A few thoughts from the WNBA to fencing

I have a few thoughts this week so buckle up, we are going to move quickly.

How many players selected in the first round of the NBA draft did you recognize? For the record, you should know that Bronny James was picked in the second round. Keep that in mind before you answer.

How about the WNBA? How many players selected in the first round of that draft did you recognize? Now compare those two numbers. Were you as surprised as I was?

For the first time that I can remember, I recognized the names of more WNBA players than NBA players selected in the draft. That is especially unusual when you remember that the WNBA only has 12 picks in each round whereas this year’s NBA draft had 30 players selected in the first round.

It’s being reported there’s been a 600 percent increase in voting for the WNBA All-Star game from last year. Rookie Angel Reese just broke the record for consecutive double-doubles and Caitlin Clark became the first rookie in league history with a triple-double.

I don’t have much in the way of money and I don’t know anything about the stock market, but if someone could purchase WNBA stock on the exchange, I would. I don’t know that growth at this rate can be sustained, but I do think the growth will continue, even if not as fast. There are more great players in college right now whose names we don’t yet know.

An increased focus on the WNBA has also resulted in an increased focus on the women’s Olympic team. I know less of that roster than I do the men’s Olympic team, but two things on the men’s Olympic team did stand out to me.

One, why is Joel Embiid playing for Team USA? I’m legitimately curious why he’s playing for the United States and I’m equally curious as to why he’s playing in the Olympics at all.

That man stays hurt. If I’m a Philadelphia fan, I’m thinking team USA will be fine without him but the 76ers haven’t been and won’t be.

Secondly, as talented as the men’s team is, I have some concerns at point guard. Steph Curry is great but unless they plan on playing Tyrese Halliburton at the point, Curry’s backup is going to be Jrue Holiday. While the man is clearly talented, I don’t know that I want our Olympic hopes resting on his shoulders.

Speaking of the Olympics, I told you a few months ago about a new podcast/YouTube show I found called Pablo Torre Finds Out. His most recent episode uncovers and details another scandal surrounding an Olympic sport, this time fencing.

It is a tangled web that includes Russian oligarchs, a coach at Ohio State, a student at Princeton, what appears to be video evidence of a referee being told what decisions to make, a referee who goes on the record and admits to being offered money to benefit certain athletes and enough statistical “proof” to seemingly rule out reasonable doubt.

I won’t spoil the podcast ending, but I will tell you that it has my inner child, the one who believed Russia was the enemy and bribery and corruption were bad, wondering what happened to us. When did we come to expect so little from our leaders and each other? Luckily, it’s just sports right?