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  • Jason Kelce backs Nick Sirianni’s plan, Travis Kelce weighs retirement, and more from ‘New Heights’

    Jason Kelce backs Nick Sirianni’s plan, Travis Kelce weighs retirement, and more from ‘New Heights’

    Wild-card weekend is on the horizon, and a crucial contest awaits the Eagles as they prepare to host the San Francisco 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field Sunday.

    After succumbing to the Washington Commanders, 24-17, in their regular-season finale, the Eagles (11-6) received the NFC’s No. 3 seed. The sixth-seeded 49ers (12-5) are coming off a 14-3 loss to the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks. As a result, an NFC playoff rivalry between San Francisco and Philadelphia will reignite.

    On the latest episode of New Heights, former Eagles center Jason Kelce expressed his optimism surrounding the Birds’ upcoming matchup. Meanwhile, Travis Kelce addressed the question of whether he will return for another season with the Kansas City Chiefs, or join his brother in retirement.

    Resting up

    The Eagles elected to give most of their starters a break in Week 18, but suffered a disappointing loss to the Commanders with mostly backups on the field.

    Nick Sirianni’s ‘stupid’ superstition, Cooper DeJean at wide receiver, and more highlights from ‘Hard Knocks’

    Jason Kelce defended Nick Sirianni’s decision to rest his starters, despite the Eagles missing the opportunity to enter the playoffs as a No. 2 seed. Detroit’s win over Chicago, along with an Eagles victory last week, would have improved Philadelphia’s standing.

    “To be honest with you, I felt pretty confident that the Eagles backups would beat the Commanders, and I think that they should’ve,” Kelce said. “They didn’t finish the game well. They started off pretty good. … But it looks bad in hindsight. Because of the Chicago loss, we got the egg on our face because we didn’t play our starters, and we could’ve had the two seed, most likely.”

    Drawing from his own experience, Kelce emphasized the advantage of having a well-rested squad to face the 49ers, who are a bit banged up after playing their starters in Week 18. The Eagles’ 2023 season, Kelce’s last before retirement, ended with the battered Birds suffering a 32-9 defeat to Tampa Bay in the wild-card round.

    “The last time we played our guys in a game like this [in 2023], it ended up costing us some meaningful people,” Kelce said. “At this point in the season, when you have the opportunity to avoid somebody getting hurt, and you don’t know for certain that playing guys is going to help you, I don’t know that it benefits you that much. At the end of the day, you still have to go through good teams to win the Super Bowl. … Now, we get a week of rest. Our whole offensive line has been so banged up, and a lot of those guys got the opportunity to get healthier.”

    Former coach, others rip Nick Sirianni’s decision to rest Eagles’ starters: ‘Makes no sense’

    In the end, Kelce doesn’t believe the fate of this year’s Eagles will come down to whether or not they beat the Commanders, even if the loss did potentially cost them an extra home playoff game.

    “I don’t think that the Week 18 [loss] is going to determine the outcome of this team,” Kelce said. “When we play up to our potential, with the defense we have and the offensive firepower we have, I think we can beat anybody.”

    Was Sunday’s loss to the Raiders Travis Kelce’s final NFL game?

    Travis shares postseason thoughts

    Also on Wednesday’s episode, Travis Kelce admitted to ending the 2025 campaign with an “embarrassing feeling” as the Chiefs failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

    But it was far from a lackluster season for the Kansas City tight end on an individual scale. Jason congratulated his brother for putting his name into NFL record books, including becoming only the third tight end to surpass 13,000 career receiving yards.

    Eagles-49ers is really a matchup of Nick Sirianni and Kyle Shanahan, savants in their own ways | Mike Sielski

    When it came to whether he will retire, Travis, 36, said that he had not yet made up his mind.

    “I’ve talked to a few people in the [Chiefs] facility already in my exit meetings, and they know where I stand now,” the younger Kelce brother said. “There’s a lot of love for the game, and I don’t think I’ll ever lose that. It’s a tough thing to navigate. But at the same time, if my body can heal up and rest up, and I can feel confident that I can go out there and give it another 21-week run — I would do it in a heartbeat.

    “So right now, it’s just finding that answer, and seeing how my body feels after this game, when it all settles down.”

  • Sixers’ Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford are cleared to play against Washington Wizards

    Sixers’ Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford are cleared to play against Washington Wizards

    For the first time all season, the 76ers had all of their main players available heading into Wednesday night’s game against the Washington Wizards.

    Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford were both cleared to play after being upgraded from questionable and probable earlier in the day. Meanwhile, Joel Embiid, who’s dealing left knee injury management and right ankle soreness, will play after being listed as questionable on Tuesday.

    Oubre has been sidelined since he suffered a sprained left knee ligament against the Detroit Pistons on Nov. 14. Watford has not played since he suffered a strained left thigh muscle against the Orlando Magic on Nov. 25.

    Sixers’ Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford upgraded to questionable vs. Wizards

    “Especially after coming back from the loss that we just had, I think it adds more energy,” Jabari Walker said of the possibility of finally having a full roster. “Now we are playing for something bigger. We are playing for everybody. You know, games like that naturally boost everyone’s energy.

    “So I’m excited for tonight. We have literally everything we need. It’s a matter of us coming together and jelling as a group.”

    Meanwhile, the Wizards (10-25) will be without the injured Kyshawn George (left hip), CJ McCollum (right quadriceps), Khris Middleton (right knee), and former Villanova standout Cam Whitmore (right shoulder).

    Dwindling days

    Walker and Dominick Barlow aren’t your traditional two-way players. These contracts are usually reserved for seldom-used players, but Barlow is the Sixers’ starting power forward and Walker serves as his dependable backup.

    Their availability is beginning to dwindle, though.

    Barlow, who missed 10 games this season with an injury, has 26 games left on his two-way deal. Walker has only 16 left.

    But since the Sixers have a standard-contract roster spot available, their remaining available games are lower. The team has only 20 games remaining among Barlow, Walker, and MarJon Beauchamp, their third two-way player. Beauchamp has spent most of his time with the Delaware Blue Coats after signing with the Sixers on Dec. 26.

    So, in theory, if Barlow and Walker played in 10 straight games, the Sixers would be without two-way contracts until they signed an extra player. One way to briefly fill the 15th standard roster spot is to sign someone to a 10-day contract.

    But the Sixers could convert Barlow or Walker’s contract to a standard deal. Then they could convert the remaining two-way power forward after trading or waiving one of their current teammates on a standard deal.

    “Every now and then, it will pop up in my mind, but just putting my energy toward what I can control right now,” Walker said of the dwindling days. “And just whatever happens, just knowing that I left an impact on my teammates and left an impact in the game, I think that’s the biggest truth.”

    Walker has averaged 4.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 13.0 minutes in 32 games. Meanwhile, Barlow has averaged career highs of 8.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 24.0 minutes through 24 games, with a career-high 21 starts.

    Sixers forward Dominick Barlow averaged career highs of 8.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 24.0 minutes through 24 games, with a career-high 21 starts.

    Right now, the two aren’t letting the two-way contracts define them, given the unique situation.

    Walker spent the last three seasons on a standard contract with the Portland Trail Blazers. Barlow’s previous two-way deals with the San Antonio Spurs and Atlanta Hawks were converted to standard deals.

    “We’re both big pieces, and we have similar styles sometimes with our energy,” Walker said. “So we just talk about how we can be effective with the team, how we can both bring more energy.”

  • Here are the Philly-area connections to know in the College Football Playoff semifinals

    Here are the Philly-area connections to know in the College Football Playoff semifinals

    Two defensive players from the Philadelphia area will be in the spotlight for Miami when it takes on Mississippi in a College Football Playoff semifinal on Thursday (7:30 p.m., ESPN).

    The Hurricanes will face the Rebels in the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz. In the other semifinal, Indiana will face Oregon in Atlanta’s Peach Bowl on Friday (7:30 p.m., ESPN). The winners will advance to the national championship on Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.

    There are several local connections on the rosters and coaching staffs in both games. Here’s a look at some of the Philadelphia-area ties in the national semifinals:

    Reports: Iowa State QB Rocco Becht joining coach Matt Campbell at Penn State

    Miami

    The Hurricanes’ defense features two players with local connections, with David Blay on the defensive line and Mohamed Toure at linebacker.

    Toure, who hails from Pleasantville in Atlantic County, leads the Hurricanes defense with 69 tackles in 14 games. Toure was a three-star recruit out of Pleasantville High School, where he starred as a running back and linebacker.

    After graduating from Pleasantville in 2019, Toure spent six years at Rutgers. He missed the 2022 season after a preseason ACL tear but returned in 2023 to lead the Scarlet Knights in sacks and tackles for loss. Toure was on the preseason watch list for the 2024 Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top linebacker, but suffered another ACL tear in training camp and missed Rutgers’ 2024 campaign.

    Toure transferred to Miami as a graduate student this offseason and has emerged as a crucial part of a defense that is limiting opponents to 13.1 points per game, ranking fourth in the FBS. He recorded eight tackles in a 10-3 win over Texas A&M in the first round of the College Football Playoff and seven more in Miami’s 24-14 upset of Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl quarterfinal.

    Mohamed Toure recorded eight tackles in a 10-3 win over Texas A&M in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

    Blay also is in his first season with the Hurricanes. The fifth-year senior is from Levittown. Blay was a standout defensive tackle at Harry S. Truman High School but went nearly unnoticed in recruiting. He spent the first two seasons of his college career at West Chester before transferring to Louisiana Tech in 2023, where he was named to the All-Conference USA first team in 2024.

    Blay transferred to Miami for his fifth season of college football. In 11 games, Blay has recorded 27 tackles, including 2½ for loss.

    Indiana

    Coach Curt Cignetti’s roster features Jah Jah Boyd, who was a three-star recruit out of Roman Catholic in 2024. Boyd has appeared in five games at defensive back for the Hoosiers this year. He was the MVP of the Catholic League in 2023 after setting Roman’s single-season reception record as a senior, catching 38 passes for 769 yards and 11 touchdowns.

    Cignetti also has ties to the city. The back-to-back AP Coach of the Year was the quarterbacks coach at Temple from 1989 to 1992 under coach Jerry Berndt. Cignetti also was a head coach at Division II Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

    Indiana coach Curt Cignetti was the quarterbacks coach at Temple from 1989 to 1992.

    Ola Adams, who coaches safeties and defensive backs for Indiana, spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at Villanova. Adams served as the Wildcats’ running backs coach in 2015 and 2016 under Andy Talley, then was promoted to special teams coordinator and cornerbacks coach when Mark Ferrante succeeded Talley in 2017.

    Adams was promoted to Villanova’s defensive coordinator in 2019, a role he held for three seasons before joining the Denver Broncos as an assistant defensive backs coach in 2022. Adams made a stop as a defensive analyst at Penn State in 2023 before joining Cignetti’s staff in Bloomington, Ind.

    Oregon

    Jovon McRae II is the only Oregon player with a Philadelphia-area connection. The freshman wide receiver is from Camden, although he played his high school football at Mojave High School in North Las Vegas, Nev.

    McRae, who also played basketball and ran track at Mojave, has yet to appear in a game for Dan Lanning’s Ducks.

    Temple schedules nonconference football matchup with Toledo for next season and 2032

    Ole Miss

    Eagles fans may remember Joe Judge from an unsuccessful two-season stint as the head coach of the New York Giants in 2020 and 2021. More recently, he has been on the sidelines for Ole Miss. He joined Lane Kiffin’s staff as a senior analyst in 2024 and was promoted to quarterbacks coach ahead of the 2025 season.

    Judge grew up in Doylestown and graduated from Lansdale Catholic in 2000. He played quarterback for Mississippi State from 2000 to 2004 and joined the Bulldogs’ staff as a graduate assistant in 2005. Judge spent time on Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama and with Bill Belichick’s Patriots before becoming the head coach of the Giants.

    Joe Judge was head coach of the New York Giants for two seasons.

    Despite Kiffin’s departure for LSU ahead of the College Football Playoff, Judge will remain on staff at Ole Miss. He’s expected to return as an assistant during Pete Golding’s first full season as head coach.

    Penn State fans tuning in for the Fiesta Bowl will recognize Harrison Wallace III, who spent four seasons at State College. The receiver joined Ole Miss as a redshirt senior after the Nittany Lions’ run to the College Football Playoff semifinal last season. Wallace led Penn State’s wideouts in receptions and yardage in 2024, although he trailed former tight end Tyler Warren in both categories. Wallace has emerged as quarterback Trinidad Chambliss’ top target this season, leading Ole Miss with 57 receptions for 894 yards.

  • S&P downgraded ChristianaCare’s credit rating

    S&P downgraded ChristianaCare’s credit rating

    ChristianaCare, Delaware’s largest health system, received a one-notch credit-rating downgrade from Standard & Poor’s, to “AA” from “AA+’.

    S&P attributed the downgrade of the nonprofit health system’s rating to inconsistent operating performance in recent years and the planned addition of $350 million in debt early this year through a bond offering, according to a report Tuesday.

    In the year ended June 30, 2025, ChristianaCare’s financial results were weaker than expected because of low surgical volume related to physician turnover, S&P said. Another factor was higher-than-anticipated medical malpractice reserves, S&P said.

    One of ChrisitianaCare’s financial strengths is that it typically gets half of its revenue from private insurers, which pay higher rates and are more profitable than Medicare and Medicaid, S&P noted.

    Despite its strong financial condition, ChristianaCare has a relatively small service area, given its concentration in northern Delaware, compared to other health systems with “AA” ratings, S&P said. If ChristianaCare’s expansion into Southeastern Pennsylvania is successful, it would help alleviate that problem, the agency said.

    ChristianaCare opened a micro-hospital in western Chester County last summer and is building a second one in Aston, Delaware County. It also has plans to put one in Springfield Township. In addition, ChristianaCare spent $50 million to step into the leases that the bankrupt Crozer Health had at five outpatient facilities in Broomall, Glen Mills, Media, and Havertown.

    S&P said ChristianaCare has no plans for significant acute-care hospital expansion.

    Last month, ChristianaCare and Virtua Health, South Jersey’s largest health system, ended negotiations on a possible merger.

  • The New York Times lists Philly as the top travel destination for 2026

    The New York Times lists Philly as the top travel destination for 2026

    With the nation’s 250th birthday fast approaching, the New York Times named Philadelphia as the number one travel destination in the world for 2026.

    While noting that there will be no shortage of celebrations for the Semiquincentennial, as the national milestone is known, Philly landed the top spot on the paper’s annual “52 Places to Go” list published each January. Because where else would you want to be this year than the birthplace of the Declaration of Independence?

    “Celebrate the Semiquincentennial with fireworks and themed balls,” the paper wrote, before mentioning just a few of the slew of major events Philly has planned for America’s yearlong birthday bash, including a Red, White & Blue To-Do Pomp & Parade, two new galleries at the National Constitution Center, a grand exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and a World Cup match on Independence Day.

    That’s not to mention other big-ticket events coming our way in 2026, like the MLB All-Star Game, a pumped Fourth of July concert with soon-to-be-announced special guests, and TED Democracy talks, plus a host of neighborhood programming.

    With its unmatched Revolutionary bona fides, Philly edged out global travel destinations for the top spot. Like Warsaw, with its gleaming new Museum of Modern Art, and a greener-than-ever Bangkok. Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula and India’s Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve rounded out the paper’s top global spots worth visiting in 2026.

    Compiled yearly by Times editors and reporters, the exhaustive list noted that other original colonies — Massachusetts, Virginia, New York, and New Jersey — will also have stacked Semiquincentennial calendars.

    Whatever.

  • Lower Merion swore in five new commissioners this week. Here’s who they are.

    Lower Merion swore in five new commissioners this week. Here’s who they are.

    Lower Merion swore in five new commissioners on Monday, kicking off the board’s 126th year of governing the Montgomery County township.

    Between rounds of applause and family photos, commissioners outlined the major challenges, and opportunities, the body will face in 2026. Board members highlighted recent accomplishments — creating a process for establishing board priorities, restricting gas-powered leaf blowers and plastic bags, advancing capital projects, hiring a police superintendent, supporting the development of affordable housing, and reversing the post-pandemic decline in police staffing levels.

    Yet they also underscored that much awaits the new board, including negotiating two collective bargaining agreements, overseeing Main Line Health’s redevelopment of the St. Charles Borromeo Seminary property, and addressing a difficult fiscal reality (the board last month authorized an 8% property tax increase, citing the “mistake” of having kept tax rates stagnant for over a decade).

    “We’re solving problems, we’re moving forward, and we’re even having a little fun,” said commissioner V. Scott Zelov, who was sworn in for his sixth term.

    Zelov on Monday night became the eighth commissioner in Lower Merion history to serve for at least 20 years, board President Todd Sinai said.

    Lower Merion commissioners approve 8% tax hike, citing ‘looming cliff’ after 13 years of no increase

    Sinai, who was first elected to the board in 2017, was unanimously reelected board president. Incumbent commissioner Sean Whalen called Sinai a “stalwart leader of this board,” praising Sinai’s leadership through economic ups and downs.

    Jeremiah Woodring, also an incumbent commissioner, was unanimously elected vice president. Sinai described Woodring as “thoughtful and inquisitive,” “balanced,” and “diplomatic.”

    Jana Lunger was sworn in as Lower Merion tax collector.

    Here’s a who’s who of the five newly elected Lower Merion commissioners, all of whom replaced outgoing commissioners who chose not to run again in 2025.

    Michael Daly, an attorney and the former president of the Gladwyne Civic Association, was sworn in to represent Ward 2, which includes Gladwyne and Penn Valley. Daly has lived in Lower Merion for around 15 years with his wife and three children, all of whom are products of the Lower Merion School District. In his law practice, he focuses on defending class action lawsuits and complex litigation. In a candidate interview earlier this fall, Daly said he’s focused on quality of life issues, including walkability, public parks, and safe streets. He replaced outgoing commissioner Joshua Grimes.

    Charles Gregory, a longtime township employee, will represent Ward 4, which encompasses Ardmore and Haverford. Gregory, who was born and raised in Ardmore, worked for Lower Merion Township for 23 years until 2024. He’s the former president of the Lower Merion Workers Association and a Boy Scout troop leader. During a candidate forum, Gregory said he believed he could “make a difference from a blue collar aspect.” Gregory replaced outgoing commissioner Anthony Stevenson.

    Christine McGuire is a forensic psychologist and business owner who will serve Rosemont and Villanova in Ward 6. McGuire lived in Gladwyne for nine years before moving to Villanova around three years ago. In a candidate forum, McGuire said she has been active in the Gladwyne Civic Association and in the parent group that studied Lower Merion’s school start time change. As the owner of a psychology practice, she said she understands “what a budget is and that you have to work within the budget and not look at it like a blank check.” She replaced outgoing commissioner Andrew Gavrin.

    Craig Timberlake, an Ardmore resident who was instrumental in the 2025 redevelopment at Schauffele Plaza, will represent Ward 8’s South Wynnewood and East Ardmore. Timberlake moved to Ardmore around 15 years ago from Maine. He says he was drawn to Ardmore’s high-quality schools, walkable neighborhoods, and transit options. He believes the township should incentivize “smaller,” “incremental,” and locally funded development and decrease speed limits to protect pedestrians. Timberlake is a project manager at OnCourse, an education technology platform. He replaced Shawn Kraemer, the board’s outgoing vice president.

    Shelby Sparrow, the former president of the Penn Wynne Civic Association and a longtime community organizer, will represent Penn Wynne and Wynnewood in Ward 14. Sparrow’s priorities include ensuring the community is engaged in Main Line Health’s redevelopment of the St. Charles Borromeo Seminary property; addressing pedestrian safety; and encouraging sustainability and park stewardship. She was previously the director of development for St. Peter’s Independent School in Center City. She replaced outgoing commissioner Rick Churchill.

    Sinai and Zelov, who were reelected in November, were sworn in, and sitting commissioners Woodring, Whalen, Daniel Bernheim, Louis Rossman, Ray Courtney, Maggie Harper Epstein, and Gilda Kramer were welcomed back.

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • Here’s how Brynn McCurry became Villanova’s ‘bionic’ force on its women’s basketball program

    Here’s how Brynn McCurry became Villanova’s ‘bionic’ force on its women’s basketball program

    It’s hard to miss Brynn McCurry when she takes the floor at the Finneran Pavilion. The Villanova forward has two large, bulky braces on the right side of her body. One brace supports her knee, where she tore her anterior cruciate ligament before last season. The other is on her elbow, protecting a torn ulnar collateral ligament, an injury typically associated with baseball.

    After McCurry missed all of last season with the ACL injury, she suffered the torn UCL just before this season started. But she knew she was not going to sit out another full year.

    So McCurry strapped on the braces and embraced a look she calls “bionic.” Despite the injuries, McCurry, who’s averaging 11.8 points in 11 games this season, has blossomed into an integral part of the Wildcats’ roster, helping them to a 12-3 record as their second-leading scorer and leading rebounder.

    Despite mobility being limited due to braces on her elbow and knee, Villanova’s Brynn McCurry (left) has emerged as the leading rebounder and second-leading scorer for the Wildcats.

    “It’s a great feeling just to be out there in itself, but also being on a team that’s been so successful,” McCurry said. “… And just being able to be back playing with people that I’ve never gotten to play with. So it’s a great feeling to be out there, and an even better feeling to be winning.”

    Injury issues first popped up for McCurry during her senior season at Sparta (N.J.) High School in 2022-23, when she suffered a torn left ACL in mid-December, ending her high school career.

    McCurry enrolled at Villanova but spent most of her freshman year playing sparingly off the bench. However, her role increased near the end of the season. She played double-digit minutes in seven of the Wildcats’ final nine games, which helped her confidence grow.

    Villanova’s winning streak may have ended, but there’s plenty for Denise Dillon to be happy about

    That confidence continued to rise when the team traveled to Italy for exhibition games in the summer of 2024. McCurry looked like the best player on a team full of newcomers to coach Denise Dillon, and her sophomore leap seemed inevitable.

    “A lot of our team had left in [the] transfer portal or graduated, so that was a great experience,” McCurry said. “[But] the momentum kind of just stopped once I tore my ACL.”

    Brynn McCurry battles St. Joseph’s forward Faith Stinson during the clash in the Big 5 women’s basketball championship in December.

    Just as the team began ramping up its preseason in September 2024, McCurry suffered a torn right ACL.

    The injury set up another nine-month recovery period as she was finding her role on the court. However, with the help of her support system, McCurry attacked her rehab to return to the court as soon as possible.

    “Once you have surgery, it’s done; you’ve got to start rehabbing again,” McCurry said. “So just having a good support system around me, my family came down and was with me for the first week after surgery because you can’t do a lot by yourself. But after that, Villanova, my teammates, and the coaches took great care of me.”

    Villanova forward Tafara Gapare leaves the program

    That setback meant McCurry had to spend another season watching from the sidelines. She remained positive in her year off, motivated to get back to the court and compete.

    She was healthy for Villanova’s preseason this fall, albeit supported by a large knee brace. Then, more bad news struck following a seemingly normal practice.

    Brynn McCurry’s brace protects what she discovered was a torn ligament in her right elbow. She’ll look to undergo Tommy John surgery in the offseason.

    McCurry was playing defense and had her right arm caught in a screen, leaving a tingly feeling in her arm, almost as if she hit her funny bone. Initially, she wasn’t too concerned, but she discovered the next day she could not turn doorknobs with her right hand. Scans revealed a torn UCL. She’ll need to undergo Tommy John surgery, but she has put that off.

    “I’m just trying to push through this season without having to get that done, and wearing that big brace is how I can do it,” McCurry said. “So I look a little bit bionic out there on my right side, but whatever keeps me out there, as long as the doctors say I can just wear the brace, that’s what I’ll do.”

    The elbow brace has affected McCurry’s shooting ability, but she has still developed into one of the Wildcats’ crucial players this season — braces and all.

    Forged in Baltimore, Bryce Lindsay has overcome his share of adversity. Now he’s Villanova’s leading scorer.

    She came off the bench in the first four games and didn’t score more than seven points. McCurry entered the starting lineup against James Madison on Nov. 16 and scored a then-career-high 18 points with seven assists.

    McCurry has been on a tear since that breakout performance. She scored in double figures in the next five games, including three straight games with 20 or more points. McCurry put up 21 points in an 81-59 upset of then-No. 25 West Virginia on Dec. 1. She scored another 21 points six days later to beat St. Joseph’s, 76-70, in the Big 5 Classic championship on Dec. 7.

    “She picked up right where she had left off [in freshman year],” Dillon said. “She’s a consistent worker, and she understands the game so well. She knows what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, and I’m super proud of her for continuing. Her resilience is amazing, and she’s getting results that are working in favor of this team’s success.”

    McCurry’s first start coincided with the beginning of a 10-game winning streak, Villanova’s longest since the 2017-18 season. McCurry’s impact does not just come from scoring. She takes pride in being an all-around player, averaging 5.6 rebounds, and is second on the Wildcats with 58 assists.

    Villanova’s winning streak ended against Marquette on Sunday, but it is in the NCAA Tournament conversation with two months to play. McCurry has been critical to the Wildcats’ success, despite playing with two big braces and a torn UCL. She is aiming to remain confident to end the season and to help her team continue to pick up wins.

    “Being out, I got to see what some great players are,” McCurry said. “There are so many people out there, and Maddy Siegrist is a big one that everyone from Villanova knows, but just modeling myself after other great players.

    “Confidence is a huge thing. So just continuing to be confident in myself and my teammates. I think we can be really successful.”

    Follow the Inquirer’s complete coverage of Villanova athletics right here!
  • Sing Us Home fest will be back in Manayunk, featuring a late-night talk show host behind the drums

    Sing Us Home fest will be back in Manayunk, featuring a late-night talk show host behind the drums

    This year’s Sing Us Home festival will feature founders Dave and Tim Hause, Scranton pop-punk band the Menzingers, prolific indie rockers the Mountain Goats, punk veteran Ted Leo, and a certain late night TV comedian and political commentator playing drums.

    In its fourth year, Sing Us Home will be staged on Venice Island in Manayunk from May 1-3. It will again take its place as the opening event of Philadelphia’s outdoor music festival season.

    Produced by Ardmore-based music promoters Rising Sun Presents, the fest will kick of on a Friday night with its traditional opening set billed as the Hause Family Campfire. That includes Roxborough-raised Dave Hause joined by Leo, Will Hoge, and Jenny Owen Youngs, with all four songwriters on stage at once, sharing songs and stories.

    Along with the aforementioned headliners and Dave Hause & the Mermaid, the three-day fest also includes Tim Hause & the Pre-Existing Conditions, fronted by Hause’s younger brother and festival cofounder.

    The lineup for the 2026 Sing Us Home Festival.

    The lineup also features blues guitarist Emily Wolfe, Canadian punks the Flatliners, New York indie rockers Augustines, New Jersey band Church and State™, Philly singer Moustapha Noumbissi, Lancaster folk-punk band Apes of the State, singer-songwriters Katacombs and Laney Lebo, and horn happy outfit Big Boy Brass, who will parade the grounds.

    The political pundit funnyman playing the drums will be Jon Stewart, who sits on the throne behind his kit with Church and State™, the new band with whom he has played only a handful of gigs.

    The most prominent of those for Stewart, whose punk rock roots go back to his days tending bar at legendary venue City Garden in Trenton, was at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park in November.

    Last month, he told the audience on the Daily Show that he picked up the stick after failing to master the guitar or piano, and that playing in his first band at age 63 was extremely fun.

    Sing Us Home tickets are available at singushomefestival.com.

    @thedailyshow

    When he’s not behind the desk, you can catch Jon Stewart drumming with his band #AfterTheCut #DailyShow #Drumming

    ♬ original sound – The Daily Show

  • The USWNT will return to north Jersey in March to play Colombia

    The USWNT will return to north Jersey in March to play Colombia

    Local fans have become used to traveling up to northern New Jersey to watch the U.S. women’s soccer team, and in a few months, they’ll get to do it again.

    The Americans will play Colombia on March 7 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison as part of the annual SheBelieves Cup tournament. Canada and Argentina are the other teams in this year’s field, and they’ll play at 12:30 p.m. before the U.S.-Colombia game at 3:30 p.m.

    It will be the last day of the round-robin, with Nashville hosting the opening doubleheader on March 1 and Columbus, Ohio, hosting the middle games on March 4. The day also will feature the retirement tribute for U.S. legend Tobin Heath, a North Jersey native who earned first-ballot induction into this year’s National Soccer Hall of Fame class.

    The U.S. women have played nine times at the 25,000-seat venue formerly known as Red Bull Arena. Their last seven games there have drawn sellout crowds.

    Tobin Heath playing in Philadelphia in 2019. She won two World Cups, two Olympic gold medals, and two NWSL championships in her career.

    Unfortunately, the U.S. kickoff time means that fans here who also follow the Union will have to choose between going north and going down to Chester for the Union’s 7:30 p.m. game against the San Jose Earthquakes.

    In theory, they could try to race out of Harrison to get on the New Jersey Turnpike, but traffic up there is almost certain to make that impossible.

    As for the teams in the SheBelieves field, Canada is the best of them on paper at No. 10 in FIFA’s global rankings. But the Canucks have lost five straight games, a streak that started with a 3-0 rout by the U.S. in June. Since then, they have faced Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Japan twice.

    Philadelphia is on a long list of potential cities for the 2031 women’s World Cup

    Colombia is the most intriguing team of the bunch. Las Cafeteras are ranked No. 20, but have three superstars in their attack: the Washington Spirit’s Leicy Santos, Real Madrid’s Linda Caicedo, and Chelsea’s Mayra Ramírez. Colombia made the final of last year’s Copa América and lost on penalty kicks to Brazil after a wild 4-4 tie.

    U.S. Soccer tends to put the best game for the U.S. on the tournament’s last day, so it says something that Colombia got the honor this time.

    Argentina is ranked No. 30, and finished third at last year’s Copa. Forward Paulina Gramaglia used to play for the Houston Dash, and is now with Spain’s Tenerife.

    These games will be the first of a year that builds up to Concacaf’s women’s championship in November. The tournament will serve as qualifying for the 2027 World Cup and 2028 Olympics, though the U.S. doesn’t have to worry about the latter as the host.

    The USMNT, USWNT, and your kid’s youth team are all different. U.S. Soccer is fine with that.

    “These are three teams that will likely be in the World Cup in 2027 and of course we’ll likely see Canada in World Cup qualifying at the end of the year, so when focusing on our continued preparations and growth as a team, the SheBelieves Cup is of great value,” U.S. manager Emma Hayes said in a statement. “Each team brings different strengths and will challenge us to find success in all parts of the field, which is exactly what we need as we continue our process to build toward the big events on the horizon.”

    Ticket presales for U.S. Soccer members start on Thursday, and the general public sale starts on Monday.

    U.S. manager Emma Hayes overseeing a practice in Chester in October.

    SheBelieves Cup schedule

    Sunday, March 1: Canada vs. Colombia (2 p.m., truTV and Universo) and United States vs. Argentina (5 p.m., TNT, truTV, Universo) in Nashville.

    Wednesday, March 4: Argentina vs. Colombia (3:30 p.m., truTV and Universo) and United States vs. Canada (6:45 p.m., TNT, truTV, Universo) in Columbus, Ohio

    Saturday, March 7: Canada vs. Argentina, 12:30 p.m. (truTV, Universo) and United States vs. Colombia (3:30 p.m., TBS, truTV, Telemundo 62, Universo) in Harrison, N.J.

    All games also are available via online streaming on HBO Max in English and Peacock in Spanish.

  • Nick Sirianni’s ‘stupid’ superstition, Cooper DeJean at wide receiver, and more highlights from ‘Hard Knocks’

    Nick Sirianni’s ‘stupid’ superstition, Cooper DeJean at wide receiver, and more highlights from ‘Hard Knocks’

    Hard Knocks ushered in the new year on Tuesday, with the HBO documentary series showcasing the Eagles’ preparations for both their Week 18 matchup against the Washington Commanders and the playoffs.

    The sixth episode focused on Nick Sirianni’s field goal superstitions, Jordan Davis’ impact on the team, DeVonta Smith securing another 1,000-yard season, and more.

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    Just like us

    Many fans have their game-day traditions, especially when it comes to field goals. If you have ever been mocked for blowing on the screen in an attempt to disrupt an opposing player’s kick, don’t be ashamed — even Sirianni has his rituals.

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    The Eagles coach revealed that he asked special teams coordinator Michael Clay the same question before Davis’ game-winning field goal block against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3 and Jalen Carter’s consequential extra point block against the Buffalo Bills in Week 17.

    “The last time I was superstitious was during the [expletive] Rams game,” Sirianni said. “I go, ‘Clay, can we block this?’ And that was actually the first time we blocked a kick … because we needed a big play right there. I did it again in the Buffalo game. And that’s why superstitions are stupid, because that had nothing to do with why we blocked the kick.”

    Whether or not the question “Can we block this?” joins the pantheon of Eagles’ fans’ game-day superstitions is yet to be seen, but don’t be surprised if you hear them asking one another the same question this weekend.

    Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean (left) and safety Reed Blankenship warm up before Sunday’s game against the Commanders, but neither saw the field.

    Some rest for the weary

    The talk of the town following Sunday’s loss was Sirianni’s decision to rest most of the Eagles’ starters against the Commanders — despite still having a chance to capture the NFC’s second seed by securing a win (thanks to the Chicago Bears’ loss).

    While fans were able to see Sirianni’s explanation to the media before the game, Hard Knocks provided a glimpse into how the Eagles coach broke the news to his players. Sirianni said that some players would be fully off — like Jalaen Phillips, who hadn’t yet had a bye week after his in-season trade from the Miami Dolphins — while some might dress and play a little, or dress and be ready just in case. Others, however, would get a chance to shine in their place.

    “Some guys are going to have a great opportunity to play more than you have,” Sirianni said. “And make no mistake about it, we are going out there to win this [expletive] game. We are going out there to win this [expletive] game.”

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    Several resting starters decided to flip to the other side of the ball while not getting their normal first-team reps in practice, including Jordan Mailata and Cooper DeJean, who were shown joining the Eagles’ scout team as a pass rusher and wide receiver, respectively.

    “Look at all our guys that are on scout team,” Sirianni said to a smiling Connor Barwin. “It’s helping on defense. Look, the whole defense is in on it. [It’s] a sign of a good team.”

    However, without their starters, the Birds lost to the Commanders, 24-17, forfeiting their shot at the No. 2 seed, which would have guaranteed a second home playoff game if they survive their first-round matchup against the Brock Purdy-led San Francisco 49ers.

    The episode ends with Davis and right guard Tyler Steen walking off the field together while discussing the team’s next steps.

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    “We’ve got to make this run now,” Davis said following the game. “Its crunch time now, boy.”

    “We would’ve had the two seed,” Steen said.

    “As long as we get in and win every single one, that’s all that matters, bro,” Davis said. “Don’t matter if it be home or away.”

    Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis got in much better shape this offseason.

    Davis in the spotlight

    Davis has had a stellar year at defensive tackle for the Eagles, ranking fourth in the league in combined tackles by a defensive lineman.

    In the latest episode, the 6-foot-6 former Georgia star was open about his difficult first few years in the NFL, specifically his struggles with his weight and attitude.

    “I want to genuinely be the best person I can be,” Davis said. “And that’s why I’m going so hard in terms of how my body is changing, and my weightlifting and my conditioning and stuff like that, because I want to do this for me. I want to look sexy. I want to be skinny, selfishly, but, at the same time, the more that I do that, and the more that I see progress and I see results, I’m even more motivated.”

    Defensive line coach Clint Hurtt — who in a previous episode referred to Davis as a “big [expletive] Care Bear” — believes the 25-year-old lineman started this path to improvement during the team’s Super Bowl run last year, focusing on his sleep patterns, extra conditioning, including a healthy Peloton habit, and cutting out sweets. Davis went as far as saying that the biggest difference between the player he was two years ago in comparison to now is that he “learned how to say no.”

    “You can’t be entitled,” Davis said. “Entitlement is like going through life thinking that you can do no wrong. Not that I was ever entitled, but there are definitely traits that I reflected a little bit and looked upon myself like, ‘Damn, that kind of sounds entitled.’ It’s just little small stuff like that that I want to change.”

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    Davis also plays an important role off the field for the Eagles, as he believes it’s his role to “keep things light.”

    “JD is bigger than life, man,” edge rusher Nolan Smith said. “I call him the giant dancing bear. JD is just amazing. He’s fun, he’s energetic, he always makes you laugh, man. He’s one of those guys that just has a big presence.”

    Pun intended or not, Davis’ cultural impact on the team can’t be overstated, from his joyful rendition of Rod Wave’s “Street Runner” during practice to inviting his fellow defensive linemen to South Philly restaurant Alice to celebrate the new year.

    Eagles edge rusher Jaelan Phillips (right) made sure to show off photos of his cats during the defensive line’s New Year’s dinner.

    During dinner, the players were in high spirits, discussing everything from whether cats have souls to the questionable origins of Phillips’ favorite quote, before Davis officially rang in the new year for his teammates.

    ”To whom much is given, much is required,” Phillips said.

    “Shout out, Uncle Ben,” Jaylx Hunt replied, in reference to the character from Marvel’s Spider-Man.

    “Is that the Uncle Ben quote?” Phillips responded. “I thought Jesus said that, [expletive]. I’ve been telling my girl — I swear to God, I thought the bible said that [expletive].”

    For those wondering, that is an actual bible quote — Luke 12:48 — and the Uncle Ben quote in question is just a little different, but it sends a similar message: “With great power comes great responsibility.”

    “Man, Stan Lee was dropping bombs,” Phillips joked.

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    1K Smitty

    On Sunday, there was one major offensive starter still on the field for the Eagles: DeVonta Smith.

    Smith, who reached 1,000 receiving yards in each of his previous two seasons with the Birds, entered the regular-season finale 44 yards away from reaching the mark for a third straight year.

    The star receiver only needed the first quarter to get his yards, and finished the game with 52 total. Sirianni pulled the former Heisman Trophy winner early to help keep him ready for the playoffs — but not before jokingly criticizing Smith’s on field decision-making.

    “You didn’t run out of bounds,” Sirianni said to Smith after being pulled from the game. “You took a hit and didn’t run out of bounds.”

    “When?” Smith responded.

    “On that first play,” Sirianni said. “You lying son of a …”