Month: July 2021

A great book accomplishes many things: It should tell a powerful story, make you reflect on the subject at hand, and maybe even start a thoughtful conversation with other people in our lives. Around the holidays, especially leading up to the New Year, is a great time to kick back and treat our minds to some thoughtful and engaging prose.

Modern American literature is rich with a diverse set of stories from men and women across the political spectrum, sharing their takes on the art of living. And if you want to go deeper, our shared human history has a nearly endless abundance of tomes on how to live our best lives, in the most meaningful sense that transcends frivolous trends in popular culture.

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But a great book, especially one with a socially conscious edge, should challenge our ways of thinking, not just reaffirm that which we already know and believe. So, here is a list of 8 of our favorite books that meet this criteria. No one will be entirely satisfied by our list, and that’s the idea! These books are meant to educate, provoke, inspire and even cause debate. If you’re thinking of starting a book club this year, put down the Harry Potter and Game of Thrones and pick up one of these. You’ll be thankful for it and can proudly display any one of these on your bookshelf or around the office water cooler.

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

You may truly never find a book full of more tragedy leading directly to direct inspiration and as the title affirms, meaning for life itself. Frankl was a successful psychiatrist in Germany before being sent to a concentration camp during World War II. Surrounded by death and despair, Frankl used the mental notes from a book he was working on to form the basis for logotherapy, a treatment that helps patients find meaning in their lives, something Frankl believed was essential for personal growth and emotional development. The short book (this paperback edition is 192 pages) is nearly evenly split between Frankl’s Holocaust memoir and a latter exploration of his breakthrough therapy. It has sold well over 10 million copies and become a trusted guidebook for mental healthcare professionals, member of 12-Step communities and virtually anyone willing to dig a little deeper for meaning. If you’re looking for the answer to what life is all about this a book that is quite literally full of answers both large and small.

Man’s Search for Meaning, $8.29; on Amazon

Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom for a Better Life by Cleo Wade

Only 30-years-old, Wade is already being called “the Millennial Oprah” in some circles. Starting her career as a poet and activist, Wade gave a Ted Talk in 2017 “Want to change the world? Start by being brave enough to care” that quickly went viral. The incredibly accessible book is full of illustrations, affirmations and images shared by Wade on living a life full of personal and spiritual fulfillment. We often equate wisdom with age but Wade has shown that even younger voices can tap into a timeless quality, remixing tried and true secrets for success into a brilliant and engaging read for people of all generations.

Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom for a Better Life, $9.98; on Amazon

Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin

A new generation of readers is discovering the literary brilliance of Baldwin, especially through the groundbreaking recent documentary I Am Not Your Negro. Often overlooked in modern American historical texts, Baldwin was an essential figure in the Civil Rights Movement, right alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. The fact that Baldwin was also gay, makes his place all the more significant. Though told through the lens of his breakthrough novel, “Go Tell It on the Mountain” is a masterclass if race, sexuality, coming-of-age struggles and class warfare. Like so many of Baldwin’s public lectures and essays, the pages of this novel feel both out of time and deeply resonant in any time. You’ll not only find the novel impossible to put down, but don’t be surprise when you go down the Baldwin rabbit hold before, during and after you finish this one-of-a-kind story.

Go Tell It on the Mountain, $7.19; on Amazon

The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris

What if the president was Indiana Jones? OK, we already got that in the Harrison Ford film Air Force One but this Pulitzer Prize winning book is the real deal. Chronicling Roosevelt’s life right up until he becomes president, “Rise” is jam packed with adventures, wisdom and inspiration. Yes, Roosevelt was born into privilege. But unlike so many others, including our current president, TR chose to run away from his inheritance and make a life on his own as a rancher, a soldier and eventually a politician. He made so much history it’s hard to keep tabs on it all. This is the man who literally inspired the creation of the Teddy Bear. And along the way he helped launch the modern conservation movement, fought the corruption influence of money in politics, and embodied one of the many phrases attributed to him, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” And oh yeah, he swam with sharks. No really. He may not have been the most important president in history but he certainly was the most badass.

The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, $20.00; on Amazon

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Write what you know. The cliched advice to aspiring writers is both well-worn and often true. And Maya Angelou proved it’s wisdom in her debut memoir. Angelou went on to have a storied career in the letters and social activism but it’s hard to overestimate the importance of this book when it seemingly came out of nowhere. As James Baldwin himself said at the time of the book’s publication in 1969: “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings liberates the reader into life simply because Maya Angelou confronts her own life with such a moving wonder, such a luminous dignity.”

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, $6.11; on Amazon

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

With great power comes great responsibility and at the time there was no one more powerful in the world than the Roman Emperor. With the weight of the world on his shoulders, it’s amazing that more than a thousand years later, Aurelius might best be remembered for his small book full of life wisdom and reflections. Simply one of the most important and useful books ever written, “Meditations” is full of advice on getting along with others and one’s self that is just as relevant today as it was nearly 2,000 years ago. There’s a reason the philosophy of Stoicism has become so trendy again in recent years as we search for depth and purpose in our modern lives. There’s a lifetime of wisdom in these 256 pages — lessons you’ll want to return to time and again throughout your life. Meditations also makes for an incredible gift for just about anyone: the young student headed off to college, someone grappling with loss, or just anyone looking to drive their intellectual and spiritual curiosity. The wisdom of the ages is here for the taking.

Meditations: A New Translation, $9.47; on Amazon

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Coates may be the most important writer on social justice and racism in modern America. “Between the World an Me” is the book that catapulted him from the somewhat obscure world of essay journalism into international acclaim, something he has discussed at fascinating length in interviews and his writing. At times scathing, tragic and always heartfelt, Coates’ book explores race in American as he struggles to come to terms with his own philosophical leanings while passing along lessons to his young son. In more recent years, Coates has found a way to bridge his revolutionary writing into mainstream popular culture, penning several Black Panther comics and serving as a consultant on the blockbuster Marvel film of the same name. That makes his more serious writing the perfect bridge for someone who was interested in the themes touched upon in that film and those comics but wanting to go deeper with an unmistakable voice that will not be denied.

Between the World and Me, $14.08; on Amazon

God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything by Christopher Hitchens

Looking for something controversial you say? Well, have we got the book for you! In the last decade of his life, Hitchens became best-known for his support of the War on Terror and his contrarian viewpoints that fit most comfortably alongside the American political right. But Hitch was nothing if not complicated and brilliant. Amongst his core beliefs was a lifelong support of socialism and a career as one of the world’s most prominent Atheists. His belief in non-belief is poured into a concentrated blast in “God Is Not Great” which systemically goes through the world’s largest religions, heroes and icons — dismantling the arguments in favor of organized religion. Yes, some of the arguments may prove difficult or even offensive for devout believers but Hitchens thrived on (mostly) cordial debate. That makes this book equally worthwhile for Atheists and believers alike. After all, if we cannot stand by our beliefs under duress, what good are they really? Stick around till near the end when Hitchens anoints Martin Luther King Jr. as one of the few icons worthy of saintliness – but not for the reasons you’re probably thinking. The world was a better place with Christopher Hitchens in it — he made intellectual thought and debate entertaining for the masses. We could sure use his wit and integrity in today’s world.

God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, $11.99; on Amazon

The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living by the Dalai Lama

After all that shock and awe, let’s wind things down on a peaceful note. The Dalai Lama has spent his current lifetime expanding the reach of Buddhism’s teachings in a way that has proven historically accessible, fresh and new. Ancient wisdom has never felt so cutting edge and integral to our world. Like so many other authors on this list, he has experienced personal and transformative loss and yet has found boundless meaning and purpose in the face of adversity. After all, the Dalai Lama is almost always smiling in videos and photos. His book is one that practically invented the cottage industry of self-help books for those looking for greater happiness and meaning in their lives. When in doubt, go to the source. You will not be disappointed.

The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living, $14.99; on Amazon

GOOD Media Group may receive a percentage of revenue from items purchased that are mentioned in this article.

A video clip of Carl Sagan on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” from 1978 is making the rounds on social media because the astrophysicist’s thoughts on “Star Wars” (1977) were way ahead of their time.

Sagan died in 1996, aged 62, and made TV history in 1980 with the original version of “Cosmos.” It was revived in 2014 with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson at the helm.

Sagan found it peculiar that a film set a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away would feature so many human beings. “‘Star Wars’ starts out saying it’s in some other galaxy, and then you see there’s people,” he remarks.

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He then made a critique of the film that sounds like it was made in 2021, not the ’70s.

“It’s extremely unlikely that there would be creatures as similar to us as the dominant ones in ‘Star Wars.’ And there’s a whole bunch of other things; they’re all white,” Sagan said to a silent audience.

“The skin of all the humans in Star Wars, oddly enough, is sort of like this,” Sagan said, gesturing with his hands.

Sagan isn’t wrong. The only major non-white actor in the original “Star Wars” was James Earl Jones who played the voice of Darth Vader.

That time Carl Sagan called out Star Wars for being too white and the audience didn’t know what to do 💀 https://t.co/b3SrFE9vxJ

— Zeus Tipado (@tipado)
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Sagan also made a point about the film that would become a contentious issue for “Star Wars” creator George Lucas in the decades to come. Why didn’t Chewbacca get a medal at the end of the film after playing a pivotal role in blowing up the Death Star?

“I thought there was a large amount of human chauvinism in it. Also, I felt very bad that at the end, the Wookie didn’t get a medal also,” Sagan said. “I thought that was an example of anti-Wookie discrimination.”

Casual beer drinkers rarely think about how different hops affect the taste of beer. But the hops used in the brewing process can completely change a beer’s flavor profile. That’s why craft beer labels don’t simply list “hops,” they list the type of hops — Mosaic, Centennial, Chinook, or Citra (among others).

It’s that last varietal that we’re zeroing in on today. One of the most popular types of hops in the current craft wave, Citra hops are known for bold, over-the-top, vibrant citrus flavors (hence the name!). They’re also famous for working well with other varietals — acting as a sort of “foundation hop.” And by conjuring flavors like grapefruit, lemon zest, and lime, they make a welcome addition to any summery IPA.

Below, you’ll find eight of our favorite Citra-centric IPAs, ranked. Check them all out below and click on the prices to look for a bottle or can in your area.

8) Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA

ABV: 6.4%

Average Price: $11.99 for a six-pack

The Beer:

With a name like Fresh Squeezed IPA, it’s safe to say this is a citrus-filled beer. Brewed with 2-row, Munich, and Crystal malts along with Mosaic and Citra hops, this 6.4 percent IPA is fresh, juicy, subtly tart, and filled with fresh fruit flavors.

Tasting Notes:

You can tell this is a Citra-driven IPA, but there’s more to it than that. First, there’s grapefruit, lime zest, lemon peels, and orange, flavors which are tempered with caramel malts and a nice wildflower aroma. The palate highlights flavors of sweet malts, floral hops, grapefruit, and tangerine. A subtly bitter kick at the very end to remind you that this is an IPA.

While the nose is filled with citrus, the palate (in terms of citrus) is more muted than expected.

Bottom Line:

While this is surely a Citra-based beer, the addition of caramel and biscuit-like malts make this more well-balanced than the name would make you believe. Alas, for ranking purposes, we’d enjoy this more if the citrus was the main note. In this case, the malts seem to take center stage.

7) Sierra Nevada Tropical Torpedo

ABV: 6.7%

Average Price: $25 for a 12-pack

The Beer:

Sierra Nevada might be most known for its iconic pale ale, but the brand is also one of the biggest names in the West Coast IPA game as well. While you can find numerous floral, hoppy, slightly bitter examples of their prowess, we enjoy the brand’s tropical take on its well-known Torpedo because of the fruity, citrusy, juicy flavors.

Tasting Notes:

Proving that Citra plays extremely well with others, this beer features myriad other hops besides the citrus-flavored variety. That gives this beer scents of guava, mango, pineapple, grapefruit, and a nice floral backbone. The flavor lives up to the beer’s name with hints of juicy peach, mango, grapefruit, tangerine, caramel malts, and nice gently bitter hops.

Bottom Line:

If you’re looking for a beer that features Citra but not as the main hop variety, this is the beer for you. If you want more citrus flavor, look elsewhere.

6) Other Half DDH Green City

ABV: 7%

Average Price: $25 for a 4-pack

The Beer:

Brewed at the Other Half’s Finger Lakes brewery, DDH (double dry-hopped) Green City is a hazy, juicy American IPA loaded with Centennial, Simcoe, and Citra hops. This combination gives this beer a floral, fruity, citrus flavor perfectly suited for summer drinking.

Tasting Notes:

Nosing this beer reveals aromas of ripe berries, guava, mangos, fresh pineapple, grapefruit, orange peels, and resinous pine. The palate is more berries, tropical fruits, citrus, and a nice kick of hops bitterness. It all ends with a subtly dry, fruity finish that lets the Citra hops shine.

Bottom Line:

This is where the ranking starts to get tricky. This is a great, hazy juicy beer. But if you’re looking for a citrus bomb, you’ll have to settle for it being mixed with other fruity flavors.

5) Weldwerks Juicy Bits

ABV: 6.7%

Average Price: $15.99 for a 4-pack

The Beer:

Just like Deschutes Fresh Squeezed, you know what you’re getting when you crack open a can of Juicy Bits from Colorado’s Weldwerks. This 6.7 percent, crushable New England IPA is brewed with a combination of El Dorado, Mosaic, and Citra hops. The result is a juicy, tropical fruit, and citrus-centric brew.

Tasting Notes:

Take a moment to breathe in the aromas of orange peels, melon rinds, guava, papaya, and subtle pine before taking your first sip. Then revel in the flavors of ripe mango, grapefruit, pineapple, tangerine, and a nice wallop of resinous, slightly bitter hops at the finish. Overall, it’s a great example of the fruity, fresh, hazy style.

Bottom Line:

Now we’re heading in the right direction. Don’t get us wrong, all of these beers are exceptional. It’s just that if you are a true Citra fan, you will want your beer to skew in the citrus direction more than tropical fruits or caramel malts. This one fits the bill.

4) Trillium Vicinity

ABV: 8%

Average Price: $13.99 for a 750ml bottle

The Beer:

Vicinity was first brewed to pay tribute to the first anniversary of an oyster and beer bar called Row 34 that’s in the (you guessed it) vicinity of Trillium. Brewed with C-15 and Pilsner malts as well as flaked oats and Galaxy, Columbus, and Citra hops, this is a complex, fruity, flavorful IPA.

Tasting Notes:

This hazy, juicy beer has the aromas of ripe pineapple, guava, mango, melon rind, orange peels, zesty grapefruit, and pine trees. The flavor is fruity and juicy while leaning into the citrus, florals, and pine resin as well. It all comes together in a juicy, fruity, slightly bitter finish.

Bottom Line:

While many New England IPAs have dominant tropical fruit flavors, this beer has enough of a citrus kick to stand up to the mango, guava, and pineapple notes.

3) Lawson’s Sip of Sunshine

ABV: 8%

Average Price: $16.99 for a 4-pack

The Beer:

Vermont’s Lawson’s Finest is one of the most well-respected breweries in the county. Its most well-known beer is its Sip of Sunshine. This 8 percent Imperial IPA is a citrus bomb through and through. Brewed with numerous malts as well as CTZ and Citra hops, it’s hazy, juicy, and well-suited for humid summer sipping.

Tasting Notes:

This beer is dominated by aromas of orange marmalade, wet grass, mango, guava, grapefruit, and dank, piney hops. The palate swirls with tangerines, grapefruits, pineapple, and guava as well as slight caramel malts. The finish is dry and bitter — but not to its detriment.

All in all, it’s a fairly dank and citrus-filled refresher.

Bottom Line:

This is one of the most well-balanced hazy beers on the market. While citrus and tropical fruits are at the forefront, there are enough malt flavors to round everything out well.

2) The Alchemist Focal Banger

ABV: 7%

Average Price: $19.99 for a 4-pack

The Beer:

Vermont’s The Alchemist is most known for its Heady Topper IPA. But, if you’re a fan of Citra hops, you’ll likely prefer its Focal Banger instead. This 7 percent New England IPA doesn’t have much of a description on the brewery’s website except to say that this beer is hopped using Mosaic and Citra hops. It’s obvious they didn’t hold back in their use, as it’s loaded with hop flavor.

Tasting Notes:

Take a moment to breathe in the scents of grapefruit, lemon zest, pineapple, dank hops, and subtle, sweet malts. The palate reveals more dank, resinous hops along with flavors of tart grapefruit, orange peels, limes, and ripe pineapple. The finish is slightly bitter and filled with tart citrus flavor.

Bottom Line:

This is a great example of a New England IPA that would appeal to all IPA drinkers. The nice bitter kick and high citrus fruit flavors cross genre lines.

1) Toppling Goliath King Sue

ABV: 7.8%

Average Price: $19.99 for a 4-pack

The Beer:

King Sue’s can is adorned with a roaring Tyrannosaurus Rex — a good way to symbolize just how epic this citrus-filled New England IPA is. The best part? While many of the other beers on this list rely on Citra as only one portion of the hop recipe, King Sue is a double hopped exclusively with Citra hops.

Tasting Notes:

Right off the bat, you can tell by the nose that this beer is something special. The aroma is all mango, guava, pineapple, grapefruit, lemon peels, lime zest, and wet, resinous pine. The flavor is juicy, hazy, creamy, and has hints of tangerine, pineapple, grapefruit, orange peels, wet grass, and floral, spicy, slightly bitter hops.

Bottom Line:

Good luck finding a better Citra-hopped beer than King Sue. It’s fresh, hazy, juicy, and filled with citrus flavors. Trust us, this is going to be your new summer go-to IPA.

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As a Drizly affiliate, Uproxx may receive a commission pursuant to certain items on this list.

While Marvel Studios expanding over to television might have caught some of us off guard when they first announced the venture a few years back, 2021 has proven they can craft a show just like the best of them — just see their Emmy noms. It’s hard to believe the studio is already wrapping up their third Disney+ series, and even harder to imagine this is the last time we’ll be seeing Loki, Sylvie, and Mobius for some time. However, before they go, we have a whole list of questions we hope the show’s final episode will clear up for us.

1. Who is running the Time Variance Authority?

Ahh the rope that binds us (and the multiverses) together: the TVA. Perhaps the biggest question we have for the series is who is at the center of this ‘whodunnit’ of epic proportions. Last week, we found out the timekeepers were nothing more than animatronics, leading us to wonder if they ever were real and they’ve been taken over, or if something else entirely is behind the organization’s creation. Based on how Ravonna has been acting all season, it seems likely that she could have something to do with it — unless her act is less an act and more blind loyalty and denial. However, regardless of who started it, right now it’s more a matter of who’s running it — which brings us to our next question.

2. Is there really a “sacred” timeline?

So, if the TVA is run by Ravonna or some other self-interested party, is there even a sacred timeline or is it the sequence of events someone prefers? Out of every question on this list, this one could be the most important of all. If there is no prime or “sacred” timeline, does that mean all of what the TVA does is even more unethical than it seems? Are there are infinite multiverses where Marvel heroes undergo different situations and achieve different outcomes, and if so… do we get to see them? This could open up a lot of possibilities for Marvel and have massive consequences for the Avengers and co.

3. What was Sylvie’s Nexus event?

When Sylvie confronted Ravonna about her cruelty towards her as a child and demanded to know why she was taken from her home and timeline, Ravonna coolly replied she didn’t remember, but if you ask us that seems pretty dang unlikely. While Ravonna refused to offer reasoning as to why Sylvie had to undergo such a traumatic ordeal for seemingly no reason, we know there are no random happenings in the MCU and there has to be more to the story. Could it be that the TVA foresaw her causing their downfall? There has to be some dramatic reveal here, and we can’t wait to see what it is.

4. Is Sylvie Lady Loki, Enchantress, or both?

For the past few episodes, Loki has seemingly dismissed any notion that Sylvie is anything other than a Loki variant, despite a lot of fans believing she was actually Enchantress at the show’s start. However, we’re not entirely convinced this theory is dead. A lot about Sylvie lines up with descriptions of Enchantress in the comics and just because Marvel’s being coy doesn’t mean it’s not true. It could also be that Marvel is combining the two characters into one, offering fans the best of both worlds while keeping us theorists on our toes.

5. What is going on in Alioth’s enchantment?

When we last left Loki and Sylvie, the pair had just successfully enchanted the monstrous being Alioth and were beginning their descent into its mind. In the brief glimpse shown during episode five, we saw what appeared to be a palace on a cliff overlooking the void where time ends and while we have our own theories on who resides there, we can’t wait to get some real answers. Is it a truly diabolical Loki, or is Kang the conqueror is making his MCU debut way ahead of schedule? Whatever Loki and Sylvie discover, it’s pretty likely to have a massive impact on the future of the MCU and phase four.

6. Are Loki and Sylvie going to happen?

Okay okay, so this one doesn’t make or break the show and universe (or does it?), but it’s the question we’ve been waiting to have answered for quite a few episodes now. After a life on the run and filled with trauma and isolation, both Loki and Sylvie absolutely deserve a bit of company and affection, but what are the moral and metaphysical consequences for such an odd pairing? More importantly, could these two even make a functional relationship work? While they certainly deserve a happy ending, we’ll just have to wait and see if they finally get one.

The series finale of Loki hits Disney+ Wednesday, July 14.

A’ja Wilson has been a star for a long time, but 2020 saw her put an official stamp on that with an MVP-winning season in the WNBA Bubble while leading the Aces to a Finals appearance for the first time in Vegas’ brief history.

This yeah, she’s followed her MVP campaign up with another tremendous first half, averaging 19.4 points, nine rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game. The Aces are, once again, one of the WNBA’s top title contenders. In the immediate, Wilson’s focus is shifting to USA Basketball’s quest for a seventh straight gold medal for the women, as she gets a chance to play for her college coach, Dawn Staley, once again. Wilson can’t wait for that and just wants to hug Staley the moment she can, but the long goal remains the same in Vegas, which is to “chip away” until they win a title.

Dime got the chance to talk with the reigning MVP on Monday afternoon on behalf of Mountain Dew, who she’s partnered with on a new merch collection. We talked about being an Olympian, playing for Staley, what Chelsea Gray’s addition has brought the Aces, lessons learned from their Finals run, and how she’s still focused on improving her game even coming off an MVP campaign. Oh, and we also discussed how cool it is to just be able to put a real statue of yourself on some merch.

I know you’ve been working with Dew for a few years now, but how did this merch collab come about and the hoodie design and all of that?

Yeah, it’s crazy because when I first signed with Mountain Dew, I loved the way that they really focused on us athletes off the court. Like, what we really love and things that people may not see, so when it came to this new merch and the gear, I really tapped into the culture of who I am. I could greatly appreciate it like, starting with the hoodie, it has all my [accomplishments] and the biggest accomplishment of them all, which is the statue, of course, and it’s pretty cool to see that come to life. And then I just recently started adding like do rags to my tunnel fits and everything, so it was pretty cool to see the Dew do-rag, really kind of add a little A’ja Wilson twist to it. Because my fan base is just incredible and they love anything having to do with me, so it’s pretty cool to like, have Mountain Dew bring that to life. I hopped on a call with them and we dissect some things about where I wanted to go, and then you got the merch so it’s pretty it’s exciting. It’s dope.

I mean it’s pretty boss to be able to just throw a statue of yourself on something, right? Like that’s got to be a cool thing to just be able to do.

Yeah, it’s lowkey a flex, kinda. I’m not gonna lie.

You know, light work.

Right [laughs].

Absolutely. A lil home game for you right now with with camp in Vegas, you get to be at home, which I have to assume is nice for you. What are you looking forward to the most with this being your first Olympic experience and what does it mean for you to be headed off to Tokyo here soon?

Yeah, I mean I’m super excited. Like I don’t even think it honestly hit me that I’m an Olympian just yet. It still sounds sounds weird with me even saying it, but I’m just super excited just to be a part of it, of the USAB family. And like you said, to have training camp here in Vegas, it kind of makes it that much better because my family can come visit me as I’m getting ready for Tokyo. So, I mean, this is the moment you dreamed of. As an athlete, you want to be at the highest levels so I’m excited, I have no idea what to expect, but it’s pretty cool to be playing underneath my college coach again, Coach Staley, so it should be some fun.

Yeah I wanted to ask about that. Obviously y’all had so much success at South Carolina and now you get to go and have this experience. I know she’s been coaching for World Cup and stuff but the Olympics is just a different level, and what does that mean to you to be able to share this with her?

Oh, it means the world to me, honestly, because I remember when she first got the job of being the head coach, I was still in college — I think maybe even a sophomore — and I was like crying because I was just so happy for her. And I didn’t even think that I could actually be a part of that roster, because 2020 at the time sounded like so far away. So it’s pretty cool to now finally be like, oh my gosh, like we’re literally back at it again, we gotta do something, this is huge for us. So I’m excited just to see her, I haven’t seen her in a long, long time so right now I just want to hug her, because I missed her. [laughs]

What would you tell your teammates about what they can expect getting coached by her and what camp and the Olympics is going to be like with her leading the way?

Yeah, it’s gonna be chill in a way. Like Coach Staley’s really … she’s a firecracker, like she’s a fireball when she really gets into coaching and playing, but when it comes to camp, she’s pretty chill because she’s been there done that. So she understands like that third day of camp our bodies may not be working out well, like she gets that. It’s pretty chill so I don’t have any [warnings], but she’s still crazy at the same time.

I also want to get your thoughts on being able to play an All-Star game in an Olympic year, which is something new for the WNBA. What are your thoughts on the All-Star format? Because it’s exciting as a fan, because it’s a little bit different, it’s gonna be Team USA versus the rest of the All-Stars. And what do you think it’s gonna do for you all as the USA Basketball roster getting such a tough test early on in your exhibitions?

Yeah I think it’s gonna be a big step forward for us. I think it’s fun, of course this is a different year where you have the Olympic team versus the All-Stars of our league. But I think it’s really cool just to have the energy of the city around us, especially heading into the Olympics and also All-Star, just being an All-Star Game. I’m just super excited to be a part of it, honestly. We’re going to get tested, of course everyone knows that we’re going to get everyone’s best game. But I think it’s gonna be pretty cool to kind of start off at a light-hearted game, with players that we play against all the time, and then gradually start off into our exhibition game. So should be exciting, should be a lot of energy, I can’t wait to like just see everything come to life. I think that’s the best thing and of course when you partner with Mountain Dew, it’s going to be top notch.

Absolutely. You’re now at the midway point of the season with the Olympic break and just, when you take stock of the first half for the Aces and kind of where you are, what are your thoughts on how the first half went?

I think we’re right on track, I think we’re right on track where we need to be. We still have a lot of things to learn about each other, but I think the chemistry where we are — at the beginning of the year I was kind of like, uh oh, I don’t know what this is gonna look like, but to now make it to All-Star break, I think we’re heading in the right direction. I’ve never been on a WNBA championship team so I don’t know the feel of it when you feel that championship coming, but I’m definitely loving the vibes that we have around in our locker room. How we’re playing, I think we closed out not the way we want it to, but the game that we just recently had against Dallas was a good win for us. So I think we’re in the right direction and we’re on the right track.

Adding someone like Chelsea Gray obviously brings a different dynamic particularly to the backcourt and what she’s able to do and bring you — I think the the biggest example of that was the way she closed out that game against the Storm in overtime a few weeks ago. What has she brought in and what have y’all learned in the first half about playing with her and integrating her into what you guys do?

I mean, she’s just a leader. She’s a leader on court. Like, they always say the quarterback’s the coach on the field, it’s the same about the point guard on the court. The way she leads the way she can just take over games, it releases a lot of pressure from myself, from Liz, a lot of us superstars that are so used to that pressure, it gets released when you have a point guard like Chelsea Gray with the ball in her hands during crunch time like the OT games. So it’s big to have her. She’s a great addition to our team. That’s my home girl no matter what, like we’re like this [crosses her fingers] so she’s a joy to play with, and just, we’re just having a lot of fun. Like we’re really starting to get to really know each other.

We talked about the new merch, you’ve got the MVP on the front. Something that I’ve talked about with some guys from the NBA — in particular one of my favorite conversations I’ve had about this was with Damian Lillard, and we talked about once you get to a certain level, how do you continue to work on your game and find things to improve. And the thing he said is, look, every team has a scouting report on me, and they’re trying to get me to do something, and each offseason, I have to try to take something off that scouting report. What are the things that you found in your game that you continue to try to work on, even as you’re playing at this elite level?

Yeah, I think the biggest thing is working in small spaces. I’m not like Dame. The ball is not always in my hands, so I have to find different ways that when I get the basketball, how can I work in small amount of spaces. And that’s something that as a collegiate athlete, high school athlete I wouldn’t even think of, because it’s like, oh wow, no, I can work in however much space I can. But, no, it’s amazing to see when you create space, you may not need a lot of it, but just creating it is something that could bring a difference to your game. So that’s super key to me is like okay maybe taking one dribble instead of three or two, is something that I’m going to continue to work on, especially when I know teams are going to bring a double team, or they’re gonna sag in the paint. So, that’s my biggest thing that I try to work on now, especially even just game by game, I’m like, alright, this may be a game I have some space, this might be a game I don’t, so that’s the big key that I’ve just continued to work on.

Last year y’all made the Finals but it didn’t end as you wanted to. What did you think, as a team, you learned from that where you can continue to build on that and grow in the second half of the season and going into the playoffs?

I think the biggest thing we learned is how hard it is. It’s like, really, really hard. It was quite, it was easier in the bubble, because we didn’t have homecourt advantage and everything was the same, but it was still super super hard. And I don’t think my teammates and I really understood that until you’re in it, and it’s like, wow, this journey is really hard. Like I was planning on going home August 13, but I didn’t go home until October 13. So like those little things, it just weighs on you, so you constantly think about it all the time. Our league is good or league league is elite, and on top of that, we’re going to get everyone’s best game because we’re the Aces. On paper we’re a super team. So it’s just really, really hard but I love a challenge. I love how competitive our league is and we’re gonna keep trying to chip away, chip away and hopefully we can end up with a chip.

The world is about to be buried in an avalanche of books chronicling Donald J. Trump’s final days in office, each one offering their own juicy bits of alleged-but-probable turmoil inside his administration and chaotic campaign. One of them is called I Alone Can Fix It: Donald J. Trump’s Catastrophic Final Year — not to be confused with Michael Wolff’s Landslide: The Final Days of the Trump Presidency, which produced the story about him reportedly praising Hitler — and among its treasures is a story about his second-oldest son unloading on some poor campaign data analysts for, like, not making numbers be better for his dad.

Don Jr. tends to be the Trump scion prone to epic flame-outs, but, according to the forthcoming book by The Washington Post‘s Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker, it was Eric who gave their poor data analysts a piece of his non-math-knowing mind. In an excerpt published by the publication, it’s revealed that Eric had bragged to his friends that his father would nab a whopping 322 electoral votes — exactly 90 shy of what he got.

As the night wore on and all those absentee ballots, which were not to be counted till later anyway, came rolling in, definitively shifting things Joe Biden’s way, he allegedly took out his anger on the math people for not being math magicians.

“The election is being stolen,” the president’s 36-year-old son said. “Where are these votes coming from? How is this legit?”

He yelled at the campaign’s data analysts, as if it were their fault that his father’s early leads over Biden were shrinking. ”We pay you to do this,” he said. “How can this be happening?

Eric has denied the outburst, but which seems to be more his older brother’s bag anyway.

I Alone Can Fix It arrives on July 20, but the excerpt has other goodies as well, including that they actually played “Hail to the Chief” right before Trump’s bizarre (and apparently off-script) televised speech he made after 2 am, in which he publicly lamented the turn the night had taken. The rest, as they say, is history…that somehow still hasn’t ended, over half a year later.

(Via The Post)

The WNBA season has reached its midseason Olympic break, with Team USA (and the WNBA All-Stars) descending on Las Vegas for training camp and the All-Star Game prior to heading off to Tokyo.

To this point, one significant figure has been missing from both the WNBA season and USA Basketball, as Elena Delle Donne, a gold medalist at the 2016 Rio Games and 2019 WNBA MVP for the championship-winning Mystics, missed the first half of the season as she works her way back from back surgeries. Delle Donne is one of the top players in the game, and without her, the Mystics have floated near .500 at 8-10, thanks largely to MVP-caliber play from Tina Charles.

There’s hope that Delle Donne will return at some point in the not too distant future for the stretch run to the playoffs. For now, she’s enjoying watching the Charles show in Washington and providing support for her teammates, whether they play for the Mystics or the national team. On Monday, Dime got a chance to talk with Delle Donne through her partnership with Always to encourage girls to stay in sports about why that cause so important to her, advice she’s giving Ariel Atkins about her first Olympic trip, lessons on leadership, Charles’ sensational start, and the mental grind of the rehab process that often gets overlooked.

To start, how did this partnership with Always come together and why was this something that was important to you to be able to do?

Yeah, so both Always and myself are trying to encourage girls to stay in sport and also inspire others to do the same, because when I heard the statistic that half of girls are dropping out of sports during puberty, it’s something that was super concerning to me. Because I just know that sports can affect your life skills in so many ways and it can build so much confidence and teamwork and communication skills, so to hear that girls were dropping out of sports is something I was highly concerned about. And then I know that Always is a brand that’s been empowering girls now for over 30 years, being there for those who need it and changing the stigma of the saying “Like a girl.” That’s why I was so excited to team up with probably the most powerful company that can encourage girls to stay in sport.

For me, I can’t imagine where I would even be if I didn’t have sport and not just because I’m a professional athlete, but just where I’d be in life like confidence wise. Because when I was young, it’s probably not too shocking, but I was very tall and I wasn’t always confident in being tall. There were moments where I felt like I was being bullied or I just was lacking so much confidence because I was so much different than my peers, and I went from being this like hunched over little girl who didn’t want to stand tall in pictures and who was shy and struggled to communicate and make friends to being somebody who found her power in sport and found that being tall and being unique is my greatest power. It helped me to make friends and just to do so much in life, so that’s why this is so important to me.

Yeah, I wanted to ask what would be your message to girls about, even if you’re not going to be a professional athlete, what sports can still provide you with, the skills that are transferable, and like you said the confidence building and the teamwork is all part of that too?

Exactly. I mean it’s not even about being the best one out there or being a professional athlete down the road. I’ve met some incredible women in my life who are CEOs of companies who credit sport for so many things that have gotten them to where they are today. You know, it’s even just being able to deal with stress, like sports can help you with that — obviously staying fit staying active staying healthy, those are the things like we all know and think of when you think of sports. But there’s just so much value in staying in a sport and learning the focus that it takes to try to achieve a goal, or even learning how to handle not achieving that goal and finding a way to get back up and to persevere. Even when it always doesn’t go your way, so there’s just so many life lessons that go into sports.

Yeah, and I think the mental side of it is something that’s interesting and doesn’t necessarily get talked about a ton in sports, but just from your own experiences, what are the things that that you feel like sports have given you from just a mental strength perspective? Because obviously you’ve gone through highs you’ve gone through lows, and being able to deal with all of those things.

Yeah, I mean, certainly, it doesn’t always go your way. Sometimes it does, but sports kind of help you to have an even keel way about yourself to realize that, like, the highs can be high and the lows can be low, but if you can find a way to stay kind of in the middle and regulate your emotions, that’s where to be. And just the idea of like focusing in on a goal, and being determined enough to try to see that goal through, and pushing yourself to be getting up and getting in a little bit more practice each day, then you usually do. To be able to be goal driven and to keep working for those goals is something that we need in everyday life. Like, things don’t just happen you have to make them happen, and I think sports really teach you that.

The Olympics are coming up and the 12-woman roster is set. When you look back on your first experience in the Olympics in 2016, there are a number of players who are about to have that first experience themselves. What would you tell them about soaking that all in and the things that you get from that experience of being on an Olympic team?

Yeah, I actually have been talking to my teammate Ariel Atkins, who, this will be her first Olympics and I’m sad I’m not going to be able to experience it with her. There’s like a little bit of a happy medium of trying to take everything in and soak it all up because it is incredible and it’s probably one of your lifelong goals that you’re finally being able to achieve, but also being there and being confident knowing that you’re there for a reason, and bringing exactly what you can and what they want you to bring to that team. So we’ve had many conversations now — I’m sure even when she gets over there in Tokyo, we’ll have more — but it is an experience of an absolute lifetime, and not many get to do it. So I do want her to be able to soak it up.

Yeah, I talked with Bradley Beal last week and he mentioned he’s already kind of adjusting to how you have to play a different role on the national team than you do in your starring role for your NBA or WNBA team. What did you learn about adjusting to that, and how can you take some of those skills you learn playing a different role for the national team and doing some different things to when you go back to your WNBA team? How does that kind of round you out as a player?

It’s certainly a different role because when you’re on your team, it’s like, yes, you do get most of the touches or you get most of the shots up, so to come on to a Team USA where, you know, you’ve got All-Stars left and right, you know that you don’t have to shoot the ball every time and you never need to really force your hand because that next pass is the best pass. It’s something you have to try to quickly learn, but also, the most amazing part of that is when you put that group of people together who are not just the most highly-skilled people, but also have such a high basketball IQ, it makes everybody’s game kind of lift to a new height that you really didn’t even know you had. And it’s so much fun when that moment happens and it clicks, and then to be able to try to bring that back to your own team, and show the excellence that you have to demand out of each person every day, and by lifting your game and lifting others around you, it just makes the team that much better.

You’ve entered this this role now where you’re not just a star but you’re also a veteran in the league and a leader. What are the things you’ve learned about leadership, and, like you said, being able to lift up others around you? Obviously, you were able to do that successfully when you won the championship and what have been the lessons along the way to get you to a point where you can you can be not just somebody who leads by example but who can lead in the locker room and help pick people up?

Yeah, I think a great attribute as a leader is to kind of be able to learn what makes different people tick and what makes different people go. And the biggest way to do that is by spending time with others and really learning your teammates. Learning about their families or learning about their passions off the court, and when you put that time in with those people, I almost think of it as like filling a bucket, filling the relationship buckets. So then when you call on them on the court, or it gets heated and the time comes and you need to pull something out of them, you’re able to pull a lot from that bucket that you’ve created together. So, for me, that’s how I try to lead, and once again to tie this back to Always, it just shows that by playing sport you get to learn so many incredible skills, like being a leader, or communicating with different people and figuring out that not everybody is the same and all different people communicate in all different ways and different things will make different people tick. So it’s the importance of sport, helping me learn that.

I do want to talk a bit about the Mystics this season. Obviously, you haven’t been able to play yet, but what have you seen from them and particularly Tina Charles, who has been nothing short of spectacular this season in her first year in Washington?

Yeah, Tina has been completely amazing. I mean she’s having such a historic year it’s been just so much fun to watch and to watch the consistency that she’s playing at is unreal. And then the Mystics, it’s been an interesting season because we have dealt with so many injuries, not just my own, and there’s been games where we’ve been playing with six or seven players. So to be able to play through that type of adversity this early on in the season and to be close to .500 is something that I think we can all take positive from, and then just know that once this break is over, we can kind of pull from that, and hopefully get ourselves peaking at the right time.

Absolutely. And finally, something that I’ve talked with folks about is the mental side of rehab and having to take care of yourself mentally as much as physically when you’re going through this process. Because basketball is such an important thing to you and has been for so long and not being able to play can be frustrating and a long rehab takes so much patience, what are the things that you’ve had to learn about the mental side of that and taking care of yourself mentally as much as physically as you work your way back to the floor?

That has been so important for me. I am a big believer in meditation, it’s something I try to practice daily for, you know, 10 minutes a day. And it’s just trying to continue to practice the ability to stay present and stay in the moment. So, at this time where I don’t have games to compete, or even practices at times, like I have to find what I’m competing for in that day. And maybe it’s, you know, getting more back mobility or maybe it’s just like getting a little bit more core strength today, but being able to lock into the moment and really just trying to focus on the present and not being worried about the past or what might happen in the future, that’s really the only way I can stay this adamant about my process to recovery.

The release of the long-awaited Space Jam sequel/reboot A New Legacy is right around the corner and promotional synergy for the film and its related products reaches peak levels in Lil Tecca’s video “Gametime” from the recently released soundtrack.

Not only does Tecca’s track — which features a verse and a hook from Portland rapper Aminé — appear on the soundtrack, but the video revolves around the two rappers linking up on Xbox for a session of the New Legacy tie-in game. However, rather than being an arcade-style basketball sim — something the gaming world desperately needs at the moment — the game is a side-scrolling beat-em-up starring an animated LeBron James fighting his way through hordes of enemies a la nostalgic ’90s faves like The Simpsons and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Tecca, who wasn’t even alive when any of the above products came out, gets digitized into the game alongside LeBron, helping him defeat the animated legions of bad guys while showcasing the colorfully retro gameplay. I still say the game should have been an NBA Jam style basketball sim with Bugs Bunny, but if a beat-em-up isn’t your thing, there’s a Candy Crush update and some LeBron-themed DLC coming to Fortnite, as well.

Watch the video for Lil Tecca & Aminé’s “Gametime” above.

Space Jam: A New Legacy is in theaters and streaming on HBO Max starting 7/16. The soundtrack is out now on Republic Records. Get it here.

Maker’s Mark is a wheated bourbon icon. While its expressions haven’t reached the award-darling, price-gouging heights of Weller or Pappy, it remains absolutely delicious and (perhaps more importantly) easily accessible.

The beauty of this whisky (Maker’s prefers the Scottish/Canadian spelling) goes beyond just the addition of red winter wheat over rye grain. The Ozark oak used in crafting the barrels is seasoned outdoors for a longer stretch than your average barrel before assembly and charring. The barrels are also specifically made for Maker’s, with 32 staves instead of 34. The whisky goes into those barrels after they’ve taken on a medium char. Six to seven-ish years later, the whisky is blended, proofed with soft Kentucky limestone-touched water, bottled, and then dipped in Maker’s signature red wax.

There are, of course, more details we could go into about the production process, but you should head to Loretto, Kentucky, and take the tour yourself to learn the rest. Our purpose today is to rank Maker’s Mark’s core line of bourbons. A final note before we dive in: we’re not including the Private Selection or Wood Finishing Series. Those releases are one-off releases and will vary greatly depending on which liquor store you’re standing in. They’re often great but they’re not the core line, whereas each of the bottles below are the same across every shelf out there.

If any of these pique your interest, make sure to click on the prices to try one yourself.

4. Maker’s Mark 46

ABV: 47%

Average Price: $44

The Whisky:

This was the whisky that launched Maker’s Wood Finishing Series and eventually the Private Select program. This particular expression takes cask strength Maker’s and then adds in virgin French oak staves to the barrels for a final nine weeks of maturing. The whisky is then cut down with that soft Kentucky limestone water.

The “46” on the label refers to the staves used in this expression — “Stave Profile No. 46.”

Tasting Notes:

The soft water texture (think Evian on a hot day) and mildly sweet wood greet you alongside slight touches of caramel and vanilla. That caramel and vanilla take a back seat to the deeper sense of toasted oak and spicy tobacco, with a hint of fruit similar to an apple dipped in caramel. The end is full of that woodiness next to a light edge of creamy vanilla as it slowly fades away.

Bottom Line:

It’s kind of disingenuous to rank this “last.” It’s a great bourbon with a very unique feel to it. But I’d argue though that this is too fussed with compared to the clean lines of the rest of the whiskies on this list. It feels more “crafty” than the classic Maker’s expressions.

That being said, you cannot go wrong drinking this bourbon, in general. It’s a workhorse that rocks in a cocktail or over some ice.

3. Maker’s Mark Cask Strength

ABV: Varies

Average Price: $70

The Whisky:

This wheated bourbon is a small-batch masterpiece. The juice is a blend of up to 19 barrels from the Maker’s warehouses. The whiskies are hand-selected according to distinct flavor characteristics to build a masterful end product. Once the whisky is married, it goes into the bottle at cask strength, unfiltered, and ready to drink.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a clear sense of bourbon vanilla on the nose with touches of burnt caramel, charred oak, and a hint of dry bales of straw. The taste brings about a spicy tobacco chewiness that’s cut with more vanilla and hints of dried apricot. The end is slow, leaves your tongue buzzing with tobacco and spice, and has a mellow vanilla roundness.

Bottom Line:

This is the only whisky on the list where you’ll find slight variation in the ABVs but not really in the taste. The one drawback here is actually the lack of water. Bear with me. Maker’s has this beautiful, soft rainwater minerality that makes it incredibly drinkable. That’s missing in this expression. That’s not to say this is somehow undrinkable. This is delicious. It’s just that it’s not distinctly Maker’s.

It feels more like a cask strength bourbon … of which there are already plenty on the market to choose from.

2. Maker’s Mark

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $30

The Whisky:

This is Maker’s signature expression. You know the drill: Red winter wheat, seasoned Ozark oak, six to seven years in the barrel. This expression’s juice is then sourced from only 150 barrels (making this a small batch, if you want to call it that). Those barrels are then blended, proofed, bottled, and dipped in red wax.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is full of those heavily charred oak barrel notes next to classic hints of caramel and vanilla with a grassy underbelly. That grassiness becomes vaguely floral as slightly spiced caramel apples arrive, along with a chewy mouthfeel that leads towards a soft mineral vibe — kind of like wet granite. The end holds onto the fruit and sweetness as the oak and dried grass stays in your senses.

Bottom Line:

This is one of the greats. When it comes to mixing cocktails, you cannot go wrong using this expression, thanks to the slightly higher ABVs. This also works really well in a highball or on the rocks. Hell, you can drink it neat and always find something new. It being cheap and on every shelf around the country does not take away from this being a unique and very drinkable whisky.

1. Maker’s Mark 101

ABV: 50.5%

Average Price: $42

The Whisky:

This is Maker’s Mark classic wheated bourbon that’s bottled at “a higher proof” to bring about a “richer flavor.” Well, that’s what the label says anyway. Beyond that, this was a “Traveler’s Exclusive” up until the pandemic. Now, you can find it on most shelves, making this one finally accessible to the masses.

This is classic Maker’s that’s treated with a little less of that limestone water to let the barrel techniques shine a bit more while still holding onto the Maker’s vibe.

Tasting Notes:

This is a bowl of stewed apple over vanilla ice cream that’s been drizzled with extra caramel. The taste really focuses on that caramel, with hints of oak next to roasted almonds, cinnamon, nutmeg, dry wicker, and a drop of soft mineral water. The end lingers while it fades through salted caramel apples towards a mellow floral spiciness with a dried reed finish and a touch of vanilla tobacco chew.

Bottom Line:

This bridges the Cask Strength and standard Maker’s perfectly. It’s a higher-proof, which brings out bolder flavor notes. But that touch of limestone water really helps make this a quaffable dram of whisky. Seriously, this is so easy to drink neat that you’d think it cost a few hundred bucks, not $40.

This is also the perfect cocktail whisky. The flavor notes and ABVs stand up to any mix. Overall, we’re lucky this is hitting more and more shelves these days. It’s truly a masterpiece.

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Team USA women’s basketball squaring off against the WNBA’s best players is going to give fans the most competitive All-Star main event in years. Both sides have reason to play their hardest with the Olympic roster debuting as a group of 12 en route to what they hope will be a seventh straight gold medal, and the WNBA All-Stars, filled with snubs, rivals from other countries, and 2024 Olympic hopefuls, looking to take them down.

The game tips at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN Wednesday, July 14.

Here are a few bold predictions of how the game will go.

1. The WNBA All-Stars win

Yeah, I’m going to go there and say Team USA goes down, except I don’t actually think it’s as big of an upset as you think. The WNBA All-Stars have last season’s scoring leader Arike Ogunbowale, this season’s MVP frontrunner Jonquel Jones, the 2016 Olympic Games’ leading scorer Liz Cambage, basketball legend Candace Parker, and more. This team would win, minimally, a silver medal in Tokyo.

I’m rolling with them on Wednesday.

2. Jonquel Jones wins All-Star MVP AND the 3-point contest

I think she’s the best women’s basketball player on the planet right now, and she’s proved that not just by dominating in the WNBA — she’s done it at EuroBasket, too. Though Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson and more will try, you can’t defend a 6-foot-6 point-center. You just can’t.

Did I mention that she’s shooting 43.7 percent (31-of-71) from 3-point range? Yeah, she’ll take home the three-point contest crown as well.

3. Arike Ogunbowale hits a step-back buzzer-beater

It might not happen to win the game, but it’s Ogunbowale on a huge stage. This is happening. She’s already done it once this WNBA season, and I don’t see what’s going to stop her from hitting the brakes, throwing her defender sideways, and launching into her signature dagger shot.

4. Brittney Griner dunks

We’ve seen her do it in the regular season, so there should be no surprise when she does it again in Las Vegas. BG is playing some of her best basketball right now and we should get a throwdown for the fans.

5. We question if Betnijah Laney’s a frontrunner to make the 2024 Olympic team

Laney’s breakout bubble campaign with the Dream in 2020 was one thing, but now the Most Improved Player of the Year is an established star. She’s one of the best scoring guards in the world, averaging 19.0 points on 48.5 percent shooting with 5.0 assists.

This game could be her first step in competing for a roster spot in 2024.

6. Chelsea Gray throws a behind-the-back dime

THIS IS WHAT SHE DOES!

7. Diana Taurasi gets a technical foul

OK, maybe this won’t actually happen. But please, Diana. Please, refs. Give us a See You In The Lobby-level gif.

8. We get an iconic meme from Courtney Williams

Actually, check that. I think it already happened.

9. A’ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier spill Olympic tea on their next podcast

The first-time Olympians co-host a podcast called Tea With A & Phee, so they’re ready for this. Between the Olympic snubs and all the best players in the world sharing the floor together, we’re headed for a content overload. Our guides are gonna hand it all to us soon enough.

10. We come away thinking this was the best All-Star Game in years

An exhibition game was held between Team USA and WNBA All-Stars in 2004, but the format has been dropped ever since. I think we’ll be asking ourselves why after this event. This format is the perfect blend of talent, entertainment, and high-stakes hoops an All-Star game should bring.

See you in 2024.