Since becoming Temple\u2019s women\u2019s basketball coach in 2022, Diane Richardson has introduced her team to WNBA players and had them participate in community events. <\/p>\n
From Philly\u2019s Kahleah Copper attending nearly every practice during Richardson\u2019s first two seasons to having the Owls hold a camp for girls, Richardson has been an ongoing advocate for women\u2019s basketball in the city.<\/p>\n
With an WNBA franchise set to come to Philadelphia in 2030, she hopes the fandom will continue to grow. In the meantime, Unrivaled will make its first trip out of Miami and play at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Friday \u2014 in front of a sold-out crowd.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo get Unrivaled sold out in a matter of days, that tells you we are ready for the WNBA,\u201d Richardson said. \u201cI think we\u2019ll have sold-out stadiums when the WNBA gets here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Richardson has been at the forefront of the push to grow women\u2019s basketball in Philly. Unrivaled is another event to get the city ready \u2014 and the support has been encouraging.<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Isabella DiAmore, @phillysport<\/a>, sports.daily@inquirer.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2753What are your thoughts on an WNBA team in Philly? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Jeffrey Lurie<\/a>, Howie Roseman<\/a>, and Nick Sirianni<\/a> are tasked with making a variety of staffing and personnel decisions over the next several months to return the Eagles to Super Bowl<\/a> contention next season. With the coaching carousel spinning and free agency and the draft looming, here\u2019s where the Birds could start with their decision-making.<\/a><\/p>\n And there\u2019s a lot of anxiety surrounding the Eagles, particularly about the fact that they haven\u2019t hired an offensive coordinator yet. <\/p>\n Maybe that\u2019s because the NFL\u2019s passing game isn\u2019t necessarily what it used to be. But that doesn\u2019t mean it can\u2019t evolve with the right strategy, and in the Eagles\u2019 case, the right coordinator, writes Mike Sielski.<\/a><\/p>\n What we\u2019re…<\/p>\n \ud83e\udd14 Wondering: This year\u2019s Super Bowl will feature the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. Are there any local connections?<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcfa Watching: A hometown favorite will appear on your television screens during a Budweiser Super Bowl ad: Lincoln the bald eagle.<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udfc8 Debating: Who were your favorite NFL color analysts this season? Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes ranks his<\/a>.<\/p>\n The one big takeaway from the Sixers\u2019 139-122 comeback win against Milwaukee last night is that despite the on-again, off-again nights from Joel Embiid<\/a> and Paul George<\/a>, it\u2019s still electric when those two are on the floor \u2014 together. The duo accounted for 61 of the team\u2019s total, with George finishing with a game-high 32 points. <\/p>\n It allowed other important pieces not to be relied on as heavily in what was as close to a team performance as we\u2019ve seen from the Sixers this season. Inquirer writer Keith Pompey has more on the pair and what appeared to also be a revival of Jared McCain<\/a>. <\/p>\n Next up, the Sixers will look to run it back against Sacramento in the second of a three-game homestand at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Thursday (7 p.m., NBCSP). <\/p>\n The Flyers have been scuffling of late, having lost eight of their last 10, and a big reason why has been the dropoff from their No. 1 line of Trevor Zegras<\/a>, Travis Konecny<\/a>, and Christian Dvorak.<\/p>\n The Flyers need more from the high-scoring trio and Rick Tocchet<\/a> believes it starts with them playing a more honest 200-foot game<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI hate to use the word cheating; they\u2019re cheating for offense,\u201d Tocchet said of his top line\u2019s game recently. <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got to play the right way. You\u2019ll get the same amount of chances in the long run, and that\u2019s the way you\u2019re supposed to play the game anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking of the Flyers\u2019 struggles, here\u2019s what the players had to say after Monday\u2019s disappointing 4-0 loss<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sports snapshot<\/p>\n The Phillies were always going to enter spring training needing to look inward in order to catch up to the Dodgers. In more ways than one. They are going to need to get some sort of impact from their minor league system. <\/p>\n Aidan Miller is the kind of prospect who can alter a team\u2019s long-term trajectory. It\u2019s the type of production the Dodgers are shelling out billions for, and what the Phillies are aspiring to, writes columnist David Murphy.<\/a><\/p>\n Sure, the Super Bowl is basically just another football game when the Eagles aren\u2019t playing, but it is the perfect excuse to scope out a new dive bar to become a regular before next season. Last month, our colleagues on the food team asked for recommendations for Philly\u2019s best and most unsung dive bars. <\/p>\n After combing through more than 400 responses, the final list includes dives of all stripes<\/a>, from bars that only air the Mike & Merrill broadcast to ones with juicy roast beef sandwiches, pre- and post-game karaoke, and the occasional sub $5 Citywide.<\/p>\n \ud83e\udde0 Trivia time answer<\/p>\n Which athlete has won the most MVP awards while playing with Philadelphia\u2019s professional teams?<\/p>\n A) Wilt Chamberlain, who won four MVP awards \u2014 Michael P. was first with the correct answer.<\/p>\n We compiled today\u2019s newsletter using reporting from Keith Pompey, Colin Schofield, Olivia Reiner, David Murphy, Marcus Hayes, Mike Sielski, Ryan Mack, Jeff Neiburg, Jonathan Tannenwald, Jackie Spiegel, Jenn Ladd, Beatrice Forman, and Ariel Simpson.<\/p>\n By submitting your written, visual, and\/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer\u2019s Terms of Use<\/a>, including the grant of rights in Section 10.<\/p>\n As always, thanks for reading. Stay warm this week. Kerith will be in your inbox with Thursday\u2019s newsletter. \u2014 Bella<\/p>\n