Sports are back!
The NWSL returned with some Nashville flair, and the other top leagues are set to debut soon.
Welcome to the Music City Sports Report.
There’s no post this week, just the links. But don’t fret! There’s a killer lineup of stuff in store for the month of July, including Tennessee-centric previews of the returning sports leagues and some fun corresponding interviews, so get ready!
I will, however, direct you toward my feature on new Missouri Western men’s basketball coach Will Martin for the HomePage. Martin, a Franklin native and BGA grad, is building a WillCo talent pipeline directly to Saint Joseph, Missouri.
Links
The NWSL became the first American sports league back in action on Saturday, and Nashville was well represented as former Vanderbilt Commodore Simone Charley scored the Portland Thorns lone goal in a 2-1 loss to the two-time defending champion North Carolina Courage. You may be seeing some Simone Charley content in this newsletter very soon 👀
The MLS is next up in the American sports league return schedule. Nashville SC will play in the second game of the opening night ESPN doubleheader against the Chicago Fire at 9:30 on July 8. They will also play the Philadelphia Union on July 14 at 7, and close out the group stage against Orlando City on July 20 at 8 a.m. on ESPN.
The NBA’s return schedule also debuted. The Grizzlies will face Portland (Jul. 31, NBA TV), San Antonio (Aug. 2), New Orleans (Aug. 3, ESPN), Utah (Aug. 5), OKC (Aug. 7), Toronto (Aug. 9), Boston (Aug. 11, TNT), and Milwaukee (Aug. 13) as they try to hang onto the eighth seed.
The MLB finalized its return plan this week. With the minor leagues having been slashed during the pandemic, the league is having to get creative with roster-building options. Enter Music City - the MLB has been discussing with Nashville about hosting two teams worth of unsigned players as an emergency player pool.
Portland, Tennessee’s very own Corey Brewer is signing with the Sacramento Kings for the remainder of the NBA season. The veteran was previously with the team in 2019.
The Next broke the news of the HOF Revival series return. The greatest rivalry in women’s college basketball will resume in January 2021 as the Lady Vols take on UConn.
I really enjoyed this story from Uproxx’s Katie Heindl on the “relentless joy” of the Memphis Grizzlies.
An interesting feature from Russell Vannozzi on Harrison Autman-Springer, a three-sport athlete at White House High School who became a star on TikTok.
In lieu of the usual section of the week’s stories from The Athletic, check out this really smart feature from Omari Sankofa from March that I somehow missed on The Beale Street Flippers.
Lipscomb’s Courtney Brenner, Memphis’ Adam Neelly, and UTC’s Abby Bateman were named Academic All-Americans for track and field/cross country. Other Academic All-Americans from Tennessee schools this calendar year: Stasia Mallin (Memphis women’s soccer), Maycie McKay (Lipscomb women’s soccer), Bryce Nunnelly (UTC football), Ellie Harmeyer (Belmont women’s basketball), Chelsea Seggern (UT softball), Alec Trela (Memphis baseball), Nolan Ray (Lipscomb men’s golf), and Christina Rosca (Vanderbilt women’s tennis).
The Titans made three front office additions.
A Q&A with Preds center Matt Duchene on his love of music and why Nashville is a perfect fit.