7/22/25: Sabrina Ionescu's Journey, Baseball Showcase Resources, Hilarious Tik Tok Trend

👏 The Journey: How Sabrina Ionescu Became a Four-Time All-Star

The Long Journey to the WNBA

[LINK] The New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu won the 3-point shooting contest at All-Star weekend and then participated in her fourth WNBA All-Star game. Ionescu is one of the brightest stars in the W, a former No. 1 pick and an Olympic gold medalist. But her road to the top wasn’t always easy.

While a star at the University of Oregon, Ionescu caught the eye of Kobe Bryant. Soon Ionescu became one of Kobe’s mentees and when the former Lakers star tragically died in a helicopter crash, Ionescu was crushed and spoke at his memorial service. 

Then just three games into her professional career, Ionescu suffered a Grade 3 ankle sprain and missed her entire rookie season. 

Ionescu didn’t hang her head or sulk. She got back in the gym and worked harder than ever. Now, she’s one of the WNBA’s biggest and most recognizable stars. The injury made her stronger – physically and mentally – and she refused to let anything hold her back.

💡Tips for Getting Noticed at Baseball Showcases

Your Resource for Prepping for Showcases

[LINK] So you’re hoping to get noticed at a baseball showcase. How do you get that to happen?

If you’re lucky, maybe the coach from your dream school will just happen to be watching your best game of the season. If you’re not relying on luck, you need to develop some strategies that will help you get noticed by coaches and if not, help you start building relationships that will later give you opportunities.

Seton Hall coach Rob Sheppard says attending showcases helps him compare players he’s looking at and he gets to see them compete against each other. 

It’s a good test of talent and performance if he’s already been talking to these players. Recruits should attend showcases in the area where they want to go to school to optimize recognition. Above all, “do your homework” on the showcase you’re going to.

We also found a very helpful blog that outlines eight tips to help you get noticed a showcases and an interview with a scout who breaks down what he’s looking for in players.

🤣 Asking Athletes, ‘Do you wish you were athletic'?

A Hilarious New TikTok Trend

[LINK] There’s a hilarious trend on TikTok in which people ask elite athletes if they wished that they were athletic. At first, the athletes are confused. Then they often turn salty. Their responses are priceless.

John Franco, who spent 22 years in MLB, was asked the question by his daughter. His retort: “Do you ever wish you were athletic?”

A former professional hockey player was visibly confused when asked the question by his girlfriend. Finally, he responded: “Google me!”

Table tennis player Lily Zhang, who played in four Olympics, had the perfect response when she was asked if she wished she were more athletic–“Yeah.”

YOUTH INC. RECOMMENDS

Leah Jantzen

Ellie Kriebel

Youth Inc. Team

WE'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER

145

Number of diamonds in the Eagles’ Super Bowl rings, which the team gave out last week.

“We wanted to do something that was united. Sometimes you don’t have to say anything."

 -Kelsey Plum after all the WNBA All-Stars wore shirts that said, “Pay us what you owe us.”