EDITOR’S NOTE
The deadliest shooting in New York City in 25 years has renewed scrutiny of the NFL and its handling of head trauma. A gunman who killed four people in a Manhattan building appeared to be targeting the league’s offices, according to police. A note found on his body suggested he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy — a brain disease linked to repeated head injuries — and accused the NFL of covering up the risks to protect profits. The suspect, who had documented mental health issues and later died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound, played high school football about a decade ago and requested that his brain be studied. With the regular season just five weeks away, the shooting reignites long-standing questions about the league’s role in player brain health. Now, for what else people are talking about...
— Mallory Simon / Writer / New York, NY
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What to look out for in our latest episode.
It's a Blockbuster Summer for Sports Movies — Just Not for Women
What's going on: Men’s sports stories are headlining Hollywood this summer — and getting the kind of marketing muscle women’s sports can only dream about. Netflix went all-in on Happy Gilmore 2, with massive billboard campaigns, meme rollouts, and its biggest US film debut weekend ever. Apple pulled a Top Gun-style stunt, dropping Brad Pitt into a real Formula 1 car to hype its F1 movie, which has already grossed $500 million globally. We’re all for sports on the big screen — but it’s hard not to notice who’s missing (ahem, women athletes). One glimmer of hope: a Bend It Like Beckham sequel is in the works. The 2002 classic was groundbreaking, especially for South Asian girls who rarely saw themselves leading a sports story.
Our take: After a renaissance starting in the early-2000s (hi, Bring It On and Blue Crush), women’s sports have been mostly sidelined in Hollywood — Challengers aside (if you even count it). For those of us raised on A League of Their Own, Stick It, and yes, She’s the Man, that absence hits hard. And it’s not like there aren’t good stories to use as inspiration. The US Women’s National Team’s gold medal runs? Instant drama. Venus Williams’s comeback at 45? Icon behavior. Simone Biles returns to competition and sticks the landing — again? The screenplay practically writes itself. Hollywood, we'll take our development deal now.
Related: The Best Female-Led Sports Movies to Rewatch Right Now (Entertainment Weekly)
Pick Six
More sports talkers you don't want to miss.
👀 An NBA player pulled off the High School Musical dance routine at his wedding. Troy Bolton could never. (People)
📷 Brenda Song pulled up to Rams camp, and the team showed proper respect for Disney royalty. (EssentiallySports)
✂️ RIP to Travis Kelce’s middle part. A true ’90s-heartthrob cut, gone too soon. (Well Played)
⚽ The NWSL returns this week — and soon, so will Trinity Rodman. Will Ben Shelton show up with a shirt of her? We’ll be watching. (NWSL)
🤔 This is the one habit athletes over 50 say is key to healthy aging. (Today)
💍 Tyrese Haliburton didn’t let an injury stop him from proposing to his college sweetheart — on their old home court, no less. (Sports Illustrated)
Timeout...
Our Well Played co-hosts and friends of the show tackle listener Qs.
What's up with all the WNBA injuries?
Injuries are piling up across the WNBA — and we’re only halfway through the season. So far, there have been at least 167 reported injuries, sidelining some of the league’s biggest stars, including Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Breanna Stewart, and Kayla Thornton. Former WNBA star Rebecca Lobo implied one major issue: rest. She noted the league is averaging just 2.7 days between games this season — the shortest gap in the past five years. While some argue the NBA has a similar pace, its larger number of teams helps ease travel demands and spread out the schedule. Some WNBA teams, including the Dallas Wings, have proactively rested players like Paige Bueckers. But a few rest days won’t solve a systemic issue. If the league wants to keep its top talent healthy and the quality of play high, a bigger solution is needed.
FEATURED EXPERT:
Caroline Hendershot
Reporter for the New York Jets and co-host of Well Played
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