Skimm This

This March Madness, the category was “upset.” At least on the women’s side. South Carolina upset UCONN — the overwhelming favorite on the women’s side – which failed on its mission to win the natty two years in a row. Then, UCONN coach Geno Auriemma literally upset South Carolina coach Dawn Staley in a post-game screaming match. We dive into his allegations, his half-assed apology, and why we’re tired of seeing women have to take the higher road.  In this episode of Well Played, we also cover:  Angel Reese kicks off WNBA free agency trade, going from the Chicago Sky to the Atlanta Dream  Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom share the reality behind Odom’s addiction in a new episode of “Untold” Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld’s first public engagement after having their baby girl  Rapper J. Cole’s new sporty side quest that literally no one asked for  Madison Keys recaps the Amanda Batula and West Wilson drama  Send It: Royal Baby of Buffalo enters the chat: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWpTKnYkk9G/  Rory McIlroy’s Masters Menu: https://www.masters.com/en_US/news/articles/2026-03-18/for_mcilroy_a_masterful_menu_with_a_touch_of_home.html  J. Cole off to China: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/48374160/rapper-j-cole-signs-chinese-league-nanjing-monkey-kings  Madison Keys on the Summer House drama for The Tennis Channel: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWsJINjDngv/  Other links: Lauren Betts’ The Player’s Tribune essay “I Want to Be Here’: https://www.theplayerstribune.com/lauren-betts-ncaa-basketball-ucla  Kyle Cook’s messy rant: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jIQsRMg6V8s  Geno Auriemma, updated apology post recording: https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/geno-auriemma-sparks-backlash-incomplete-193229146.html  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marathoner Emma Bates went viral after sharing that her sponsor, UCan, dropped her once they learned she was pregnant. While UCan denied the allegation, it still reminded us of an unfortunate reality for women athletes – that the “pregnancy penalty” still exists. We break down what the penalty is, why some women athletes view pregnancy as a “death sentence” to their career, and how athletes like Allyson Felix have fought to stop it. In this episode, we also cover: Naomi Osaka retirement rumors swirling after her comments around motherhood and her tennis career Shaq addressing the AI-generated texts between him and Sabrina Carpenter NWSL smashing record attendance (again) – and the Denver Summit player who proved representation does matter Which teams made it to the Final Four, and how Blake and Caroline’s brackets are doing Send Its: Carson Pickett’s heartwarming moment with young fan: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DWcSRqXEjN_/ Shaq’s AI-generated texts: https://youtu.be/rOxlgU75f7w?si=D7XQPSA24hqA5wqz&t=18 The Stewart-Brunson fracture: https://people.com/martha-stewart-said-nba-player-broke-her-toe-courtside-11871039 Miss Thailand contestant breaks it down: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWeaQ_PDRRM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It finally happened – the WNBA voted to ratify its new collective bargaining agreement, months after the deadline passed. It’s a major win for professional women’s basketball players and the league, which will offer what it calls “the first comprehensive revenue-sharing model in women's professional sports history.” With just weeks until the season starts, the off-season – and free agency chaos – begins.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The internet was all in on Timothée Chalamet’s Oscars run last year for “Marty Supreme” (guilty as charged). The Academy? Not so much. The ping-pong flick struck out, Chalamet walked back his ballet take, and he left empty-handed. Meanwhile, ballerina Misty Copeland had a front-row seat, performing onstage during Sinners’ “I Lied to You.” She joins us on Well Played to talk about getting the call from Ryan Coogler, what society gets wrong about women’s strength, and her journey back after hip replacement surgery. In this episode of Well Played, we also cover: Chloe Kim and Myles Garett’s unlikely matchmaker  Boston Legacy’s record-breaking home opener – and why the record won’t last long Misty Copeland on how she gained a newfound strength post-retirement How Oksana Masters went from orphan in Ukraine to most decorated Paralympian Where to find our March Madness brackets Send Its:  Dua Lipa, Callum Turner, and Jannik Sinner give us a lesson in body language: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DV4oi-7D4DV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==  Indian Wells’ Whitney Houston challenge: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DV1Xi3GigJ7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==  Learn about Chandler Bing: https://vucommodores.com/roster/chandler-bing/  Christian McCaffrey goes to (fashion) jail: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DV0Apt5jR1j/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==  Bonus: Oksana Masters article from “The Player’s Tribune” https://projects.theplayerstribune.com/oksana-masters-the-hard-part-out-loud/p/1  Follow Misty Copeland: @mistyonpointe Learn about Aveeno x Togethxr's "The Strength Issue":  @aveeno   @Togethxr  Follow Well Played: @wellplayedbytheskimm Follow Blake: @blaaakkkke Follow Caroline: @cghendy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mercury is in retrograde which can only mean one thing — breakups. From Dak Prescott and Sarah Jane Ramos calling off their wedding to Luka Dončić’s fiancée deleting all of her photos with the star hooper, this week gave us nothing but drama in the love department. Plus, Caroline recaps this week’s free agency frenzy and CBS’ betting analyst, Mackenzie Brooks, gives practical advice on how to actually win your March Madness pool. In this episode of Well Played, we also cover: Who promptly shut down the Joe Burrow and Jessica Alba dating rumors Why some are mad after Sydney Leroux’s annual International Women’s Day post How Tobin Heath’s jersey retirement came full circle, ft. Brandi Chastain Why no one — not even elite athletes like Aryna Sabalenka — is safe from their moms comments on their appearance Send Its: Italians at the World Baseball Classic: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVmhwuWDezX/?hl=en Sydney Leroux’s iconic International Women’s Day post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVpJv2Bj8Fs/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&img_index=6 Steven’s Institute lax bros support at spelling bee: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVoQ_QMDij2/ Iridocyclitis: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oOrWDt1o1gk Practicing sports is embarrassing: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVoQ_QMDij2/ Follow Mackenzie Brooks: @kenzbrooksbets Follow Well Played: @wellplayedbytheskimm Follow Blake: @blaaakkkke Follow Caroline: @cghendy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices