EDITOR’S NOTE
I’m doing my best to get back into a routine this week — but like Naomi Osaka, I’m giving myself some grace. As I return to my workouts, I’ve been debating the weighted vest trend that celebs like Jessica Alba are embracing — but respectfully, I’ll pass (for now). I’m sticking to my regular weight-lifting sessions with some Love Island USA playing in the background (Coco Gauff clearly can’t get enough of this season) or this week’s WNBA matchups — sending get-well-soon wishes to A’ja Wilson. Speaking of the league, Angel Reese just landed a new cover, unveiling her signature shoe with Reebok. Now, before we take a deep dive on all things Wimbledon, Trinity Rodman would like a word…
— Maria Corpus / Editor / Madison, WI
Let's Discuss
What to look out for in our latest episode.
Ben Shelton, Bots, and Strawberry Pasta — Oh My…
What's going on: Wimbledon wraps up this weekend with the finals, but the tournament has already served up plenty worth talking about — though maybe not for Hugh Grant, who appeared to fall asleep during a recent match. Who’s racked up Ws so far: Ben Shelton (and his sister, Emma, whom he calls his “lucky charm”), supermodel Brooks Nader (who shared the most relatable wardrobe mishap), and Cate Blanchett, who gave Zendaya a real run for her money with this look. As for the losers: Sorry, but Iga Świątek’s pasta with strawberries (yes, we tried it) won’t be dethroning strawberries and cream anytime soon. Then, most notably, there’s the electronic line system, which missed several calls — can we please bring back the line judges in their Ralph Lauren blazers?
Our take: This mix of tradition and surprise, with a dash of chaos, is exactly what makes Wimbledon… Wimbledon. The tennis is only half the fun — the other half is the human drama, the rituals, and the tiny quirks that make the tournament feel timeless. And while no sport can avoid change, the tech glitches at Wimbledon this year have prompted a sort of existential crisis among tennis fans: When you remove the people, what do you lose? For now, the magic’s safe… until a bot learns how to pick up a racket.
Related: Novak Djokovic Shared the Cutest Moment With His Daughter (Well Played)
Pick Six
More sports talkers you don't want to miss.
🦇 Bengals QB Joe Burrow opened up about the reason he couldn’t buy a $3 million Batmobile replica. We’re not exactly pulling out the small violin for this one. (Well Played)
🏀 This NBA nepo baby’s making a name for himself in the offseason. He’s making dad proud. (Yahoo Sports)
😬 Call Her Daddy’s Alex Cooper did not hit it out of the ballpark with her surprise performance at a recent Cubs game. Fans didn’t hold back. (Well Played)
✨ Dwyane Wade just shared which TV star left him awestruck: “I just screamed.” (People)
👀 We didn’t have Tom Holland squaring off against Carlos Alcaraz on our bingo card — but what else would you expect from the fiancé of a Challengers star? (Us Weekly)
⚽️ The NWSL might be on summer break — but the league’s international stars are just getting started. Ready, set, goal. (The Athletic)
Timeout...
Our Well Played co-hosts and friends of the show tackle listener Qs.
The USMNT fell to Mexico in the FIFA Concacaf Gold Cup final — but the win isn't without controversy. What happened?
Fans are calling out two controversial moments in the USMNT 2-1 loss to Mexico. The first: an apparent handball in the penalty box that the referee didn’t call. The second: what the USMNT says was a wrongly reversed offside call on Mexico’s second goal. No surprise, some players were frustrated, with US defender Chris Richards saying, “that’s Concacaf for you. They hate us.” The match was the USMNT’s last competitive game before next year’s FIFA World Cup.
FEATURED EXPERT:
Caroline Hendershot
Reporter for NY Jets and co-host of Well Played
Just Trust Us
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