…including a Valkyries playoff shirt, according to Vogue. I can’t prove this, but Jeezy had Zendaya’s love of Oakland in mind when he wrote “I put on for my city.” Z put on for the Bay again when she attended Game 5 of the WNBA Finals, and played the role of “Passionate Fan.” Gabby Williams’s wish to have Zendaya, Too Short, and Kehlani courtside at Ballhalla came true. Gabby, consider asking for world peace next, girl. 

Not to brag or anything, but OffBall predicted weeks ago that Jay-Z would headline the Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show. Apple Music and the NFL finally made it official during “Monday Night Football.” Has Jay-Z, one of the greatest rappers ever (?), earned the right to pick himself? Up to you, my schedule is kind of too full to deal with that right now. 

The Brewers are on the brink of their first-ever World Series ring, but the creative minds behind their social media have been a championship-caliber juggernaut all season long. Rachel Karten is OOO running her victory lap, as she interviewed Ezra Siegel, head of the Brewers’ social media strategy, in May. This week, Mia Soto of Verge dove deep into the “tone of fandom” across MLB socials.

If MLB needs new ideas to reach newer, younger audiences next season, Cosmopolitan has that base covered (get it?). Cosmo released its “2026 Z-Stars” list, with Alex Eala and OG Anunoby holding it down for sports. Shout out to our girl Ochuko, too. 

In case you forgot, Ayesha Curry and Lindsay Lohan becoming BFFs in “Irish Wish” wasn’t a fever dream. Anyway, move over, Lindsay (just kidding, love you)! That was over two years ago, and Ayesha is, as Steph Curry put it, a “Leading Lady” now. “Second Chance Holiday” hits Roku on Nov. 5. The City? More like Roku City. 

“Go Off” is a special edition of our daily newsletter, featuring my thoughts, takes, and general vibes, presented to OffBall readers every Wednesday.

When I think about how much time I have left on this planet, I’m sent into a ceaseless spiral of worry and wonder about whether I’m spending my time in the right way. You only get so much of it, and it can be a daunting (and haunting) question to pose even internally. 

I think I’m probably doing ok — maybe working too much (like all of us), but I spend time with family and friends as often as possible. I derive a lot of my happiness and inspiration from getting quality time with those I love. 

(This is going somewhere sporty, I swear.) 

Because I spend a lot (I mean, a lot) of my time watching sports and consuming sports-adjacent content. I would wager I spend more time with and on sports than anything else in my entire life. I’m sorry to my husband for that (but he’s usually there with me). 

On Thursday, at 12:30 pm EST/9:30 am PST, I will be spending my time watching Game 6 of the WNBA finals between the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries. Should that, in an ideal world, be the window I spend watching it? No, probably not. But because of a scheduling error (oversight?) by the WNBA and the Atlanta Hawks — who will be playing their regular-season game in their home arena in prime time — it’s the only option. I’m not here to get into the issues there (of which there are many, and many smarter people have already discoursed on how much the league has missed the mark with this one). 

Ultimately, it’s annoying, it’s wrong, and it shouldn’t be the case. It makes our lives harder as viewers because the majority of us will all be at a little thing we call work. Shout out to the people who work nights/weekends and get to enjoy this moment, though. 

Anyway, what if there was a way to spin this? I’ve received multiple texts from friends who have moved appointments or set holds on their work calendars stating that they will not be working, and the rest of this here company ought to consider taking a few hours off, too. 

We did it for the 2026 World Cup. I barely worked during that!* Let’s stir the pot a little. I’m calling for a nationwide pause on work during Game 6, and if you’d like to participate, you don’t actually have to do anything else. I certainly won’t collect your birth date and email to sell your data or whatever. Just don’t work! Easy peasy. To be clear, this doesn’t include people that work in women’s basketball or sports. I will ask that you please do work, because we need your content and storytelling. 

*That isn’t true, it was the busiest summer of my life, and the people editing this technically know that. 

But everyone else: find a bar or restaurant near you. Hang out with some friends in the middle of a work day. Spice up your week! 

After that, we’ll all rally together for real change, and insist these organizations do a better job about scheduling games. Maybe we get the world’s best project manager on the case. Alternatively, a mother of four. Or maybe someone who is both! Because we do need to ask for better, and we will. 

Like, for instance, with the BYU-Utah rivalry game that will kick off at 10 am local time: a game we used to call the Holy War (let me know if that is going to get me canceled or if we are still doing that?) can’t happen at 10 in the morning. No one is hyped at 10 a.m.! I have no doubt both of these fan bases will bring the energy for this game especially, but this is the No. 6 team against the No. 8 team in the country. These are bitter rivals. This is a primetime game.

And, while I’m on my soapbox about kickoff times, won’t anyone consider the East Coast? Yes, I obviously have a sickness, but that’s not the point. How are you spending your Halloween this weekend? I will be watching my college football team kick off at 11 p.m. Yes, I have a sickness, obviously, but that isn’t the point here. 

I will always choose to spend my time watching sports. Because life is about coordinating your time around the moments that mean the most. But I do wish the Committee Who Can’t Schedule Stuff Right (which I guess has a representative from every big sports league in America) would stop assuming I will do it, therefore making a total fool of me and my desperation.  

I think it’s actually quite a beautiful thing that people are up in arms about various kick/tip times, because it shows how special time really is to all of us. I support you in your frustration about when games start, we want our kids to be awake to watch the games we love with us, we want to gather with our communities. We want to experience shared time with the ones we love, watching the teams we love. And if sports times aren’t a changin’ anytime soon, maybe we can adjust the rest (when possible) of our lives to ensure those things happen. 

After freewheeling my plane ride back home sans WiFi (why was it $28???), I landed on American soil and immediately got word (texts from friends) alluding to some kind of drama between Italy’s tennis heartthrobs, and friends, Lorenzo Musetti and Matteo Berrettini.  

Based on some interesting IG unfollowing patterns between the two and their former ex-girlfriends, internet sleuths have deduced Musetti played home wrecker to Berrettini’s relationship. Musetti was in a longtime relationship, and has two kids with his ex-girlfriend. 

All of this is very juicy, and definitely unconfirmed. But it has been a rumor in journalist circles, too. Plus, this clip of Berrettini did not help the matter. 

I know we all have too much going on right now to actually dedicate time to this, but I will be monitoring this situation for all of us, and I’ll keep you up to date.