hawaii, according to the Associated Press. He was brought to shore by paramedics and pronounced dead at the scene.

Chita Rivera, 91

Rivera was a Broadway legend who originated some of the stage's most memorable characters, including Anita in "West Side Story," Velma Kelly in "Chicago," and Rose in "Bye Bye Birdie." She would go on to be nominated for 10 Tony Awards and win twice.

With Broadway credits spanning seven decades, Rivera's singing and dancing shaped generations of performers.

Rivera died on January 30 following a brief illness.

Marian Robinson, 86

Former First Lady Michelle Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, was often described as the matriarch of the White House during the Obama administration, but the Chicago-born daughter of seven never felt quite at home on Pennsylvania Avenue, according to her family.

"The trappings and glamour of the White House were never a great fit for Marian Robinson," a statement from former President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and other family members said. "'Just show me how to work the washing machine and I'm good,' she'd say."

Robinson's death was announced on May 31.

A cause and place of death was not revealed.

O.J. Simpson, 76

O.J. Simpson had a life of high highs and low lows.

Finding fame initially on the football field, he became one of the greatest running backs ever to play in the NFL in the 1970s. He had an MVP season in 1973 when he set a single-season rushing record and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1985 after his retirement.

He was set to live out his days as a hero and grow even more famous thanks to endorsements, movie roles, and broadcasting.

But all of that changed in June of 1994 after his ex-wife Nicole and her friend Ron Goldman were found stabbed to death outside her condo. Days later, Simpson, who was a person of interest in the murders, led Los Angeles police on a slow-speed chase in his Ford Bronco, finally giving up when he got back to his home.

Simpson's televised trial for the deaths of Nicole and Goldman a year later became one of the biggest spectacles in modern-day American history.

Simpson was acquitted of the murders, was found guilty in civil court in 1997.

The story of Simpson's incredible rise and fall still fascinates people to this day. The 2016 ESPN docuseries "O.J.: Made in America" won an Oscar and Emmy, and Ryan Murphy's 2016 scripted series "The People vs. O.J.: American Crime Story" won eight Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes.

Simpson died on April 10. He had been diagnosed with cancer, his family said.

David Soul, 80

Soul found instant fame in the mid-1970s playing Detective Kenneth "Hutch" Hutchinson, one half of the hip crime solvers in "Starsky & Hutch."

Before hitting it big on the show, Soul was a folk singer through the 1960s, opening for the likes of Frank Zappa and The Byrds. At one time he even sang while his face was covered with a mask, calling himself "The Covered Man."

After "Starsky & Hutch," Soul went back to music and scored the No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Don't Give Up on Us."

Soul also made appearances on shows like "Star Trek," "Gunsmoke," the Clint Eastwood movie "Magnum Force," and a miniseries adaptation of the Stephen King novel, "Salem's Lot."

Soul died on January 4. No cause of death was given.

Morgan Spurlock, 53

In 2004, an unknown documentary filmmaker arrived in Park City, Utah, for the Sundance Film Festival. Overnight, his life was changed — because he made a movie about eating McDonald's.

If there's one thing Morgan Spurlock knew how to do, it was get people's attention. With a big personality and an unusual idea, Spurlock changed the way we look at fast food when he made "Super Size Me," a documentary in which he ate nothing but McDonald's for a full month, to stomach-churning effect.

The documentary earned an Oscar nomination and became a box-office sensation. Weeks after its release in theaters, McDonald's discontinued its supersize portions.

Spurlock used that success to become one of the stars in the documentary medium, which was growing in popularity in the early 2000s. He would go on to direct and produce dozens of documentaries for the big screen and TV, focused on everything from Osama bin Laden to One Direction.

His legacy would be tarnished in late 2017, at the height of the #MeToo movement, when Spurlock confessed to multiple acts of sexual misconduct in his past.

Spurlock died on May 23 due to complications related to cancer.

Donald Sutherland, 88

Donald Sutherland had the incredible talent to be the life of the party in one performance or a wallflower in the next. Need a dark and disturbing presence for a role? He's your guy. Or he could do a wise-cracking know-it-all character.

What we're trying to say is whatever the role, Sutherland could pull it off. And he did it so well that he delivered some of the most memorable roles ever put on screen over the last six decades.

Playing a Nazi-killing grunt in "The Dirty Dozen" (1967), creating one of the greatest screen duos ever opposite Elliott Gould in "M*A*S*H" (1970), acting as a laid-back professor in "Animal House" (1978), delivering one of the best surprise endings ever in a remake of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1978) — he could do it all. He was both the man who knew the truth behind the Kennedy assassination in "JFK" (1991) and the villain in the "Hunger Games" franchise (2013-2015).

He was a fixture in our lives over generations.

Sutherland died on June 20 in Miami following a "long illness."

Robert Towne, 89

Towne is regarded as one of the greatest screenwriters who ever lived thanks to his contributions during the New Hollywood era of the 1970s.

Known best for penning the acclaimed script for Roman Polanski's 1974 classic noir "Chinatown," which earned Towne his only Oscar win, he was also Oscar-nominated for "The Last Detail" (1973), "Shampoo" (1975), and "Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes" (1984). For the latter, Towne famously removed his name from the credits and replaced it with the nom de plume P.H. Vazak, which was later revealed to be the name of his sheepdog.

Towne's other credits include Tom Cruise movies like "Days of Thunder" (1990), "The Firm" (1993), and the first two "Mission: Impossible" movies from 1996 and 2000.

He also was a prolific script doctor, an uncredited but paid position in which the screenwriter helps punch up a movie. Classics like "Bonnie and Clyde," "The Godfather," and "Marathon Man" all received tweaks from Towne.

Towne died on July 1. No cause of death was given.

Johnny Wactor, 37

Wactor was best known for his role as Brando Corbin on the soap "General Hospital." He appeared in more than 160 episodes during his two seasons on the series before leaving in 2022.

His résumé included guest roles on "Westworld," "The OA," "Station 19," "Siberia," "Agent X," "Vantastic," "Animal Kingdom," "Hollywood Girl," "Training Day," "Criminal Minds," "Struggling Servers," "Age Appropriate," "NCIS," "The Passenger" and "Barbee Rehab."

He also starred in the 2016 Mario Van Peebles-directed movie "USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage" alongside Nicolas Cage, Tom Sizemore, and Thomas Jane.

His family confirmed that Wactor was shot and killed on May 25 in Los Angeles during a robbery.

M. Emmet Walsh, 88

You may not know the name, but you definitely know this face.

Character actor M. Emmet Walsh showed up in more than 150 movies over his career, many of which have gone on to become classics: "Blade Runner," "Blood Simple," "Slap Shot," "Fletch," "The Jerk," "Back to School," "My Best Friend's Wedding," and "Knives Out."

He also has appeared in many popular TV shows over the decades, including "Home Improvement," "The X-Files," and "Frasier."

Walsh died on March 19. No cause was given.

Carl Weathers, 76

Thanks to his bravado and astounding physique, Weathers found fame when he was cast as heavyweight champion Apollo Creed in 1976's "Rocky."

The following years and decades brought more memorable roles, whether he was sizing up biceps with Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1987's "Predator," or trying to teach Adam Sandler how to play golf in 1996's "Happy Gilmore."

Most recently, he played Greef Karga in the "Star Wars" series "The Mandalorian." Along with appearing in front of the camera, he also showcased his talents behind it, directing multiple episodes.

Jerry West, 86

You can give several examples to show just how great a basketball player Jerry West was. He won an NBA title, an Olympic gold medal, and is the only player on the losing team of an NBA Finals to be named MVP.

But there's one that overshadows all of these accomplishments: he was the logo.

That's right. The actual NBA logo is a silhouette of Jerry West dribbling a basketball.

Known for his tenacious play and ability to score in the clutch, West was one of the stars in the NBA before its enormous popularity in the 1970s, when players like Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and later, Michael Jordan, became household names.

After his retirement, West became an executive of the Los Angeles Lakers and was instrumental in the "Showtime" Lakers' championship dynasty through the 1980s. He made the key signings to get Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant to the Lakers, creating another dynasty in the early 2000s.

West died on June 12. No cause was given.

• Big Tech is finally acknowledging the risks its consumers have been complaining about for months.
• SEC filings reveal that Meta, Microsoft, and more are concerned about the issues AI might present.
• Misinformation and harmful content are some of the "risk factors" associated with generative AI.

It seems like artificial intelligence is everywhere these days, but some of the biggest players in tech are finally acknowledging the risks it poses.

AI has been the biggest topic of discussion in the tech industry since OpenAI launched ChatGPT to the public in November 2022. In the years since then, companies like Google, Meta, Microsoft, and others have invested heavily in their AI efforts.

Major tech companies have been loud about their plans to enlist in the AI arms race, but more recently, they've been quietly addressing the ways it could actually be bad for business.

In its 2023 annual report, Google parent company Alphabet said that its AI products and services "raise ethical, technological, legal, regulatory, and other challenges, which may negatively affect our brands and demand."

Similarly, Meta, Microsoft, and Oracle have also included their concerns about AI pages in SEC filings, usually under the "risk factors" section, Bloomberg reported.

Microsoft said its generative AI features "may be susceptible to unanticipated security threats from sophisticated adversaries."

"There are significant risks involved in developing and deploying AI and there can be no assurance that the usage of AI will enhance our products or services or be beneficial to our business, including our efficiency or profitability," Meta's 2023 annual report read.

The company went on to list factors including misinformation (specifically during elections), harmful content, intellectual property infringement, and data privacy as ways generative AI could be bad news for users and leave the company vulnerable to litigation.

Meanwhile, the public has been vocal about concerns with AI making some jobs obsolete, large language models training on personal data, and the spread of misinformation.

And on June 4, a group of current and former OpenAI employees signed a letter to tech companies demanding they do more to mitigate the risks of AI and protect employees who raise questions about its safety.

These range from "the further entrenchment of existing inequalities, to manipulation and misinformation, to the loss of control of autonomous AI systems potentially resulting in human extinction," the letter read.

Meta, Google, and Microsoft didn't immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

• With Biden's 2024 viability in doubt, some left-leaning X users are getting behind Kamala Harris.
• There's been a resurgence in Harris-centric memes, and for many, it's clearly a bit ironic.
• But it also shows that while some Democrats don't love the VP, they're desperate to dump Biden.

If you happen to be a politically engaged X user — which, to be clear, most Americans are not — you probably noticed something of a vibe shift on Tuesday.

Perhaps it was the coconut and palm tree emojis appearing in usernames. Maybe you saw someone reference their readiness to "exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you." Or it could have the declaration from some progressives, and even leftists, that they're ready to join the "KHive," the movement of online supporters wave of progressive users who ferociously defend Vice President Kamala Harris.

Joe Biden's political standing remains unclear in the wake of his disastrous debate performance, and some Democratic politicians are calling on the president to step aside. Polling has also shown that large portions of the Democratic base want someone to replace Biden.

Harris isn't necessarily a favorite for the party's more online and progressive users. Theoretically, there are lots of compelling options for Democrats if Biden were to step aside, and Harris has long been dogged by perceptions that would perform poorly herself if she were to lead the ticket.

But she may be the safest Biden alternative.

Under campaign finance law, only Harris can seamlessly inherit the hundreds of millions of dollars and nationwide campaign apparatus that Biden's team has spent months building.

Going with Harris also has the added benefit of avoiding a brokered Democratic convention, which could bring infighting and chaos to the party just months before the November election.

A CNN poll released on Tuesday also found that Harris performed better than Biden in a hypothetical match-up with Trump. Rep. Jim Clyburn, the South Carolina Democrat who helped deliver Biden the nomination in 2020, said that he would back Harris if Biden were to step aside.

Hence, an outpouring of memes not unlike the pro-Biden "Dark Brandon" memes that began surfacing in the summer of 2022, when the president was enjoying major legislative successes.

For some newly minted Harris supporters, the feeling is genuine. They've decided Biden can't win, and they're ready to enthusiastically support the vice president.

Among them is Chi Ossé, a New York City Councilor who's called on Biden to drop out and posted a sizzle reel of Harris with the caption "coconut tree summer" on Wednesday.

Others are clearly engaging in some level of irony, deciding that the best way to deal with what increasingly appears to be a desperate situation is to post through it.

In fact, many of the X users who are tweeting their support for Harris aren't exactly the vice president's biggest fans. They're certainly not actual KHive die-hards, many of whom remain committed to Biden even in the wake of the debate.

Many of the memes floating around X include the phrase "coconut tree" a reference to an often-mocked speech that Harris delivered at a White House event in May 2023.

"My mother used to — she would give us a hard time sometimes, and she would say to us, 'I don't know what's wrong with you young people. You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?'" said Harris. "You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you."

Some have even declared themselves to be "coconut-pilled."

• McKinsey & Company published its annual book recommendations list this week.
• It spans more than 90 titles across genres like personal development, workplace culture, and tech.
• Here's a look at the 9 business and economics books on the management consulting firm's list.

If you're fleshing out your summer reading list now, save some room for a few more titles.

Management consulting firm McKinsey & Company this week published its annual list of book recommendations.

The list includes more than 90 books across 10 genres: biography and memoir; business and economics; fiction; health; history; personal development; politics; sustainability; technology; and workplace culture.

The recommendations came from global business figures, including CEOs, founders, editors-in-chief, and some McKinsey leaders.

Here are the 9 books McKinsey recommended in the business and economics genre:

• "Design Social Change: Take Action, Work Toward Equity, and Challenge the Status Quo" by Lesley-Ann Noel
• "The Formula: How Rogues, Geniuses, and Speed Freaks Reengineered F1 into the World's Fastest-Growing Sport" by Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg
• "How Legendary Leaders Speak: 451 Proven Communication Strategies of the World's Top Leaders" by Peter D. Andrei
• "Inner Drive: From Underdog to Global Company" by Arsen Tomsky
• "The Journey of Leadership: How CEOs Learn to Lead from the Inside Out" by Dana Maor, Hans-Werner Kaas, Kurt Strovink, and Ramesh Srinivasan
• "Possible: How We Survive (and Thrive) in an Age of Conflict" by William Ury
• "Trillion Dollar Coach: The Leadership Playbook of Silicon Valley's Bill Campbell" by Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg, and Alan Eagle
• "What I Learned About Investing from Darwin" by Pulak Prasad
• "What Went Wrong with Capitalism" by Ruchir Sharma

You can find the full list of recommendations, including books in every other genre, here.

• Biden told a key ally that he might not be able to save his reelection bid, the NYT and CNN report.
• The White House flatly denies the claims, with a spokesperson calling them "absolutely false."
• Democrats' support for Biden is waning, with some looking to Kamala Harris as a potential nominee.

President Joe Biden's cognitive abilities may be up for debate right now, but the president knows one thing: He may not be able to save his reelection bid if he does not change public perception soon. According to one of the president's crucial allies, he told them as much in a recent conversation, per the New York Times and CNN.

The ally emphasized that Biden is still fully committed to his reelection bid, but is keenly aware of how important his upcoming public appearances will be. He is sitting for his first post-debate interview on Friday with ABC News and visiting key swing states over the weekend.

"He knows if he has two more events like that, we're in a different place," the ally, referring to the debate, told The Times.

The White House flatly denies the reports.

"This claim is absolutely false and if we had been given more than 7 minutes we could have communicated this before it was publicized," Andrew Bates, a White House spokesperson, said on X.

Biden has faced mounting pressure to step aside in recent days, namely when the first Democratic member of congress, Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas, publicly asked him to do so on Tuesday.

While no other Democrat has gone as far, the dam around the President appears to be cracking, with new attention directed toward Vice President Kamala Harris as a potential nominee. And it's not just public political names looking at Harris, as gamblers in the betting markets are putting their money behind her as the likely nominee. As of late Wednesday morning, placing a bet on Harris' name cost 49 cents compared to Biden's 31 cents on Polymarket.

Biden plans to meet with key Democratic governors on Wednesday to try and instill confidence among elected officials.

In an attempt to tamp down donor anxieties after Thursday's debate, the Biden camp is touting record campaign fundraising numbers. The president has acknowledged his own poor performance, blaming it in part on a hectic travel schedule and residual jet lag.

For all of the explanations, though, new polls indicate even rockier seas ahead for the president: Post-debate numbers show Trump inching ahead, with a 49% to 43% lead over the president.

• Potato salad is a popular Fourth of July cookout food, and there are simple ways to make it better.
• Adding things like avocado, pickles, and even blue cheese will take potato salad to the next level.
• You can also switch up the potatoes themselves by roasting them or using sweet potatoes.

There's nothing quite like a heaping spoonful of homemade potato salad on the Fourth of July.

With grocery costs eating up more of our budgets than they have in decades, many families might be curious about how to elevate popular cookout foods with ingredients they already have in their kitchens.

And, while there are many recipes you can follow to make a crowd-pleasing potato salad, there are also a number of unique ingredients you can add to any standard potato salad to take it over the top — no trip to the grocery store required. 

Here are 16 easy ways to make your potato salad even better using things you already have in your kitchen.

Roast or grill your potatoes instead of boiling them.

One easy way to elevate your potato salad is to roast the potatoes instead of boiling them. This will make your potatoes crispy and add an interesting texture to the dish.

Plus, roasting your potatoes with seasonings like garlic salt, cayenne pepper, or onion powder locks in extra flavor.

Or, follow the advice of some celebrity chefs and grill your potatoes first: Guy Fieri and Aarón Sánchez swear by this method.

You can also use sweet potatoes for a different taste.

You can use sweet potatoes instead of red or golden potatoes, making your potato salad taste slightly sweeter. You can also go a spicier or more savory route, depending on your seasonings.

Celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian grills sweet potatoes and then adds tangy elements such as capers for his recipe.

A splash of vinegar adds much-needed tang to potato salad.

Vinegar is a common addition to potato salads and you can use any kind, depending on the flavor profile of the dish: apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, red wine vinegar, or even some balsamic vinegar.

For example, Martha Stewart uses white wine vinegar in her six-ingredient recipe, while Alton Brown and Bobby Flay prefer apple cider vinegar.

Avocado adds extra creaminess to potato salad.

Avocado will add extra creaminess and flavor to your potato salad. Plus, if you're not a fan of mayonnaise, it can even serve as a substitute, like in this recipe from Damn Delicious.

Sour cream can also elevate a traditional mayonnaise-based salad.

When making potato salad, a base of two-parts mayonnaise, one-part sour cream ensures the dish will have the right balance of sour tang and creaminess.

Thousand Island dressing adds a creamy, tangy flavor.

Instead of sour cream, you can also add a dollop or two of Thousand Island dressing to add zesty flavor to your potato salad, like in this recipe from America's Test Kitchen.

Blue cheese is another great addition.

Blue cheese crumbles can also elevate the flavor profile of your potato salad while adding extra creaminess, like in this recipe for bacon and blue cheese potato salad.

Bacon goes well in everything, especially potato salad.

To add a salty, slightly fatty taste to potato salad, fry up some bacon and chop it up along with any other vegetables you want to add.

Chef Robert Irvine adds bacon — and eggs — to his recipe.

Pickles make a crunchy, sour addition.

Finely chopped-up pickles, like in this recipe from Taste of Home, add a sour, crunchy taste to classic potato salads, and mix well with dill and other vegetables.

Green and red onion are classic additions, but they are important to making potato salad the best it can be.

Red and green onion add much-needed flavor and crunch to potato salad — they're typical ingredients for a reason.

Some celebrity chefs add garlic to their potato salads.

"Iron Chef" host Alton Brown adds garlic to his potato salad recipe, among other interesting ingredients like sliced cornichons.

Dill is another more classic addition that's a must-have in many potato salad recipes.

Dill adds a herbaceous, fragrant, and fresh flavor to potato salad, and mixes well with other ingredients.

Potato chips add a crunchy texture.

If you're looking to up your potato-salad game, consider sprinkling potato chips or potato chip crumbs onto your potatoes. This will add some delicious crunch and, depending on the flavor of the chip you choose, extra flavor — for example, this Bon Appétit recipe calls for sour cream-and-onion chips.

Alternatively, barbecue or salt-and-vinegar chips can enhance the dish and add a surprising texture.

Sriracha adds extra spice to potato salad.

Another Sriracha shortage could be coming this summer, as The Washington Post reported, but if you can get your hands on a bottle, a drizzle adds a kick to potato salad and mixes well with mayonnaise.

Chipotle in adobo also brings up the heat.

Chipotle in adobo sauce is a great addition for a spicy potato salad: Blend one or two peppers and a spoonful of sauce, to taste, with your mayonnaise, sour cream, and vinegar in a food processor.

Whole-grain mustard is another great addition.

Mustard is a common addition to potato salad, but cooks often use Dijon or even honey mustard. However, the grainy texture of whole-grain mustard greatly enhances the overall taste, and each seed is bursting with flavor.

Ina Garten's recipe for an old-fashioned potato salad uses both Dijon and whole-grain mustard.