Jay Wright is headed to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.
On Monday, it was announced that the longtime Villanova coach would be inducted as a part of the Hall’s 2026 class. Wright led Villanova for 21 seasons from 2001 to 2022. In that span, the Wildcats made four Final Four appearances and won NCAA titles in 2016 and 2018.
Wright, who had a career record of 642–282 (.695), including a seven-year stint at Hofstra (1994-2001), is widely considered to be the main force behind Villanova becoming a consistent national brand in college basketball. He is already a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, being inducted in 2021.
“The Class of 2026 represents the very best of college basketball — individuals whose performance, leadership, and impact helped shape the game at the highest level,” Hall of Fame CEO Kevin Henderson said in a statement. “Their legacies will forever be preserved as part of the sport’s rich history.”
Five other selectees make up the Hall’s incoming class: UCLA coach Walt Hazzard from Overbrook High School, Kentucky coach Tubby Smith, Kansas coach Ted Owens, Michigan star Glen Rice, and BYU standout Danny Ainge.
The induction will take place Oct. 22 in Kansas City, Mo., where the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame is located.
Patrons of Sarcone’s Bakery — the 108-year-old South Philadelphia staple — are accustomed to seeing familiar faces behind the counter. On Monday, guests were served by a new member of the Sarcone’s family: Chase Utley.
The Phillies legend helped serve tomato pie to fans lined up around the corner as part of the bakery’s partnership with sports apparel company ’47. The two companies teamed up to host an exclusive pop-up inside the bakery. Guests who purchased food received an exclusive Sarcone’s T-shirt and hat, produced by ’47.
They also got a chance to meet Utley, which was the main reason many fans flocked to South Philadelphia. Utley was scheduled to appear for one hour, from noon to 1 p.m. However, after seeing the length of the line, he opted to stick around for an additional half hour.
The event will continue on Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., but Utley will not attend the second time around. The MLB All-Star Game takes place shortly after at Citizens Bank Park (FOX, 8 p.m.).
After Utley finished up behind Sarcone’s counter, The Inquirer caught up with the former Phil:
Q: We’re at Sarcone’s today. You just got done serving some fans, meeting some fans. Could you tell me a little about that experience?
It’s good to be back in Philadelphia in a historic place like Sarcone’s. It just brings back so many different memories. Interacting with all the fans, talking about some old times, some stories we had over the years was fantastic. I’m happy that Sarcone’s had me out here.
Once or twice a month I’d roll through this area, stop at Sarcone’s [Deli], and grab a pie or a cheesesteak. There was a certain point we would order a bunch for the clubhouse. They’ve done such a good job. The store has been here over 100 years, which is so unbelievable. They run a good ship.
Chase Utley interacts with fan Jess DeStefano during his Monday shift at Sarcone’s Bakery.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer
Q: You starred alongside Mike Schmidt in a hype video released for the All-Star game by the Phillies. Could you tell me about that process?
I mean the city of Philadelphia has treated me so well over the years and being a part of that video with the Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt — best Phillie of all time — was just an honor. I’m humbled to do that. It turned out fantastic.
Q: You were a six-time All-Star yourself. Could you touch on what the honor meant to you, especially early in your career?
It’s a bit of a surreal experience to be honest with you. For that very first All-Star selection, all of a sudden now you’re in a locker room, in a clubhouse with guys that you idolize. And now you can sit next to them and pick their brain and just kind of learn what got them there. At the end of the day, it helps improve your game.
Q: Did you have any time to watch your former teammates — Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, and Shane Victorino — play in yesterday’s MLBx event?
I’ve seen some highlights and some lowlights. But yeah, I talked to Ryan this morning. He said they had had a blast. So good for them. They represented the Phillies pretty well.
Q: Do you think you could still go out there and hit?
I don’t know. I don’t know. Maybe, but maybe not.
Q: You lived in London for four years. Did you become a soccer fan? Are you rooting for England in the World Cup?
We definitely picked up soccer. So I became a soccer fan by being over there. And I mean four amazing teams [are left]. Who knows what’s going to happen? I’m just a fan of the sport in general.
Fans lined up for blocks to see Chase Utley at Sarcone’s. Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer
Q: You played under Don Mattingly with the Dodgers. What can you tell me about Mattingly, and what can you say about his success so far after stepping in for the Phillies?
The Phillies got, I mean, they got off to a rough start, and now some pieces are starting to come together, and they’re playing fantastic baseball. Baseball that we all know that they can play. I played for Don, great human being, obviously amazing player. I think players respect the fact that he had an amazing career.
Q: You recently were hired by the Dodgers as the team’s special assistant to the president of baseball operations. How that’s going so far?
I finished my career in Los Angeles. I live in Los Angeles, and I wanted to still be around baseball, but still be around my family and not travel too much. So it made sense just to get under their hood a little bit and understand what they’re doing. I get to sleep in my bed every single night; it’s a fantastic organization. I love Philadelphia and the Phillies organization. If I lived in Philadelphia, I would do the same thing.
Q: Between the World Cup and MLB All-Star Week, there has been a lot of excitement around Philadelphia. What’s that been like to witness?
This city is incredible. The fact that the World Cup was here and now the All-Star Game. It’s been a busy, busy, busy summer, and I hope it continues.
On Sunday, MLB All-Star Week brought a new event to Philadelphia — MLBx: 3-on-3. The inaugural four-team tournament featured three former Phillies greats: Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino, and Jimmy Rollins. Each served as a captain for a three-person squad. The players donned their past Phillies uniforms.
“Just to see everybody out here, to see this place almost packed,” Victorino said. “I couldn’t ask for anything more from this city. It was the one thing someone always asks: ‘What do you want to see out of this city this weekend?’ I said, ‘I want to see how all the fans are going to show up.’”
The fourth team was led by Atlanta Braves legend and 2026 Hall of Fame inductee Andruw Jones, who was booed heavily by the Philly faithful before the event began.
A professional softball player from the Athletes Unlimited Softball League joined each team alongside a non-baseball celebrity. Notably, former Eagles wideout Terrell Owens played for Team Rollins while current Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata starred for Howard.
Shane Victorino’s team won the inaugural MLBx event.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Three three-inning games — two semifinals and a championship — were played on a miniature diamond setup at center field. Ultimately, it was Team Victorino that came out on top, defeating Team Howard, 48-39.
Rachel Garcia, who plays for the AUSL’s Texas Voltz, was named the event’s most valuable player.
Along with winning the inaugural event, Victorino now has bragging rights over his former teammates.
“Just another thing, another notch,” Victorino said with a laugh. “I got one more ring than them, one more trophy with an ‘X’ on it. I’m gonna give it to them till the day I can’t.”
Before the event began, it was described on the public address as “a Home Run Derby with a twist.”
Each inning saw a player on each team take a two-minute at-bat. Meanwhile, outfielders looked to rob any would-be home runs. Points were awarded primarily from home runs and defensive catches, but a team could also gain an extra point by hitting a ball through a “target zone” above the outfield fence. Additionally, whenever a batter got in a groove, he or she could activate a “hot streak” by pushing a button next to home plate. When activated, home runs counted for two-points a pop.
Ryan Howard at CBP? of course he's hitting dingers 💪
The first game of the tournament saw Team Howard face Team Rollins, meaning the game’s two Eagles — Mailata and Owens — also matched up. In the battle of the Birds, Mailata beat out Owens as Team Howard advanced to the final.
Jordan Mailata switched sports to be part of Team Howard.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
There once was a time where Owens was largely shunned by Philadelphia fans following his dramatic exit from the Eagles in 2005. It appears time has healed those wounds. Owens, who played baseball in high school, received one of the larger rounds of applause when his name was first called over the stadium’s public address.
Former Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens played baseball in high school.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Eagles fan-favorite Mailata, traded in his pads for a baseball jersey, which he noted was much more comfortable. Ultimately, the Australia native did not come away with a win in the championship game. However, he did accomplish his one goal.
“Was I the worst performing person today?” he asked reporters following the event.
One responded “No,” pointing out that Mailata had hit more home runs than the Hall of Fame-bound Jones.
“That was my goal — to not be the worst,” Mailata said. “So I can go home, even though we fell short.”
‘Put softball on the map’
Along with launching a new event, the MLB looked to showcase some of the brightest stars of the AUSL. MLB is a major investor in the startup league.
Fans who stuck around following the Futures Game should now know the names Alyssa Brito and Rachel Garcia.
For Team Howard, Brito slammed 16 home runs during her first at-bat against Team Rollins in the semifinals. Brito, who plays for the AUSL’s Carolina Blaze, scored 24 of her team’s 36 total points in the win.
“Shout out to Brito Bombs, man,” Mailata said, offering a nickname for his teammate. “Shoutout Brito Bombs. … She carried our team today.”
In the next game, Garcia hit the event’s only walk-off home run to lift Team Victorino over Jones’ squad. Garcia carried that momentum into the event’s final matchup, scoring a game-high 18 total at-bat points to secure Team Victorino the championship win.
“Being on this stage has been just very humbling,” Garcia said. “Especially because softball, for us, is just still growing. We’re still trying to get the recognition that we want and we deserve. Just being able to put softball on the map.”
AUSL star Rachel Garcia was named the MVP of the event.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Added Brito: “I think it’s incredible that All Star Weekend wanted us to be in this main event that everyone wanted to come to. It just goes to show that if you give women a platform, we’re going to use it and we’re going to take advantage of it.”
King of Prussia-based baseball bat manufacturer Victus Sports was looking for a reason to do an advertisement with its client, Brandon Marsh. The Phillies outfielder’s stellar season — and first All-Star Game nod — gave Victus the perfect excuse.
“He was just a perfect fit,” Victus marketing director Doug Trimble said. “Just personality-wise, and obviously being a Philly guy made the most sense. The stars just aligned that he ended up being one of the best hitters in baseball this year.”
On Wednesday, Victus posted a teaser for the company’s new Philly Cheesesteak-inspired bat on X. The video shows Marsh, decked out in his full Phillies uniform, order a “Victus with onions” at Angelo’s Pizzeria. Marsh then walks out of the South Philly staple to unwrap an abnormally long sandwich. Grinning, the “wet bandit” reveals a Victus bat hidden under the parchment paper.
In the background, customers look on in awe at Marsh, who looks like he walked straight out of the outfield.
Those reactions were real. Between Marsh’s stringent schedule with the Phillies and Angelo’s limited hours, Victus decided it would be easiest to shoot the commercial quickly while the restaurant was open. The ad, along with a few shorter spots posted to social media, were completed in one-take.
“It was a cool moment,” Trimble said. “[Marsh] thought it was cool. He had a blast the whole day. I was kind of just running through concepts with him, and he was down for all of it.”
Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh (right) carries Victus’ new cheesesteak-themed bat over his shoulder while a cook whips up the real thing on the griddle at Angelo’s.Courtesy of Victus Sports
Why Angelo’s? Trimble will take the credit for picking the restaurant over the likes of a more nationally recognizable cheesesteak shop — like Pat’s or Geno’s.
For one, Angelo’s steak on a seeded roll is his personal favorite. More important though, Trimble felt partnering with the pizzeria would show Victus is a brand that is true to the area. Philadelphians, as he pointed out, are usually more drawn to a place like Angelo’s than more traditional spots.
“It’s just letting people know that we’re local to Philly,” Trimble said. “This is our hometown All-Star Game. Doing the whole collection with cheesesteaks and Marsh and the Phillies is just a part of that storytelling we’re trying to do.”
Victus’ new cheesesteak-themed bat sits next to the real thing at Angelo’s in South Philly.Courtesy of Victus Sports
When designing the bats themselves, there were also conversations around what type of steak they should resemble.
Some wanted “whiz” on the bat while others wanted the cheese to resemble cooper sharp. Ultimately, the team decided to feature a more generic cheesesteak on the bat with “Philly” written on it with cheese.
The bats, which were officially released on Friday, are currently for sale on Victus Sports’ website.
Driving to West Philadelphia’s Shibam Coffee Co., Ayham Muhanna got a flat tire.
Muhanna, a rabid Morocco fan, wasn’t going to let that stop him from making it to the cafe, which was hosting a watch party for Morocco’s World Cup quarterfinal matchup against France.
“I love the community. I love the vibes out here,” Muhanna said. “We could have gone anywhere else, but we decided to come to Shibam. After coming here for the first time for the Egypt and Iran game, we saw that the energy was through the roof. We saw that the community was all here showing out and showing love.”
France’s Kylian Mbappe (center) reacts to being tripped by Morocco’s Issa Diop (left), during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match on Thursday.Stephanie Scarbrough
Although Morocco lost, 2-0, to France in Thursday’s match, the energy was palpable inside Shibam, a Yemeni coffee shop, as a mostly Morocco-supporting crowd packed the cafe. Yemen and Morocco, despite being thousands of miles apart, share many similarities in terms of language, culture, religion. During the World Cup, fans of each country tend to support one another. This was evident at Shibam, as most of the fans were members of the region’s vast diaspora.
The original Shibam Coffee Co. is based out of Dearborn, Mich., the only Arab-majority city in the United States. Fahad Azam is a part-owner of the West Philadelphia franchise, one of 19 Shibam locations in the country. While not a soccer fan himself, Azam saw an opportunity to further connect with the surrounding community by holding watch parties for the World Cup. The turnout for the first game blew away his expectations.
A packed house at Shibam Coffee in West Philadelphia is on hand to watch Morocco take on France in Thursday’s World Cup quarterfinal. Courtesy / Sam Foster
“It was a madhouse,” Azam said. “We didn’t know what we signed up for, but obviously we love the environment, we love the passion that everyone brings. We want to do more. The World Cup is not going to happen again next year. We wanted to show the community that we’re not just a coffee shop.”
That they did. Although Morocco’s offense was stagnant — France held a 22-5 shot advantage — the fans who packed into Shibam held out hope until the game’s final moments. The biggest crowd reaction came in the 28th minute after Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou denied France star Kylian Mbappé’s penalty attempt. Then, to start the second half, fans brought out tambourines and drums to lead the usually quiet coffee shop in song.
The line to get a coffee spanned the cafe. It was impossible to maneuver without bumping into multiple people. Nonetheless, when everyone rose to their feet in anticipation of a shot or as fans broke out into a rendition of Shakira’s “Waka Waka” after the pop star was shown on screen, any would-be negatives disappeared.
“I’m half Moroccan, so it’s always been in my family, supporting Morocco and coming out for them,” said Mahdi El-Hadi, a Newtown Square resident. “I’ve been a huge Morocco supporter since I was a kid. … We have the vibes; we have the music. We’re always super excited for every game.”
One watch party attendee, Yusra Aziz, owns a psychotherapy practice. At work, Aziz readily shares the importance of finding and embracing community to her clients. She listened to her own advice on Thursday. Aziz is the daughter of immigrants — her mother was born in Morocco while her father came over from Iraq. The joyful scene inside Shibam was a point of pride for her.
Fans in attendance at Shibam Coffee in University City for Thursday’s World Cup quarterfinal say that the sense of community was equally as important as the match between Morocco and France. Courtesy / Sam Foster
“When I was growing up, there was a lot of this type of vibe in our house,” Aziz said, gesturing to the crowd around her. “My family would host it. There would be a lot of our community members. When I was growing up, I could have only dreamed of having something like this. I did not see things like this growing up — cafes that were hubs for our community.
“It feels symbolic of what my parents did by coming here. They met here in Philadelphia, and I wouldn’t exist if they didn’t meet here. Looking at all these people here, I know that a lot of them are in similar circumstances. Their parents came here, and they were born here.”
With the MLB All-Star Game around the corner, sports apparel company ’47 is teaming up with Sarcone’s Bakery for an exclusive pop-up inside the South Philadelphia staple.
The event will run Monday and Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The bakery will offer a special ’47 menu that boasts their famous bread and tomato pie. More importantly, guests who purchase food will receive an exclusive Sarcone’s T-shirt and hat, produced in partnership with ’47.
“When you think of Philly, you think of the passionate sports fans, and you also think of the food scene,” bakery owner Louis Sarcone III said. “The main thing of the food scene in Philly is the Philly cheesesteaks, and our bread is a staple in the city of Philly cheesesteaks. And when you go into a stadium, you see the iconic ‘47 logo everywhere. I think we’re two similar companies that have been around for generations.”
Patrick Cassidy, the vice president of marketing at ’47, helped launch the search for a Philadelphia-based business to partner with. Cassidy, who was born in the city and grew up in Delaware County, felt a bit of pressure to pick the right one.
“We’re going into Philly, and I’m from Philly,” Cassidy recalled. “It’s important to me to get this right in a very real way. I’ve got plenty of cousins and aunts and uncles to answer to if I don’t do it right.”
The front of the T-shirt (left) and a black snapback hat from Sarcone’s collab with ’47.Courtesy of '47 Brand
Sarcone’s was eventually brought up as an option. To Cassidy, the partnership made perfect sense. Sarcone’s was opened in 1918 by Sarcone III’s great-great grandfather, an immigrant from Italy. Five generations later, the bakery is still family-owned. Similarly, Boston-based ‘47 was owned and operated by two families until it was sold to New Era in 2024.
“Sarcone’s, much like us, started as a family business,” Cassidy said. “Heart, history, heritage, a crazy attention to detail. The same amount of detail with how they make their bread, we’ve barely touched the ingredients in our headwear for almost eighty years.”
Sarcone III and the rest of his family are just as excited.
“We get to give something back to our existing customers,” he said. “But also we get a reach that we normally wouldn’t get because of how big [‘47 is], get a bump. And for all the people that are coming in for the All-Star Game, we’re going to be able to reach out to new customers and show them what we’re about as well.”
Guests who purchase an item from the ‘47 menu will not only receive a shirt and hat, but they’ll also be able to customize their new gear with a heat-press station on site. The MLB All-Star Game takes place Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park, with the Home Run Derby taking place one night earlier.
After a month of World Cup festivities, baseball is taking over Philadelphia for Major League Baseball All-Star Week. The biggest event — outside of the All-Star Game itself on Tuesday — will be Monday night’s Home Run Derby headlined by Phillies stars Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber — at Citizens Bank Park.
The derby begins at 8 p.m. and streams for the first time on Netflix. This year, instead of each batter having an unlimited amount of swings in a designated time period, participants will be capped at 20 attempts in the first round and 15 in the semifinals and final.
Eight hitters are slated to compete, and seven have signed on so far. On Friday, Schwarber made his decision to join his teammate Harper in the derby. Harper officially joined a day earlier on Thursday.
Here’s what you need to know about the eight participants:
Kyle Schwarber is competing in his third Home Run Derby.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Kyle Schwarber, Phillies
Home Run Derby appearances: Third
2026 power numbers: 32 home runs, .571 slugging percentage
What to know: Schwarber’ 32 homers lead baseball. Since joining the Phillies in 2022, he has the second-most home runs in that span (219). In 2018, as a member of the Cubs, he finished second in the Home Run Derby to future teammate Harper. In 2022, he lost in the final to Albert Pujols.
Bryce Harper last competed in the 2018 Home Run Derby.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Bryce Harper, Phillies
Home Run Derby appearances: Three
2026 power numbers: 20 home runs, .509 slugging percentage
What to know: In Harper’s second Home Run Derby in 2018, then wearing a Nationals uniform, he beat out future teammates Schwarber and Rhys Hoskins on his way to winning. He finished with 45 home runs. Harper has 12 seasons with at least 20 home runs, and is on pace to finish with the season with 397 for his career.
Junior Caminero almost became the youngest player to win the Derby last year.Tom E. Puskar
Junior Caminero, Rays
Home Run Derby appearances: Two
2026 power numbers: 26 home runs, .541 slugging percentage
What to know: At 22 years old, Caminero almost became the youngest player to win the Derby last year, losing out to Cal Raleigh in the finals. He hit 45 home runs last season and is tied for fourth in baseball with 26 in 2026.
Ben Rice, Yankees
Home Run Derby appearances: First
2026 power numbers: 26 home runs, .573 slugging percentage
What to know: The 27-year old Rice is leading the Yankees in home runs. He has 59 since being called up to the majors three seasons ago.
In June, Jac Caglianone hit nine home runs, tied for the second most in the American League in the month. Charlie Riedel
Jac Caglianone, Royals
Home Run Derby appearances: First
2026 power numbers: 14 home runs, .455 slugging percentage
What to know: Caglianone’s numbers may seem a bit underwhelming compared to his competition. However, the 23-year-old Royals right fielder is coming off a month in which he was one of the best power hitters in baseball. In June, Caglianone hit nine home runs, tied for the second most in the American League in the month.
Willson Contreras is on pace for a career high in home runs this season.Sue Ogrocki
Willson Contreras, Red Sox
Home Run Derby appearances: First
2026 power numbers: 20 home runs, .541 slugging percentage
What to know: Contreras, who is on pace for a career high in home runs this season, still has tremendous bat speed at age 34, ranking in the 96th percentile (77 mph). He will have his brother William, himself an All-Star as a catcher with the Brewers, there to support him.
Jordan Walker, Cardinals
Home Run Derby appearances: First
2026 power numbers: 21 home runs, .534 slugging percentage
What to know: Walker, also a first-time All-Star, is looking to become the first Cardinal to win the derby. After being demoted to triple-A last year, the 24-year-old Walker is having a breakout season after retooling his swing in the offseason. His 92.4 mph exit velocity when he makes contact is fifth-highest in the league.
Munetaka Murakami has 20 homers this season.Paul Beaty
Munetaka Murakami, White Sox
Home Run Derby appearances: First
2026 power numbers: 20 home runs, .560 slugging percentage
What to know: A strained hamstring kept the 26-year-old rookie on the injured list since May 30. At the time, only Schwarber had more than his 20 home runs. He returned to the White Sox lineup on Friday. His average exit velocity of 94.2 mph is in the 98th percentile of hitters.
For the Palestra’s 100th anniversary, Penn State is returning to the storied arena to face a Keystone State rival, Pittsburgh.
The matchup will be Nov. 8, and it’s the second straight season in which the programs have played at a neutral site — they faced off at the Giant Center in Hershey on Dec. 21, 2025. Penn State holds an 76-73 advantage all-time over Pitt.
This is also the fifth consecutive season in which the Nittany Lions will play at the Palestra.
— Penn State Men’s Basketball (@PennStateMBB) July 9, 2026
“Games like this are what college basketball is all about,” Penn State coach Mike Rhoades wrote in a release. “Great history, passionate fan bases, and high-level competition. The Palestra is one of the most iconic venues in college basketball, and the opportunity to celebrate its 100th anniversary while renewing an in-state rivalry for the 150th time makes this a special event for everyone connected to our program.
Pitt coach Jeff Capel added: “Every basketball player and coach in this country understands the significance of playing at the Palestra. It’s one of the great venues in the history of the sport, and to play Penn State there in its 100th Anniversary year is a truly unique opportunity. Our players will be walking into a building with a century of history behind it, and after the atmosphere we saw in Hershey last year, I can’t wait to see the energy our fans bring to a place like the Palestra.”
The matchup is the second major addition to the Palestra’s 100th anniversary slate announced this week. On Tuesday, Penn announced that its annual Cathedral Classic will expand from four to five teams, ditching its round-robin format. The event, which is Nov. 27-28, will feature host Penn, La Salle, Bucknell, Buffalo, and Towson.
Penn announced in January that the Palestra’s anniversary celebration will begin in late August.
When Eastern Regional’s track and field coach Mike Tangeman is asked about star senior runner Natalie Dumas, he will not call attention to the more than 20 program records she’s broken. Instead, he will mention that she does not own any of the program’s freshman records.
Before becoming one of the most accomplished runners in New Jersey history, Dumas first got involved with the sport as a freshman to bond with her sister, Kadence, who was then a senior.
As a junior, at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions, Natalie became the first girl in state history to place first in three events — the 400 meters, 400-meter hurdles, and 800 meters. A few weeks later, she placed first in the same three events at the New Balance Nationals held at Penn’s Franklin Field. Her accomplishment at both meets made Dumas a prominent name in national track circles and won the attention of the University of Arkansas, where she will be running next year.
This past year was no different. At June’s Meet of Champions in Pennsauken, Dumas placed first again in three events to cap her outdoor scholastic season. She clocked in at 57.04 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles, 52.14 in the 400 meter, and 2 minutes, 03.46 seconds in the 800 meter.
“With track, you have to trust the process because you work up into becoming better time wise,” Dumas said. “Obviously, you’re really out of shape at the beginning, and then you get better and better.
“At the end of the day I’m not afraid to lose.”
A ‘minor celebrity’
Last month, Dumas flew to Eugene, Ore., to compete in the USATF U20s and the Nike Nationals. To combat potential jetlag and the difference in climate, she arrived on the West Coast a few days before she was slated to race at University of Oregon’s Hayward Field.
In the U20s, she won a spot on the U.S. World team after a first-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles, running a season-best 56.13. The next day, she returned to the same track to compete in the 400-meter dash at the Nike Nationals and placed first at 52.21 to claim her eighth national title.
“It was a lot of races,” Dumas said. “But honestly, I didn’t even mind racing that much.”
Dumas’ participation in the Nike Nationals was possible because of the event’s intentional geography and calendar proximity to the U20s. It was also a sign of the ever-evolving nature of high school sports. Dumas is one of 20 female high school track and field athletes signed to Nike Elite. The program, which includes a coveted name, image, and likeness deal with the world’s largest supplier of athletic attire, has increased Dumas’ national appeal. It has also improved her performance on the track.
Natalie Dumas started running track as a freshman at Eastern Regional.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
The partnership offers support from Nike’s team of trainers. Since signing with the company, Dumas has revamped her strength training regimen in line with Nike’s guidance and learned more about injury management. Through the program, she also connected with other Nike athletes and Nike Elite’s personal training staff.
“It’s just great overall,” Dumas said. “I feel like high school athletes tend to be more on the lazy side than everyone else, because they kind of don’t have anyone like kicking their butt into gear.”
“Sometimes being called out is embarrassing. [The Nike trainers] will say something like, ‘Hey, you didn’t finish this last set, go do it.’ But they definitely stay on top of you. … They all help us push to be our greatest.”
NIL is not the only change in Dumas’ life. After coming onto the national scene last year, Dumas’ popularity in the track world skyrocketed. The 17-year old currently has nearly 14,000 followers on Instagram.
“Coming into this year, she was a minor celebrity,” Tangeman said. “Dealing with all the attention and everyone knowing her. Other athletes from other schools saying hi to her, wanting to take pictures at meets and just all that other stuff. It was definitely a lot different.”
Dumas had to get used to the constant noise around her — which she admits has been “hard to handle” at times.
“At the end of the day, you shouldn’t worry about making sure everyone’s responded to and everyone’s answered to,” Dumas said. “If they’re closest to you and if they know you, they’ll kind of understand. [They will] be like, ‘Well, I know Natalie. I know the type of person she is, and she wouldn’t do that to me.’ It’s kind of just hard to keep up with it.”
‘Shape me into a better runner’
As one of the top talents in the country, Dumas had her pick of the upper-echelon of college programs, which was a blessing and a curse.
“It’s kind of like when you go to a restaurant and there’s a huge menu,” said Tangeman, laughing.
Dumas spent most of this past year scheduling and taking recruitment visits. In order to woo her, she said several programs pulled out all the stops. One treated her to an outing at Topgolf. Another pitched their school to her on a boat. Ultimately, it was the last school she visited that won her over.
Natalie Dumas runs the 400 meters, 800 meters, and 400-meter hurdles.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
“[Arkansas] just set my goals in front of me,” Dumas recalled. “They said, ‘These are your goals, this is what you want to do. If that’s what you want to do, we will make an attempt to reach them.’
Arkansas has won three NCAA women’s outdoor track and field team titles since 2015, and another five in indoor track over that span.
“There’s not too much to be said about Arkansas. You look at the program, you look at the athletes that they have produced, and you see what they have done. I put my trust in them. I’m not afraid to run the workouts that they’re running, lift the workouts that they’re lifting. I’m not afraid to go out there and try something new, and I’m definitely excited for them to kind of just shape me into a better runner.”
While Dumas is looking forward to running at one of the best collegiate programs in the country, she is also mourning the end of her high school career. She graduated last month, cutting her Nike Nationals appearance a day early to make the ceremony. In the weeks since, she has found it “weird” to have a summer away from the track where she first learned to run.
“She brought a lot of positive attention our way,” Tangeman said. “Going forward, the kids coming up throughout our school system will say, ‘Hey, you know this Natalie Dumas? She ran track and field at Eastern, maybe that’s something I want to do too.’”
Major League Baseball is pulling out all the stops for next week’s All-Star Game — including employing some of Philadelphia’s own to get the party started.
On Tuesday, MLB announced the slate of entertainment for its midsummer classic at Citizens Bank Park (July 14, 8 p.m., Fox29). Philly native and “Godmother of Soul” Patti LaBelle will perform the national anthem, while EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson is slated to sing “America the Beautiful.” Philadelphia R&B group Boyz II Men and Top Gun: Maverick star Miles Teller, a Downingtown native, also headline the game’s entertainers.
“As we gather to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, Philadelphia is the perfect stage to bring this milestone to life,” MLB chief marketing officer Uzma Rawn Dowler said in a statement. “… This lineup captures the unique energy of the city while honoring how baseball has been a part of the American spirit for 250 years.”
The 2026 All-Star Game entertainment lineup has been announced 🔥
-Jennifer Hudson to perform "America the Beautiful" -Philadelphia's Patti LaBelle to sing national anthem -Pennsylvania natives Miles Teller and Boyz II Men to participate in All-Star presentation features pic.twitter.com/NMdIgBGFpc
LaBelle will be accompanied by the Military District of Washington Joint Chorus and West Point Band for her rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” LaBelle, 82, was born in Southwest Philadelphia, attended Bartram High School, and resides in Villanova. In 2019, the city honored the two-time Grammy winner by renaming a block of Broad Street between Spruce and Locust “Patti LaBelle Way.”
“I’m a Philadelphia girl,” LaBalle told The Inquirer in February. “It’s laid back, comfortable. … How I like it.”
Hudson also will have some backup and will perform “America the Beautiful” alongside the Philly Pops and the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. In 2022, Hudson, then 40, became the third-youngest person, and youngest woman, to have won each of entertainment’s biggest awards — an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. The Chicago native is the only All-Star performer who does not boast direct Philadelphia ties, but she is no stranger to playing in the city — just last month, her tour with Josh Groban stopped at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Most notably, the “Spotlight” singer headlined the Wawa Welcome America Festival in 2019.
It is unclear if Boyz II Men will be diving into its extensive discography during its performance. After the fifth inning, the group will provide the soundtrack to the league’s Stand Up To Cancer placard moment — in which fans will hold up signs for their loved ones who have been affected by cancer. MLB first started the tradition in Philadelphia during the 2009 World Series.
Miles Teller, the only nonmusician on the list, will be lending his voice to a “stirring tribute of baseball’s impact on American life,” according to MLB. The task is fitting for the actor, who has made his Phillies fandom known over the years. During the 2022 World Series, in which the Phillies fell to the Houston Astros in six games, Teller was a mainstay at Citizens Bank Park. He told The Inquirer he had befriended Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola and then-first baseman Rhys Hoskins. The Whiplash actor even texts with play-by-play announcer Tom McCarthy.
“It’s a pretty big year,” Teller said in 2022. “Top Gun. Also, I turned 35, which feels like a number. [I] hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time. And the Phillies, man. I’ve always lived and died with the Phillies, dude. That’s always been the most important thing to me.”
