This is For The Win’s daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. Have feedback? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey! Now, here’s Mike Sykes.
Good morning, Winners! Welcome back to the Morning Win. Thank you so much for reading today. We appreciate your time. Hope you’re having an awesome Wednesday.
Wednesday marks the roster reveal day for Unrivaled — the new 3-on-3 women’s basketball league set to take the sports world by storm this winter.
Nearly all the roster slots have been filled at this point. There’s still just one left open with the league announcing its teams today. There’s no doubt who that spot is reserved for.
It’s no secret that Unrivaled has been waiting for Caitlin Clark. Co-founder and Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier has always made that clear.
For the first time, though, it actually seems like they might get her. Clark might actually be Unrivaled, as they say.
The roster announcements start at 11:00 a.m. ET and end at 11:22. Hmmm. Quite a curious time to end, right? Not 11:30. Not 11:15. 11:22. Twenty-two. Hmmm. WAIT. BY GOLLY. THAT’S CAITLIN CLARK’S MUSIC.
That seems to be a pretty strong indicator that Clark is joining the league this winter. It’s hard to believe they’d choose such a specific time without it meaning anything. It’s a solid assumption that there’s a Clark announcement somewhere in there.
But wouldn’t it be hilarious if there isn’t?
Imagine this. Everyone is hyped at 11:21 and Unrivaled is about to unveil the final player. There’s a 22 jersey on the screen. A shadowy figure begins to come into the frame. It’s … all of a sudden … IT’S MYISHA HINES-ALLEN.
Definitely not the No. 22 you’re expecting, but maybe the No. 22 we needed. Shoutout to Myisha, by the way.
In all seriousness, it’s likely Clark. Even though she has plenty of reasons not to play this winter, this build-up and suspense wouldn’t make sense for anyone else. It’s hard to imagine this being anyone but her.
Regardless of whether it is or not, let’s hope for a fun Unrivaled inaugural season. This could be huge for women’s basketball.
Aaron Rodgers is the problem
Robert Saleh. Joe Douglas. Everyone who vouched for Aaron Rodgers during his time in New York seems to be falling by the wayside.
Trusting Aaron Rodgers is getting people fired, our Robert Zeglinski writes.
“At 3-8, Douglas going down with the ship now feels very different. This is the Jets cutting everyone who bought Rodgers’ brazen snake oil loose without a second thought. It’s ownership making a tacit acknowledgment that acquiring a (then) semi-washed diva like Rodgers for multiple high-end draft picks was a mistake which wasted everyone’s time with the organization.
How do I know this for certain?
Well, dearest readers, that’s because Rodgers — a year after tearing his Achilles, mind you — is having the worst statistical season of his career.
Rodgers hasn’t thrown for 300 yards in a game all season. (The last time he threw for 300 yards in a game was in December 2021.) He’s also averaging his lowest yards per attempt and has his lowest passer rating since his two initial non-starter seasons in Green Bay in … 2005 and 2006. This is beyond a quarterback struggling. This is a player who is a hollow husk of the all-world talent he once was, now at the helm of the NFL’s 17th-ranked offense on an expected points added (EPA) per play basis. Any time you might think the Jets have a modicum of hope, at this point, Rodgers throws it away himself.”
It’s a tough day to be an Aaron Rodgers fan. His days as a Jet seem numbered.
The triple-double king
Russell Westbrook snatched his 200th triple-double on Tuesday in a Nuggets’ win over the Grizzlies.
It wasn’t quite vintage Westbrook. It wasn’t as loud as it used to be. But, with 12 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds, it was a triple-double nonetheless. And he’s now the only player in the NBA’s history to have 200 triple-doubles. The next closest player is Oscar Robertson, with 181. The next closest active player is his teammate, Nikola Jokic, with 136.
He did the Wilt Chamberlain thing after the fact. And, yeah, he totally deserved to do the Wilt thing here.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DClFSFZATE0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Russ earned this.
Quick hits: Alex Ovechkin’s Gretzky chase paused … Week 12 QB rankings … and more
— Alex Ovechkin’s leg injury will put his chase of Wayne Gretzky’s goal record on hold for a bit. Mary Clarke has more.
— Here’s Christian D’Andrea’s latest quarterback ranking, where Aaron Rodgers can’t even crack the top 20.
— Speaking of Rodgers, Woody Johnson wanted to bench him after Week 4. Cory Woodroof has more here.
— Here are the latest CFP rankings and, uh, BOISE STATE MIGHT GET THAT BYE WEEK!
— Joel Embiid has become a problem that the 76ers desperately need to figure out.
— Rafael Nadal got a standing ovation at the Davis Cup. It was well earned.
That’s a wrap, folks. Thanks so much for rocking with us today. Have a great Wednesday. Peace.
-Sykes ✌️