Well Played

EDITOR’S NOTE

While most students are officially on summer break, I've just started another quarter of grad school. Between classes and work, I’ll sleep when I’m hooded. And while I'm not juggling it all in heels like Trinity Rodman, I am doing my best to keep up. Maybe it's no coincidence that stories of endurance have caught my eye lately. I've become invested in Kelsey Pfendler's attempt to become the first American woman and youngest female to row from California to Hawaii solo, and her rapidly dwindling coffee supply. I'm also still trying to wrap my head around Kate Middleton climbing three mountains in three UK countries in less than 24 hours (especially with conditions that looked less than ideal). And with the World Cup knockout stage now underway, I also found myself Googling how many miles players could log if they make it all the way to the final. Suddenly, my calendar doesn't seem quite so intimidating. Now, let's get to the rest of the headlines…

— Jordan Galloway / Editor / Katonah, NY

Let's Discuss

Fashion Takes Center Court at Wimbledon

What's going on: Maybe it’s all the white, but is this year’s Wimbledon feeling vaguely… bridal to anyone else? The ever-closer marriage of fashion and sports means athletes often serve looks on their way to competitions, but Naomi Osaka just entered a league of her own. The No. 14 seed glided onto the Wimbledon grass on Monday looking almost regal, wrapped in flowing, white kimono-inspired attire made from vintage Japanese wedding garments. She told reporters the look was a nod to Lucy Liu's Kill Bill character (not a woman you want to cross). Osaka set the tone for what "tennis whites" could mean, and several men's and women's players have tried to keep up. Taylor Fritz (or should we say, Fits) rebranded business casual when he wore an all-white suit — complete with tearaway pants — to his first-round match. Meanwhile, Marta Kostyuk took a more personal approach, wearing a new version of a tennis dress inspired by the wedding gown she codesigned with Wilson in 2023. Aces all around.

Our take: On paper, Wimbledon shouldn't be tennis's biggest fashion stage. The All England Club signs off on every outfit players plan to wear a year in advance and dictates nearly every detail, Sunita Kumar Nair, who literally wrote the book on tennis style, told theSkimm. It’s spent more than a century treating white attire as a symbol of tradition and uniformity. Even seemingly small changes — like permitting shorter hemlines in the early 1900s or finally allowing women to wear dark undershorts in 2023 — have sparked debate. That's exactly what makes this moment so remarkable. Kumar Nair says that today's players increasingly see their walk-on outfits and court attire as chances to express their personality, confidence, and flair. She adds that designers now "relish the challenge" to create something memorable within Wimbledon's famously rigid rules: “From Lacoste’s jacket for Novak [Djokovic], to Coco [Gauff]’s Miu Miu baby-doll dress, to Naomi with her incredible Japanese traditional look, there is no way that all white is boring.”

Pick Six

More sports talkers you don't want to miss.

⛳ Tom Holland made a bogey with his response to a mental health question on live TV, and Zendaya let him know it. Let’s just say he’s not ready to play the newlywed game.

💬 We’re dying to know what Sue Bird and Jackie Young were talking about at the Commissioner’s Cup Championship last night. Where’s a lip-reader when you need one?

🔥 Coco Gauff wound up as a backup dancer at one of Bad Bunny’s recent tour stops, and we wouldn’t believe how if she hadn’t told the story herself.

🌴 On her recent Hawaiian vacation, Jessica Alba showed off a pretty impressive golf swing. But what we really want to know is where she got those windbreaker pants…

🤔 LeBron James only just announced he’s leaving the Lakers, and the speculation around his next act is already unhinged. We will admit, though, this one potential move would be epic.

👀 See why we’re begging Channing Tatum to take off this wig. He’s not the maan.

In Our Rotation

We like our yoga mats to be soft, extra-cushioned, and easy to carry. Just like this under-$35 one.

One of our editors called this square-neck tank the only base layer she’s reaching for this summer. Bra not required.

Keep scrolling...more recs below

Timeout...

How excited should I let myself be about the USMNT’s chances?

After the US Men's National Team won its first two World Cup games, fans started to wonder whether a miracle could actually happen. The players certainly seem to think so. Even former USMNT captain Landon Donovan believes there’s a chance… under some very specific circumstances. And what is the American sports dream built on if not a certain level of delusional self-belief? The path is tricky and will require some luck. The first step is for the team — which hasn’t made it out of the knockout round since 2002 — to get past Bosnia and Herzegovina (the only European team they’ve beaten within five years). So maybe it's time to blast Ellie Goulding’s "Anything Could Happen" and dare to dream.

On Our Calendar

Saturday, July 4

🚲 Tour de France begins in Barcelona

The 2,063-mile, multiweek race kicks off in Spain, with one rider looking to continue his winning streak.

⚽ World Cup Round of 16 starts

This round kicks off in Houston. Here’s where everyone stands right now.

🌭 Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest

The annual competition kicks off in Coney Island, and 17-time winner Joey Chestnut hopes to break his own heartburn-inducing record.

Monday, July 6

🎾 69th Anniversary of Althea Gibson’s Wimbledon win

In 1957, Gibson made history as the first Black player to score the title, which she defended the following year. Celebrate with a rewatch of this doc about her life.

Psst…this is just the preview: Subscribe to theSkimm app and never miss a moment.

In Her Court

“Making the decision to leave early was a big risk.” — Sophia Wilson on the uncommon choice that changed her trajectory.

In Our Rotation

This is your sign to invest in new sunglasses. We love this pair for its gender-neutral style and 100% UV protection lenses.

Prepare for the coming heat wave with this editor-tested portable misting fan. PS: It’s more than $50 off right now.

Psst…love our recs? Follow @skimmshopping on Instagram for more products, gifts, and services that are actually worth the hype (and the price tag).

No Notes

Tell Us

The New York Liberty made WNBA history Tuesday night by becoming the first team to do what?

A. Win multiple Commissioner's Cup titles

B. Host multiple Commissioner's Cup finals

C. Win the Commissioner's Cup and WNBA Finals in the same season

Jessica Alba don’t tees us