CombatWombat

The long-sleeve black kit is fire:

“Our approach definitely had to consider the gravity of where this tournament was taking place,” McArthur said. “And this is a home tournament for Canada, a country that prides itself on being from the north. And in this moment in time, they are making progress and they have real ambition. And I think that is typified in the positivity and the true nature of what we’ve put into these garments.”

I’m not particularly surprised the WNT is being as hands-off as possible for the men’s World Cup this cycle:

For the third time, USMNT and USWNT players were consulted throughout the design process. However, the USWNT opted to let the USMNT be the voice for the players in a men’s World Cup year. “It was funny because we invited [the USWNT] and they all passed and said, ‘This is [the USMNT’s] year,’” Maribeth Towers, U.S. Soccer vice president of consumer products said about the process. For Women’s World Cup years, Towers said the USMNT responded in kind. “They said, ‘let the [USWNT] do it. We’ll be happy with whatever the outcome is.”

One of the best to ever do it. I would catch myself holding my breath when she was on the ball, wondering what she’d conjure up next. And don’t even get me started on the joy of following the Preath rumor mill:

Over time, as more professional opportunities expanded for women’s soccer, the influence of players like Heath has only grown larger. Known for her “magician” style of play with elite technical ability, quick footwork and creative playmaking, Heath helped redefine what was possible on the field for those who grew up watching her on the United States women’s national soccer team and in the National Women’s Soccer League.

It’s a clear pattern:

Curl-Salemme already has one of the most extensive disciplinary records in the young history of the Professional Women’s Hockey League. During her rookie season with the Minnesota Frost, she became the first player in league history to receive three suspensions. One came for high-sticking Boston forward Theresa Schafzahl in January 2025. Later that season she was suspended again after an illegal check to the head. The pattern continued into the playoffs, when a hit on Toronto defender Renata Fast during the PWHL semifinals resulted in a five-minute major, a game misconduct, and another suspension.

Unsurprisingly, there aren’t really any consequences:

The fact that the first-team transfer ban is suspended means that Chelsea may suffer limited consequences, if any, as a result of breaking the rules. The owners have a buffer against the cost of any sanctions imposed by the FA or Premier League, thanks to a “holdback” clause inserted into the takeover deal by the Clearlake consortium that bought Chelsea from Abramovich.

51% crude oil, 20% refining, 18% taxes, and 11% marketing leaves 0% in profit, which doesn’t really jive with the fact that Exxon did $48.87 billion in profits on $339.25 billion in revenue in 2024, which implies that at least 14% of the cost of the gallon of gas goes to profits.

So easy! If you wanna get paid, just already be getting paid et voila:

The best defence against this is to have lot of paying sponsors!

Good for her:

“I’m so honored to be here and I really want all the women in the room to stand up because I feel like I don’t get here without you guys,” Arkapaw told the audience.

Holding her Oscar, she said, “I have felt so much love from all the women on this whole campaign. I feel like moments like this happen because of people like you guys.”

She acted her ass off:

As Zhao told IndieWire late last year, Buckley was an early favorite for the role of Agnes. “I knew her work. I had a feeling that she wouldn’t be afraid. There was no vanity in her, which is what Fran McDormand had,” the filmmaker told our Anne Thompson. “I’m neurodivergent, and when there’s dissonance, I can’t function. I can’t look at the person. So I need that authenticity, and vanity is the number-one enemy of authenticity. Actors, their greatest blessing they can give to the world is their authenticity and their humanness.”

Sinners should have won but four Oscars is some comfort:

In the best picture category, “One Battle After Another” defeated “Sinners” — which won four Oscars, including lead actor and original screenplay — “Hamnet,” “Sentimental Value,” “The Secret Agent,” “Bugonia,” “Marty Supreme,” “Frankenstein,” “F1” and “Train Dreams.”

lol. It was the Sceptres who shut out the Torrent.

😭😭😭

Seattle was already without Hannah Bilka, who will miss the rest of the PWHL season, Hilary Knight who remains on long term injured reserve since the Olympics, and Mikyla Grant-Mentis, who was injured by a dangerous hit from Britta Curl-Salemme in Seattle's most recent loss. Sunday the team watched as Cayla Barnes collided with Toronto's Ella Shelton, and although she remained on the bench, Barnes didn't return to action as the hits continued to come for Seattle.