This week we're breaking down the biggest sports and pop culture moments you need to know. From our behind-the-scenes recap at Fanatics Fest NYC to Justin Bieber's surprise appearance, Aaron Rodgers' emotional family update, and the latest Taylor Fritz–Olivia Jade dating rumors, we're covering everything everyone's talking about. We also recap Spain's dramatic FIFA World Cup victory over Argentina, unpack the controversial halftime show, relive the post-match brawl, and share our thoughts on what the tournament means for the future of international soccer. Plus, we're previewing the WNBA All-Star Game and answering some of your favorite hotline questions from the weekend. In this episode: -Fanatics Fest NYC recap -Justin Bieber's surprise appearance -Aaron Rodgers family drama explained -Paige Lorenze & Tommy Paul wedding highlights -Taylor Fritz and Olivia Jade dating rumors -Lewis Hamilton, Kendall Jenner & celebrity dating updates -Spain vs. Argentina FIFA World Cup Final recap -World Cup halftime show reactions -WNBA All-Star Game preview -Hotline Q&A If you love sports, pop culture, celebrity news, tennis, soccer, and unfiltered reactions, be sure to subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.

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The Well Played crew hit the stage live at Fanatics Fest with special guest Rachel DeMita for a can't-miss conversation covering the biggest stories in sports right now. From breaking down the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain—including Lionel Messi vs. Lamine Yamal, bold championship predictions, and the viral "passing of the torch" photo—to debating Caitlin Clark's All-Star voting controversy and previewing WNBA All-Star Weekend, this episode has it all. Plus, Rachel shares what it's been like covering the World Cup on the ground, the wild halftime show lineup, and the one soccer rule she'd change. 🎙️ New episodes of Well Played drop every week. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more sports, pop culture, and everything in between. Thanks to our friends at DICK'S Sporting Goods for hosting us on your stage.

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Two things remain consistent in the world of soccer: fans still hate refs, and Victoria Beckham still couldn't care less about soccer. We break down why FIFA can’t beat the corrupt allegations in what fans are dubbing “Vargentina”, plus how Posh Spice maintains her beef with soccer. 

Also in soccer, Gotham FC and the Washington Spirit are headed to NYC this week to play in the first women's-sporting event ever hosted at Citi Field. New York Giants and Gotham FC co-owners (and sisters), Carolyn Tisch-Blodgett and Emily Tisch-Sussman, join the pod to tell us why Gotham FC’s relocation to NYC will grow women’s sports, the differences working in men vs. women’s sports, and whether Sam Kerr will take the pitch in her first match back in the NWSL.

Call us, beep us, if you wanna reach us: (828) 412-4825 

Follow Emily Tisch-Sussman: @emtsuss @shepivotsthepodcast

Follow Gotham FC: @gothamfc 

Follow Blake: @blaaakkkke

Follow Caroline: @cghendy 

• Haaland bridal hair inspo: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/p/DapZP6SDQ0y/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==⁠⁠

• Taylor & Travis dog confirmed: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/p/DavS0TpIG-1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==⁠⁠ 

• The WNBA’s “shoegate”: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/shorts/ooVPcAT0lJs?si=csnpxxZ2b0mqIftc⁠⁠ 

• Plus, Marina Mabrey introduces her “crashout jar”: ⁠⁠https://youtu.be/cflcCtRywn0?si=k-hm3kO7BwFeZwE4&t=55⁠⁠ 

FINALLY: we’re recording a live episode of Well Played at Fanatics Fest this Friday at 11 AM! Come meet us IRL. Get your tickets to Fanatics Fest in NYC and use WELLPLAYED10 to get 10% off your single or multi-day ticket: ⁠⁠https://www.fanaticsfest.com/tickets⁠⁠. ​​Send Its:

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It happened. It finally happened. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce wed at Madison Square Garden. As the resident Swiftie of Well Played, Caroline dives into all the details – and shows why her relationship with T&T is a little too parasocial. The World Cup continued in spite of the royal American wedding, with uncs exiting the tournament, Trump phoning a friend, and the USMNT flopping in its round-of-16 performance. Soccer content creator, Lilibeth Rendon, joins the pod to talk about it all. 

In this episode of Well Played, we also cover:

• The deep lore behind Blake Lively’s absence at Taylor Swift’s wedding

• Who Lilibeth thinks will win the Golden Boot award 

• How a new woman in Wimbledon whites will take home the championship for the 10th straight season

• A special edition of Send It, ft. only Erling Haaland content 

The Well Played hotline is LIVE! Need to complain about your favorite athlete? Still don’t understand offsides after several attempts at learning? Call us with your rants, questions, and concerns at (828) 412-4825. 

Send Its: 

• Erling Haaland's master class moment of not letting intrusive thoughts win: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DabZIRlNenD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 

• Erling Haaland look-alike contest?: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYhoCZ-T7h5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 

• Erling Haaland tattoo cover up: https://www.instagram.com/p/Dac49AXCRxa/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 

Follow Lilibeth: @lilibethstar

Follow Well Played on IG: @wellplayedbytheskimm

Follow Blake: @blaaakkkke

Follow Caroline: @cghendy 

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It’s happening…Taylor and Travis’ Madison Square Garden wedding is here. Despite Blake and Caroline being major skeptics, they spend the episode pretending all tabloid wedding rumors are true, plus they make predictions about the affair. Meanwhile, Love Island has entered the (WNBA) chat, on-and-off the court.

In this episode of Well Played, we also cover:

• Justin Bieber taking center stage at the NHL draft – plus, the first-pick’s nod to his Indigenous heritage

• The backstory behind Dutch striker Cody Gakpo’s emotional goal 

• Why the “Love Island” girls are giving Megan thee Stallion hope post-Klay Thompson breakup

• The lore behind Naomi Osaka’s Wimbledon whites from day 1 

• Sophie Cunningham’s point seen around the world 

• Mia Hamm’s reflections on her time with the USWNT — and who she has her eye on leading up to the Women’s World Cup

The Well Played hotline is LIVE! Need to complain about your favorite athlete? Still don’t understand offsides after several attempts at learning? Call us with your rants, questions, and concerns at (828) 412-4825. 

Follow Mia Hamm: @miahamm 

Follow Well Played on IG: @wellplayedbytheskimm

Follow Blake: @blaaakkkke

Follow Caroline: @cghendy 

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To continue the World Cup this week, Blake and Caroline bring in some pros. Kelley O’Hara and Ali Riley, former NWSL players, World Cup competitors, and hosts of “Time Wasting," join Well Played to discuss the convos that matter most this week — like the history-making all-American women officiants, why Jérémy Doku will be a better athlete after leaving the World Cup to be present for his son’s birth, and how Haaland’s half-bun is the secret to his scoring. In this episode of Well Played, we also cover: - How Marta was the original inspiration for Haaland’s half-bun - The Scottish fans — the Tartan army — drinking Boston dry - Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld revealing their baby girl’s name - How Messi made history in his recent match against Austria - Why Trinity Rodman and Ciara’s crossover is confusing us with Ciara Miller and Trinity from “Love Island” Follow Kelley: @kelleyohara Follow Ali: @rileythree Follow and subscribe to Time Wasting: @timewastingpod Thank you to our sponsor, Ally Bank. To learn more, visit ally.com.

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Nature is healing. And by nature, we mean New York. The Knicks secured their first NBA championship in more than half a century, marking the city's fourth major sports title since 2023. Offball writer and Flagrant Magazine co-founder, Ashtyn Butuso, joins Blake to chat about witnessing the magic firsthand in Manhattan. Plus, some of our favorite post-game content from players. 

In this episode, we also cover:

• The Carolina Hurricanes winning the Stanley Cup over the Vegas Golden Knights

• The great Nike vs. Adidas debate – and which team we’re on

• When we can expect Serena and Venus Williams to make their doubles return

• How Vozinha, a 40-year-old goalie, and Pico Lopes smashed on defense in Cabo Verde’s match against Spain

• Why everyone’s obsessed with Japanese fans at the World Cup 

Send Its + bonus links:

• Nike football ad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyZ1WIua_1s 

• Adidas commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJJY53qhJe0

• Toy Story challenge: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZf5mYRTS0a/ 

• Brooklyn Beckham gets in on the joke: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZnNFoEuZzw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 

• Taylor feeds Travis, airplane style: https://youtube.com/shorts/j6ZJv-avKk4?si=3B1VS_zdo6oPJBMc 

Follow Ashtyn: @ashtynbutuso

Follow/subscribe to Offball: @offball, @offballfc, @celebrityrow

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While Caroline is honeymooning in the Dolomites, Lily Shimbashi, founder of Sportsish, joins us to break down the most important news in sports and pop culture. Madison Square Garden is on our minds this week – and it’s not just because the Knicks lost at home. Rumor has it that Taylor Swift’s wedding will take place at the iconic New York City arena on July 3. Are we buying it? No. What’s are people *actually* buying when it comes to the pop star? The literal chair she sat on during the Cav’s Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. We hate it here too.

In this episode of Well Played, we also cover:

• Serena Williams’ return to the grass – and why “mom brain” got the best of her 

• Breaking down the World Cup stages, and which teams to watch 

• Kim Kardashian re-entering the WAG world, thanks to Lewis Hamilton 

• The Hockey Canada 5, and why Lily thinks it’s been a hard Stanley Cup for female fans 

Send Its:

• Serena v. mom brain: https://www.reddit.com/r/tennis/comments/1u05nx8/serena_forgetting_where_she_has_to_serve_and_it/?solution=6fade7a9855ac5106fade7a9855ac510&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecba37f2c27935c160fc00b397029b5e0f&jsc_orig_r= 

• Does Trey Jemison know he’s getting married?: https://www.instagram.com/p/DNEl36Nukmi/?img_index=1 

• Kim K re-enters her WAGdom: https://people.com/kim-kardashian-wears-low-back-dress-lewis-hamilton-f1-monaco-11993179

  
  

Plus: check out The Athletic's FIFA World Cup group stage breakdown: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/interactive/world-cup-2026-group-stage-draw-live/

Follow Sportsish on Instagram: @sportsish 

Subscribe to Sportsish on Substack: https://sportsish.substack.com/

Follow Well Played on Instagram: @wellplayedbytheskimm 

Follow Blake on Instagram: @blaakkkke

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The French Open is no stranger to accusations of sexism (see: rare night sessions for women). But Adolfo Daniel Vallejo decided to make it his legacy when he blamed a female umpire for his loss at Roland Garros. Luckily, the tournament organizers hit him where it hurts – his wallet. Elsewhere in the tennis world, Serena Williams will make her return to pro-tennis next week, and Caroline shares why she saw this coming. 

PS: We’d love to hear from you. DM us with any sports questions, comments, or concerns on Instagram @blaakkkke, @cghendy, or @wellplayedbytheskimm. We read each and every one and it means a lot to us. Also, tell us how you really feel by rating and reviewing the show.

Send Its:

• Victoires sing Celine Dion’s It’s All Coming Back to Me Now by Celine Dion

• And the PWHLPA releases every player’s salary

• Josh Allen crashes kid’s recess

• Josh Allen’s one word on what surprised him about Hailee Steinfeld becoming a mom 

• Texas softball player has perhaps the strangest pre-game superstition

• Hudson Williams acknowledges his “little bottom eyes” in Canadian Awards speech

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The last time the Knicks made the NBA finals, Britney Spears dropped the generation-defining Baby One More Time, Napster gave us permission to illegally download music, and T9 word just became a thing. Fast forward to this past Monday when the Knicks swept their series against the Cavaliers – and all of New York is ready to party like it's 1999. 

In this episode of Well Played, we also cover: 

• Timothee Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, Travis Kelce, and Taylor Swift walk into a bar…we mean the Cavs courtside

• Why OG Anunoby and Martha Stewart are on their way to a Skechers collab 

• How the Salesian sisters gained their basketball wings at the Spurs game 

• Why Coco Gauff, Jannik Sinner, and Aryna Sabalenka only gave 15 minutes of press time at Roland Garros

PS: We really, really want to hear from you. Like really bad. Please DM us with any sports questions, comments, or concerns on Instagram @blaakkkke, @cghendy, or @wellplayedbytheskimm. We read each and every one and it means a lot to us. 

Send Its:

• Kathy Hilton just gave us a new theme song: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DYk5taIxZCk/ 

• Do Azzi and Paige share a wardrobe?: https://www.instagram.com/p/DYnXD47ATQi/

• Sue Bird refuses to be bad: https://www.instagram.com/p/DYpd3PVFd89/ 

• Bryce Harper’s problematic toothpaste application: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYzo8SjDVul/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 

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Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift not only made an appearance in Bushwick, Brooklyn – because apparently that’s where A-list weddings are now. Even wilder: the event took place at Blake’s former workplace. She shares the inside scoop on their attendance, while Caroline shares everything we know about the Royal American wedding. Meanwhile, Shakira’s back in her World Cup era after being acquitted for tax fraud. As for Gerard Piqué, her soccer star ex-husband? Shakira’s hips may not lie, but this man does – and we explain why.

In this episode of Well Played, we also cover: 

• How tall Wemby’s Wemby would have to be (shout out @nbaresdev)
• Dak Prescott getting spotted with his ex-fiancées bridesmaid at a pro-bull rider event
• Tom Brady coming for Gisele Bundchen’s job on the Gucci runway 
• Why Dave Portnoy thinks the WNBA hates Caitlin Clark 
• Who are the Salesian sisters – and why are they so invested in the Spurs winning it all?

Thanks to our presenting sponsor Ally Bank! Visit Ally.com to learn more.

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