This is For The Win’s daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. Have feedback? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey! Now, here’s Mike Sykes.
Goooood morning, Winners! Thanks so much for reading the Morning Win today. We appreciate you here. Hope you’re having a good week. We’re one step closer to the Super Bowl.
Speaking of the Super Bowl, man, I’ve got a bit of a scheduling complaint that I’d like for the NBA and NFL to get together and take care of.
Look, y’all. Let me be clear about something. I love my job. It’s very fun. It’s a privilege to be able to cover this stuff that I love for money. I get that. And I normally don’t complain about simple scheduling quirks.
But, man. The NBA trade deadline keeps happening in the same week and I just want to fight have a very stern conversation about it with Adam Silver.
I mean, dog. Come on, Adam. WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS?!?
The NBA Trade Deadline didn’t always used to be this week. It used to actually happen after the All-Star game until it was moved up two weeks earlier seven years ago. Why? Because the Kings wanted to be party poopers and trade DeMarcus Cousins in the middle of the All-Star break.
Huge party foul right there, obviously. That was all anyone talked about during what’s supposed to be a celebration of the NBA and its best talent. I can understand the reaction. But didn’t we go a step too far here?
I’m not being completely selfish here, by the way! This isn’t just about my needs — it’s about the NBA, too! The trade deadline is a huge thing. It’s arguably the biggest news week in the NBA every single year. Do you really want that overshadowed by *checks notes* Taylor Swift coverage? The Usher halftime show? Brock Purdy questions about Lee Harvey Oswald?
You need to think long and hard about this one, Adam. Not just for my sake, but for the league’s sake, too. Move the trade deadline back to where it was.
Please. I’m literally begging.
RELATED: Here’s our trade deadline tracker for every single trade that comes through today
The end of an era?
It feels like just yesterday the Washington Mystics had won the franchise’s first-ever WNBA championship.
It wasn’t yesterday. That was five years ago in 2019.
It’s 2024 now and Elena Delle Donne might not be playing basketball again. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reports that Delle Donne informed the team that she’d be taking a break from basketball instead of signing the max offer sheet on the table with Washington.
She hasn’t officially retired — she’s only taking a break. How long will that break be? No idea. Here’s more detail from Shelburne:
“Before the free agency process, Delle Donne, who has come back from multiple back surgeries, told the organization that she was unsure about her future, in the hopes she would not interfere with the Mystics’ offseason plans.
The Mystics responded by placing the core designation on Delle Donne, rather than take a chance on losing her without compensation in free agency.”
If this is it for Delle Donne, what a career it’s been for her. Obviously, she won a title as her team’s best player back in 2019. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Delle Donne is one of the greatest players to ever pick up a ball.
Her 19.5 points per game is the 5th best average in WNBA history. She’s also the league’s best free-throw shooter ever, hitting them at a 93.4 percent clip.
Injuries hampered the back half of her career after winning a championship, but she’s still one of the greatest bucket-getters we’ve ever seen. If this is the end (which I hope it isn’t!) she finishes her career as one of the best.
Happy trails, Elena. Maybe. We’ll see.
RELATED: Take a look at our WNBA Free Agency tracker for the latest moves
Saban’s got a new job!
You thought Nick Saban was going to stay out of your life on Saturdays from now on? Bah. Of course, he wasn’t. He can’t stay away from this stuff.
There will be a change of scenery, though. The greatest college football coach ever is headed from the sideline to in front of the camera. ESPN announced he’d be joining the College GameDay crew next season.
Our Andrew Joseph says this always seemed obvious. It was just a matter of time:
“From the moment Saban announced his retirement, it seemed obvious that he was going to make a move to TV. It was only a matter of if Saban would take some time off before jumping into a broadcasting role, but the seven-time champion appears ready to go for this upcoming season.”
Saban is a natural on TV and has done College GameDay before. It makes sense for him to take it on as a full-time gig here. He should be a solid addition.
READ MORE: Here’s the fan reaction to Nick Saban joining the College GameDay crew.
Quick hits: The Eagles are on TV! … Super Bowl Stadiums, ranked … and more
— Jalen Hurts and the Eagles made an appearance on Abbott Elementary’s season debut Wednesday! This was so fun. Caroline Darney has more.
— We ranked all 15 of the NFL’s Super Bowl stadiums. This is a fun one!
— Geno Auriemma had a hilarious joke about getting to 1,200 wins. This was pretty great. Meghan Hall has more.
— Caroline built an Eras Tour Taylor Swift surprise song tracker. This is fun!
— Do you want to look at all the Super Bowl rings? Of course, you want to look at all the Super Bowl rings. Here’s Bryan Kalbrosky with more.
— Here’s Bryan again with five Lakers trades that would make LeBron James happy.
That’s all, folks! Happy Thursday! Let’s do this again tomorrow. Until then, peace! We out.
-Sykes ✌️
