Category: Sports Daily

LeBron James signing with the Sixers would be a move of biblical proportions, and, as Marcus Hayes points out, that’s not exactly new with this team. Moses Malone arrived and quickly led the team to glory in the ’80s.

It’d be a seismic move for everyone, but maybe nobody more than Joel Embiid. Through his brand of tough love, King James could even save Embiid’s career. Here’s how.

So could LeBron really be coming to Philly? Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment president Bob Myers made his pitch, and the 23-year NBA veteran reportedly is down to a final three teams. Unlike the other two reported contenders, he doesn’t have history with the Sixers. But they could offer a chance to chase a title and more.

— Maria McIlwain, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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❓Even if LeBron James signs elsewhere, do you think the Sixers have done enough to finally make it past the second round of the playoffs? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Ballpark bites

You can’t go wrong with a hot dog and a beer, but the MLB’s All-Star festivities descending upon Philly also will bring some novel bites.

Whether it’s signature items from around the league, like at the All-Star Village, local chef collabs, or the return of an iconic sandwich, The Inquirer offers a sneak peek into all the options for the upcoming extravaganza.

And in case you missed it, the musical acts at the All-Star Game will have a decidedly Philly flair.

Next: The All-Star festivities begin Friday with the HBCU Swingman Classic at Citizens Bank Park (7 p.m., mlb.com).

Bullpen woes

Every time a Reds player hits a home run, fireworks are released from the smokestacks in the outfield at Great American Ball Park. It is fair to reason Cincinnati’s firework supply could be low after hitting four home runs in the fourth inning alone.

Wednesday’s 11-5 loss by the Phillies exposed two glaring weaknesses on their roster: a lack of depth in starting pitching and left-handed relief pitchers.

With Trea Turner out of the lineup on Wednesday, Bryce Harper volunteered to bat leadoff for the Phillies. And their bullpen received reinforcement when Brad Keller was activated from the injury list.

Next: Freshly minted All-Star Jesús Luzardo (7-4, 3.75 ERA) is set to take the mound against the Reds’ Brady Singer (3-8, 5.03) tonight (7:10 p.m., NBCSP).

Long time traveler

Who doesn’t love an underdog story?

Johnny Mundt certainly fits the bill — he went from an undrafted free agent to a Super Bowl champion, and along the way, crossed paths with new Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion.

A tight end known for his solid blocking abilities, he seems likely to make the roster, and Ryan Novozinsky has more about the 31-year-old journeyman.

The Birds will get some love from the basketball world, too, as some new Kobes will feature an Eagles colorway.

A.J. Brown isn’t an Eagle anymore, but his cousin just got traded to another Philly pro team.

Next: The countdown continues to training camp, which begins July 28.

Quarter quell

The U.S. is out of the FIFA World Cup, but the action rolls on, starting today.

Each of the four quarterfinal matches are sure to be exciting, between the star power and storylines in each one.

From Haaland to Messi, Inquirer writer Jonathan Tannenwald offers an overview of each matchup and a peek at what’s ahead after the quarterfinals.

Sports snapshot

• Meeting Mbappé: Two young soccer fans from Kensington got the World Cup experience of a lifetime.
• On the scene: A lot has changed for South Jersey track star Natalie Dumas this year.

What you’re saying about Phillies in the All-Star Game

We asked: Which Phillies player are you looking forward to watching in the All-Star Game?

Schwarber for sure. MVP with a homer or two. — Tom G.

Clearly, I’m looking forward to Brandon Marsh. The nation has got to bevome acquainted with all that hair. — Amy S.

Can’t wait for the world to see the introduction of Spiderman. Lights going out. Spiders walking in the outfield. Duran running in from the pen with the bases loaded, ninth inning, two outs and the National League up by 1 run. STRIKE ONE! STRIKE TWO! STRIKE THREE! Game over. Every free agent in baseball wants to play in Philly. — Ronald R.

I’m looking forward to seeing Marsh as the Phillies first starting outfielder since 2009 when both Raul Ibanez and Shane Victorino represented the Phillies. Marsh, like a few of our guys has slacked off offensively since a while back when he lead the league. Right now he has the 7th highest average in the NL. Let’s hope he can make us proud there in front of the home crowd. Do you think we will ever see an AS outfield like 1966 when the NL had Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Roberto Clemente? — Everett S.

Very excited to see [Brandon] Marsh as a starter for the NL. He is quite the story, after playing with Mike Tout and Shohei Ohtani during his time with the Angels. Hope Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber have a couple of at bats in front of the home crowd. — Bob C.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Gabriela Carroll, Gina Mizell, Mike Klein, Lochlahn March, Conor Smith, Ryan Novozinsky, Devin Jackson, Mia Messina, Marcus Hayes, Jonathan Tannenwald, and Owen Hewitt.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Thank you for reading along! I’ll be back in your inboxes tomorrow morning to close out the week. — Maria

In the spirit of not harping on last night’s World Cup round of 16 match between the United States and Belgium, we’re going to lead with all the good things Jaylen Brown said about being in Philadelphia, now that his trade to the Sixers became official yesterday …

… and then we’ll get into the U.S. game.

However, Brown is excited to be part of a “hungry, competitive” Sixers group that he says is “committed to winning.” He says he’s ready to go “chasing something special together” with this team, making this one of the more highly anticipated starts to a Sixers season in quite some time. Inquirer writer Gina Mizell takes a look at Brown and what he’s bringing to the table now that he’s official.

You’re looking at a high chance of rain today, with temperatures approaching the 80s.

— Kerith Gabriel, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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❓Are you still going to watch the World Cup with the U.S. out? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Belgian beat down

The United States had one of the better runs to the knockout rounds in recent memory, but mistakes and a Belgian side that played like a world top 10 ended with the Americans on the disappointing end of a 4-1 final.

Background noise aside, the U.S. came out intending to make it a match, leveling the match with another Malik Tillman free kick, but that was the only highlight in an otherwise systematic dismantling of the U.S., as Inquirer writer Jonathan reports from a rough night in Seattle.

And were you wondering what emotions were like at not one, but two fan festivals during the match last night? We captured it.

What we’re …

👏 Applauding: Whitemarsh Boat Club’s rowing program for breast cancer survivors will participate in the Henley Masters Regatta this weekend.

💪🏽 Sharing: AEW is returning to the 2300 Arena in Pennsport.

💡 Learning: La Salle named Jarett Gerald as its new athletic director after Ash Puri departed for the same job at St. Joseph’s.

📖 Reading: Telford native David de Garavilla is making his third straight appearance the USGA Adaptive Open, which teed off on Monday.

🤔 Wondering: Is Eli Stowers ready to take on the role as a top choice for the Eagles at tight end?

Star gazing

The stars will be on display a week from today when Citizens Bank Park hosts the 96th All-Star Game. From five Phillies to Millville’s Mike Trout to Kevin McGonigle, a Delco kid who has quickly emerged as a star with the Tigers, there are plenty of local storylines in the Midsummer Classic.

Here’s what you need to know about every player selected to play on the All-Star stage in South Philly.

After being selected as an All-Star on Saturday, Cristopher Sánchez had two more starts to close his case to start the Midsummer Classic. The first one didn’t go so well.

Kyle Schwarber is an All-Star for the fourth time, but he’s not sure if he’s going to compete in the Home Run Derby.

Next: The Phillies open a three-game series tonight in Cincinnati (7:10 p.m., NBCSP). Zack Wheeler (8-1, 2.36 ERA) is scheduled to face Reds lefty Andrew Abbott (5-4, 3.88).

‘Forever devastated’

A former strength coach at Bucknell University was charged Monday with criminal hazing in the 2024 death of Calvin “CJ” Dickey Jr., an 18-year-old freshman football player with a known medical condition who collapsed after being required to perform drills until he passed out, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said.

Mark Kulbis, 34, who worked for Bucknell at the time, surrendered to authorities late Monday morning and was arraigned on the charges, Sunday said. Bail for Kulbis was set at $10,000 unsecured.

But the sticking point in this inquiry is that it’s alleged Kulbis “subjected Dickey to the hazing, even after being made aware of Dickey’s medical condition and receiving training from the university on sickle cell trait and state law and NCAA standards regarding hazing,” Sunday’s office said. Inquirer writer Robert Moran takes a look at the case and its implications.

On this date

July 7, 1912: Pennsylvania native Jim Thorpe wins the gold medal in the Pentathlon at the Summer Games in Stockholm, Sweden.

David Murphy’s take

What could LeBron James accomplish in Denver, Golden State, or Boston? All have won championships within the last decade led by stars who’ve spent their entire careers with the organizations. Each has a significant edge over Philly if James’ goal is basketball nirvana. Playing alongside Steph Curry, Nikola Jokić, or Jayson Tatum would be a lot of fun, and any of the three could offer James a better chance at winning a title. But none of them offer him a chance to prove something one last time. — Murphy has a few good reasons the Sixers would favor James.

🧠 Trivia time

With all of this talk of whether Bryce Harper will play in the MLB Home Run Derby, this raises the question of who was the last Phillies player to win one?

A) Mike Schmidt

B) Kyle Schwarber

C) Ryan Howard

D) Bobby Abreu

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Robert Moran, Jeff Neiburg, Gina Mizell, Jonathan Tannenwald, Owen Hewitt, Scott Lauber, Conor Smith, Isabella DiAmore, Ariel Simpson, Lauren Jones, John Roberts, and David Murphy.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Thanks for reading along! Bella will be back with more Philly sports stories tomorrow. — Kerith

We’ve made it to Friday, Philly.

Hopefully, you’re in the midst of winding down for the week and getting ready for a relaxing weekend celebrating 250 years of American independence.

Before you check out, we have to tell you about this wild story that happened a little less than 50 years ago, when a group of rock stars tried to kickstart a professional soccer team in this town, which became the “poster child for what not to do,” according to those who were there and lived through its brief but memorable heyday.

Nestled in between the Atoms of the 1960s and the Union of today was the Philadelphia Fury, a pro soccer team owned by Peter Frampton that might be known more for the stories that transpired off the field and then on it. Stories that Inquirer writer Matt Breen collected for your reading pleasure.

It’s the perfect read as the final game of this World Cup in Philadelphia takes place on Saturday when France returns to face Paraguay in a round-of-16 knockout match (5 p.m., Fox29).

What’s the weather going to be like for that one? Not as steamy as today, which is expected to again reach over 100 degrees, but yeah, hot.

Let’s get into it.

— Kerith Gabriel, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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‘That obviously hurts’

On a scorching afternoon at Citizens Bank Park, where the temperature at first pitch was 98 degrees and climbed to triple digits from there, the Phillies dropped the series finale to the Pirates, 6-1.

However, it was a loss that could’ve ended up worse, as Pittsburgh had plenty of opportunities to run up the score. So what was it? The heat played a role, sure, but the Phillies managed just four hits, while the Pirates rattled off 14.

Inquirer writer Lochlahn March has more and what’s next as the Phillies prepare to embark on a three-city road trip before the MLB All-Star break.

All about Jaylen

From the fact that the Sixers could have had him over Ben Simmons in the 2016 NBA draft to the notion that he’s had beef with Joel Embiid for calling the big man a flopper, Philly is well acquainted with Jaylen Brown.

Brown is the latest marquee player in Philly named Jaylen (spelled differently than the Eagles’ QB variety), with a big spotlight as many hope he’s the game-changing presence the Sixers need to get over the hump.

It’ll be a wait before Sixers fans see him on the court. As we wait for his deal to be made official, get up to speed on Brown and what he brings not just on the court, but off of it.

If you’re more of a visual person, Inquirer writer Gina Mizell breaks down the Sixers’ trade for Brown.

New faces in the nest

With Eagles training camp drawing nearer, The Inquirer is taking a closer look at the more than three dozen new faces who are expected to report along with the rest of the team on July 28.

From their previous experience to their honest path to a roster spot, we analyze the newcomers trying to make the 53-man roster later this summer, starting right now. Inquirer reporter Ryan Novozinsky takes a look at an offensive lineman and long snapper vying for a roster spot.

⚽ Get your soccer fix!

With the final World Cup game set for Philly, our pop-up streaming show Soccer Extra wraps up this week, looking at the knockout rounds and Philly’s place in all of it on July 4. Inquirer writer Jonathan Tannenwald and host Lisa Carlin take you through it all and what to expect. Watch here.

Also, just for kicks …

• Free Folarin: Many are questioning if U.S. men’s national team forward Folarin Balogun’s red card was deserved, including his own teammates.
• Footy in 4K: We stepped inside Comcast Labs for its worldwide broadcast of the World Cup in 4K.

On this date

July 3, 2020: Major League Baseball announced the cancellation of its MLB All-Star weekend, including the game at Dodger Stadium, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

ROTEN SOFTERSY

This player just signed a massive eight-year deal with the Flyers that will begin during the 2027-28 season. Think you know? Take a guess and click here to see if you’re correct.

What you’re saying about the Sixers

We asked: Do you think Jaylen Brown will be a good fit with the Sixers? Why or why not?

David Murphy summed up the Brown deal much better than I can, but yes. The Embiid-George team was not going to win any NBA titles, but with the addition of Brown and Embiid being at least 75% present, I think they can do it. — Everett S.

Good fit? He’s a great fit and a big improvement over Paul George. — Richard V.

It’s hard to separate the on-court questions from my elation of seeing the final proof of how thoroughly Joel Embiid and the funky bunch ripped the heart out of the C’s this year. I’ve always seen Brown as the better and, just as importantly, more versatile and flexible of the “Jays,” and indeed, I think he should slide in neatly. I’ll also note that I believe his sour reputation (not to social outspokenness) was a significant factor both in why Boston (more the fanbase) never loved him and why his trade market wasn’t huge (more from an organization standpoint) — which means he’s got the makings of a classic Philly figure. — D.W. Stone

Jaylen Brown? Wow. How did [Sixers president Mike] Gansey pull this off? Now offload Embiid. — Bill M.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Gina Mizell, Lochlahn March, Jackie Spiegel, Ryan Novozinsky, Gabriela Carroll, Jonathan Tannenwald, Anthony R. Wood, Kerith Gabriel, and Owen Hewitt.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Stay cool, Philly. We’re taking a brief break for the holiday weekend, but we will be back in your inboxes next week. — Kerith

The 76ers stunned the NBA world on Wednesday.

It wasn’t just by simply acquiring the stellar Jaylen Brown from the rival Boston Celtics, it was the manner in which they did it. Four draft picks and Paul George? Wild.

In Brown, the Sixers receive a 2024 Finals MVP who finished sixth in the voting for this season’s regular-season award. They got someone with the size, versatility, and defensive skill to complement the Tyrese Maxey-VJ Edgecombe duo. And they unloaded George’s contract. Predictably, the internet had plenty to say about the deal.

There’s always risk. There’s always the question of Joel Embiid’s health. But for now, we can step back and consider a world in which the Sixers are legitimate title contenders as David Murphy shares his take on the trade.

— Maria McIlwain, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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❓Do you think Jaylen Brown will be a good fit with the Sixers? Why or why not? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Big, bad Flyers

Over the years, it’s been clear that physicality is part of the Flyers’ DNA — just look at the franchise’s two best players, Bobby Clarke and Eric Lindros.

So as Danny Brière, who was 5-9 and 174 pounds as a player, builds the next iteration of the Flyers, it’s no surprise he goes to a tried-and-true playbook.

Is he trying to build this millennium’s Broad Street Bullies? Not exactly. But bringing back big guys like Dan Vladař (6-5) and Tyson Foerster (6-2) gives us an idea of what the brass is looking for.

Jackie Spiegel has more on Vladař and Foerster, as well as the newest members of the organization.

A new dawn

A few weeks ago, Phillies reliever Brad Keller knew something was off before he even got out of bed. He’d just had a rough outing the night before vs. Milwaukee, and when he woke up, he couldn’t straighten his elbow.

He ended up going on the injured list with right forearm tendinitis. But on Wednesday, he was eager to see how he’d respond after facing live hitters for the first time in more than two weeks. The result? “A night-and-day difference,” he said.

Trea Turner homered for the third straight game as the Phillies handled the Pirates, 10-6, for their seventh win over the last nine games.

Next: The series vs. the Pirates wraps up with a matinee today (12:35 p.m., NBCSP). Pirates righty Jared Jones (1-1, 5.76 ERA) will face off against Alan Rangel (0-1, 4.50).

Ring the bell

Today’s Eagles newcomers aren’t just new to the Eagles, they’re new to the NFL. Offensive lineman Markel Bell was drafted out of Miami in April and surprisingly took first-team reps during OTAs. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be a Week 1 starter, but he could see meaningful snaps as a rookie.

The next newcomer is new to football. Joshua Weru is an undrafted free agent from the International Player Pathway program who joined a pro rugby club at age 14 and has represented Kenya internationally in the sport. He may have a long path to the 53-man roster, but he definitely seems like an interesting story.

Speaking of Eagles linemen (or former Eagles linemen), Jason Kelce helped raise $1.26 million for the Eagles Autism Foundation in four events across two days in Sea Isle City.

Round of 16 bound

The U.S. men’s soccer team finally ended its 24-year wait to win a World Cup knockout game, though it came at a cost.

Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina featured goals by Folarin Balogun and Malik Tillman, but also a red card to Balogun that means he’ll miss the round of 16 matchup against Belgium in Seattle on Monday.

On this date

OK, this is a bit of a weird one. Ed Delahanty dominated the National League in the late 1800s and at the turn of the century. Primarily an outfielder, he spent 13 of his 16 major league seasons with the Phillies and slashed .348/.415/.508 (and .346/.411/.505 for his career, which also included stints with the Cleveland Infants and Washington Senators). He also was the first major league player to hit over. 400 three times.

But drinking issues began to loom large after he moved on to Washington. While the team was in Detroit, he boarded a train bound for New York but was kicked off after drunken and disorderly behavior, according to the Society for American Baseball Research. He then fell from a bridge spanning Niagara Falls and died on this day in 1903.

He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame via the Old Timers Committee amid World War II in 1945, but his induction ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y., wasn’t held until 2013, 110 years after his death.

What you’re saying about upsets

We asked: Tell us about the biggest upset you’ve ever witnessed in any sport. What made it so special?

Three upsets that I watched on TV. 1969 Joe Namath and the Jets upset the unbeatable Baltimore Colts. Because of the great Lenny Moore I was a Colts fan. 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid when our young college guys carried the U.S. to a stunning upset of the USSR’s supposedly unbeatable team. And 1985 on April 1 my 47th BD Villanova Wildcats upset highly favored Georgetown 66-64 with an incredible 79% shooting percentage. I would guess that Pope Leo then Robert Prevost was cheering on his Wildcats. — Everett S.

Not the most personally sentimental, but biggest upset in my book has to be the Brady-era Pats’ first Super Bowl loss, some ragtag Giants spoiling an undefeated season with such tools as an off-brand Manning and a football pinned on a helmet. It had seemed unfair that Randy Moss had joined New England, but it all led to nothing more than this. — D. Stone

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Gina Mizell, David Murphy, Jackie Spiegel, Mia Messina, Scott Lauber, Jeff Neiburg, Becca O’Reilly, Jonathan Tannenwald, and Marcus Hayes.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Thanks for reading, and we’ll be back tomorrow with one last newsletter before the holiday weekend! — Maria

If we’ve learned anything over the past few weeks — and especially the last couple days — anything can happen.

So with the U.S. men’s national team set for the knockout rounds against a much lower-ranked opponent in the World Cup, players aren’t taking any chances.

“Hopefully we can get it done in regular time — the extra 30 minutes plus pens can get a little bit dangerous,” U.S. centerback Chris Richards said. “We saw the upset yesterday, so us going into this game, [it’s] making sure that we take care of business and go on.”

The stakes only get higher from here, and here are our expert predictions for this round of 32 match.

And now we know who’s coming to town for the round of 16 game on Saturday.

— Maria McIlwain, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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❓Tell us about the biggest upset you’ve ever witnessed in any sport. What made it so special? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Following Gansey

Late Tuesday night, the Sixers joined in on the free agency fun. A league source confirmed to The Inquirer that the team agreed to a four-year deal, $39 million deal with Dean Wade.

Wade was one of Mike Gansey’s success stories in his previous job as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ general manager. Wade evolved from undrafted player to rotation forward, and last season averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists across 59 games and is a career 36.7% three-point shooter.

Free-agent frenzy

On the heels of their first playoff appearance since 2020, the Flyers are looking to continue their forward momentum and take the next step.

While they hope a lot of that growth will come internally via the development of youngsters such as Porter Martone, Matvei Michkov, and Tyson Foerster, the Flyers also could benefit from a veteran move or two to bolster their lineup and keep pace with their competition.

That brings us to free agency, which opens today. Here’s a look at the Flyers’ cap situation, team needs, and some potential targets in free agency and via trade.

Meanwhile, two future Flyers will not be participating in development camp this week. Gabriela Carroll has more.

‘Heat on the feet’

Derek Hill had some time on his hands during a rain delay last week. So he took out a red Sharpie and got to work … on his cleats.

The new Phillies outfielder has always had an interest in artistic pursuits, and cleats currently are his canvas, though he often uses acrylic paints instead of Sharpies.

Acquired on June 11, he’s got to make some for his new team now. Lochlahn March has more on Hill’s “getaway from the game.”

And after a second-inning scare, Cristopher Sánchez tossed another gem as the Phillies evened their series with the Pirates.

Next: Get ready for a potential pitcher’s duel as Paul Skenes (6-7, 3.10 ERA) faces Zack Wheeler (8-1, 2.03) tonight (6:40 p.m., NBCSP).

Migratory Birds

Their names may have raised some eyebrows when news of their signings broke. Elijah Moore and Dameon Pierce had strong rookie seasons but were unable to recapture that magic and ended last season on practice squads. Now, they’re with the Eagles trying to crack the 53-man roster at crowded position spots at wide receiver and running back.

In the latest installation of our newcomer breakdown, Olivia Reiner takes a closer look at Moore and Pierce and their paths to making the roster.

Training camp begins this month, but before the Eagles put on their pads, owner Jeffrey Lurie will be honored at during ESPY week for his work for his commitment to autism awareness, research, and care.

Next: Did someone say training camp? Players will report on July 28.

Sports snapshot

• Running for a cause: A Philly man set a record with his five-day run across Pennsylvania, and he’s not done yet.
• Shining moments: Malvern Prep and Mount St. Joseph Academy made history at the USRowing Youth National Championships.
• Going for gold: An Olympic gold medalist’s chain of gymnastics academies is coming to South Jersey, and there are plans for further expansion in the area.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jackie Spiegel, Gabriela Carroll, Lochlahn March, Scott Lauber, Gina Mizell, Olivia Reiner, Jeff Neiburg, Jonathan Tannenwald, Kerith Gabriel, Owen Hewitt, Becca O’Reilly, and Mia Messina.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Thanks for reading along! I’ll be back tomorrow with more of the best stories in Philly sports. — Maria

Today, NBA free agency negotiating begins, and new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey will look to bolster the Sixers’ roster, but where?

Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George remain on max contracts accounting for nearly $155 million of the projected $165 million salary cap. So once again, the Sixers will hope for better health during the 2026-27 season.

Gansey has started to build the roster by drafting Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr., while picking up the team options for Dominick Barlow and Dalen Terry.

But the Sixers still need to address positional needs at wing and in the frontcourt. Gina Mizell breaks down how they could attack those areas in the coming days.

And while you’re in the free agency spirit, the NHL’s signing period gets underway on Wednesday. The Flyers have pivoted in their so-far elusive quest to land both a No. 1 center and a bona fide power-play quarterback on the blue line.

They won’t be able to plug those holes on Day 1, but that doesn’t mean they can’t find creative solutions to upgrade their roster.

— Isabella DiAmore, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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❓What do you think of the Flyers first-round draft pick Maksim Sokolovskii? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

The NL East race

The Phillies entered Monday’s matchup against the Pirates a season-high 10 games above .500. They’ve all but erased their dismal start.

Despite their 11-7 loss to Pittsburgh in the series opener, the Phillies sit 3.5 games behind the Braves for the lead in the National League East. It’s a gap that was as wide as 10½ games in May. Suddenly, it’s a race again.

What we’re …

🥍 Discovering: Twin lacrosse stars Brinn and Ava Findora from Downingtown flipped their commitment from Virginia to Clemson. Why?

🏒 Seeing: It looks like national media experts weren’t too impressed with the Flyers’ NHL draft, as they didn’t give the team a grade higher than C+.

🤔 Wondering: What Ben Simmons said in his interview with Men’s Health, which mentioned his desire to make an NBA return — possibly even “back to Philly.”

🥊 Learning: The Joe Frazier statue moved to the Philadelphia Museum of Art after previously being in South Philly for more than 10 years.

Teacher Martone

At last year’s Flyers development camp, Porter Martone was freshly drafted and heading off to college, and Denver Barkey and Alex Bump were going into their first full pro seasons. Now, despite playing key roles in the Flyers’ run to the second round of the playoffs, all three are back at camp.

They don’t need to be there, but the trio wants to be a resource for the newer members of the organization.

Leaving a legacy

The U.S. men have indeed been among the last 16 teams standing at five of the eight World Cups they played in from 1990-2022. With that said, this World Cup isn’t about being one of the best 32 or 16 national teams.

It’s about the mentality of knockout soccer on the sport’s biggest stage, and whether the U.S. players of this era can prove themselves in the way they’ve long told us they can.

Underrated signing

While the news didn’t exactly dominate headlines, Arnold Ebiketie could be a sneaky good signing for the Birds. The linebacker has four years of NFL experience, and his football journey began at two local schools.

While the Eagles’ defensive front is loaded, Ebiketie should be a decent rotational piece. Also, undrafted rookie Jaedan Roberts is among those trying to crack a crowded rotation along the offensive line.

Marcus Hayes’ take

Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark has been the victim of nine flagrant fouls since she joined the league in 2024, more than anyone else. There’s no doubt that she’s been a target of jealousy and resentment since her arrival.

She is, after all, the greatest asset in the history of women’s sports. The WNBA and its officials should do a better job of protecting her, writes columnist Marcus Hayes.

What you’re saying about high school sports

We asked: Should high school state playoffs be split between non-boundary and boundary schools? Among your responses:

YES! Archbishop Ryan had a basketball player who lived in Trenton, New Jersey. Enough said. — Reilly O.

Public schools have the athletes that live within their borders while private schools can recruit the best athletes from within a wide area. Very difficult for the public schools to compete against the major private power house schools such as those in California and Texas. — Everett S.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Marcus Hayes, Ryan Novozinsky, Jonathan Tannenwald, Nick Vadala, Gina Mizell, Jackie Spiegel, Lochlahn March, Ariel Simpson, Gustav Elvin, Gabriela Carroll, and Mia Messina.

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That’s it for me this week. Stay cool these next few days. Maria will be in your inbox with Wednesday’s newsletter. — Bella