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  • 🏀 Cover material | Sports Daily Newsletter

    🏀 Cover material | Sports Daily Newsletter

    Sure, the Sixers are barely past the .500 mark.

    Yes, it’s still a dice roll if Joel Embiid’s knees will hold up on any given night or if Paul George will consistently rip off the warmups. But let’s remove our collective Negadelphian tendencies for one second, and you’ll find a team that’s been pretty fun to watch underneath, with a pair of stars not named Embiid or George receiving national attention.

    Any hoophead will tell you that the cover of SLAM Magazine is the holy grail, and in their latest issue, the magazine features both Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe in the Sixers’ signature throwback black uniforms.

    As my 9-year-old would say, the SLAM cover and the distinction “is tough.”

    It headlines a strong year for both players, with Maxey named a starter for the NBA’s All-Star game while Edgecombe is lauded as one of the league’s top rookies, averaging 15.4 points and a fan favorite of the prime minister of the Bahamas.

    Oh, and not discounting Embiid and George, let’s remember the two got together on Tuesday, combining for 61 points in a win over the Bucks. Now, they all collectively look to run it back inside Xfinity Mobile Arena against Sacramento tonight (7 p.m., NBCSP).

    As for today, expect sunny skies, but we’re still in a tundra across the region, with temperatures not expected to leave the teens — again.

    What was that about the Bahamas? Sheesh.

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

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    ❓Do you agree there’s an upside with the Sixers? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

    Healthy Kemp gets his shot

    The Phillies are excited about Otto Kemp’s bat, especially when he’s fully healthy, which he was not in 2025.

    Otto Kemp is hoping for a healthier 2026 with the Phillies. He underwent two procedures this winter to address injuries he’d been grinding through last year: a bone fragment removed from his left knee and what he described as a “shoulder cleanup.”

    Kemp had been playing with the bone fragment since June, but only missed a single game.

    “He’s just so tough. He really is,” said manager Rob Thomson. “He’s just one of those guys that can put all that pain and little dings behind them, and forget about it, and go out and play..”

    Kemp expects to be fully ready for spring training. The Phillies’ first full-squad workout is set for Feb. 16 in Clearwater, Fla.

    And it figures to be a big spring training for the 26-year-old.

    What we’re…

    ⚽ Sharing: The eight area organizations that shelled out big bucks to support World Cup soccer this summer.

    👏🏾 Applauding: Jared McCain’s breakout game and the resurgence that could coincide.

    🏈 Introducing: Philly’s next NFL Draft hopeful, USC linebacker and Neumann-Goretti alum Eric Gentry.

    ‼️ Watching: Gritty and the mayhem he caused visiting the Inquirer office earlier this month.

    Vive la Vladǎr

    Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday, January 12, 2026 in Philadelphia.

    Win or lose, we’re sure it felt good for Flyers fans to see goalie Dan Vladǎr between the pipes against the Columbus Blue Jackets last night.

    After missing the last six games due to a lower-body injury, Vladǎr made 26 saves in a 5-3 loss in his 29th start, which matched a career-high.

    “He’s been very consistent for us, and a really competitive guy, and he adds a lot to our locker,” said Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet said, … [he] likes to be involved with the players with instructions, even just being positive with the guys. So he’s going to add a lot to our room, especially on the ice and off the ice.”

    Flyers writer Jackie Spiegel has more on what having Vladǎr back means going forward.

    Finding a fit

    Nathan Harriel is one part of a rotating corps of defenders that the Union are trying out at the outside back position.

    Union manager Bradley Carnell offered a good deal of insight into the team’s current state as they ramp up preseason training in Marbella, Spain. During his weekly press conference, Carnell exuded calm as he explained a number of issues that still need clarity before the season gets going in a few weeks.

    It was like watching a mallard hover gracefully on water, unable to see its feet flapping feverishly below the surface. Currently, the Union is trying to get players up to speed both defensively and on offense, the latter of which finds newcomer Ezekiel Alladoh looking to build chemistry with potential fellow strike partner Bruno Damiani up top.

    Ahead of another preseason game scheduled for later this morning, when they play an extended match against Montenegro’s FK Buducnost, Inquirer reporter Jonathan Tannenwald examines what the Union are still looking to perfect.

    Talkin’ baseball

    Inquirer reporter Scott Lauber sits down with Phillies manager Rob Thomson ahead of spring training.

    In less than three weeks, Phillies pitchers and catchers will hold their first spring-training workout. It’s a good time to sit down with manager Rob Thomson, who discussed the roster in the aftermath of not signing Bo Bichette, the potential impact of rookies Justin Crawford and Andrew Painter, the value of J.T. Realmuto, and, perhaps most importantly, if he thinks the Phillies are better now than at the end of last season. Watch here.

    On this date

    Jan. 29, 2023: The Eagles were headed to Super Bowl LIX following a 31-7 dismantling of the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field.

    Standings, stats, and more

    Looking for a deeper breakdown of last night’s Flyers game? Here’s a place to access your favorite Philadelphia teams’ statistics, schedules, and standings in real time.

    Marcus Hayes’ take…

    Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is on the outside looking in at the ballot for the 2026 NFL Hall of Fame induction class.

    “In Bill Belichick’s hour of disappointment and shame, Philly can savor revenge…Why should Belichick, a proven and penalized two-time cheater, be treated any better than other scofflaw? He might not be Pete Rose, but he ain’t Bill Walsh, either.” — The latest from Hayes diving into the former Patriots head coach’s first ballot Hall of Fame snub.

    What you’re saying about the WNBA

    We asked: What are your thoughts on an WNBA team in Philly?

    Absolutely, Philadelphia should have a WNBA team. Philadelphia is a basketball city with a far richer basketball history and heritage than almost any other city in the U.S. Right now, there are no Philly-area schools in the top 25 women’s college rankings. I think the presence of a WNBA team might even help some of Philly’s Big 5 women’s teams become UConn- or South Carolina-level powerhouses. Maybe coach [Dawn] Staley would retire and be the first Philly coach. — Everett S.

    I think it’s great, especially for young women. It’s long overdue. — Tom G.

    We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Marcus Hayes, Gabriela Carroll, Kerith Gabriel, Jonathan Tannenwald, Lochlahn March, Jackie Spiegel, Gina Mizell, Devin Jackson, Vaughn Johnson, and Scott Lauber.

    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.

    That’s Thursday. Stay warm, be safe, and we’ll be back tomorrow to get you ready for the weekend. — Kerith

  • After playing through pain, Otto Kemp gets a chance to show what he can do when healthy in 2026

    After playing through pain, Otto Kemp gets a chance to show what he can do when healthy in 2026

    Otto Kemp is accustomed to playing through pain.

    In college, he played the Division II national championship game with a broken hand — and went 4-for-4. He also has a habit of getting hit by pitches, 26 total last year, including four in a single game in triple A to set a Lehigh Valley record.

    But even so, Kemp is hoping for a healthier 2026 with the Phillies. He underwent two procedures this winter to address injuries he’d been grinding through last year: a bone fragment removed from his left knee and what he described as a “shoulder cleanup.”

    Believe it or not, Aidan Miller and the Dodgers are more connected than one might think

    Kemp had been playing with the bone fragment since June, but only missed a single game.

    “He’s just so tough. He really is,” said manager Rob Thomson. “He’s just one of those guys that can put all that pain and little dings behind them, and forget about it, and go out and play. Some guys are like that, and he’s one of them. He’s a phenomenal kid.”

    Kemp expects to be fully ready for spring training. The Phillies’ first full-squad workout is set for Feb. 16 in Clearwater, Fla.

    And it figures to be a big spring training for the 26-year-old. Over the offseason, Thomson and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski both emphasized the importance of injecting youth into the Phillies roster in 2026. The Phillies had the second-oldest lineup in baseball last year, with an average age of 30.3 years old.

    Otto Kemp (right) worked with coach Paco Figueroa to get acclimated to left field last season.

    One name that keeps cropping up? Kemp.

    “We like a lot of things about him,” Dombrowski said. “He’s a good hitter, and the ball jumps off his bat. He’s a threat when he comes to the plate. … He’s a tough son of a gun. He’s a championship-type player. I mean, what he played through last year, injury-wise, I don’t think that there’s many people that would have done that.”

    Kemp will likely have an opportunity in left field as a right-handed platoon partner for Brandon Marsh. He came up through the Phillies’ system as an infielder but played 63 major league innings last season in left field, logging significant time working with coach Paco Figueroa. Kemp recorded plus-1 defensive runs saved in the outfield in 2025.

    But he also acknowledged that he still has a lot to learn about the position.

    ‘Phillies Extra’ Q&A: Rob Thomson on managing the Bo Bichette aftermath, Nick Castellanos, and more

    “Every place that you play at, the dimensions are different, the environment is different,” Kemp said. “So just learning how to play through the elements, and learning what I need to take away from any ballpark that we’re at, and how the ball bounces off the wall, what the dimensions are like. Learning overall feel in the outfield, I think, is just going to be the biggest part moving forward.”

    The Phillies are most excited about Kemp’s bat, especially when he’s fully healthy. He had a .234 batting average and .709 OPS in 62 major league games last season, but the potential for more power is there. He hit 16 home runs in 74 triple-A games.

    With a big spring on the horizon, Kemp is looking forward to the opportunity to be one of the young players potentially impacting the lineup and clubhouse.

    Otto Kemp had a .709 OPS in 62 games with the Phillies last season.

    “It’s awesome to be recognized for the work that we’ve been putting in,” Kemp said. “… Really just try and lean into that, and just be gamers, and play the game hard and do things the right way. Just seeing all of that kind of take shape and start to form something has been really cool.”

    Kemp could share the outfield with another young player in Justin Crawford, who is the Phillies’ presumptive opening day center fielder. Kemp has teamed up with the 22-year-old at several minor league stops.

    “He’s a gamer. He’s a game changer,” Kemp said. “He’s got speed. He’s just raw athletic. He’s just a grindy guy. He’s going to get the job done, and I’m excited to see what he can do at the big league level, because just playing with him over the last three years has been really special.

    Are the Phillies ‘running it back’? Maybe, but that’s not the most important question for 2026

    “Fun to see him in the leadoff spot, just setting the tone, swiping bags, taking extra 90s [bases]. I think it’s all stuff that plays a big factor in winning baseball games, so it’s going to be fun to see him do that on the biggest stage.”

    After Kemp’s whirlwind rookie year ended and he started to address the injuries he’d been playing through, he took some time with his wife to reflect on the journey. When he made his major league debut in June, he accomplished something that few other Division II college players and undrafted free agents have.

    But he doesn’t want the story to end there.

    “You get a lot of ups and downs in this game,” Kemp said. “And there’s people that don’t stick. And hopefully I’m trying to prove to be one of those guys that can get established up here.”

  • Jason Kelce and Michael Strahan share their Super Bowl predictions, recap Championship Sunday, and more from ‘New Heights’

    Jason Kelce and Michael Strahan share their Super Bowl predictions, recap Championship Sunday, and more from ‘New Heights’

    On the latest episode of New Heights, Jason and Travis Kelce break down Championship Sunday and make their Super Bowl predictions.

    The brothers welcomed Hall of Famer Michael Strahan, who spoke about his transition to television host after his NFL career and shared some personal anecdotes of his time with the Giants.

    Here’s what you missed from this week’s New Heights …

    Championship Sunday recap

    Strahan was quick to point out that Denver should have beat New England — and even Houston should have came up with a win over the Patriots in the divisional round two weeks ago, he said.

    “[Denver] should have kicked that field goal and gone up,” Strahan added. “Early on, take the points — but I don’t get these coaches now because fourth down now is automatic go for it more than it’s not.

    “I get analytics but you got to feel the team. You got to feel the situation. … I felt bad for Sean Payton — I talked to him before the game, very confident in what they were doing.”

    Michael Strahan said Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton was “very confident in what they were doing,” ahead of their matchup against New England in the AFC Championship.

    In the NFC Championship, Jason, Travis, and Strahan acknowledged the tough battle between the Rams and Seahawks, but were happy to see Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold get his opportunity on the big stage.

    “I’m happy for Sam Darnold,” Strahan said. “I played in New York, it’s hard. He comes in here as the third overall pick, doesn’t go well, gets beat down; mentally, physically, and then five teams in eight years, and everyone thinks he’s washed.

    “Why Seattle pay him all this money? Now you see why.”

    Super Bowl predictions

    When it comes to Super Bowl LX, there seemed to be a mutual consensus on a favorable winner.

    While Travis Kelce can’t share his opinion since he’s still in the league, he said he’s looking forward to watching the matchup between Seattle receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez.

    Milton Williams, Jason Peters, and more Philly connections to Super Bowl LX

    As for Jason Kelce and Strahan, they were in agreement: Seattle.

    “I think Seattle has the edge,” Strahan said. “I don’t think it’s going to be a cakewalk — football’s not like the other sports, if you don’t show up with your best one day, it’s a wrap.”

    Jason Kelce, however, did praise the Patriots’ defense, noting their not getting enough credit.

    Strahan reflects on playing career

    Strahan, who spent 15 seasons with the Giants, said his real challenge in the NFL came five years into his career, when Jon Runyan was traded from Tennessee to the Eagles.

    “The whole thing was ‘We brought him to Philly to stop Strahan,’ which pissed me off,” Strahan said.

    “I studied Jon Runyan probably more than I studied anybody. I could tell what he was going to do before he could do it.”

    Michael Strahan gets blocked by former Eagle Jon Runyan on Jan. 1, 2001.

    As the two went head-to-head throughout their careers, the tougher the matchup became: Runyan got savvier and Strahan studied more. But the two ended their careers as friends. Strahan even recalled how Runyan attended Strahan’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

    “Jon made me a better player, because playing against him made everyone else seem easy,” he said.

    Life outside of the NFL

    Strahan retired from the NFL in 2008 and quickly got involved with television and broadcasting. He’s appeared as a football analyst on Fox NFL Sunday, and served as a co-host of ABC‘s Good Morning America.

    WIP host worries bad fans are hurting Eagles’ OC search, but national reporter says there’s more to it

    He shared some retirement advice on the podcast, including how to think about life after being a professional athlete, how he prepared himself for a new career, and when he knew it was time to walk away.

    “I realized, for me, after 15 years, I had done everything,” Strahan said. “There was no way I was going to cry at the final press conference. I knew I had put everything I had into it.”

  • What is Unrivaled, which kicks off its tour in Philly Friday night, and how is it different from the WNBA?

    What is Unrivaled, which kicks off its tour in Philly Friday night, and how is it different from the WNBA?

    The WNBA kicks off its 30th season in May, but that doesn’t mean fans have to wait until the spring to see stars take the court.

    Unrivaled, the three-on-three professional women’s basketball league, tipped off its season on Jan. 5. In its second season, the league is hitting the road for Philly is Unrivaled, in which four of the eight teams will head to Xfinity Mobile Arena for a doubleheader.

    Here’s everything you need to know:

    What is Unrivaled?

    Unrivaled is a three-on-three professional women’s basketball league that provides WNBA players with an opportunity to play domestically during the offseason.

    Its inaugural season tipped off on January 17, 2025, with six teams. The league now has eight teams and a total of 54 players.

    Here’s why Unrivaled picked Philadelphia to be the first stop on its nationwide tour

    The teams are: Laces, Mist, Rose, Lunar Owls, Phantom, Vinyl, and the two new additions — Hive and Breeze.

    Gameplay features three seven-minute quarters with a game clock, an 18-second shot clock, and six fouls per player.

    The fourth quarter of play uses a “winning score” rule. This means at the end of the third quarter, officials determine a winning score by adding 11 points to the leading team’s score. The first team to get to that winning number wins the game.

    In addition to the two new teams, another change this season is a development pool of six players. None of these athletes are assigned to a specific team at the start of the season but remain on-site and serve as injury-relief players.

    Lunar Owls forward Napheesa Collier (right) and Skylar Diggins are among injured Unrivaled players this season.

    How did Unrivaled start?

    WNBA players Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier founded Unrivaled in 2023 to give players a new option for offseason play.

    Within just one year, the league raised $35 million in capital and attracted sponsors like Miller Lite and Under Armour, while being backed by other professional athletes including U.S. women’s soccer star Alex Morgan.

    Unrivaled began with six teams and 36 total players, with each of the 36 earning more than $220,000 in salary. The league also offers players equity and revenue sharing, which has created an incentive for WNBA players to not head overseas during the offseason.

    In its second season, the league will feature more than a dozen first-time players, including Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum, Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell, and Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers.

    Diane Richardson is an advocate for the WNBA. She says Unrivaled will get Philly ready for its franchise.

    What is Philly is Unrivaled?

    While Unrivaled games typically are played at Sephora Arena in Medley, Fla., the 2026 season has one scheduled stop in Philadelphia.

    Philly is Unrivaled, a doubleheader announced in October at LOVE Park, is set for Friday at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

    Game 1 is Breeze against Phantoms (7:30 p.m.), while the second game features last year’s champion, Rose, against the Lunar Owls (8:45 p.m.).

    Breeze guard Paige Bueckers (5) is defended by Phantom guard Tiffany Hayes in their Unrivaled season opener.

    How can I watch Unrivaled?

    For the 2026 season, Unrivaled games can be viewed on traditional TV via TNT and truTV or streamed on HBO Max. Both games of Philly is Unrivaled will air on those channels.

    Stateside Live! has partnered with the league and Miller Lite to offer watch parties for Friday’s doubleheader. The official pregame begins at 4:30 p.m.

    Who should I be on the lookout for?

    Natasha Cloud, a guard for Phantom, is a Broomall native and graduate of Cardinal O’Hara and St. Joseph’s. Cloud, a three-time WNBA All-Defensive team honoree, was traded to New York Liberty ahead of the 2025 WNBA season after stints with the Phoenix Mercury and Washington Mystics.

    This also is a pro hoops homecoming for North Philly native Kahleah Copper, who plays for Rose and the Mercury. She starred at Prep Charter before moving on to Rutgers. Copper, a four-time WNBA All-Star, also won a gold medal with the United States women’s basketball team at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

    While she won’t be competing in Philly is Unrivaled, former Villanova star Maddy Siegrist is playing for Laces in her debut Unrivaled season. Siegrist set Villanova’s all-time scoring record before getting drafted third overall by the Wings.

    Can I still get Unrivaled tickets?

    While Philly is Unrivaled is officially sold out, tickets are still available on the secondary market via websites such as Ticketmaster and StubHub. Prices started at $35 for standing room only, as of Wednesday afternoon.

    Unrivaled tickets for the league’s Florida games can be purchased on their website or resale ticket websites, including Ticketmaster, Vivid Seats, and GoTickets.

  • Flyers thrilled to get Dan Vladař back as they try and finish strong before the Olympic break

    Flyers thrilled to get Dan Vladař back as they try and finish strong before the Olympic break

    COLUMBUS, Ohio ― Dan Vladař is back.

    Although coach Rick Tocchet had confirmed the goalie would start against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday (7:30 p.m., TNT, truTV, HBO Max) ahead of the Flyers’ optional morning skate, Vladař was officially activated from injured reserve on Wednesday afternoon.

    “Obviously, he’s been very consistent for us and a really competitive guy, and he adds a lot to our locker,” Tocchet said. “He’s a guy that, for a goalie, likes to be involved with the players with instructions, even just being positive with the guys. So he’s going to add a lot to our room, especially on the ice and off the ice.”

    Vladař was injured in the first period of the Flyers’ loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Jan. 14 and missed the next six games with the lower-body ailment. He has been consistent this season, posting a 16-7-4 record with a 2.46 goals-against average and .905 save percentage in 28 games.

    The Flyers need their top line of Trevor Zegras, Travis Konency, and Christian Dvorak to rediscover its game — and fast

    Wednesday will mark Vladař’s 29th start, matching his career high set last season with the Calgary Flames.

    The Flyers went 2-3-1 in his absence, with Sam Ersson going 2-2-1 with a 3.61 goals-against average and .872 save percentage. During the three-game road trip out west, Ersson was 2-0-1 with a 2.97 GAA and .897 save percentage against three of the NHL’s top teams.

    The team played poorly in front of him on Monday in a 4-0 loss to the New York Islanders, but when Ersson plays consistently, he seems to get in a groove. Has there been a conversation among the coaching staff about getting Ersson more starts?

    “Yeah, I think it depends on the schedule,” Tocchet said. “Obviously, you’re playing four in six, he’s going to get his time.

    “But also Vladdy, there’s been times when he’s been on a roll. Your No. 1 goalie, you’ve got to get him out there. Obviously, you’ve got to have your backup in there, too. So it’s a schedule thing.”

    Barkey finding his way

    Seventeen games into his NHL career, Denver Barkey is feeling more and more comfortable as his first pro season moves on. There have been some ups and downs, like his two games against the Tampa Bay Lightning that led to being a healthy scratch against the Sabres.

    But when his game is on, the 20-year-old has shown an elite hockey IQ. Barkey reads plays well, covers and supports his teammates, and can also create offense with his work ethic and vision. Despite playing last season in juniors — before his 26 games with Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League and now the NHL — his hockey IQ has seamlessly transitioned to a level that has more speed and quickness to it.

    Flyers rookie Denver Barkey hasn’t looked out of place since being called up to the NHL on Dec. 19.

    It is something he has carried and built on since his days growing up in Newmarket, Ontario.

    “I think you’re born with some of it, to an extent,” he said of his hockey IQ. “But I think just my love for the game, my passion for the game, over the years.

    “When I was young, before I could remember, my dad would tell me how much I loved begging to go out to skate, or trying to stay up late to watch hockey games. I think I’ve always been really interested and just love the game, and I’ve always wanted to get better.”

    He also feels his hockey IQ has helped him some of the challenges and criticisms he’s faced along the way.

    “But I think just being a smaller guy my whole life has always forced me in different ways,” the 5-foot-10 Barkey said. “When I went to junior, and now here, there’s bigger, stronger, faster, better players, so finding other ways to try to outsmart them and still be effective, given me being a smaller player. So I think being smaller throughout the years has helped me just make plays and take the game to a high level.”

    The Flyers will be irrelevant as long as they lack a No. 1 center. A trade for Robert Thomas could change that.

    In 17 games, Barkey has two goals and eight points. Two of his assists came in his NHL debut against the New York Rangers on Dec. 20, and another two came in the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins right after he was scratched.

    “I think he’s a guy that [if] you tell him something, he grasps it on the next shift. He takes the information very well,” said Tocchet. “You can tell that he was in a great program with London [of the Ontario Hockey League] and Dale Hunter. … Those guys, they send a lot of NHL-ready players, and he’s one of those kids who has taken that information there and come to the NHL and is starting to knock some doors down.”

    Breakaways

    With Vladař activated, Aleksei Kolosov has been returned to Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League. … Defenseman Noah Juulsen will enter the lineup. The expectation is Emil Andrae, who was on the ice for the optional skate, will sit. … Forwards Garnet Hathaway and Nic Deslauriers are also expected to be healthy scratches.

  • The Union need the reps that their busy preseason schedule is giving them

    The Union need the reps that their busy preseason schedule is giving them

    On paper, the Union playing five preseason games in three weeks might seem like a lot. But it’s also a reflection of how short the preseason is after an offseason that also didn’t last long.

    The club’s stretch in Spain is made even more important because of the team’s new signings. Ezekiel Alladoh has to build chemistry with Bruno Damiani up top, and the same goes for Japhet Sery Larsen and Olwethu Makhanya at centerback.

    That has to happen in a hurry, too, with the Union opening their campaign in the Concacaf Champions Cup before the regular season starts.

    “We’re grateful that we have three games on this leg now, just to get some games and minutes and relationship — building with all the different players, with the new guys coming in, and working on a couple of new concepts,” manager Bradley Carnell said in a news conference Thursday from the team’s camp abroad. “Just trying to get the base loads, build up the fitness, get slowly, progressively, more intense and deliberate with our actions in the game model, and then start dialing it in.”

    The Union will play their last scrimmage in Europe on Thursday, against Montenegro’s FK Budućnost at 8 a.m. Philadelphia time. (There’s no word on a broadcast yet.) As with the previous contest against Denmark’s FC Nordsjælland, it will be played with three 45-minute periods.

    “Obviously, we bought ‘Japh’ [Sery Larsen] in here with a distinct reason, to hit the ground running,” Carnell said. “And I think he’s showing just that, and he can adapt and settle into our way and style of play. There’s a lot of onboarding within the game model, so there’s still a ton of that going on with all the different players and group meetings, and the coaches doing some individual clips and meetings from training and game footage.”

    What’s the secret sauce at the Union’s youth academy? Here’s a taste of it.

    Carnell revealed that Larsen and Makhanya will start Thursday, with Nathan Harriel at left back and Frankie Westfield at right back. Harriel going to the left side was the biggest news there, as the Union ponder Kai Wagner’s successor.

    The Union are shopping for a signing, but aren’t close to getting one over the line. So they might need to have other plans in place for their first games next month. Ben Bender had his audition in the first two preseason contests, and now a player with more defensive experience will get a turn.

    Nathan Harriel in action during the Union’s preseason game against FC Nordsjælland last Friday.

    “We’ve given Nate a bunch of looks at right back, center back; tomorrow, we’ll try and put him in at left back,” Carnell said. “And we’re going through a whole bunch of scenarios in order to for us to hit the ground running on the 18th and the 21st [of February]. … We still have a couple more games here, of I don’t want to say trial and error, but just testing combinations, testing different relationships.”

    And he did not shy away from saying, “there’s a void at left back.”

    Quinn Sullivan ‘would love to be the face’ of the Union. When he returns from a torn ACL, he just might be.

    At least the starting four are known commodities. Alladoh, for as much as the Union spent on the 20-year-old, doesn’t have a long track record yet. But with a big gap on the depth chart after him and Damiani, Alladoh will face some pressure to deliver quickly.

    “He needs to get up to speed with the game model, I think that’s first and foremost,” Carnell said. “We have to do him a favor by investing time and energy into him, and making sure that we know what asset we have on our hands. He’s still very young, though — I don’t want to put too much pressure on him right now.”

    Ezekiel Alladoh is still getting used to life with the Union.

    But the manager sees the promise in the striker, and hopes it will be fulfilled.

    “Speed in behind, I mean, he’s a real weapon,” Carnell said. “He and his body, he holds up play, so just think of Bruno and him, how they can work off each other with Milan [Iloski] or whoever else plays in the 10s [attacking midfielders].”

    He also made a point of saying he doesn’t just see Alladoh as a target man.

    “I wouldn’t say it’s too dissimilar from Mikael Uhre, how we utilized him as well,” Carnell said. “Very clean with his feet, can finish, he’s got a left foot which is incredibly valuable when it comes to going up against opponents. And it’s been pretty fun.”

    No pressure indeed.

    MLS strikes a deal with prediction market Polymarket, says it’s about protecting the integrity of games
  • Eight organizations named host city supporters for Philly’s involvement in the FIFA World Cup

    Eight organizations named host city supporters for Philly’s involvement in the FIFA World Cup

    Eight area organizations have been named as host city supporters for the six matches in Philadelphia ahead of this summer’s FIFA World Cup, beginning June 14.

    Comcast, Independence Blue Cross, PECO, Penn Medicine, the Eagles, and tourism board Visit PA were named, along with Conshohocken-based pharmaceutical giant Cencora, and the William Penn Foundation, a philanthropic organization.

    According to a release from Philadelphia Soccer 2026, the organization tasked with the planning and execution of events, “these organizations will play a vital role in ensuring the success of the tournament while creating a powerful and lasting legacy of this generational event for the City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

    Cities are charging World Cup fans to attend FIFA fan festivals. Philly will not be one of them.

    Perhaps more importantly for these companies, the designation approves them to advertise and have branded signage in-stadium at Lincoln Financial Field (which will be renamed to Philadelphia Stadium for the matches), offer rights to host activations at FIFA’s fan fest at Lemon Hill Mansion, and, according to a release, offers “exclusive hospitality and ticketing opportunities, and visibility through local marketing and promotional campaigns.”

    Renderings provided last year of what Philadelphia’s version of FIFA’s fan fest site on the grounds at Lemon Hill will look like.

    Historically, FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, has kept stringent rules around who can advertise or align. But in the last several years, it has granted host cities the ability to look for businesses willing to put up a financial commitment to aid in offsetting the cost of putting on the tournament — and add its name to FIFA’s list of global supporters.

    The designation for host city supporters was afforded through a minimum financial commitment of $5 million, according to a report from the Philadelphia Business Journal.

    The deal would also appear to grant specific naming rights. In Wednesday’s announcement, Penn Medicine referred to itself as the host city’s “official medical services provider,” in reference to the games coming to Philadelphia.

    “We’re all extremely excited to see the World Cup come to Philadelphia,” said Dr. Patrick J. Brennan, chief medical officer for the University of Pennsylvania Health System. “Being the official medical services provider for the Philadelphia World Cup 2026 host city, in what will be the largest sporting event Pennsylvania has ever seen, is a great responsibility that we’re ready and excited for.”

    The NWSL still wants an expansion team in Philadelphia, if a buyer comes along

    Philadelphia Soccer 2026 projects an economic infusion of nearly $770 million into the city, as half a million visitors are expected to come to Philly for the five group-stage matches and a Round of 16 knockout game on July 4.

    Being front and center as a host city supporter is an immense opportunity for exposure for these organizations, many of which have been tasked with, or have taken on, legacy projects long after the tournament passes through.

    “The William Penn Foundation is interested in helping to ensure that this global moment delivers meaningful, lasting benefits for Philadelphians,” said Shawn McCaney, the organization’s executive director. “We’ve focused our investment on strengthening community soccer programs and facilities, as well as improving Lemon Hill so that it can serve as a vital park space for residents and visitors to the city for years to come. These investments strongly align with our commitment to improve public spaces for the people of Philadelphia.”

    Follow the Inquirer’s complete coverage of World Cup soccer right here!
  • Evonn Wadkins, high school sports star at Simon Gratz and retired Philadelphia Mounted Police Officer, has died at 88

    Evonn Wadkins, high school sports star at Simon Gratz and retired Philadelphia Mounted Police Officer, has died at 88

    Evonn Wadkins, 88, formerly of Philadelphia, retired Philadelphia Mounted Police Officer, basketball and football star at Simon Gratz High School, builder, carpenter, plumber, bus driver, and volunteer, died Sunday, Jan. 11, of complications from a stroke at Bryn Mawr Extended Care Center.

    A gifted athlete with an innate desire to help others and be part of a team, Mr. Wadkins played basketball and football on Philadelphia playgrounds, in youth leagues and high school, and later with adults in semipro leagues and the Charles Baker Memorial Basketball League. He usually scored in double digits for the Gratz basketball team and went head-to-head against the legendary Sonny Hill and Wilt Chamberlain.

    He overcame a severe ankle injury when he was young and retired from the Baker League years later only after age and ailments forced him off the court. He was a “speedy end” on the football team at Gratz, the Daily Journal in Vineland said in 1955.

    His name appeared often in The Inquirer and other local newspapers in 1955 and ‘56, and they noted his 55-yard touchdown catch against Dobbins, 25-yard scoring reception against Vineland, and 44-yard scoring catch-and-run against Northeast in 1955.

    Mr. Wadkins (right) drives with the ball in this photo that was published in The Inquirer in 1956.

    Mr. Wadkins graduated from the Philadelphia Police Training Center in 1963 and spent 11 years patrolling Fairmount Park and elsewhere in the Traffic Division. He transferred to the Mounted Unit — and met Cracker Jack — in 1974, and officer and horse rode the Philly streets together until they both retired in 1988.

    “When he went on vacation, nobody could ride Cracker Jack,” said Mr. Wadkins’ wife, Elaine. “They could groom him. But Cracker Jack wouldn’t let anyone else ride him.”

    He also worked construction side jobs with neighbors and friends, and learned plumbing, heating, and carpentry skills. “Family and friends are still sleeping comfortably on his one-of-a-kind beds more than 40 years later,” his family said in a tribute.

    He drove a school bus for the School District of Philadelphia for 10 years in the 1980s and ’90s, and made friends with many of the students. He moved with his wife to Goochland, Va., 35 miles northwest of Richmond, in 1998.

    Mr. Wadkins and his wife, Elaine, married in 1959.

    He joined the Goochland chapter of the NAACP and volunteered at the Second Union Rosenwald School Museum. At the Second Union Baptist Church, he mentored boys and young men, and supervised the media ministry.

    He was serious about community service. “He never met a stranger,” his wife said.

    Evonn LeFrancis Wadkins was born June 4, 1937, in Philadelphia. He was the fifth of six children and earned his high school degree at night school after leaving Gratz early.

    He met Flora Elaine Poole at Gratz in 1954, and they married in 1959. They set up house in West Philadelphia a few years later and had daughters Evette and Elise, and a son, Evonn.

    This photo of Mr. Wadkins on his horse appeared in the Daily News in 1987.

    Mr. Wadkins, familiar with Fairmount Park from his time on police patrol, liked to share historical tidbits when the family drove through. He loved cars and traveled to Canada with his wife and to Germany with his brother to shop for several that caught his eye.

    He and his family traveled to Florida for a New Year’s party and to South Dakota to fly over Mount Rushmore. He and his wife cruised the Caribbean and toured the United States and Europe.

    He even flew with a friend to two Super Bowls. “He was a man on the go,” his family said.

    Mr. Wadkins liked McDonald’s pancakes and coached a few youth league basketball teams, one to a championship. When asked how he was doing, his usual response was: “Livin’ slow.”

    Mr. Wadkins enjoyed time with his family.

    His wife said: “He was a good provider. He was a great husband.”

    In addition to his wife and children, Mr. Wadkins is survived by five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, a brother, and other relatives. Two brothers and two sisters died earlier.

    Private services were held earlier.

    Donations in his name may be made to the Police Athletic League of Philadelphia, 3068 Belgrade St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19134; and the Second Union Rosenwald School Museum, 2843 Hadensville-Fife Rd., Goochland, Va.

  • Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe land on the latest cover of SLAM Magazine

    Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe land on the latest cover of SLAM Magazine

    Sixers guards Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe have landed on the latest cover of SLAM Magazine, marking the second time both players have been featured on the cover page, but the first time together.

    Maxey was first featured on the cover of SLAM’s February/March 2024 issue. Meanwhile, Edgecombe made his cover debut as part of SLAM’s 2024 high school all-American team. Now, the young guards share the stage as members of the Sixers.

    The Sixers “box office” backcourt has ignited a new hope within the Philadelphia fan base, with the team already surpassing its win total from all of last season. Edgecombe, the team’s third-overall pick, made a historic debut — finishing the night with 34 points, the most in a Sixers rookie’s first game in franchise history, and the most scored in any NBA debut since Wilt Chamberlain.

    Since then, Edgecombe has been one of the league’s top rookies, averaging 15.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. The rookie’s breakout season has earned himself a selection in this year’s Rising Stars Challenge during NBA All-Star Weekend — and a shoutout from the Prime Minister of the Bahamas.

    VJ Edgecombe’s athleticism is electric. But his basketball IQ is driving the Sixers rookie’s early success.

    Maxey will also be at All-Star Weekend. The sixth-year pro was named a starter for the NBA All-Star game, making him the first Sixers guard to be named a starter since Allen Iverson in 2010. Maxey’s second All-Star nod comes after averaging 29.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.8 assists.

    Maxey and Edgecombe, who have been having fun together on and off the court, are part of a long list of current and former Sixers who have graced the cover, including Allen Iverson, Joel Embiid, Jerry Stackhouse, James Harden, and Ben Simmons.

  • Report: Bill Belichick snubbed by Pro Football Hall of Fame in first year of eligibility

    Report: Bill Belichick snubbed by Pro Football Hall of Fame in first year of eligibility

    Six-time Super Bowl champion head coach Bill Belichick didn’t get voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, according to a report from ESPN.

    Citing four unidentified sources, ESPN reported Tuesday that Belichick didn’t receive the necessary 40 votes from the 50-person panel of media members and other Hall of Famers. ESPN said Belichick received a call from the Hall of Fame last Friday with the news.

    The Hall of Fame declined to comment before its class of 2026 is announced at NFL Honors in San Francisco on Feb. 5.

    Bill Belichick’s cheating cost him first-ballot Hall of Fame induction. It might have also cost the Eagles a Super Bowl title.

    The report of Belichick’s snub was met with significant criticism, including from Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who posted on social media: “Insane … don’t even understand how this could be possible.”

    Belichick was hired by New England in 2000 and led the franchise to six Super Bowl wins and three other appearances in the title game during an 18-year span from 2001-18. Belichick’s 333 wins in the regular season and playoffs with New England and Cleveland are the second most to Don Shula’s 347. He won AP NFL Coach of the Year three times.

    Belichick also was one of the game’s top defensive assistants before taking over in New England, winning two earlier Super Bowls as defensive coordinator for the New York Giants.

    Belichick’s career did have blemishes. He was implicated in a sign-stealing scandal dubbed “Spygate” in the 2007 season and was fined $500,000 after the team was caught filming defensive signals from the New York Jets during a game.

    Belichick’s tenure in New England ended following the 2023 season. He just finished his first year coaching in college at North Carolina.

    Belichick was one of five finalists among coaches, contributors and senior players who last appeared in a game in 2000 or earlier. Patriots owner Robert Kraft was the contributor finalist, with Roger Craig, Ken Anderson and L.C. Greenwood the players.

    Between one and three of those finalists will be inducted into the Hall along with between three and five modern-era players from a group of 15 finalists.