Well Played

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.  In this episode of Well Played, we also cover: What the Fanatics Flag Football classic has to do with the LA28 Olympics The details of the WNBA CBA agreement – and why 2026 rookies should be happy Why a Brazilian soccer star called out Chappell Roan for shading…Jude Law’s daughter? Whether Alvaro Folgueiras actually threw a punch, and why he’s the Fernando Mendoza of college hoops Send Its: Women’s hockey beer league: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWCNF-GjoE0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Sabrina Ionescu drains buckets and beers: https://www.reddit.com/r/wnba/comments/1s16hia/sabrina_ionescu_shotgunning_a_beer_wluke_combs/ Alysa Liu and Fernando Mendoza team up to play…Fortnite?: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWMMcq1Eb2X/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Miami player’s first stop post-Purdue loss isn’t what you think: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWNevHRjL0l/ Dr. Lemon, this TCU player needs an extension: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWO3GlekY3u/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 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/  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

Harry Styles ran two marathons and all he got was peeing advice that we may or may not adopt. Heavy on the “may not”. Trinity Rodman and Cameron Brink reminded us that Gen Z almost always finds love using the internet, and made us yearn for the Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and JFK Jr. days of romance (are you team red roses or white orchids?). And in actual sports news, Caroline tells us who to look out for post-NFL Combine. In this episode of Well Played, we also cover: Charles LeClerc’s first wedding – implying there is a second How Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong led UCONN women’s basketball to dominance this season Comparing the NBA and WNBA’s salary caps ahead of the women’s CBA deadline on March 10  Dawn Staley’s advice for Bam Adebayo when it comes to A’ja Wilson  A four-for-one Alysa Liu Send It, from her trip to “Watch What Happens Live” to meeting Daniel Radcliffe Send Its: Soccer player gives seagull CPR: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/reels/DVXHV-vkxgj/⁠  UCONN vs. UMass breakaway lights out: ⁠https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/uconn/article/hockey-umass-mullins-center-lights-viral-score-ot-21949129.php⁠  Who’s Alysa Liu’s Olympic crush?: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/p/DVSW-YTFHTn/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=cd0deea4-8a44-408a-be19-2aafadcb19b8⁠  And who’s the mascot who dressed like her?: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/shorts/q_wuyZ33cJs⁠  Follow Dawn Staley on IG: @staley05 Follow Well Played on IG: @wellplayedbytheskimm  Follow Blake on IG: @blaaakkkke  Follow Caroline on IG: @cghendy  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices