Well Played

EDITOR’S NOTE

One of my core sports memories from high school is watching UConn women’s basketball win its third straight NCAA championship in 2004. So when the trailer for The Dynasty: UConn Huskies dropped, I was immediately back in my prewrap headband era. The new docuseries looks at 40 years of the program under Geno Auriemma and premieres on Apple TV this Friday, which has naturally sent me down a bit of a UConn rabbit hole. I agree with Auriemma on his retirement philosophy, but I have notes for Diana Taurasi’s UConn Mount Rushmore. Namely: Diana, you forgot Diana. I’d also like to formally request the return of this windbreaker set from slide three. And since Taurasi apparently won’t give herself her flowers, I’m glad the Phoenix Mercury did when they retired her jersey over the weekend. OK, I’ll stop reminiscing now. Let’s get to the rest of the sports headlines…

— Jordan Galloway, Editor, Katonah, NY

Let's Discuss

Advantage, GLP-1?

What’s going on: GLP-1s have transformed weight loss. Now experts are asking: Could they give athletes an edge? There’s been no avoiding the subject at the Cincinnati Open, where a banner showing 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams injecting herself with a GLP-1 circled overhead. Williams is the most prominent athlete to publicly embrace the drugs, but there are signs others are using them, too. In a small new international study, researchers surveyed 114 sports-medicine physicians across 38 countries, and 12% said they were aware of athletes using GLP-1s without a medical need. When asked why athletes might use them, physicians most often cited the need to meet weight requirements or manage weight after an injury. The catch? Nobody actually knows whether that translates to better performance. In the sports world, “one reason for the uncertainty is that GLP-1 drugs have not been studied in elite athletes,” cardiologist and exercise physiologist Massimo Mapelli told the BBC.

The gray area: So why are regulators watching? One US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) adviser says GLP-1s could theoretically offer an advantage in sports where weight matters. But being lighter doesn’t necessarily mean performing better. On the flip side, GLP-1s can suppress appetite and cause muscle loss, potentially leaving athletes underfueled and weaker. For now, the World Anti-Doping Agency doesn’t prohibit the drugs, though it monitors semaglutide — a GLP-1 medication prescribed for weight loss and diabetes — for potential misuse. Another USADA official says future versions that preserve more muscle could prove more advantageous. Take away one of the drugs’ biggest potential drawbacks for athletes, and you change the game considerably.

In Her Court

“I’m not that much of a spender.” — JuJu Watkins shares how she’s handling her money at 21 — and the surprisingly practical thing she bought herself recently.

Pick Six

More sports talkers you don't want to miss.

👑 Princess Charlotte reportedly plays on a competitive netball team. Wonder if William and Kate ever forget it’s their turn to bring the orange slices?

🏀 Jordyn Woods and Karl-Anthony Towns had a stacked wedding guest list, but Hailey Bieber’s Versace gown came with its own A-list resume: Naomi Campbell wore it first.

😈 NWSL and USWNT veteran Sydney Leroux celebrated her return to Angel City’s active roster by showing up dressed as Maleficent. Subtlety was never her sport.

🏈 Travis Kelce has a new side hustle: helping brands find college athletes for NIL deals. Because apparently, being a tight end, podcaster, and Taylor Swift’s husband wasn’t enough.

⚽ Former soccer defender and friend of the Well Played pod Ali Riley talking about her embryo transfer is so relatable and very funny.

🦮 Just in time for the dog days of summer, Mikal Bridges’s Lab, Sonny, has landed his first Vogue (our bad, Dogue) cover.

In Our Rotation

Don’t pick at that growing pimple. Put one of these on before bed, and it’ll diminish by morning.

We found an under-$20 sports bra that gets the job done (and has a cult following).

Keep scrolling...more recs below

On Our Calendar

Wednesday, August 19

⚾ Little League World Series begins

The 20-team event kicks off today in Williamsport, PA. Could one of these kids be a future MLB star? It’s happened before.

Sunday, August 23

🎾 US Open starts

Fan Week starts today, with practices and matches to fill the remaining spots in the tournament. Plus, a certain 20-time Grand Slam champ is coming back — any guesses?

Monday, August 24

👟 Kobe Bryant Day

The date is a nod to the Lakers legend’s jersey numbers, 8 and 24. And, Fight Club (we're not talking about it) is raffling rare editions of Kobe’s Nike sneakers. See for yourself.

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

Timeout...

Will Carlos Alcaraz defend his US Open title?

Our Well Played co-hosts and friends of the show tackle listener Qs.

Carlos Alcaraz is back on a tennis court. Whether he’s ready to be back on tour is another story. The 23-year-old seven-time Grand Slam champ hasn’t played an official match since a right-wrist injury knocked him out in April. It forced him to miss the French Open, Wimbledon, and Cincinnati. Now he’s practicing at high intensity and reportedly feels better by the day. The bigger question? His serve. Videos show Alcaraz ripping shots from the baseline, but he hasn’t served at full power because it puts more stress on his wrist. And after more than four months without an official match, jumping straight into a best-of-five Grand Slam is no casual warm-up. Alcaraz is expected to decide this week whether he’ll defend his US Open title when singles play begins Aug. 30.

In Our Rotation

Have you seen our shopping editors’ favorite blister-free summer footwear?

It’s not too late to get your tan on. Try this organic self-tanning lotion. It blends like a moisturizer and doesn’t make your skin look orange.

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

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How long did Katie Ledecky’s incredible 800-meter freestyle winning streak last?

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