…And, as Triple H would say, his tunnel fit was “that damn good.” Haliburton entered the tunnel in the same jacket Triple H rocked in his 2002 WWE return, then dropped 23 and 12 in his first game in 486 days, as beautifully documented by Marc J. Spears and Jordan Jimenez. Afterward, Hali got choked up, and … oh no, are those tears running down my cheeks? 

Haliburton also made the cut for Complex’s “25 Best Dressed Athletes Right Now” ranking. I won’t spoil the list, but after Angel Reese showed up to Game 3 in a cropped Chanel top and black leather skirt, I might petition to move her up. 

Speaking of stylish people and lists, OffBall™ favorite Leah Faye Cooper interviewed the “Style GOATs Behind The Best-Dressed Athletes In Sports” for Cultured. If only I could hand the keys to my closet over to Sydney Bordonaro, Courtney Mays, Brittany Hampton, Kesha McLeod, and Dex Robinson.

During Game 3 of the WNBA Finals, Atlanta put on a show. Yes, the Dream won in a blowout, but I’m talking about Quavo, T.I., Dem Franchize Boyz, and Skokie. Quavo and Harry the Hawk put that “Hotel Lobby” AI trend to bed once and for all. 

Kimi Antonelli is on the brink of F1 glory, a.k.a. the World Drivers’ Championship, and according to ESPN’s Nate Saunders, he’s totally and (endearingly) unfazed. Kimi also told Sam Knight of The New Yorker, “I don’t like giving compliments to myself.” That’s OK. I’ll handle the compliments: Kimi, you looked great at the Spurs game!

Sequin Barkley is still an Eagle, but he teamed up with H. Moser & Cie on the side to design his own timepiece, the Pioneer Cylindrical Tourbillon Skeleton Aventurine Saquon Barkley Edition. Barkley wore it while covering Flaunt Magazine and told GQ all about it.

While Ashtyn is out, we've lined up three writers to go off on subjects near and dear to their hearts. Next up: Myles Ehrlich, a New York native covering the WNBA, and if you aren’t listening to his and Owen Pence’s “Pull Up” podcast, what are you doing? Myles has been on W beat since 2018, was a head writer at Winsidr for years, and has women’s basketball bylines at WSLAM, Flagrant, Complex, and more. Myles will now take us inside the WNBA Finals watch party we’re all jealous to have missed. 

On Wednesday night, women’s sports fans packed out Fulton Hall, a bar in downtown Brooklyn, for a WNBA Finals watch party put on by Togethxr and Threads and headlined by multi-hyphenate hooper-comedians Sydney Colson and Theresa Plaisance. Syd and TP, who branded themselves as the faces of the league years ago and have embodied that ever since with a perfect blend of quick wit, self-deprecation, and authenticity, were omnipresent throughout the game, taking photos and chatting with fans, while simultaneously participating in a live chat on Threads. 

Their podcast, “Unsupervised with Syd & TP,” is a must-listen for W fans, as it goes beyond just the insider access one would expect from a player-led pod to discuss real issues confronting athletes across the league. “As friends, we have conversations about this all the time, and with our pod, we really wanted to just be ourselves,” Plaisance said. “We didn't want to have any hocus pocus. We didn't want to do anything that was outside of who we are as individuals and our character, and I think that speaking on the problems that are happening in our league with racism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia… [These] are things that are going to happen with the growth of the league, but that shouldn't be allowed. You're allowed to grow your league, but you have to draw the line at some things.”

Colson recognizes that opportunities like the Game 3 watch party, like their pod partnership with Togethxr, are a byproduct of the league’s growth. Putting their friendship in front of a microphone was a logical next step for the two on- and off-court performers. 

“We talk about the things that matter to us,” Colson added. “A lot of things had to fall into place for us to even be here hosting this. We've been very blessed and very favored. And so, to me, the only way to repay having this kind of favor is to do the right thing and to speak up when things are wrong because there are too many people not doing that. And it's not in everybody's DNA to speak up, but it is ours.” 

At halftime, Colson and Plaisance announced that there would be women’s sports trivia, joking that there would be zero tolerance for cheating and poor sportsmanship. Still, the two took turns walking around the bar like teachers during an exam, snaking between tables to eyeball people’s work and ensure fair play. The activity, elevated by their eager participation, complemented the main attraction – the game – without distracting from the real reason for the event.

Adding to the evening’s already terrific vibes, Togethxr and Threads brought in artist and content creator Meg Stacy, aka Thee W Artiste. Throughout the game, Stacy drew custom portraits for thee fans in attendance (including one for me and my own podcast partner!). Her cartoons, up at @wnbaart on Instagram, have been a highlight of this WNBA season, capturing the sport’s lighter moments through a lens of fun and silliness. Angel Reese has kept Stacy busier than any other player this season.

“She really does make it very hard because I would like to diversify who I draw,” Stacy told me. “Every game, multiple times a quarter, she comes up with some weird face or gesture, or even if it's an amazing play, there is something that everyone is asking for all the time: do this, do that, draw this, draw that, and it's very overwhelming. She's made it fun because she serves us that every single game she plays, and I think I can speak for everyone in that we're just proud of her.”

There was a near-even split of Dream and Valkyries fans in attendance, but only Dream fans left happy. Reese (who consistently drew the night’s loudest cheers) again tallied a dominant double-double in the Dream’s 97-71 win.

“For me, it's been nice to see [these performances from] a player who we've seen get eviscerated for years in a lot of different ways still show up, still work hard, still uplift her teammates,” Colson said. “Now she's seeing that staying the course and doing what she's supposed to do and working on your own game, you could turn s— around. I think Atlanta was just the perfect fit for her. And they needed a personality like that to get them to this level, because you're already feeling a way for not making it past the first round last year. Now you add an Angel, and you're in the Finals this year. It's not for no reason.”

With the Dream two wins away from the first title in franchise history, it’s hard to argue the point.

Next Wednesday, Oct. 28, SPORT BEACH will debut its Draft Day event, and I’m already jealous because I know firsthand how fun it is to throw an event with SPORT BEACH. 

This one is invite-only, and I’m neither an athlete nor an investor, but luckily, I am the person SPORT BEACH CEO (and Friend of OffBall™) Beth Sidhu dished the details to.

“Draft Day is ‘Shark Tank’ meets an upfront for athletes,” Beth says. “And the goal is to have athlete-led pitch teams bring new ideas—new being key—new ideas to people who can fund, sponsor, scale, or distribute them... We're really confident that some of our amazing athletes are going to walk out the door with, if not a deal in hand, some great conversations that lead there.”

The athlete lineup is stacked. Eli Manning (QB 101) and Peyton Manning (Inside the Game) will renew their sibling rivalry, while Carmelo Anthony is pitching his Creative 7 content company. Christian McCaffrey’s while on earth ™, Lexie Hull’s FORTA Cosmetics, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s “Full Stride” docuseries round it out.

And if any of those athletes happens to be reading this (they should be), Beth has one piece of advice: “Have you ever had someone tell you an idea is so good it sells itself? Nothing sells itself.” 

I’m sure glad I don’t have to pick between all these ideas. Good luck, guys! And sign up here!

Watch “Just One Before I Die.” And hug a Bills fan. 

Go skating. Maybe you’ll run into Tony Hawk. 

Catch up on the “John Wick” franchise. Caleb Williams already has.