Hi friends!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I wanted to pop into your inbox quickly to chat about a few things before I am off the rest of the week for Christmas. I officially got into the holiday spirit last night by watching The Muppet Christmas Carol, AKA the greatest Christmas movie of all time. Both Kermit the Frog and Michael Caine deserved Oscars for their performances. But now’s not the time to wage an awards campaign for a frog puppet. Let’s get to the basketball:
ICYMI: This week I had my first Athletic byline. I was lucky enough to write about Sydni Summers, an incredible athlete from UNLV, who gave birth to her daughter Naziyah less than three months ago and is now returning to the court.
I was able to meet Sydni, Naziyah and her father Brent over Thanksgiving, when I was in Vegas for the Players Era Championship. While there, I got to watch Sydni go from basketball mode on the bench, to mom mode, taking care of Naziyah while doing her interview with me. Sydni’s story is one of courage, resilience and joy. I hope you take the time to read it. I promise you’ll get something out of it!
Good reads 📖
Since I’m plugging one of my own articles, and the holidays tend to have plenty of down time for reading, here are a few other pieces I’ve enjoyed recently.
🏀 ESPN’s Alexa Philippou breaks down latest news on the WNBA’s CBA negotiations
🐔 Greenville News’ Lulu Kesin on Ta’Niya Latson’s role at South Carolina
🍻 The Athletic’s Kaylen Jackson on Brooklyn’s first women’s sports bar
🐯 ESPN’s Kendra Andrews on the star that is Flau’jae Johnson
🟠 Knoxville News Sentinel’s Cora Hall on Tennessee coach Kim Caldwell’s style of play