Richard Cohen

"Remember when we pissed off *everyone* by accepting enough bribes that we sent the World Cup to freaking Qatar? I challenge you to somehow make this North American World Cup even more distasteful."

"Hold my champagne."

I remember Flau'jae's playing time at the AmeriCup being so limited/inconsistent that I kept wondering if she was hurt, then she'd come in for two minutes and therefore indicate that nope, available. Of course, on absurdly talented USA teams that's sometimes what happens, even if you're really good.

If Joyce Edwards is the sort of superstar some people think she is, these are the moments where you step up. She's really, really good, but that might be the player she's going to become, rather than the one she already is.

League's always been so secretive that we don't really know how often they've been challenged on that, but it's never seemed common. WNBPA finally flexing its muscle, so League might want to close some of those gaps. Or we could get a deal, just for lots more arguments in subsequent years. 2/2 #WNBA

So interesting reading about a Players' Association challenging a League over its interpretation/implementation of their agreed CBA. So many ambiguous or grey areas in WNBA's CBA, where over the years the league has basically said "well our lawyers meant X, so that's the rule". 1/2

American colour guy on this Mosconi Cup broadcast keeps adding "...in my opinion" to every other comment he makes, and it's incredibly irritating. We know it's your opinion, dude. Who else's would it be? No one's going to think you're speaking on behalf of America, or the human race, or whatever.

Oh wow, UEFA so tired of us winning the Euros that they had to give our most bitter rivals home advantage for the next one.

On the bright side, you still have enough left to be finding them, regardless of colour.

And maybe for midseason-signed and replacement players as well, who'd often need something quickly and temporarily. Yes, if they want to write something more complicated that works, and move the saved money to contracts, fine. PA will understandably question if they're actually doing that.

If the league is eventually going to become a clear global #1 on the scale of the NBA, it's eventually going to have a meaningfully longer season (probably in both directions). But it's going to come with growing pains and arguments. Because even with incoming increases, this isn't NBA money.

The housing thing is basically just yet another piece of "where do you want the money to go?" Moving up the start date is much more complicated, given the NCAA tournament doesn't end until early April and overseas leagues go later than that. 'Expanding the footprint' creates issues. #WNBA

I've said several times that the easiest win in all this was going to be a max over $1m. Just such an easy headline to put in the eventual press release. League had the sense to start below that so that it feels like a concession. This still feels low and barely incremental, to me. #WNBA

I guess that's fair. So in that world they're saying "we'll give you 24hrs to come back and actually move or we're done", rather than just saying "you're clearly not moving so we're done" immediately. Still seems pretty pointless to me, but a viable scenario.

This bit of the ESPN report is wild. You don't extend anything like this by 24hrs unless you're virtually done. But nothing else we've heard suggests they're close, and they ended up at 6wks. Did someone think pressure of 24hr clock would turn things on their head? #WNBA
www.espn.com/wnba/story/_...

If you count this, then they've already had at least three or four work stoppages in the past. Until we start talking about potentially actually losing games - or one side actually actively strikes/locks out - no one's going to call it that.

Assuming they use that whole window, that would already mean we're rearranging the offseason dates. Have to cement expansion draft rules, have everyone provide protected lists, negotiation period, then expansion draft itself. Typical offseason process start of Jan 11 wouldn't happen. #WNBA

Don't forget, in the CBA - the 'current' one - the WNBA's offseason decisions are supposed to begin on Jan 1. They moved that to Jan 11 and slightly compressed the windows to avoid working even *close* to the holidays. No one wants to be at the negotiating table over Christmas and New Year. #WNBA

*Please note, not a real quote from anyone. Sometimes my 'jokes' are a little too close to plausible reality.

"We are in discussions over the length of the extension for the amount of time to have more discussions. When those are complete, we'll be able to discuss exactly what we'll be discussing during the extended discussion period."

And the US squeak over the line 21-19, Allisha Gray hitting the winning points at the line after a foul call that Paige Crozon very much disagreed with. Canada the more experienced and practiced 3x3 team, but US size and raw talent won out in the end. Just.

Final is underway.

In an eventuality that basically everyone would've predicted, women's final will be USA vs Canada. Canada comfortable 21-10 win over Brazil in their semi, and US demolished the Dominican Republic 21-5. Final is scheduled for 7.30pm US ET (so in about two hours).

To make clear, as today's ESPN update mentioned, if we pass Sunday's deadline without new CBA or extension, it doesn't mean immediate calamity. I asked before this extension what happens in real terms without one, and source said without an active strike/lockout move it's "business as usual". #WNBA

The big scoreboard died.

YouTube video by FIBA3x3 - The 3x3 Basketball Channel LIVE 🔴 FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup 2025 | Finals | 3x3 Basketball

Rest of the tournament live here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5V8... . Women's semis already underway.

US shot so poorly from outside in the group stage that Argentina's gameplan was to sit inside and just give up those shots. US said "oh, cool", hit a load of them, and won in a very quick blowout. Women's semis start at 4.40pm US ET.

USA vs Argentina women's quarter-final should be starting shortly. Allisha Gray, Shakira Austin, Naz Hillmon and Veronica Burton playing for the US.

Dophins playcalling being heavily affected by the number of times they've watched Tua just gently lob the ball to the other team this season.

YouTube video by FIBA3x3 - The 3x3 Basketball Channel LIVE 🔴 FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup 2025 | Quarter-Finals | 3x3 Basketball

FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup 2025 knockout games are underway. USA women don't start for another 90 minutes, but Puerto Rico are making Canada sweat in the opening quarter-final. Live here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzHO...

There are few things more amusing in a game of football (soccer) than when a player is such an obnoxious known cheat that when they're on the ground writhing in 'agony', their own teammates completely ignore it and just play on.