Jonathan Tannenwald

#USWNT injury updates from Emma Hayes to start today's press conference:

"Trinity Rodman is fine and training today."

Defender Lilly Reale has a foot injury and has left training camp to return to Gotham FC.

Yeah, I think so, and I think it's starting. Of course my family's over there and I talk a lot with people and friends that are watching — even if not live because it's kind of late, but they're watching on TV, they're watching all the highlights. I think now Unrivaled is really taking off, not just Unrivaled but women's sport in general. People are watching the WNBA way more than before. So I think bringing more international players, not just French but all nations, I think that's also something that can help women's basketball grow. So yeah, for sure I think I have a lot of people rooting for me back in France.

Last night at Unrivaled, I asked Dominique Malonga whether people in France are paying attention to the spectacle that women's sport in the U.S. has become.

Unfortunately, many of my French journalist friends who I want to see this aren't on this platform yet. But hopefully they will be some day.

How New York's hosting of Unrivaled women's basketball compared to Philadelphia's A sellout crowd brought the league another great atmosphere, and another big pile of cash. But there was one way it couldn't top Philadelphia's spectacle.

How did New York's hosting of @unrivaledwbb.bsky.social compare to Philadelphia's?

A few words from me, and a lot more from Breanna Stewart, Paige Bueckers, Natasha Cloud, Kelsey Plum, and the league's CEO:

www.inquirer.com/wnba/unrival... via @phillysport.bsky.social

New soccer media company confident it can cultivate a captive U.S. audience Kickback Soccer Media believes it has a solution to the perplexing numbers when it comes to soccer fans engaging with the sport via television and social media.

Sat down with @kbaxter11.bsky.social for an interview on @kickbacksoccer.bsky.social's vision:

Telemundo says it will put 92 of this summer’s World Cup games on its main over-the-air network, 12 (simultaneous kickoffs in the group stage finales) on Universo, and all 104 on Peacock, with production “live on-site at all 104 games.”

Duke Union Risk Memo Warned of Kara Lawson, Lacrosse Players A confidential report prepared for Duke University in March 2022 outlined the potential risks the school faced when it came to athletes unionizing.

EXCLUSIVE: In 2022, Duke hired law firm for confidential “athletics unionization risk assessment,” per memo seen by @sportico.bsky.social.

Memo flagged:

• WBB Coach Kara Lawson’s outspokenness
• Limited NIL engagement
• Lacrosse players’ “sense of entitlement”

www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...

Self-inflicted wounds, new-look lineup have conspired in Union’s shaky start The Union are 0-2. "We're shooting ourselves in the foot," left back Nathan Harriel said after Sunday's loss.

@oyounothing.bsky.social's analysis on the Union's latest self-inflicted loss, a view the team admits to having as much as the media does:

www.inquirer.com/soccer/red-c... via @phillysport.bsky.social

Matt Freese thwarts the Union again, this time with his biggest USMNT games of all on the horizon Three weeks from now, Freese will head to the last U.S. training camp and games before the World Cup roster is set. He's the favorite to start at the World Cup, but has work to do to keep the job.

Matt Freese was back at Subaru Park yesterday, helping NYCFC thwart the Union again.

It was actually one of his easier days out - perhaps one of the easiest days he'll have from now until the summer.

My interview with him three weeks before #USMNT camp starts:

www.inquirer.com/soccer/matt-...

Bigger Than Trophies: Tierra Terry, Dawn Thornton, and a Defining Day for HBCU Women’s Basketball As a Lincoln graduate & longtime HBCU advocate, I watched Winston-Salem State and Alabama A&M win titles that felt bigger than basketball and deeply personal.

I wished I could have been in two places at once on Saturday.

CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, where Winston-Salem State won the CIAA Tournament. And in Huntsville, where more than 6,100 fans watched Alabama A&M clinch the SWAC regular season title.

My latest.

open.substack.com/pub/robknox/...

Brick by Brick: Drexel’s Standard Survives the Storm Down 14, Drexel leaned on defense, senior poise, and belief to prove its foundation does not crack under pressure.

Sharing my latest Substack WBB story.

Down 14. Senior Day. Overtime. Defense closed the argument. Drexel’s foundation held when it mattered most. My latest from Philadelphia as North Carolina A&T and Drexel painted a March masterpiece.

substack.com/home/post/p-...

Built Different: The Standard Is Ongoing at Norfolk State Powered by a pillar-of-strength defense and player-led resolve, the Spartans enter March exactly where they expected to be.

I spent two days in Baltimore watching Norfolk State defend like they’d been personally offended.

Their defense is disciplined, relentless, & unapologetic. It’s a reason why they are exactly where they expected to be this time of year. Howard is next in a biggie.

open.substack.com/pub/robknox/...

Josh always gets the goods:

Into the night - a much colder night than the ones I usually encounter in Brooklyn:

It’s late, and I am tired…

Arike Ogunbowale misses her first attempt at the winner but Stewie grabs the rebound and Arike doesn't miss again, Mist move on to the championship

“It might not be a bigger level, but it’s more money than I’ve ever made in my life.”

- Arike Ogunbowale, asked how her game-winner compares to other big shots she’s hit, including one for a national championship at Notre Dame.

She’ll have to win the final to cash the check, but still.

Arike Ogunbowale bangs in the game-winning three on the jump from the corner, and on her birthday.

One last explosion of noise from the crowd to cap off a fun night.

Grandstand finish up in Breeze-Mist. It was 62-55 Breeze at the end of the third quarter, the target score was set at 73, and it's now 67-67.

Breanna Stewart has led the comeback, and very much does not want to lose this.

Former Japan international and FC Cincinnati designated player Yuya Kubo has announced his retirement, and one of the photos he's used is... a shot I took of him just a week after his 18th birthday in the 2011 Emperor's Cup final.

Pretty sure I know how it got to him all those years ago - neat!

This is rather big:

Charlie Morgan is hamming it up with some of the other courtside celebs, with Alex and Servando nearby but letting her have fun.

“Brooklyn, thank you so much - usually you boo me.”

- Kelsey Plum in her on-court interview.

Could barely hear the rest as the crowd was cheering, to further the point.

Kelsey Plum hits the winning three to cap off a 31-point night and send Phantom to the final with an 83-75 win over Vinyl.

A “Pay the players!” chant from the crowd during a stoppage in play:

Yep. Just over three weeks.

Hilary Knight and Brittany Bowe are here. The PA announcer congratulates them on their Olympic success, and their engagement.

18,261 is the attendance in Brooklyn tonight.

It was never going to top Philadelphia because the Barclays Center is smaller. But Philly still gets to say it has the attendance record.

That said, given what New Yorkers are willing to spend, I won't be surprised if tonight grosses more revenue.

No surprise either that Azzi Fudd is in the building.

Alas, Geno Auriemma is not, but Paige Bueckers said she'll be at the regional games in Fort Worth if UConn gets there.

No surprise that Kelley O'Hara is here with Alex Morgan. Stuart Holden and his wife are also here, sat behind them. (They were all just on the big screen.)

Full house in Brooklyn: