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 Charles Curtis.
Hey! Happy Monday! I know, Mondays, amirite?
But you know who’s having the best Monday of all? Or at least I hope she is? Angel Reese.
That would be WNBA All-Star Angel Reese to you. Call her WNBA Rookie of the Year favorite Angel Reese if you’d like. Or, how about Double-Double Queen Angel Reese?
Because the Chicago Sky rookie just recorded her 13th (!) consecutive (!!) double-double to break a record by the legendary Candace Parker (!!!).
If you’ve been one of those people — not naming names here! — who hasn’t given Reese the respect she deserves, I hope you are now. Because what she’s doing is just jaw-dropping. All of this, as a rookie!
Somehow, she dropped to No. 7 in the WNBA Draft due to shooting concerns. That doesn’t matter with what she can do in the paint. We kind of knew from her college resume that she’d be solid in the league. But this? This is budding stardom right here. There’s a lot of attention being paid around the rest of the league, and deservedly so.
But it’s time you give Reese the respect she deserves, if you haven’t already.
Uh, is anyone else a little bit nervous about Team USA men’s basketball at the Olympics? No?
Let’s be honest. Team USA’s men’s hoops team is filthy. They’ve got some serious firepower on both ends of the floor, and the presence of Joel Embiid should be huge.
There’s just a TEENY TINY bit of nervousness from me on a few things. First, Kevin Durant is already injured, and I just hope Embiid, Anthony Davis and Kawhi Leonard stay healthy. Then, I know that Anthony Edwards is being his usual bold, confident self, but he called himself the “No. 1 option” on this team. Hope that doesn’t ruffle any feathers!
Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards on how he fits in with USA Basketball Olympic team: “I’m still the number one option. Y’all might look at it differently. … They’ve got to fit in around me. That’s how I feel.” pic.twitter.com/Cga5kTiR2J
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) July 7, 2024
The other factor, as our Prince Grimes pointed out, is the rest of the world is GOOD:
But after Team USA failed to medal in last year’s FIBA World Cup, they recruited a team of heavy-hitters for this summe, enlisting stars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Joel Embiid. The worst player on the team might be between Bam Adebayo and Tyrese Haliburton. And yet, they aren’t bigger favorites. As we saw with France’s takeover of the NBA Draft last month, the world is coming.
Canada has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, RJ Barrett and Jamal Murray. France features Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert. And so on.
So, yeah. A little nervous!
All-Star snubs!
Hi there! Totally biased New York Mets fan here, but COME ON! FRANCISCO LINDOR SHOULD BE AN ALL-STAR! He’s hitting dingers, stealing bases, getting clutch hits … what more do you want? BOOOOO!
OK, rant over. Check out seven other names who should have been selected.
Quick hits: Livvy Dunne celebrated Paul Skenes’ All-Star spot … Euro 2024 semi predictions! … and more.
— Livvy Dunne had a delightful way of celebrating her boyfriend, Paul Skenes, getting to the All-Star Game.
— Some Euro 2024 predictions for the semifinals from our Robert Zeglinski.
— The NBA completed a first-ever six team trade. Wheeee!
— This Yankees fan pulled a Rookie of the Year moment by throwing an absolute laser back after a Rafael Devers homer.
— It’s never too early for a mock draft. Here’s Bryan Kalbrosky’s 2025 NBA mock, starring Cooper Flagg, of course.