Caitlin Clark and Iowa’s path in the NCAA Tournament won’t be an easy one, but it could be legendary

We could be getting a national championship rematch between LSU and Iowa…in a regional final game. That’s insane.

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.

Gooood morning, Winners! Happy Monday! Thanks for locking in with the Morning Win today. We appreciate you here.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year again. March Madness is here! Mid-day basketball, folks! I love it. It takes me back to my high school days when nearly every teacher would roll out that TV and turn the games on mute so we could all watch and skip out on a day of classwork.

Our FTW team did a fantastic job covering everything on Selection Sunday. You should take a beat and read more here:

Here’s Charles Curtis with the first four out and the last four in the men’s tournament

— Mitchell Northam has winners and losers from the women’s bracket here

— Here’s Blake Schuster with winners and losers from the men’s bracket here

Andrew Joseph has tournament snubs here

There’s lots to digest there. For me, the biggest reveal on Sunday was just how stacked the Albany Region is in the women’s tournament. That’s where Iowa and Caitlin Clark are seeded and it won’t be a cakewalk.

To be honest, I’m not completely sure Iowa will make it out. Here’s USA Today’s Nancy Armour with on Iowa’s path.

“There’s a potential Sweet 16 matchup with Kansas State, which Iowa has already played twice this season, losing at home and winning on a neutral court. A rematch of last year’s national title game against LSU looms in the regional final. If it’s not Angel Reese and the Tigers, then it likely will be second-seeded UCLA, which is battle tested after the bruising Pac-12 season.”

Folks, that’s a potential national championship rematch … in a regional final. That’s if LSU can make it there as a No. 3 seed. I get why Kim Mulkey is upset about LSU’s ranking. That’s a tough spot for a talented team.

IT’S BRACKET MADNESS: Enter USA TODAY’s NCAA tournament bracket contest for a chance at $1 million prize

All eyes will be glued on Iowa for obvious reasons. This is a moment for that team. It’s the moment for Clark. Everyone has debated where she ranks all-time in college basketball and whether she has any true claim to being considered the greatest of all time. I don’t have a definitive answer. I don’t think anyone does. We probably never will. The debate is too subjective.

But I’ll tell you what. If Iowa can make it to another final out of that region unscathed? That’s definitely going to add to Clark’s resume. Especially if it results in a championship.

I can’t wait to watch this all unfold.


Skipping the NIT is wack

John's Red Storm head coach Rick Pitino yells out instructions in the first half against the Seton Hall Pirates at UBS Arena
Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Nobody has ever been excited about playing in the NIT. I understand that. It’s the consolation prize for a mediocre season.

But, man. I’m sorry. Declining an invitation to the NIT is so wack to me. Seven men’s teams, including St. John’s and Rick Pitino, did just that after missing out on the NCAA tournament.

This is a selfish decision for coaches and programs. They skip the NIT because their programs are supposed to be too good for it. They’re above playing in it. They don’t participate to keep it off the school’s resume. It’s a blemish.

But they’re actually depriving their athletes of another opportunity to play basketball. And some of them will never play again, as Tom Crean so astutely points out here:

“Give your players and coaches a chance to keep coaching and playing, and don’t short change. If a guy doesn’t want to play, go sit down. If a coach doesn’t want to coach, go recruit. But there’s gotta be enough people to put five, six, seven people on the floor and go play. Makes absolutely zero sense to me.”

The NIT is an opportunity for someone. Vanity isn’t a good enough reason to deprive anyone of that. These teams and their coaches need to get over themselves.


An incredible shot

Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Obviously, with it being Selection Sunday and all, plenty went on the back burner yesterday in the sports world.

But this Kyrie Irving game-winning shot managed to break through and rightfully so. Because, fam. This is one of the toughest shots I think I’ve ever seen in my life.

A running hook with the left hand over Nikola Jokic’s extended arm?!? I mean, come on, y’all. This is unreal.

This is why nobody wants to see the Mavericks in the playoffs. One second, you’re dealing with Luka Doncic in the pick-and-roll, doing whatever he wants. Then he swings the ball to the perimeter and you’re dealing with that. 

Good luck, Western Conference.


Quick hits: Lock in on March Madness … The key to a successful bracket … and more

— Here’s the schedule for the first round of the men’s tournament from Charles Curtis.

— Blake Schuster has a compelling reason why you should keep picking against Purple teams this March.

— Here’s Mitchell Northam with three pretty big snubs for the women’s tournament.

— Ben Fawkes has the best bets on the tournament for you here.

— And Prince Grimes has a potential Cinderella for you from each region of the men’s bracket here.

That’s all, folks! Thanks so much for reading TMW today. We appreciate you. Have a fantastic week! Let’s chat again tomorrow. Peace. We out.

-Sykes ✌️

Kyler Murray had the best (and most honest!) 2-word reaction to Aaron Donald’s retirement announcement

Kyler Murray is too real for this 😂

They probably won’t admit it, but so many quarterbacks around the NFL probably breathed a deep sigh of relief when Aaron Donald announced his retirement on Twitter.

For 10 years, Donald ripped through the middle of offensive lines across the NFL to get into the backfield and terrorize so many of your favorite quarterbacks. That’s how you get to 111 sacks through 10 seasons.

READ MORE: 6 astounding Aaron Donald stats that you absolutely need to know

Kyler Murray was one of those quarterbacks. And, unfortunately for him, he had to face Donald twice every single year because the Rams and Cardinals are in the same division.

So when Donald’s announcement went public, Murray’s initial reaction was only two words: Thank God.

EL. OH. EL. Can you blame him? I mean, it’s Aaron Donald, y’all. Kyle Murray is one of the smallest quarterbacks out there.

Of course, Murray still sent Donald well wishes in his retirement. He also called him the best of all time. He did make sure to tell him to never come back, though.

Thank you for your honesty, Kyler Murray.

Kirk Cousins is just an OK NFL player, but he’s an absolute legend at his bank

Kirk Cousins is doing the Bankhead Bounce straight to the bank.

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.

Goooood morning, Winners! Thanks so much for reading the Morning Win today. We appreciate you taking the time here. I hope you had an excellent Monday.

You know who definitely did? Kirk. Freakin’. Cousins. That dude struck gold. Again. I have no idea how he continues to get away with this.

Cousins signed a four-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons worth up to $180 million with a $100 million guarantee. That man is doing the Bankhead Bounce all the way to the literal bank. He cashed out. Again. Somehow, man.

Everybody in the NFL should fire their agent and hire Cousins’ at this point. Mike McCartney is a legend at this point. This man has earned $331 million (and counting!) through his 12-year tenure in the league. It’s ridiculous.

He’s played chicken with so many front offices. He was franchise-tagged by the Commanders twice and somehow survived. He parlayed that into a fully guaranteed deal with the Vikings, ending with him tearing his Achilles. Even after that devastating injury, he still rises with pockets stuffed like piñatas.

It’s inspiring, really. Especially when you consider he’s been mediocre to solid every step of the way. He’s made nearly as much as Aaron Rodgers in his career while not being anywhere near as good. Cousins has only started in four playoff games in his career. He’s won one. And he’s lost to a team with Daniel Jones on the other side.

Atlanta doesn’t care, man. The Falcons have their QB — debilitating injury and all.

Look, I know this probably sounds like I’m hating. But I’m not! I promise! I get it. Here’s our Christian D’Andrea and Cory Woodroof explaining the why here:

“Cousins is a credible quarterback. He gets an offense capable of providing him the same caliber artillery the Vikings did in 2023. He should be able to pilot this team back to the postseason.”

Just being credible at the highest-paid position in the NFL gets you so far. Honestly, I’m rooting for him. Being just perfectly OK and getting the most money is simply the American dream.

Go, Kirk, go.


Meanwhile, in Chicago…

Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

The quarterback carousel is still going round and round.

At this point, it seems pretty clear that the Bears are planning on taking Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick in the draft. But does anyone know what Chicago is doing with Justin Fields?

RELATED: Williams goes first in our latest mock draft from Christian D’Andrea

The dude is in NFL limbo right now. It’s clear his current team doesn’t want him. The two rumored suitors in the Steelers and Falcons picked up seasoned veteran options at QB in free agency. So what now? That’s the question. And, as Robert Zegklinski writes here, it’s getting pretty hard to imagine what’s coming:

“Fields had long been rumored as one of the Falcons’ top trade targets. But then Cousins — a superior player — became available, and Atlanta could not reasonably pass up on the opportunity. Throw in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ addition of Russell Wilson, and it’s starting to get really hard to imagine what Fields’ next NFL home will be.”

The Bears very clearly have a price set on what they believe Fields is worth on the trade market. But it’s also clear the rest of the NFL doesn’t see Fields in the same way.

I don’t know what happens next, but I hope this ends soon. This process has been so painful to watch.

READ MORE: Five options for Justin Fields moving forward 


Hard work pays off

Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

Jamahl Mosley just cashed in with the Magic. The head coach just signed a four-year contract extension to stay in Orlando, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports, keeping him with the team through the 2027-28 season.

This is very well deserved. The Magic had been one of the laughingstocks of the NBA for years. But under Mosley, Orlando has improved its win total each year in since 2021, including this year, when the team already won 37 games. The Magic are the East’s No. 5 seed and have an outside shot at a home playoff game this year.

When Orlando hired Mosley, no one questioned whether he could be good. After being on the Mavericks bench behind Rick Carlisle, he was clearly ready to be a head coach. It was just a matter of whether the Magic were organized enough to be competitive.

We’ve got that answer now. Mosley has earned this.


Quick hits: Your big NFL free agent tracker … Our latest NBA MVP ladder … and more

— Christian D’Andrea has the top 102 NFL free agents and where they’ve all signed for you here.

Jayson Tatum’s MVP case doesn’t look great right now. But did it ever really? Robert Zeglinski has more here.

— Shaq praised Angel Reese for not getting into South Carolina’s and LSU’s fracas. Meghan Hall has more.

— Victor Wembanyama getting dunked on is even spectacular. This guy, man. Charles Curtis has more.

— Here’s Christian with the 10 best free agents available on day 2 of NFL free agency’s tampering period.

— Robert has your winners and losers from free agency so far here.

That’s all, folks! Thanks so much for reading this morning. Have a fantastic Tuesday. Let’s chat again tomorrow. Until then! Peace.

-Sykes ✌️

Sean Payton is officially on the clock after releasing Russell Wilson from the Broncos

It’s all on Sean Payton now. Good luck.

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.

HOUSEKEEPING: I’ll be out traveling for work for the next few days, so TMW will return next Monday.

Good morning, Winners! Thanks so much for reading the Morning Win today. We appreciate you here for giving us a bit of your time.

The Russell Wilson situation ended just about as ugly as we all thought it would, didn’t it?

The Broncos officially cut Wilson on Monday, leaving the team to navigate a historic $85 million cap hit. That’s how badly Sean Payton and company didn’t want the former Seahawks QB on the roster anymore.

This officially goes down as one of the worst trades in NFL history, by the way. The Broncos gave up so much for Wilson and essentially got nothing in return. During his first season in Denver he was a shell of himself. His second season was much better, but apparently not good enough to run whatever scheme Sean Payton wanted to run properly.

[lawrence-related id=2183483,2210774,2208154]

That’s the thing about this move, right? This was very clearly a Sean Payton decision. Payton decided to bench Wilson at the tail end of last season. He decided Wilson wasn’t good enough anymore and embarrassingly cast him aside as if he were an old play toy.

But, man. The grass isn’t always greener. Sometimes, it’s dead on the other side, too.

Now, the Broncos must search again for a quarterback — this time under Payton’s guidance. The fix won’t be easy. Denver is way over the cap and good quarterbacks don’t come cheap on the open market.

The Broncos have a good pick at No. 12 overall, but there’s a chance that four quarterbacks may be drafted by then. Denver could always try to trade up, but the Broncos used a ton of assets in the Russell Wilson deal and don’t have a second-round pick this year. Plus, there’s no guarantee that QB-needy teams won’t just stand firm.

Look, man. I get why the Broncos would move on. This isn’t the old Russell Wilson anymore. Paying him that much and continuing to build a team was somewhat untenable. But the way Sean Payton and company treated him on the way out the door was just downright shameful.

The team reportedly pushed him to the bench because he wouldn’t waive an injury guarantee. At every turn, it seemed, Payton was ready to downplay any success Wilson had at quarterback toward the end of the season. None of it was a good look on Payton or the organization.

But Wilson is gone now — exactly the way they all wanted. The deed is done. It’s time to start again. But if things don’t work out this time? There is no Russell Wilson to blame.

So, Broncos Country, your ride still isn’t quite over yet. You’d better hope Sean Payton still knows how to steer well because things are completely in his hands now.

WNBA x Toronto?

Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

The WNBA has expressed the desire to have 14 teams by 2025. The Golden State franchise is locked in. That leaves room for one more team to enter the league.

That team might just be north of the border.

Canadian billionaire and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment minority owner Larry Tanenbaum has reportedly expressed interest in a Toronto expansion for the WNBA, CBC’s Shireen Ahmed reported on Monday.

More details: 

“Tanenbaum, a minority owner and chairman of sporting giant Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment which owns the Maple Leafs, Raptors, TFC, Argos and Marlies, is seeking the team through his holding company, the Kilmer Group.

CBC Sports spoke with three people familiar with the deal who requested confidentiality as they are not authorized to speak publicly about it.”

Ahmed reports that a meeting could happen between the W and Tanenmbaum as soon as May.

Toronto would make perfect sense. Tanenbaum obviously has experience in sports as a minority owner at MLSE, which owns the Raptors, Maple Leafs, Argonauts and more.

Plus, Toronto hosted a WNBA game in May. There’s a clear interest from the league in international expansion there. Someone with money has to make it happen.

It looks like Tanenbaum could be that guy.


Arch Manning is out

EA Sports’ College Football 25 video game reportedly has more than 10,000 players opting in to be part of the game. But Arch Manning won’t be one of them.

The Texas QB is opting out here to keep his likeness off the game. Why? To focus on football, according to him. But fans have some more hilarious theories behind it, according to our Charles Curtis.

“The Texas QB and nephew of Eli and Peyton Manning is reportedly not opting in, per Anwar Richardson (see below), which is kind of a curious thing. It’s the easiest $600 to make, right? And the speculation has begun on why he said no — Pro Football Talk suggested that “It seems more likely that Arch wanted more than $600, and that EA passed. Arch doesn’t need to be in the game, and EA doesn’t currently need him in the game, since he’s not the starter at Texas.”

Some think it’s because he wants more money. Others think it’s because he’s a backup. Honestly, the only person who knows is Arch.

It’s fine, though. If Arch doesn’t want the $600, so be it. We’ll all edit him in the game, anyway.


Quick hits: Our Bracket Betting Tracker … The NBA MVP ladder … and more

— Our Prince Grimes built out a comprehensive betting tracker for all 32 leagues in NCAA men’s basketball.

— Here’s Robert Zeglinski with an NBA MVP tracker. He’s got Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander neck-and-neck.

Cory Woodroof has predictions for the Oscars here, including another big night for Oppenheimer.

— Here are the 8 best moments from Jason Kelce’s retirement speech

— Christian D’Andrea has the biggest draft risers and farthest fallers after the NFL Combine here.

— Speaking of mock drafts, this one here has the Bears making some interesting moves for Caleb Williams. Charles Curtis has more.

That’s all, folks! Thanks so much for reading. We appreciate you! Until next time, peace!

-Sykes ✌️

The Celtics just reminded us all that they’re one of the best teams ever by destroying the Warriors

The only thing that could stop the Celtics is themselves

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! Thanks so much for reading the Morning Win today. We appreciate you all taking the time. I hope you had a fantastic weekend.

It surely went better than the Warriors’ weekend did after the Celtics completely trounced Golden State by 51 points on Sunday. Boston’s 140-88 win was one of the most thorough efforts of domination I’ve ever seen in my life. By halftime, the Warriors were down by 42, which was actually more points than they’d scored (38).

The loss was so bad it had Steph Curry talking about the good ole days. “That’s what we used to do to teams,” Curry told reporters after the game. And, yeah, that’s true. It is. Now, it seems, it’s Boston’s turn to be one of the greatest teams ever. That should be a terrifying thought for the league.

All season long, we’ve been talking about the Western Conference and how good teams are over there. Rightfully so — the defending NBA champion is in the West. Plus, the race to the top of the conference is so tight that it’s become the most compelling story in the league so far this year.

But let me tell y’all something. This Celtics team? This squad should be a lock to win the title right now coming out of the West.

And, look. I know Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets are over there on the other side. So are the Thunder and the Clippers. The Timberwolves, too. There are plenty of formidable opponents out there. But with the way these Celtics are trouncing teams right now? I’m just not sure any of that matters.

Boston has had three 50+ point wins so far this season. This is the first team in NBA history to accomplish that. EVER.

There’s more. Boston currently has the 5th highest point differential in NBA history at +11.42. The only teams above them are the 1972 Lakers, the 1971 Bucks, the 1996 Bulls and the 2017 Warriors. Guess what? They all won championships.

Obviously, all that math doesn’t guarantee anything. Just behind them on that point differential scale are the 2016 Warriors and the 1972 Bucks — neither of which won a championship. You still have to play the games and the Celtics still have to win in the playoffs. That’s part of the deal. Nothing matters with this team until it reaches the mountaintop.

But, man. It sure does seem like Boston will have a pretty easy time climbing there this season.


A historic weekend of hoops

(Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)

Two absolute legends did their thing this weekend.

First, on Saturday, LeBron James became the first human on the planet to score 40,000 points in a basketball league. Insane.

James got the record against the Nuggets on Saturday in the most classic way — a layup right at the rim.

 

Everyone is asking if James’ scoring record will ever be broken. Honestly, I don’t know. We can’t say — mostly because he hasn’t finished playing yet. I will say this: We thought Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record would never be broken either. Yet here we are.

Next, on Sunday,  Caitlin Clark became the all-time leading scorer for the NCAA after breaking Pete Maravich’s 3,667-point record.

The funny part is she did it in the most antithetical way ever — with a technical free throw. Shoutout to everyone who bet on that.

Despite not seeing the record christened with a 30-foot 3-point attempt, it was still quite the moment for Clark in what turned out to be an amazing day. She met her idol (and my personal GOAT), Maya Moore. Travis Scott and Jake from State Farm came through. Nike dropped an amazing commercial after.

It was an incredible day for an incredible player who made incredible history. I can’t wait to see what she accomplishes on the next level.


RIP Mort

(ESPN via AP)

The weekend also brought a bit of terrible news. Longtime ESPN NFL Insider Chris Mortensen died on Sunday morning.

The ESPN legend was 72 years old. Last year, he’d stepped down after the NFL draft to focus on his health and his family. He’d become such an inspiration to so many while battling cancer and somehow still doing the tremendous work he did.

The tributes poured in on Sunday and you’d be hard-pressed to find a bad word anyone had to say about the guy. This Adam Schefter tribute will have you in shambles.

RELATED: NFL Analyst Daniel Jeremiah pays tribute to his late mentor, Chris Mortensen

If you’re like me — which, let’s face it, we all love sports here — then Mort was an essential part of your experience in watching sports. Mortensen stayed on my screen growing up. I wouldn’t know the NFL without him. I’m so thankful for him.

I did not know this man personally. But this news still hit me like a ton of bricks, as I’m sure it did for most of you.

But don’t fret, folks. That feeling that you feel only means life was a job well done by Mortensen. That’s a good thing. Rest well, Mort.


Quick hits: The top NHL players on the trade market … NFL Combine winners and losers… and more

— Our Mary Clarke has you covered with a list of the best NHL players on the market ahead of Friday’s trade deadline

— Here’s Robert Zeglinski with winners and losers from the NFL Draft Combine.

— This moment between Nikola Jokic and LeBron James is hilarious. Robert Zeglinski has more.

Could J.J. McCarthy go in the top 10 of the NFL draft? This latest mock draft says it’s possible. Charles Curtis has more.

—Wrestling legend Sting’s retirement was a doozy. Christian D’Andrea has more here.

— Xavier Worthy’s NFL record 40-yard dash time at the combine was great…but it’s even better when you line it up against Patrick Mahomes. Andrew Joseph has more.

That’s all, folks! Thanks so much for reading today. We appreciate you. Tap in again tomorrow! Until then — peace! We out.

-Sykes ✌️

Caitlin Clark is not taking a pay cut by going to the WNBA, and anyone saying otherwise is being intentionally obtuse

I wish we could stop talking about this.

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. Thanks so much for giving us some of your time today. We appreciate you.

I regret to inform you that today’s conversation is, once again, about the notion that Caitlin Clark — and, really, women’s basketball players in general — are taking pay cuts by going to the WNBA.

I know, I know. We’ve had this talk before. Multiple times. Like, over and over again. But despite there being a ton of evidence pointing to the contrary, this dopey narrative continues to not only stick around but thrive in various internet circles.

Today’s culprit is Darren Rovell, who felt the need to belittle Caitlin Clark and her moment by immediately talking about the imaginary pay cut she was taking after she announced that she’d be going to the WNBA this season.

RELATED: Yes, she’ll still be doing March Madness

His argument is this: Clark’s NIL valuation is currently $910,000, per On3 Sports. She’ll go to the WNBA and make a $75,000 salary annually as a No. 1 pick. Clark’s NIL valuation is “essentially” (his words, not mine) a salary for Clark at Iowa. Her salary in the W would only be $75,000, which is obviously below $910,000.

Here’s the thing: That’s so laughably wrong. It shows a tacit misunderstanding about how all this works.

Her current valuation isn’t a salary — it’s a valuation of how much her endorsement deals are worth. Her current salary is a whopping $0 because Iowa doesn’t pay its student-athletes.

As far as that valuation number goes? Contrary to popular belief, that’s not going anywhere. Our Mitchell Northam explained this two months ago the last time we had to have this conversation.

Her endorsement deals are with national brands like Nike, Gatorade, Buick, State Farm and more. Do we really think they’re just dropping Caitlin Clark because she doesn’t play ball at Iowa anymore? That’s silly. Some of them have already confirmed they’ll continue working with her, Mitch writes:

“She will still be a household name with more than 825,000 followers on Instagram, and her profile could grow even more should Iowa make another Final Four run or if she competes in the Olympics this summer.

Those brands are more than likely going to stick with Clark, continue to back her and continue to reap the rewards from endorsing an athlete of her caliber. Gatorade has already committed to this, as its deal with Clark is a multi-year one. In a statement announcing a partnership with Clark, State Farm Chief Marketing Officer Kristyn Cook said, ‘We can’t wait to drive progress forward together with Caitlin for years to come,’.”

Maybe Rovell’s point would have a bit of validity if  Clark was mostly paid by Iowa’s NIL collective. Those collectives are funded by school boosters.  It’s a way to allow the bagmen of college sports to do their work over the table instead of under it.

But in Clark’s case specifically, she reportedly isn’t paid a dime by Iowa’s NIL collective, according to The Wall Street Journal. It’s all those same national brands above that are pledging to continue working with her. That money isn’t in any danger of evaporating.

Rovell and others’ points here have been completely nonsensical from the beginning. All it takes is a five-minute Google search to clear things up. It’s that easy.

Not only is this conversation intellectually dishonest, but it’s also beginning to feel more sinister. It’s as if folks like Rovell and others out there are just looking to disenfranchise young women looking to play pro basketball and are dead set on devaluing the WNBA.

No, the W isn’t perfect. The league surely has its problems, but so do its counterparts. Are the salaries small on a pro sports scale? Sure. But the league is still growing – it’s not even 30 years old yet.

Adding a national star like Caitlin Clark is sure to work wonders for its growth and popularity. Instead of trying to downplay this kid’s dream, Rovell and others need to just sit back and watch her shine.


Almost there

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

LeBron James continues to build on his illustrious career. He’s already walking in uncharted territory in his 21st season while still putting up unfathomable numbers every night.

But with the very next game he plays, he’ll do something that maybe no one else in NBA history will ever do: Score his 40,000th point.

After embarrassing my Wizards with 31 points in an overtime win on Thursday, James is just nine points away from 40k career points.

Can I be honest for a second? I was kind of terrified that he’d do it against Washington in an overtime game against the worst team in the league that absolutely no one cared to watch. But now, he’ll likely get it done against the Nuggets on Saturday, which is a much better scenario.

Let’s just hope the Lakers don’t stop the game this time around for it like what happened when James broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record. That was… weird.


I’m sorry, what?

You just have to see this story from Prince Grimes to believe it. To make a long story short, super gamlber Xaviar Babudar — aka Chiesfaholic — is facing charges for robbing banks to support his gambling habit.

And his lawyer is out here using football analogies to defend him. It’s bad. Really bad.

“But the story here is Babudar’s lawyer. Because after the hearing, said lawyer addressed the media to explain how Babudar was taking accountability for his actions, and let’s just say he fumbled the message with the most unnecessary football analogy.

“From the beginning of this case, folks, the government has been blitzing. And Xaviar’s pocket was collapsing,” he started. “But today, Xaviar stepped into the pressure,’.”

Yeah, man. Chiesfaholic is cooked.


Photo Friday: The moment ROY was won

(AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Every time these two line up against one another something special happens. This is Victor Wembanyama blocking Chet Holmgren’s shot late in the fourth quarter in a win over Oklahoma City.

The entire sequence was enthralling. It’s worth a watch. Vic probably sealed Rookie of the Year here.

I can’t believe this guy is real.


Quick hits: The top 16 is here … NHL Power Rankings … and more

— Our Mitchell Northam has the winners and losers for the NCAAW top 16 reveal

— Here’s Mary Clarke with her latest NHL Power Rankings ahead of the trade deadline

— The Shaq and Kobe comparisons for Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark are great. Meghan Hall has more.

Michael Penix Jr. and JJ McCarthy are still showing out. Charles Curtis has more.

— Prince Grimes has the best bets for NBA division winners here. Those Nuggets are creeping up on the Thunder, man. Watch out.

— Caroline Darney has the scoop on Dune 2 reviews and they all look great. I cannot wait to see this.

That’s a wrap, folks. Thanks so much for reading today. Have a fantastic weekend. Let’s do it again next week. We out. Peace.

-Sykes ✌️

Charlie Woods deserved so much better than these shameless fans at the Cognizant Classic pre-qualifier

Leave Charlie Woods alone, people.

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 Blake Schuster on Charlie Woods.

Plenty of golf fans woke up on Thursday morning thinking less about this week’s stop at the Mexico Open on the PGA Tour and more about a pre-qualifier event in Hobe Sound, Florida for next week’s Cognizant Classic.

That’s where 15-year-old Charlie Woods was attempting to play his way into a PGA debut. The odds were fully stacked against him. In order for Woods to become one of the youngest players ever to start a PGA Tour event, he needed to place in the top five (and ties) after 18 holes, then finish in the top four of Monday’s true qualifier. Perhaps unsurprisingly — because he is both still a child who is developing his game and also going against adults twice his age — the son of Tiger Woods didn’t come close to advancing to the next round of qualification. Charlie Woods shot 16 over par to finish with an 86.

As his scorecard made the rounds on social media, the comments typically ranged from “Wow, he plays just like me!” to “What a bust!”.

It turns out there was much going on at Lost Lake Golf Club than showed up on the stat sheet. As word got out that Woods was entering the pre-qualifier, shameless “fans” stormed the course as though it were an extension of the WM Phoenix Open, accosting Woods throughout his round, according to The Palm Beach Post:

“As a frustrated Woods made his way up the fairway, spectators began to realize that there were no ropes to bar them from the course. In turn, they walked very close to Woods on the fairway, ignoring repeated requests from tournament officials to stay on the cart path.

A disgruntled fan asked one official: “Who are you? The fire marshal?”

Another fan reportedly approached Charlie while he was putting, demanding he sign a copy of Tiger’s book. A grandmother told The Palm Beach Post she pulled her granddaughter out of school hoping Charlie would notice her.

This behavior would feel beyond gross if it were happening to a pro golfer playing a leisurely round at a municipal course. To treat a 15-year-old child like this as he tries to measure his talents alongside some of the best players in the world is downright disturbing.

Plenty of blame surely falls on the event organizers for not being more prepared. And yes, Woods had a two-man security detail and his mom with him on the course. None of that matters if a throng of deranged fans are running out on the course to disrupt the round.

Simply put, the kid deserved better.

Charlie Woods may become a great golfer one day — maybe even a pretty good pro, too. But we’ll never know when entitled losers like those who showed up in Hobe Sound refuse to give him the space to grow and develop without worrying about his safety on the course.

Jordan Poole, please be a better teammate

(AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

As a Wizards fan, misery is my middle name. I completely understand that my favorite basketball team is going to be bad. But does it also have to be so embarrassing? The basketball gods are cruel.

Jordan Poole, who legitimately might be the worst player in the NBA, had the nerve to complain about going to the bench after shooting a cool 4-17 against the Nuggets on Thursday in a 20-point loss that somehow wasn’t even that close.

“If there’s any common sense, with the situation, you should know how I feel. But I’m just going to come out, do what I can do to help the team, keep it moving.”

Like, come on. How is this your reaction, my guy? You cannot say that after making this play.

And I sat there and watched the entire game, man. Being a fan is so stupid. Never do it.


A quintuple-double for Christmas

I didn’t even know it was possible to put up a quintuple-double, but here we are.

Kieonna Christmas, a senior at Fonda Fultonville High School in New York, posted a quintuple-double on Thursday, according to Max Preps. That’s double figures in five statistical categories, folks.

https://www.instagram.com/maxpreps/p/C3q9A9LNMzk/?hl=en

This is such a rare accomplishment. Only 13 players in the history of prep basketball have ever posted a quintuple-double. Fam. That’s quite a stat. Millions of people have played this sport. Christmas is now in a class of 13 after her game.

I don’t care what level it’s on — that’s one of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen on a basketball court.


Photo Friday: Sunset drive

(Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

This is Japan’s Yuki Tsunoda ripping the Bahrain International Circuit during day three of F1 testing.

This sunset is EVERYTHING. F1 is such a beautiful sport.


Quick hits: Sleeper NFL free agents … Weird NBA Emirates patches … and more

— Cory Woodroof has 15 sleeper NFL free agents you need to be keeping an eye on.

— NBA fans are not happy about the Emirates patches on the NBA official’s shirts. This isn’t a good look. Bryan Kalbrosky has more.

— Travis Kelce and Katy Perry singing ‘Bad Blood’ is going to be one of the most fun things you watch today. Here’s Caroline Darney with more.

— Bryan also put together this wonderful interview with Tyrese Maxey that you should absolutely check out.

— Christian D’Andrea has one cost-saving move for every NFL team this offseason here.

— Seeing Kirk Cousins the moment after he learns about his torn Achilles is gut-wrenching. Here’s Rob Zeglinski with more.

Thanks so much for reading, folks! We appreciate your time. Hope you’ll be back with us on Monday! We’ll talk to you then.

Peace. We out.

-Sykes ✌️

Justin Fields unfollowing the Bears is not a big deal and we don’t need to make it one

Let Justin Fields live, people.

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. Thanks so much for rocking with us today here at For The Win. We appreciate you.

Over the last day or so there’s been a ton of talk about Justin Fields and his social media activity. Not anything wild or out of line. No regrettable tweets or weird Instagram posts.

Instead, all people are talking about is how he unfollowed the Bears on IG. That’s it.

Fields has been at the center of a lot of trade talks this offseason with the Bears having the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. The projected No. 1 pick for most evaluators is either Caleb Williams or Drake Maye, who are both quarterbacks. That’s the same position Fields plays.

To avoid those rumors — and, really, football in general — Fields said on the 33rd Team podcast with Amon-Ra St. Brown and  Equanimeous St. Brown that he unfollowed the Bears and the NFL.

“I still mess with the Bears, this and that. I’m just trying to take a little break [from football content]. I unfollowed the Bears and the NFL. I’m just trying to not have football on my timeline.”

That feels like a reasonable take, right? Yet, a portion of the conversation surrounding this is how Fields is “soft” or taking things too personally here with his unfollow.

But let’s be real. Think about if your employers were thinking of shipping you out. You had no idea where they’d be sending you or when they’d be doing it — just that you could be going because they didn’t think you were good enough.

RELATED: Justin Fields is actually at peace with all the trade talk

Would you really want to see that job on your Instagram timeline? I think not. Personally, I’ve unfollowed social media accounts for less. I’m sure many of you reading this have, too. We’re all human here. None of us are above it.

It’d be dope if we all just remembered for a second that Fields and his colleagues across the league are human, too.

The CFP is doing too much

(AP Photo/Roger Steinman, File)

Just yesterday, we talked about how the NCAA had officially decided on what the 12-team College Football Playoff would look like.

Apparently, that’s not good enough.

The very next day after ratifying this new format, the College Football Playoff management committee was already discussing a 14-team expansion of the format by 2026, ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Heather Dinich report.

Why? It’s the money, man. It’s always the money.

With the Big Ten and SEC now hosting a majority of the teams in the Power 4 conferences, they’re currently searching for a new contract that will give both conferences a bigger slice of the pie. Plus, adding two more slots would add more space for automatic qualifiers, which would mean more Big Ten and SEC teams in the playoff.

But, man. Come on. How much is too much? Because I think we’re there.

Adding two more teams to the equation does nothing but dilute the waters of the College Football Playoff. This isn’t supposed to be a thing where everybody can get in — the playoff is supposed to determine who is the best of the best.

If we’ve got multiple two or even three-loss teams making it in, then what exactly are we doing besides adding more money to the pot? Do we care about quality anymore?

That’s rhetorical. I already know the answer. You probably do, too.


Auston Matthews is on fire

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Auston Matthews is on a historic run right now with the Maple Leafs. He’s unstoppable.

Matthews scored his 50th and 51st goal of the season on Wednesday against the Coyotes. Toronto won the game 6-3, pushing the team’s current winning streak to five. But that wasn’t the big story from last night. Matthews was.

The rate this dude is scoring goals is out of this world. He’s currently on pace for 76 goals this season, which would be the fifth-highest total for a single season in NHL history and the most since the 1992-93 season.

Make history, Auston Matthews. We’re rooting for you.

 


Quick hits: 1 question for every NBA team … A key free agent target for all 32 NFL teams … and more

— Here’s Robert Zeglinski with a question for all 30 teams in the NBA coming out of the All-Star break.

— Christian D’Andrea has one big free agency target for all 32 NFL teams

— Sue Bird thinks Juju Watkins is going to be one of the best college basketball players ever. I tend to agree. Meghan Hall has more.

Charlie Woods on the PGA Tour?!?! It could happen! Here’s Blake Schuster on how.

— Patrick Mahomes really is Michael Jordan. Here’s Robert Zeglinski on the Raiders new strategy against him.

— Uhhhh somebody should probably do something about these pants in Major League Baseball. Here’s Blake again with more.

That’s a wrap, folks! Thanks so much for reading today. Appreciate you. Have a fantastic Thursday. Let’s chat again tomorrow. Peace.

-Sykes ✌️

UConn’s upset loss to Creighton is the perfect appetizer for March Madness

BRING. ON. MARCH.

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! Thanks so much for tapping in with the Morning Win today. We appreciate you giving us a bit of your time.

Are y’all ready for March, man?!? I am. Bring it on already.

With all due respect to February — a fantastic month, by the way — I am ready for some upset specials in my life.

UConn’s wild loss to Creighton just has me ready to watch a bunch of dudes I do not know by name beat some of the best basketball teams in the country. That’s what March Madness is all about, right? We’re all here for the upsets.

Creighton’s 85-66 win was almost the perfect primer for the NCAA tournament. It’s not quite unfathomable that Creighton would beat UConn — coming into the game the Bluejays were ranked No. 15 in the nation and had a pretty good record of 19-7.

This isn’t the biggest upset in the world, but it’s still an upset worthy of storming the court.

That’s the thing I love so much about March Madness. It’s the schadenfreude from it all, man. The sheer joy on one side of the court and the devastation on the other. It’s gut-wrenchingly beautiful.

Sometimes, it’s fair to say things can go a bit too far like when Dan Hurley seemingly threatens a fan or when Caitlin Clark collides with a student after they storm the court. Those moments are not college basketball’s best, to be sure.

But there’s something about the juxtaposition of seeing someone’s best moment coinciding with another person’s absolute worst that just makes this stuff so addicting. That’s what makes March so special.

I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not. But, to me, it’s what sports is all about. Bring it all on.

The College Football Playoff is settled

(AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Speaking of college tournaments, the College Football Playoff’s new 12-team format is officially set. It was announced by the committee on Tuesday morning.

All 10 of the FBS chancellors plus Notre Dame’s president voted unanimously for the format. That includes the Pac-12, which abstained from voting several times previously while the conference tried to figure out its future.

How it works: 

— The tournament will be in the 5+7 format originally proposed with the five highest-ranking conference champions getting automatic bids.

— The other seven teams in the playoff will be the next highest-ranking at-large teams in the pool

— The first four teams all get a first-round bye while the No. 5 through No. 12 seeds will play each other to advance.

This seemed to be the best format to benefit the Power Four (?) conferences and the Pac-12. The P4 conference champions get automatic bids. The Pac-12’s two teams still have a shot at seven at-large slots for the next two years, too. It’s not a win-win, but it’s as close as it was going to get while the Pac-12 works to rebuild its conference.

I still think 12 teams are too many here, but it’ll be fascinating to watch this work


Time for a change already?

Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

MLB players hate their new jerseys so much, they’re already trying to switch things up. Our Andrew Joseph has more detail on that here.

Nike’s new Vapor Premier uniforms seem to be universally disliked at this point. So much so that Tony Clark, the president of the MLBPA, is working to change the uniforms back. He spoke with The Athletic about it this week.

“We are on the phone with the requisite parties that are involved in making that decision because we aren’t. We’re trying to make sure our guys have what they need in the fashion that they need it. And it’s reflective of what being a major-league ballplayer should be reflective of.”

It’s far too late to make any large-scale changes here. Nike’s plan is set in stone. But there is some hope to change little things with the detailing here.

“Specifically, players aren’t pleased with the smaller (and more curved) name plate, lack of stitching and overall feel for the uniforms,” Andrew Joseph writes. “They’d also want to be able to tailor the pants to their liking as they used to be able to.”

There’s a lot of work to be done here and not a ton of time to do it. Best of luck to Tony Clark. He’s going to need it.

READ MORE: Here’s what Fanatics and Nike’s new MLB uniforms look like for all 30 teams.


Quick hits: Fixing the NBA All-Star game … Doc Rivers’ hilariously brutal admission  … and more

— Prince Grimes has a brilliant solution to fix the competitiveness of the NBA All-Star game. Give my guy a call, Adam Silver.

— Here’s Bryan Kalbrosky on Doc Rivers admitting he didn’t know why the Bucks chose to hire him.

— Patrick Mahomes was already thinking three-peat while celebrating at the Super Bowl. Robert Zeglinski has more.

— Cory Woodroof has the perfect casting for the Beatles for the new upcoming project focusing on the band. The Beatles Cinematic Universe is here, folks.

— This mid-off between Patrick Beverley and JJ Redick about Doc Rivers is hilarious.

— Here are the best bets from Prince Grimes on when and how LeBron James will score his 40,000th point.

That’s a wrap, folks. Let’s chat again tomorrow. Peace.

-Sykes ✌️

Rick Pitino’s cruel rant shows he still somehow has no shame after all these years

I would say Rick Pitino should be better but I don’t know if he can

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, folks! Welcome back to the Morning Win. Thank you so much for rocking with us at For the Win today. We greatly appreciate your time.

That’s something Rick Pitino has probably never said to his players. He doesn’t seem to appreciate much of anything they do at St. John’s.

I’m sure by now you’ve seen the rant Pitino went on about his team after their latest loss to Seton Hall. He publicly undressed his entire squad and its problems in front of cameras for the world to hear.

He called this job the “most unenjoyable experience” of his life. Honestly, is he sure about that? Because I can surely think of more than a few Pitino circumstances that seem like they might’ve been a bit more unenjoyable than coaching at St. John’s. I mean, that’s why he’s there in the first place, right?

Look, I get the frustration. St. John’s isn’t very good. The team is 2-8 in its last 10 games. But this isn’t just frustration — it’s bullying. It’s Rick Pitino using his power as a head coach to make his players feel as small as possible. He groaned on and on about how his players are “slow laterally” and “physically weak.” Those aren’t critiques — those are insults.

Plus, I’m sorry, but did I miss the part where somebody was holding him hostage and forcing him to coach this team? Everybody and everything suck so bad! …but he won’t leave.

Of course he won’t. There’s no cushy buyout and a clear path to a bigger job he can leech off of at the end of the road. He may never coach again if he does that because the sad reality is he just might not be good enough anymore. His best days as a head coach might be in the rearview mirror.

Ah, yes. There it is. The personal accountability Rick Pitino is terrified of taking here.

What he didn’t let us know in that rant is that these are all his players. This is the team that he orchestrated. This squad added 12 new players this offseason. This is the team he wanted. If they’re so bad and slow and weak, that’s on him.

As the head coach, it’s your job to get your players to play their best ball. It’s your job to make sure they’re able to sustain the 12-point lead they built. It’s your job to get your house in order after your team loses eight of the last 10 games. That’s why you’re paid what you’re paid.

Taking out your shortcomings on your unpaid “amateur” workforce while you literally make millions to fail is feckless. Period.

Be better, Rick Pitino. If you have it in you.


This is what being an adult looks like

Iowa guard Caitlin Clark makes a heart gesture after the team's NCAA college basketball game against Michigan, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. Clark broke the NCAA women's career scoring record.
(AP Photo/Matthew Putney)

Rick Pitino could probably learn a thing or two at his big age from Sheryl Swoopes here.

Remember the whole Caitlin Clark thing where Swoopes got some numbers wrong? She called the Iowa star and apologized for it. Meghan Hall has more here.

“It’s been a whirlwind month regarding the alleged beef between Sheryl Swoopes and Caitlin Clark. Fans have been in a frenzy since Swoopes said that she didn’t think Angel Reese or Caitlin Clark would make an immediate impact in the WNBA and implied that Clark’s previous pace to break Kelsey Plum’s NCAA scoring record was seemingly unimpressive. Those comments ignited hoops fans and even led to the team’s social media account getting involved. Then, things quickly escalated to “Don’t Be a Sheryl” and “Be a Sheryl” shirts flooding the internet. It was A LOT.

However, per Chantel Jennings of The Athletic, Swoopes recently revealed during a Baylor-Texas Tech broadcast that she had a conversation with Angel Reese via phone, and she also reached out to Clark to clear the air.”

Swoopes left out the glorious details here but, long story short, she apologized and told her that she respected her game. And I’m sure that means a lot to Clark, considering that Swoopes is a basketball legend.

It’s great to see the air cleared between these two.


The Nationals are not for sale

Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

If you were in the market to purchase a baseball team, it sounds like you should take Washington off of your radar. The Nationals are not for sale anymore. At least, that’s what Mark Lerner is telling the Washington Post.

Add this latest announcement to the list of confounding moves the Nationals have made since winning a World Series in 2019.

Since then, the team has:

— Shed a ton of salary by letting its stars walk in free agency or via trade

— Announced that the Lerner family would be looking to sell the team

— And now the family has completely backed away from the idea of a sale

The Lerners are unpredictable. It’s hard to know what the future of this team holds or when it’ll even be competitive again.

The rebuild is moving along according to plan with Washington completely rebuilding its farm system. Ownership just has to be willing to spend again. Maybe, now that the Lerners are fully committed to the Nationals again, they will.

Don’t hold your breath on that, though.


Quick hits: Behold! MLB’s new awful jerseys … The 102 best NFL free agents … and more

— Andrew Joseph has a look at all of the Nike-Fanatics MLB jerseys for this season.

— Christian D’Andrea has a list of the 102 best NFL free agents this offseason. Yes. One hundred and two.

— Skylar Diggins-Smith finally revealed exactly why she moved on from the Phoenix Mercury. Meghan Hall has more here.

— Prince Grimes says you should buy low on Jayson Tatum’s MVP odds. This is a good bet.

— Man. Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic’s friendship is the absolute best. Here’s Meghan with more.

William Byron’s big finish at the Daytona 500 had fans on tilt. Here’s Nick Schwartz with more.

Thanks so much for reading, folks! We appreciate you. We’ll be back again with more tomorrow. Until then! Peace!

-Sykes ✌️