I took some birthday PTO last week with one goal: be deeply unserious. So my friends and I hit an arcade, where I attacked the claw machines and tried to channel this level of hand-eye coordination. Apparently, I wasn't alone in embracing the silly because my algorithm later served me a truly unhinged (and wonderful) sibling rivalry showdown — as a younger sister myself, I have never picked a side faster. Then, ESPN’s The Ocho returned with proof men will do literally anything with soap except clean, and a 14-year-old dart player landed a trick shot so absurd I briefly considered a new side hustle. Somehow, he still got upstaged by a guy whose job was simply to celebrate with confetti. It did not go according to plan. Consider this my birthday reminder to never outgrow playtime. Now, let’s get to the rest of the sports world…
— Mallory Simon / Writer / New York, New York
Let's Discuss
All Eyes on Sue
What’s going on: Sue Bird spent years helping Team USA basketball collect gold medals. Now she’s tasked with picking the next generation of players who can hopefully do the same. And that's a pretty big departure from how things used to work. Last year, USA Basketball named Bird the women’s national team’s first managing director. Her position replaced the committee that previously selected players and it makes Bird largely responsible for building the team. Her 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup roster gives us our first real look at what that means. Seven players (Aliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier, Rhyne Howard, Angel Reese, and Jackie Young) will make their event debuts next month in Berlin, while Paris gold medalists Jewell Loyd, Alyssa Thomas, and Brittney Griner are staying home. So is rising star Olivia Miles, whose omission quickly landed her on the snub list. Bird called Miles a “great young player” who will “undoubtedly be in the mix” for future teams. But she says team construction isn't about evaluating one player “in a silo.” She wanted players who complement each other, have a cohesiveness, and fit with coach Kara Lawson’s style of play — which emphasizes defensive intensity, disciplined execution, and a structured, team-first offense built on ball movement and versatility.
Our take: Bird told us this was coming. When she took the job, she said she’d lean on her two decades of experience with Team USA and her understanding of what makes for a good mix on the court — spoken like a true point guard. Bird has described basketball as five players needing to be “on a string,” connected whether they’re directly involved in the play or not. Her first roster puts that philosophy into practice while keeping an eye on what comes next. Bird was once the youngster getting her first international reps, experience she says “paid dividends” later. The newcomers will now get that chance alongside veterans (A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, and Kelsey Plum) who already understand how to win on an international stage. That makes Berlin more than a title defense. It’s Bird’s first chance to show what Team USA can look like on her watch.
