In Her Court
Simone Biles’s spending rule is simple: “If you can't buy it two or three times, probably don't purchase it.” Even though she still consults her parents about big purchases, there was one she recently tried to sneak past her dad. Let’s just say it didn’t stay secret for long.
Let's Discuss
Go Big or Go Own
What’s going on: Never underestimate a sports mom who sees room for improvement. Savannah James invested in a new Los Angeles volleyball team after her 11-year-old daughter, Zhuri, fell in love with the game. She joins Issa Rae and Alexis Ohanian as financial backers of the franchise, which will debut next year at the LA Clippers’ Intuit Dome. It’s one of the latest additions to League One Volleyball (LOVB), the US women’s pro organization that was founded in 2025 and will expand to 10 teams when its third season begins Dec. 16. LOVB started at the youth level, and now has 98 clubs and more than 27,500 players across its network. That gives it a pipeline from juniors to the pros, plus a built-in community around the sport. Savannah, who played high school softball, says she wants to help build something “girls like Zhuri can aspire to be part of one day.”
An ace move: LA isn’t the only LOVB team with famous names behind it. The league has raised more than $160 million from backers that include Candace Parker, Kevin Durant, Lindsey Vonn, and Chelsea Handler. There’s a precedent for that. In the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), Angel City FC launched with high-profile backers that included Billie Jean King, Natalie Portman, and Ohanian. The club was valued at $250 million when Bob Iger and Willow Bay acquired a controlling stake in 2024. NWSL expansion fees have since climbed as high as $205 million. LOVB took notes — and hired the investment bank that advised the NWSL to help guide its own growth. Plus, there’s an audience to build on: LOVB estimates 46 million volleyball fans in the US. Parker has already made her prediction that “volleyball is next.”
Related: Meet the Volleyball Players Whose Dads Are NBA Legends (ESPN)
Timeout...
Can the Giants’ new QB save their season?
Our Well Played co-hosts and friends of the show tackle listener Qs.
With 14 games left in the season, the Giants aren’t ready to throw in the towel. But with starting QB Jaxson Dart likely out for the year and backup Jameis Winston yet to fully prove himself, they need another option. That’s why a trade for Vikings QB JJ McCarthy is one of the best moves they could make right now. Among the available quarterbacks, the former No. 10 overall pick makes sense, especially given his connection to Giants head coach John Harbaugh. McCarthy played at Michigan for Harbaugh’s brother, Jim, and the pair won the 2023 national championship. A fresh start could also help after more than two injury-riddled, rocky years in Minnesota dropped him to third string. Similar things happened when former Vikings QBs Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones both found success with new teams. Now the Giants hope McCarthy can do the same.
Related: After 1,009 Days Without an NFL Start, QB Case Keenum Took Down the Eagles (ESPN)
FEATURED EXPERT:
Caroline Hendershot
Reporter for the New York Jets and Well Played co-host.
PS: Sound off on the sports stories keeping you up at night. Call Well Played at (828) 412-4825 to leave your questions, rants, or rule checks. You could end up on next week's show — and we'd love to hear from you.
No Notes
In Her Court
Simone Biles’s spending rule is simple: “If you can't buy it two or three times, probably don't purchase it.” Even though she still consults her parents about big purchases, there was one she recently tried to sneak past her dad. Let’s just say it didn’t stay secret for long.
Let's Discuss
Go Big or Go Own
What’s going on: Never underestimate a sports mom who sees room for improvement. Savannah James invested in a new Los Angeles volleyball team after her 11-year-old daughter, Zhuri, fell in love with the game. She joins Issa Rae and Alexis Ohanian as financial backers of the franchise, which will debut next year at the LA Clippers’ Intuit Dome. It’s one of the latest additions to League One Volleyball (LOVB), the US women’s pro organization that was founded in 2025 and will expand to 10 teams when its third season begins Dec. 16. LOVB started at the youth level, and now has 98 clubs and more than 27,500 players across its network. That gives it a pipeline from juniors to the pros, plus a built-in community around the sport. Savannah, who played high school softball, says she wants to help build something “girls like Zhuri can aspire to be part of one day.”
An ace move: LA isn’t the only LOVB team with famous names behind it. The league has raised more than $160 million from backers that include Candace Parker, Kevin Durant, Lindsey Vonn, and Chelsea Handler. There’s a precedent for that. In the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), Angel City FC launched with high-profile backers that included Billie Jean King, Natalie Portman, and Ohanian. The club was valued at $250 million when Bob Iger and Willow Bay acquired a controlling stake in 2024. NWSL expansion fees have since climbed as high as $205 million. LOVB took notes — and hired the investment bank that advised the NWSL to help guide its own growth. Plus, there’s an audience to build on: LOVB estimates 46 million volleyball fans in the US. Parker has already made her prediction that “volleyball is next.”
Related: Meet the Volleyball Players Whose Dads Are NBA Legends (ESPN)
Timeout...
Can the Giants’ new QB save their season?
Our Well Played co-hosts and friends of the show tackle listener Qs.
With 14 games left in the season, the Giants aren’t ready to throw in the towel. But with starting QB Jaxson Dart likely out for the year and backup Jameis Winston yet to fully prove himself, they need another option. That’s why a trade for Vikings QB JJ McCarthy is one of the best moves they could make right now. Among the available quarterbacks, the former No. 10 overall pick makes sense, especially given his connection to Giants head coach John Harbaugh. McCarthy played at Michigan for Harbaugh’s brother, Jim, and the pair won the 2023 national championship. A fresh start could also help after more than two injury-riddled, rocky years in Minnesota dropped him to third string. Similar things happened when former Vikings QBs Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones both found success with new teams. Now the Giants hope McCarthy can do the same.
Related: After 1,009 Days Without an NFL Start, QB Case Keenum Took Down the Eagles (ESPN)
FEATURED EXPERT:
Caroline Hendershot
Reporter for the New York Jets and Well Played co-host.
PS: Sound off on the sports stories keeping you up at night. Call Well Played at (828) 412-4825 to leave your questions, rants, or rule checks. You could end up on next week's show — and we'd love to hear from you.
No Notes
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