jtrent238 test blog: Sports: What to read and watch

July 9, 2022

What to Read This Weekend

Brittney Griner, a seven-time All-Star center for the W.N.B.A.'s Phoenix Mercury, pleaded guilty to drug charges on Thursday.Alexander Zemlianichenko/Associated Press

One hundred forty-one days.

That is how long Brittney Griner has been behind bars in Russia. That is how long she has been stuck in the middle of a high-stakes stare-down between the United States and Russia at exactly the wrong time, Kurt Streeter wrote, as President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia continues his invasion of Ukraine, echoing the return of the Cold War.

One hundred forty-one days. That is how long Griner has been in limbo.

What terrible uncertainty and fear she must feel, facing a decade in a Russian prison if she is convicted. Griner captured that emotion in her recent letter to President Biden. "I'm terrified I might be here forever," she wrote. She added, "Please don't forget about me."

Read the full column here.

What to Watch This Weekend

Ons Jabeur winning a point against Tatjana Maria in their women's singles semifinal match Thursday.Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

All times are Eastern.

Tennis

We've reached the Wimbledon singles finals. On Saturday, Ons Jabeur, the first Arab or African woman to reach a Grand Slam singles final in the Open era, will face Elena Rybakina in the women's final (9 a.m., ESPN). On Sunday, Novak Djokovic will get a chance to win a seventh Wimbledon singles title as he takes on Nick Kyrgios of Australia (9 a.m., ESPN).

Basketball

The W.N.B.A. All-Star Game takes place Sunday in Chicago, pitting a team led by captain A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces against one led by captain Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm (1 p.m., ABC). You can also catch the 3-point contest and the skills challenge at 3 p.m. Saturday. (ESPN).

Baseball

Catch two games between the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, at 7:15 p.m. Saturday on Fox and at 7:08 p.m. Sunday on ESPN.

Soccer

The three-and-a-half-week Women's Euro tournament has already begun. On Saturday, watch what could be one of the better games of the group stage: Netherlands vs. Sweden (3 p.m., ESPN2). And on Sunday, catch France vs. Italy (3 p.m., ESPN+).

"It is true of all major tournaments — whether contested by women or men — that part of the charm lies in an unpredictability rooted in the comparative rarity of meaningful international soccer," Rory Smith wrote last week in his newsletter. Grab the popcorn.

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Chief soccer correspondent Rory Smith takes you from the biggest matches to the smallest leagues, covering the tactics, history and personalities of the world's most popular sport.

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