Calling It, These Olympics Were The Best Ever

…And so are you, we’re certain, so check out OffBall’s full Games takeover on our homepage. Top to bottom, nothing but doomscroll-free Olympics coverage for the next 24 hours. What, it’s our last 2026 Winter Olympics hurrah, ok!! 

In other news, MLS is back, right, Magic Johnson?! Yesterday was the first day of the rest of our soccer lives, and whether your team won, or lost, or even played, it probably still feels like anything is possible. Read about how each team could win it all (while it still feels possible). 

Kelly Oubre, I mean, t$unami, released a new song a few days ago, but it went a little too under-the-radar for my taste. Mainly because he said he thinks Paul Walker is his dad, but also because it sounds fake. Anyway, later, he said Paul Walker isn’t his dad. Well, which is it?!

The Olympics have changed so much thanks to prioritizing mental health, new training tactics, and challenging gender norms. This story from Outside credits Gen Z for the progress. Boy, a lot can change in 3,000-ish years. 

Not to yuck anyone’s yum, but I keep seeing that kissing photo of Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton being shared. To me, it’s very clearly AI. Yes, they are dating, but no, they did not kiss for the cameras! And although F1 is enjoying this super WAG moment, I feel like that’s important context. Ok, off my soapbox. 

These Winter Olympics were objectively the best ever. I don’t know if that’s true, but it feels like it.  And this is my newsletter. 

Because the 2026 Winter Olympics were so good, especially if you’re American, I tasked my colleagues with choosing a favorite moment. I hope you read them, and one very dramatic and slow tear rolls down your cheek. 

Cue the emotional big band music and montage with 10 second dissolves. 

The game-winning, gold-medal-securing golden goals in both the women’s and men’s hockey games were the pinnacle of sports. They were strength and glory personified. You couldn’t write a story better than the men’s team securing a gold for the first time since the 1980 Miracle on Ice. And they couldn’t have honored former national team player Johnny Gaudreau better than they did by bringing his kids and jersey out onto the ice to celebrate. The fact that the Hughes boys’ mom is on the Team USA women’s coaching staff is the icing on both teams’ medal-shaped cakes. Hughes family biopic when? 

-Me

For everyone who didn’t know what ‘steez’ meant, now you do.

-Brady Crotwell

Did KD’s (alleged) burner account Tweet about the Olympics? I certainly would’ve loved the burner’s (alleged) take on TMI-gate and the Sweden-Canada Curl-fuffle. But while others might choose hate, I choose love. The overdue love for hockey, where passion is much more than a season of Heated Rivalry. The love of Myles Garrett for Chloe Kim, expressed through poetry and photography. But you, Coen Rijpma, take the gold for this explosion of raw, unvarnished joy in the immediate aftermath of your wife Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong's victory in the 1500-meter speedskating final. How can you not be romantic about romance in sports? (Added bonus: your guaranteed spot-for-life atop Ashtyn's Wife Guy Power Rankings.)

-Christian Stone

While both hockey gold medal games had me standing one foot from my TV, my Winter Olympics moment is the Alysa Liu phenomenon. She embodies joy and "I'm gonna do whatever-tf-I-want-because-it's-fun-to-me" energy in an age where so many things lack both. She also has great taste in music and is partially responsible for the biggest day of OffBall Instagram growth ever. I look forward to her run on Dancing With The Stars (genuine).

-Mason Burgin

Stevenson Savart becoming the first Olympic cross-country skier to represent Haiti (yes, Haiti) is my moment. Where he finished didn't matter because the reaction he received from the crowd and fellow competitors showed why the Olympics is such a special and unique sports event.

-Terence Scott

My favorite Olympics moments were all about nerding out on the footwear they use for events I'd never watched before. The best ones for me were brush spikes, the cleats the skeletoners use to get traction on the ice, which look so cool. My favorites were by On, Adidas, and Anta.

-Daniel-Yaw Miller

Alysa Liu’s Bay Area love. We are a proud people! And as a fellow Bay Area’n, it really made my heart swell to see so many people posting about Mac Dre. Alysa’s even a proud Muni rider! If I become an Olympian (at the ripe age of never mind how old I am), I will absolutely make the story about my beloved hometown and throw in an Andre Nickatina quote to really make it stick.

-Shanon Kelly

TWO (!!!) all-Asian podiums, in women's snowboarding and women's figure skating. 

-Bella Santos

By the way, to see remarkable photos of most of these moments, check out photographer Matthew Johnson’s IG. 

And if this tweet below is you, don’t worry, you can tune into the Paralympics (opening ceremonies are on March 6, and the full schedule is here)! 

Siri, play Life is Worth Living by Justin Bieber. 

Jordan Thompson might be LOVB’s Most Valuable Player. And if you aren’t acquainted with her, you might be the Least Ball Knower. But that’s actually ok, because I’m here to help you. And so is Jordan. 

League One Volleyball is taking the sport’s world by storm (thanks to its dominant players and celebrity investors like KD, Chelsea Handler, Lindsey Vonn, and Candace Parker). Much of this is because of Thompson’s undeniable presence on and off the court. I mentioned she could be MVP this year, she’s definitely the social MVP (although the league is stacked with real posters). There’s so much more to these women than we even get to see in-game. Take Thompson, for instance, who divulged that she’s an avid hunter and collector of vintage jewelry, furniture, and home decor and loves to go thrifting in Houston on her days off.

She talked to us about outfit inspo, representing her country in the 2024 Summer Olympics, and more. 

OffBall: For the casuals, talk through the grind of the LOVB schedule — and where you are in the season right now?

Jordan Thompson: We just wrapped up the LOVB Classic and are halfway through the season. We’ve put in a lot of work to get here, and now it’s about staying consistent and continuing to level up in the second half so we can secure our spot in the playoffs.

OB: What's something volleyball culture gets really right that other sports could potentially take notes from?

JT: Professional volleyball is relatively new in the US, and I think what’s really special about the two leagues that I’ve been a part of (LOVB and Athletes Unlimited) is the way they support us not only on the court but off the court as well. What’s so special about bringing professional volleyball to the States is that we, as athletes, get to help build it. There’s an emphasis on making sure that these leagues are athlete-centered, and I think that is something that sets us apart from other sports.

OB: What would your walk-out song be if you had one?

JT: My walk-out song probably changes at least once a week, but as of right now, I’d choose ‘Call Back’ by Don Toliver. His whole new album is fire.

OB: Your tunnel fits are immaculate — do you draw inspiration from any other athletes or other places?

JT: I honestly love seeing other athletes' tunnel fits, it’s so cool to see people’s personality through fashion. Two athletes whose style I absolutely adore are Sydney Colson and Skylar Diggins. When it comes to putting my tunnel fits together, I think the best part is that I can be creative and put pieces together that I wouldn’t wear on a normal day. 

OB: Do you ever take out your Olympic gold medal just to put it on, just to be like "Wow, I have an Olympic gold medal?”

JT: It’s funny because I’ve had different family and friends keep my medals for me when I’ve been traveling, and I think they would take them out and look at them more than I have. I’ll never forget the core memory I have from winning gold and being up on the podium with tears streaming down my face. In that moment, I kept thinking of all the people who had poured themselves into me and my volleyball career. That moment was not just for me but the village that got me there.