There’s nothing like a heat wave to throw off your summer training schedule. Let’s just say my motivation for outdoor workouts is giving more of this sleepy courtside energy at the NBA Finals than actual hustle. Someone who’s still giving it their all? A’ja Wilson, whose zebra-inspired tunnel fit had the internet buzzing. Meanwhile, Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon isn’t letting anything slow her down as she sets off to become the first woman to run a sub-four-minute mile. (If my running shoes could sigh… they would.) Until I decide to get back out there, I’m seriously considering Emma Roberts’s latest sports hobby — or whether Brad Pitt (and his press tour outfits) can actually get me interested in F1. Now, let’s get to some other sports highlights…
— Maria Corpus / Editor / Madison, WI
Let's Discuss
What to look out for in our latest episode.
Are the WNBA Refs Quiet Quitting?
What's going on: Calls for better officiating across the WNBA are getting louder from players, coaches, and even fans. Complaints about refs aren’t new in sports, but a recent game between the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun poured gasoline on the fire. That matchup ended with numerous technicals, two flagrant fouls, and three players ejected. The general consensus? The refs didn’t make the right calls and let the game spiral out of control — part of a larger pattern that players are tired of. At one point, Fever guard Sophie Cunningham literally took matters (or rather, opponent Jacy Sheldon’s head) into her own hands while defending teammate Caitlin Clark.
Our take: This might be less about judgment calls, more about the league’s resources. Unlike some in the NBA, Sports Illustrated reports that refs in the WNBA aren’t salaried employees — many have to take on other jobs, like officiating NCAA games. Another major difference? While NBA refs have a NASA-worthy high-tech replay center in New Jersey to review their calls, WNBA refs often review their own footage. As the league continues to grow, some sports analysts say it’s time for larger structural changes — or fans and players may experience the same old problems.
