All Alex McFarlane knew, as he made the jog from the center field bullpen, was that he was due to face a lefty.
As he’d warmed up for his major league debut on Wednesday, the 25-year-old hadn’t been paying close attention to where the Dodgers were in their order. The game was essentially out of reach already, with the Phillies trailing by five runs in the ninth inning. McFarlane had been more concerned with steadying his breathing, now that the moment he’d waited for had finally arrived.
But when he made it to the mound and realized who he’d be facing, McFarlane had to take a few more deep breaths.
“It turned out to be that lefty,” McFarlane said.
Retiring Shohei Ohtani was Alex McFarlane’s first major league task. Chris Szagola
As in four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani. Any left-handed batter would be a challenging first at-bat for the rookie righty, but the two-way Dodgers superstar, with a .940 OPS against right-handers, was a different beast entirely.
“Try not to let the game speed up, slow everything down, and just try to get the ball over the plate, just like a normal hitter,” McFarlane said. “Obviously Ohtani’s Ohtani, but I’m just trying to get the ball over the plate. Trust my stuff.”
Ohtani has not had recent success at the plate against the Phillies. Citizens Bank Park remains one of two active major league ballparks he has yet to homer in during either the regular season or postseason. He was 1-for-12 against the Phillies this week, with that one hit being a single.
Ohtani had been aggressive early in counts all night Wednesday and he attacked McFarlane no differently, pouncing on a first-pitch 100.3 mph fastball that McFarlane dotted on the bottom inside corner of the strike zone. Ohtani hit it well, but it just stayed in the ballpark for a fly out, the first major league out of McFarlane’s career.
“It was a high fly ball, but had no idea what the result would be,” McFarlane said. “Just took it as it was. Didn’t think it was gonna get out, but first time on this field, you never know what the ball flight looks like.”
McFarlane had been called up from double-A Reading earlier in the week as a reinforcement for a Phillies bullpen that has been a revolving door of struggles and injuries. It marks his second stint with the Phillies, after previously being called up on April 24 and then being sent back the next day without appearing in a game.
This time, the Phillies wanted to see what he could do — if he could be a potential internal solution for a bullpen unit that has been searching for answers for most of the year.
His triple-digit fastball velocity and his slider have made McFarlane the Phillies’ No. 14 overall prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. In 35 innings in double A this year, he has a 2.06 ERA and 47 strikeouts.
Alex McFarlane calmed his nerves after taking the mound against the Dodgers and had success against challenging hitters. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Walks have been somewhat of an issue — he has a 12.7% walk rate — but in his outing on Wednesday, McFarlane was able to get the Dodgers to chase.
Once Ohtani was retired, he still had the rest of the top of the Dodgers order to contend with. Andy Pages bit on a sinker below the zone to ground out.
“Really exciting to face those guys, especially my first debut. Get some good experience in there and take it on to the next outing,” McFarlane said.
Freddie Freeman singled on a fastball inside, but McFarlane rebounded with a groundout of Max Muncy to end the top of the ninth. He wasn’t even fazed by a mid-inning catcher change, as Rafael Marchán had to be taken out during Pages’ at-bat due to left knee pain, with J.T. Realmuto coming off the bench. Marchán was scheduled to undergo further imaging on Thursday.
“Tough spot for him, too,” said interim manager Don Mattingly. “He’s coming in at Ohtani and has to run through the lefties. Not something we want to do, but in that game, it felt like the right time to get him in and get him at least out on the mound one time.”
Alex McFarlane was elevated to the big leagues after emerging as one of the Phillies’ top prospects. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
McFarlane had his mother and girlfriend in the stands to witness his debut. He doesn’t know how long he’ll remain in the majors, and if he’ll stay up long enough to get another opportunity.
But every chance he gets, McFarlane, who was born in St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, will take pride in representing his home on the biggest stage.
By walking to the mound on Wednesday, he officially became the 16th player from the Virgin Islands to make it to the major leagues. He has the words “VI STRONG” written on his left forearm as a reminder.
“Just understanding where I came from,” he said. “It’s a long journey, and extremely grateful for the opportunity to be here today to represent them.”
Copper, a North Philly native and Phoenix Mercury guard, was named as a replacement player by WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert just days before the league’s All-Star Weekend tips off in Chicago.
Copper will replace the injured Kelsey Plum on “Team Coop.” Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon, the All-Star general managers, drafted players to “Team Coop” and “Team Spoon,” while Becky Hammon (Las Vegas Aces) and La Salle alumna Cheryl Reeve (Minnesota Lynx) will coach the teams. The All-Star Game is Saturday (8:30 p.m., 6abc).
This is Copper’s fifth All-Star nod after getting named to the game in four consecutive seasons (2021 to 2024). She’s leading the Mercury in scoring at 20.5 points per game — which is good for seventh in the league and the second-most of her career —along with 3.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists. Over her 11-year career, which includes seven seasons with the Chicago Sky, she’s averaging 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists.
Copper rose to WNBA stardom in 2021 with the Sky as she led them to their lone WNBA title and was named Finals MVP. She was traded to Phoenix in 2024 and is now in her third season in the desert.
This past offseason, the former Prep Charter and Rutgers standout had the opportunity to show off in the place it all began when three-on-three league Unrivaled came to Philadelphia for its first tour stop.
“There’s so many people that just kind of stepped into my life,” Copper said in January as she led her teammates around her hometown, “and did stuff for me, literally not looking for anything in return. … For them to see me now, like I really made it because of y’all. That’s tough. That’s fire.
“Everybody literally planted little seeds for me to be who I am today. That’s why it’s so special.”
Copper wasn’t the only star with local ties to get a nod on Tuesday. Wilmington native Elena Delle Donne will participate in the Shooting Stars competition (8 p.m. Friday, ESPN), representing the Washington Mystics.
In the timed shooting competition, in which players representing Washington, Minnesota, Seattle, and Dallas/Detroit, have 70 seconds to score as many points as possible from spots around the court, WNBA legends will be paired with a current player and a high schooler from the Nike EYBL circuit.
Delle Donne, a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, is paired with current Mystics center Shakira Austin and could be joined by another local as Wilmington’s Jezelle “GG” Banks and Philly’s Ryan Carter are among the EYBL players. Banks, who’s attending the St. James Performance Academy in Washington, D.C., is the No. 4 player in ESPN’s Class of 2027 rankings, while Carter, a rising senior at Friends’ Central, is the No. 12 player in ESPN’s rankings.
When Kai Wagner was introduced in the Union’s starting lineup on Wednesday, the roar was so loud that it drowned out public address announcer Kevin Casey. When Quinn Sullivan jogged up the sideline to finally return to the field in the second half, the buzz in the stands was real and wholesome.
But neither of them ended up as the biggest name in the 3-1 win over Red Bull New York, just the Union’s second league win of the season (2-10-4, 10 points). It wasn’t even interim manager Ryan Richter, who earned a victory in his debut on the first-team bench in the first game back from the MLS World Cup break.
Neil Pierre, the prized centerback prospect, played 34 minutes as a second-half substitute after Japhet Sery Larsen felt some hamstring tightness, and finally showed he’s ready for the big leagues.
It was only Pierre’s second game with the first team. His first was when he was thrown to the lions in last year’s infamous 7-0 blowout loss in Vancouver. This time, he was at home and got to take the field in the 56th minute with the game tied 1-1. Mere seconds later, he leapt at a Wagner corner kick service to slam in a header that put the Union ahead.
“I kind of knew when Kai came back, I told him we’re going to score a lot of goals, we’re going to have a lot of moments,” Pierre said. “And then as soon as I ran up to the ball, I was like, there’s no way. My eyes got a little big — luckily, I scored it.”
But between the game’s momentum and the Union’s fragile psyche, it was far from certain the lead would hold. So it mattered that while his defensive stats totaled just two clearances and one recovery, he helped see out the win.
“I knew, even if I started or came in the game, the team’s confidence in me to play,” Pierre said, reflecting the endorsements Richter and sporting director Jon Scheer have given him lately.
“I’ve come up through the academy, so it’s kind of a dream coming to these games,” Pierre said. “To come on the pitch was obviously an honor, and then to score was like, wow, what a dream.”
Perhaps if someone else had finished that play, Wagner’s return would be the feature item here. But Pierre’s arrival has been anticipated for some time, and this felt like it, even as he also put an almost-comical miss off the crossbar from right underneath it. (Asked how many teammates gave him grief for that, Pierre cracked a smile and said, “Every single one.”)
“I think he made another step forward,” Wagner said. “I think it really helped him to grow as a person, as a player, in Europe a little bit, even as it was probably a lower league. But I think we know that we can throw him in now. Today was a good test for him, a good start, solid start for him.”
At just 18 years old, Pierre has a wide range of tools on his 6-foot-7 frame, including sublime passing skill for a centerback. But as he rose through the Union’s academy and reserve squad, the key question was how he’d handle the physicality of the top flight.
New York didn’t have the kind of old brute who will really stick an elbow in your chest with a veteran’s savvy. But Pierre will face that eventually.
It’s the main reason the Union sent him on a six-month loan to Danish club Lyngby, in which the Union have an ownership stake. Even though Lyngby played in the second tier last season, it’s still a more physical circuit than MLS Next Pro, and Pierre helped the club earn promotion before returning to Chester.
There was also the mental side of going somewhere else for the first time, after a childhood in Harrisburg and now having his family in Media.
“I noticed a lot, especially me growing up, finally being by myself away from home for six months,” Pierre said. “I think it made me really sit with myself and think about certain things I wouldn’t think about being home. And obviously, as a player, it made me more mature on the ball.”
The cherry on top Wednesday was seeing Pierre join a game with many intriguing young Americans on the field. The matchup was hyped as one U.S. national team fans could watch to see players who might contend for the 2030 World Cup squad, and it delivered: Cavan and Quinn Sullivan, Frankie Westfield, Pierre, and New York’s Julian Hall, Adri Mehmeti, and Justin Che.
“I think it kind of showed where MLS is going,” Pierre said. “Trusting the players and showing that yeah, it doesn’t matter your age. I think if you come through the programs and trust the process, you’ll end up playing in MLS and hopefully then going to Europe or whatever it is.”
Quinn Sullivan received a lengthy ovation as he entered for his 2026 debut, just short of 10 months after he tore his ACL. pic.twitter.com/6vxEdg1w7z
When will Pierre play next? It depends in part on how bad Larsen’s hamstring tweak is, with the Seattle Sounders coming to Subaru Park on Saturday (7:30 p.m., Apple TV). Then there’s an Aug. 1 home game against Atlanta United.
An interesting test could come in next month’s Leagues Cup games. Though the tournament understandably still isn’t of much interest to fans, the Union have group stage home games against three Mexican clubs — including former Union striker Julián Carranza’s Necaxa. Those will be interesting tactical tests for Pierre.
For now, it’s a good step that he looked the part in this game. With Olwethu Makhanya away for personal reasons amid transfer rumors, if Larsen is out for any extended time there’s now some proof that Pierre can step in.
“I believe in him,” said Richter, who had his own rise from coaching in the Union’s academy to the reserves to now. “I’ve worked with him since he was 11 years old, and I have seen him progress in every stage of this. I’ve seen him be successful as an academy player, I’ve seen him be the defender of the year in MLS Next Pro, I watched his games when he went on loan and saw him be successful there and work and fight his way into the team there, and now it’s no surprise to see him come in and be ready for this next step.”
A Heat spokesperson told multiple outlets it was a mistake by the organization’s social media team, which prepared the livestream in the event James chose to return to Miami. That is believable, considering that, since July 2, The Inquirer has had versions of breaking news stories ready for whenever James chooses the 76ers or another team.
That firework broke up the LeBron-related nothingness of recent days.
The all-time great did not announce his new destination during multiple public appearances at Fanatics Fest in New York City late last week, even after some light coaxing by fellow NBA star and podcast guest Tyrese Haliburton. The rumblings that James’ announcement would come early this week — aka, after the World Cup final — were incorrect. And agent Rich Paul said on his Game Over podcast released Monday that James would not rush his decision.
“It’s his choice to make,” Paul said of James. “And when he makes the choice, he’ll make it.”
So we are now officially more than three weeks into the waiting game. Much longer than James’ nationally televised — and vilified — 2010 decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers to take his talents to South Beach (July 8). Or when he announced his triumphant return to Cleveland in a 2014 letter published in Sports Illustrated (July 11). Or when Paul’s agency, Klutch Sports, sent out a 2018 news release that James would sign with the Los Angeles Lakers (July 1).
LeBron James has not picked a free-agency destination after three weeks of contemplation. Charles Fox / Staff Photographer
It is not only holding up the Sixers, but much of the league.
James is no longer a perennial MVP contender, but still an All-Star-caliber player at age 41, and essentially has halted the second wave of free agency. Teams that still believe they are in contention to land James — which also are desirable options for other veterans and role players looking to win — are holding a roster spot for him. When James makes his pick, the teams that do not land him will move on to players still in limbo, which includes the likes of DeMar DeRozan and Jonathan Kuminga.
That Paul has said money is not a factor for James — aka, that he will take a minimum contract — eliminates the urgency during the early free-agency flurry, when salary cap space and players are at a premium.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver even acknowledged last week that James’ decision is delaying the creation of the 2026-27 NBA schedule — which typically is released in mid-August — because his longstanding popularity demands that his team play in premier television matchups.
August also is when a mostly around-the-clock league goes on hiatus until Labor Day, when players reconvene at their team facilities for informal workouts before training camps begin in late September.
That period is when staffers — from front-facing executives and coaches, to important behind-the-scenes figures — plan vacations following months of nontraditional work schedules that require extensive travel and consistent nights and weekends. New Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey told The Inquirer at Las Vegas Summer League earlier this month that he has barely seen his four children since taking this job and that his family still needs to find a home in the Philly area. Some might scoff at feeling empathy toward the wealthy in high-profile NBA jobs, but these still are people.
“I just need a break,” said Gansey, whose whirlwind start with the Sixers also included the blockbuster trade for All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown. “I think we all do, just because [this offseason has] been so much.”
The most cynical also could say that James is doing all of this for content for Paul’s podcast or for sheer attention after a somewhat awkward end to his Lakers tenure once the team shockingly acquired Luka Dončić in February 2025 and signed Austin Reaves to a four-year, $185 million maximum contract. This saga surely will be a prominent component of a James documentary that reportedly has been in the works for years. It is evidence of the power James possesses as a cultural icon and stellar player, even entering his league-record 24th season.
Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey has selected first-round draft pick Labaron Philon Jr., and traded for All-Star Jaylen Brown in his first summer in Philly. Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer
Yet Gansey said he understood the gravity of James’ choice. This is a basketball legend determining his (likely) final on-court act.
“I have all the respect in the world for him, and he’s smart as heck,” said Gansey, a fellow Ohioan who previously worked his way up the Cavaliers’ front office. “He’s going to figure it out and talk to his family. … Whatever he decides, I know he’s going to make the right decision.”
So the Sixers — and the rest of the NBA — will continue to wait.
LeBron James has spent two decades turning every move into a major event. This time, he’s not the only one who stands to get paid.
More than $245 million in trading volume tied to where James will play next has accumulated on prediction markets, including more than $200 million alone on Kalshi. The Miami Heat is the favorite, followed by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers.
The enormous sum is striking not simply because so much money is riding on one athlete’s choice. James and a small circle of family members, agents and team executives will determine the outcome, while a larger group of assistants, communications employees, contractors, reporters and others could learn it before the public.
That is precisely the sort of market the NBA has told federal regulators should not exist.
“Markets relating to officiating, injuries, league disciplinary actions, player or team transactions, or fan actions should be prohibited,” Dan Spillane, the NBA’s executive vice president and assistant general counsel, wrote in an April letter to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the federal agency that regulates derivatives, including prediction markets. “These markets are readily susceptible to manipulation and/or improper use of confidential information and have a negative effect on perceived game and league integrity.”
Prediction markets allow users to buy and sell contracts tied to real-world events, with prices generally reflecting the market’s estimate of an outcome’s likelihood. A contract trading at 50 cents typically pays $1 if the event occurs and nothing if it does not. Trading volume measures the total value of the contracts bought and sold, not the amount committed by users.
Prediction markets offer contracts on nearly anything, but sports have become one of their biggest draws, inviting comparisons to the legal sports-betting industry that has exploded since 2018 and stirred controversy along the way.
The companies resist the sportsbook label, describing their products as federally regulated event contracts and their customers as traders, not bettors. But to consumers, the basic proposition can look much the same: Put money behind a predicted outcome and profit if it occurs. The distinction is blurry enough that FanDuel and DraftKings now advertise during sporting events that their own prediction markets are available in California and Texas — two enormous states where conventional sports betting remains illegal but prediction-market trading is permitted.
The sudden ascent of prediction markets has lawmakers, courts and regulators scrambling to determine whether sports contracts are financial products or just another form of gambling. Meanwhile, the industry’s popularity is soaring, especially among sports fans. Monthly trading volume on Kalshi and Polymarket, its two largest platforms, reached nearly $24 billion as of April, according to a data analysis by the Pew Research Center, which found that sports traders are more active and spend more than those trading on any other single subject, including cryptocurrency and politics.
James is not the first athlete whose free agency has become tradable. But his prolonged decision has pushed the practice into a new frontier, turning a private personnel choice into a market with the scale and volatility more commonly associated with a presidential election or championship game.
Nothing else in sports free agency has come close. On Kalshi, a market involving Kawhi Leonard attracted about $760,000 in trading volume, while one involving Bronny James, LeBron’s son, generated $395,000. Markets involving baseball outfielder Kyle Tucker and NFL edge rusher Jaelan Phillips drew $157,000 and $46,000, respectively.
And in James’s situation, his destination is merely the main event.
Traders can also put money on whether he will announce his decision before Sunday; which conference he will join; whether his next contract will be worth more than $12.5 million; and even who will break the news of his landing spot: James, his agent, NBA Insider Shams Charania of ESPN or perhaps a member of James’s family.
After lamenting sports betting for decades, professional sports leagues have spent the past decade navigating their evolving relationship with sportsbook gambling, striking lucrative sponsorship and data agreements while trying to prevent players, coaches and other insiders from wagering on their sports.
Their relationship with prediction markets is developing unevenly. The NBA and NFL have sportsbook partners but no prediction-market partners. Major League Baseball has partnered with Polymarket, while the NHL has agreements with Polymarket and Kalshi.
Those relationships do not necessarily grant leagues veto power over the contracts or exchange offers. But they provide a direct channel to raise integrity concerns and press those exchanges not to list subjects considered especially vulnerable to manipulation.
“By engaging in this community, we are able to work together to create clear boundaries with the goal of mitigating risk while providing fan engagement opportunities,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a March statement.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said this spring that the league had maintained an open line of communication with Kalshi and Polymarket and was not necessarily opposed to a licensing or data agreement.
“We’re watching closely the uptick in the amount of sports activity that’s happening on those platforms,” Silver said. “We aren’t necessarily averse to entering into licensing deals with them. But again, the league’s number one role is to ensure the integrity of the competition.”
The NBA has asked the CFTC to prohibit markets involving player transactions, injuries, officiating and disciplinary decisions. The league also urged regulators to require exchanges to consult leagues before introducing new sports contracts, share trading information with league investigators and block athletes and other prohibited insiders from participating.
While traditional sportsbooks are largely barred by state regulators from taking bets on James’s free agency, prediction markets face no such restrictions. The CFTC requires exchanges to police cheating and manipulation but generally lets them launch new contracts after effectively vouching that the offerings comply with federal rules. The agency can later review, challenge or halt them.
In guidance issued in March, the CFTC said sports contracts are generally less susceptible to manipulation when their outcomes depend on the combined performance of many participants over an extended competition. It highlighted greater concerns when the result rests on the actions of one person or a small group — the defining feature of a free-agent decision.
Carl Kennedy, an attorney at Katten Muchin Rosenman who specializes in financial markets, told a House Agriculture subcommittee Tuesday that “the commission has been signaling” skepticism toward contracts whose outcomes can be influenced by a single person. The CFTC’s March advisory warned of heightened manipulation risks when a contract turns on the actions of one individual or a small group, and a proposed rule issued in June went further.
Kalshi chief executive Tarek Mansour has argued that prediction exchanges already possess safeguards comparable to traditional financial markets.
“As a regulated financial market by the CFTC, we have the same rules as the Nasdaq and the NYSE and we have the same mechanism of enforcement,” Mansour said earlier this year on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”
Yet when asked during the same appearance to consider who should be allowed to trade with advance knowledge of an event, Mansour articulated the ambiguity facing the industry.
“What is information, and what is insider information?” he said.
That ambiguity is not merely theoretical. Federal prosecutors charged an active-duty Army soldier with using classified information about a U.S. operation involving Venezuela to profit on Polymarket. Kalshi disciplined a MrBeast editor who traded on markets involving videos before they were released. And a White House teleprompter operator was placed on leave amid allegations that he used advance access to President Donald Trump’s prepared remarks to trade on which words the president would say.
Polymarket recently partnered with Chainalysis, a blockchain analytics company, to monitor trading activity and flag patterns that might indicate someone was acting on nonpublic information. But James’s free agency also illustrates a harder problem: Market-moving information can surface through an ordinary mistake, without any suspicious trade at all.
On Tuesday night, the Miami Heat posted a link on its YouTube channel to a scheduled live stream titled “LeBron James Introductory Press Conference.” The link was subsequently deleted, and a team spokesperson said the video had been produced preemptively in case James signed with Miami and was mistakenly made public.
Miami’s implied probability on Kalshi quickly rose from about 37 percent to 47 percent. By Wednesday afternoon, Miami was trading at roughly a 50 percent probability, compared with 27 percent for Cleveland, with similar prices on other platforms.
You’ve spent the last month engrossed in 104 soccer matches — and now that Spain beat Argentina to win their second ever World Cup, you’re wondering what comes next.
Soccer is a true global sport, so there are many options if you want to keep watching. Nearly every country on the planet has its own league to follow, including the U.S., with the Philadelphia Union right on your doorstep.
But the Union have the worst record in MLS, so we’ll forgive you for seeking a secondary option, and there’s no better place to start than the English Premier League — not only is it the most popular competition, but the games will be easy to find on American television when the upcoming season kicks off on Aug. 21.
Before you tune in, however, we recommend picking a team to support, which can be tough without geography to decide for you — unless you live in Chester County, which features its own Birmingham (Aston Villa), Coventry, and Nottingham. Answer these six questions and we’ll make it a little easier for you by recommending a team based on your results.
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Which Philly sports team is your favorite?
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Recommended team
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Arsenal
Why you should support them
If you’re looking for a team that plays smart and can win it all.
What to expect
Last season, under the coaching of Mikel Arteta, Arsenal won the Premier League title for the first time in two decades. Their style of play heavily relied on set pieces and smart play, rather than trying to be entertaining. However, it’s tough to argue with the results.
Where to watch
Arsenal Philadelphia watch games at both Misconduct Tavern locations in Center City.
Recommended team
Alternative team
Aston Villa
Why you should support them
If you’re looking for a sensible club on the come up.
What to expect
Aston Villa has bounced back from relegation in 2016 to become an under-the-radar, sensibly-run club. Under manager Unai Emery, the Birmingham-based club has finished sixth or higher in each of the last three seasons. As a result of this high league finish, the Villans will also play the best clubs from Europe in the continent’s most prestigious competition, the Champions League.
Recommended team
Alternative team
Bournemouth
Why you should support them
If you’re looking for a small club punching above its weight.
What to expect
By any metric, Bournemouth shouldn’t be a Premier League side that finishes sixth, but last season, that’s exactly what happened. It was such a surprise that the coach who masterminded it all, Andoni Iraola, was poached by Liverpool. This leaves doubts whether Bournemouth can sustain the highs of last season with a new manager and additional weeknight football in Europa League. Fans of the club will rightly claim this isn’t the first time they’ve faced doubts though.
Recommended team
Alternative team
Brentford
Why you should support them
If you’re looking for a team designed in a lab.
What to expect
Brentford successfully implemented a data-led transfer policy to make it to the top flight of English football. Despite the Premier League's lack of a salary cap (similar to Major League Baseball), a Moneyball approach can be even tougher in soccer. But the Bees are proving that theory wrong — this season will be their sixth since their promotion in 2021.
Recommended team
Alternative team
Brighton & Hove Albion
Why you should support them
If you’re looking for every fan to be jealous of your club.
What to expect
It wasn’t that long ago that the Seagulls didn’t even have a stadium to play in. Since then, they’ve been transformed into the envy of all sides. They’re incredibly well-run, use a data-led approach to transfers, and Fabian Hürzeler is the youngest coach in Premier League history at 31.
If you’re looking to get in at the start of an exciting rebuild.
What to expect
Chelsea saw a historic run of trophies under former owner Roman Abramovic, who pumped a lot of money into the club. However, under new American ownership, fans are watching Todd Boehly learn on the job. It’s been a rollercoaster ride since Boehly took over in 2022, with a FIFA Club World Cup win but also several changes of coaches and direction. Fans of the West London club are hoping for a steadier season after hiring highly-rated manager Xabi Alonso.
Where to watch
The Philly Blues are scheduled to watch matches at Cavanaugh’s Rittenhouse.
Recommended team
Alternative team
Crystal Palace
Why you should support them
If you’re looking for some E-A-G-L-E-S … EAGLES.
What to expect
Crystal Palace thrives on bringing through new talent from its youth academy and the lower leagues. World Cup talents like Michael Olise, Marc Guéhi, and Eberechi Eze all went on to join bigger clubs after first showcasing their talents at Selhurst Park, which may look familiar to Ted Lasso fans, who will recognize it as the home of fictional club A.F.C. Richmond. If a Philadelphian really wants a reason to root for them, their nickname is the Eagles — and they’re partially owned by Sixers managing partner Josh Harris.
It wasn’t long ago that Coventry City was amidst a financial crisis – in the fourth-tier of English football and without a stadium. In 2026, managed by former England and Chelsea legend Frank Lampard, the club returns to the Premier League for the first time since 2001. Their aim will be to avoid the bottom three spots in the league — and relegation back to the second-tier as a result. U.S. men’s national team forward Haji Wright and Co. will fight to make sure they remain in the Premier League for another season.
Recommended team
Alternative team
Everton
Why you should support them
If you’re looking for a club with history.
What to expect
Everton has competed in England’s top league a record 119 times, winning it nine times. However, the club’s last title was at the tail end of the 1980s and it has finished near the bottom-half of the league each of the last five years. Last season, the Toffees looked doomed to finish in the bottom half and potentially face relegation to the second league. However, club legend David Moyes returned to manage, 12 years after his initial stint coaching the side, and pulled them back from the brink.
Fulham is a London-based club that nearly every fan likes because of their small stadium on the banks of the River Thames that houses a cottage built in 1780. There’s also a tiny part where other fans don’t see Fulham as a threat, but last season’s mid-table finish proves they have the ability to compete in the Premier League — not to mention the team features American Antonee Robinson, who starts regularly.
If you’re looking for a season where every point matters.
What to expect
A few seasons ago, the Tigers were nearly relegated to the third-tier of English football. Last season they defied expectations under coach Sergej Jakirović by finishing sixth in the EFL Championship and securing a Premier League berth after winning a playoff. That step up to the top-tier can be tough, but they’ll look to continue shocking critics by avoiding finishing in the last three places and facing relegation back down.
Recommended team
Alternative team
Ipswich Town
Why you should support them
If you’re looking for the unexpected.
What to expect
Ipswich, also known as The Tractor Boys, are tough to nail down. A few years ago they returned to the Premier League after a dominant season in the English second division. However, it didn’t go to plan and they were immediately relegated. Back for a second time in three years, Ipswich will be hoping for an improvement — but they know a tough season is ahead of them.
If you’re looking for a club on the rise with some local talent.
What to expect
Leeds United fell from grace in the 2000s as bets on big signings with the hope of Champions League qualification (and bigger prize money for its involvement) didn’t pay off. The following financial crisis saw Leeds relegated to the third-tier, a low for the Yorkshire club. The last decade has seen the club stabilize and return to the Premier League, where fans will feel they belong. Former Philadelphia Union midfielder and South Jersey native Brenden Aaronson will be hoping to guide the club to another steady mid-table finish this season.
If you’re looking for an exciting club with a history.
What to expect
Liverpool is historically one of the biggest clubs in England, tied with Manchester United for the most league titles (20). The most recent came a few seasons ago under Dutch coach Arne Slot. However, last year didn’t go to plan and Slot was relieved of his duties. He’ll be replaced by up-and-coming coach Andoni Iraola, who most recently brought his brand of exciting football to Bournemouth. Iraola’s first year at Anfield won’t be easy; he has to manage a squad in transition after the departure of Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah.
Where to watch
Liverpool fans meet at Cavanaugh’s Headhouse for watch parties.
Recommended team
Alternative team
Manchester City
Why you should support them
If you’re looking to watch superstar players.
What to expect
Recent investment from Abu Dhabi has transformed them from the “noisy neighbors” of Manchester United into a powerhouse. Former manager Pep Guardiola won six titles in ten years, making him one of the most successful managers in Premier League history. For the first time in a decade, however, the Citizens face uncertainty under new manager Enzo Maresca. Luckily for Maresca, he has a well assembled squad — including World Cup stars like Norway’s Erling Haaland and Spain’s Rodri — with which to work.
If you’re looking for a side with history and unpredictability.
What to expect
The Red Devils have struggled to compete at the top since legendary manager Sir Alex Ferugson left over a decade ago. Since, Manchester United has banked on its historical name to attract big players to Old Trafford with mixed results. Last season saw the club recruit smartly in the transfer market and finish third. This season, it could easily kick on and challenge for the title — or crumble and finish mid-table.
Newcastle’s new owner — the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund — was expected to make them title challengers. However, this season sees the Toon Army facing an uncertain future after key players like Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali have been sold to league rivals. The question will be whether they can wisely invest that money back into the squad.
Where to watch
Toon Army Philly meet for watch parties at Kite & Key, near the central library.
Recommended team
Alternative team
Nottingham Forest
Why you should support them
If you’re looking for a scrappy club that always keeps things interesting.
What to expect
The unexpected. Nottingham Forest has spent four seasons back in the top flight of English football — narrowly avoiding relegation in three of them, but finishing seventh in 2024-25. It’s a club with high ambitions but one that can make questionable decisions to achieve them.
If you’re looking for a club that defies expectations.
What to expect
Last season was Sunderland’s first back in the Premier League since 2017, and the expectations were a lengthy relegation scrap. Instead, the club from North England turned a lot of heads by finishing seventh and securing European competition involvement. Whether the extra games in Europe will stretch the squad too thin is a big question. However, a large portion of the squad — 11 players in all — should have an extra confidence boost after taking part in the World Cup. If you want to see Sunderland in person, they’ll be playing Wrexham AFC at Subaru Park in Chester on Aug. 2.
If you’re looking for a perennial underdog with a glimmer of hope.
What to expect
Anything. Tottenham Hotspur have gone from challenging for titles in the 2010s under current U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino to winning a European trophy in 2024 to almost being relegated last season. The shock of a big side almost being relegated prompted the club to change the strategy from investment in youth to spending big to improve the squad for today. Under new manager Roberto De Zerbi, you can expect exciting football. Where that leaves them at the end of the season feels like a crapshoot though.
With Eagles training camp drawing nearer, The Inquirer is taking a closer look at the more than three dozen new faces who are expected to report along with the rest of the team on July 28.
Player: Dontayvion Wicks
Position: Wide receiver
Age: 25
Previous experience: The Eagles acquired Wicks this offseason from the Green Bay Packers, the team that drafted him in the fifth round in 2023 out of Virginia. Wicks also signed a one-year, $10.5 million extension, keeping him under contract through 2027.
He overlapped for two seasons in Green Bay with Sean Mannion, the new Eagles offensive coordinator who served as a Packers offensive assistant in 2024 and the quarterbacks coach in 2025. But Wicks’ best season was his rookie year in 2023, when he racked up a career-high 581 yards and four touchdowns on 39 receptions.
Every year since has paled in comparison. He finished with 415 yards and five touchdowns on 39 receptions in 2024, and 332 yards and two touchdowns on 30 receptions in 2025. Wicks was, in part, a victim of the Packers’ deep receiving corps, as he never played more than 54% of the offensive snaps in a single season.
Dontayvion Wicks (13) faced Quinyon Mitchell (27) and the Eagles last season. Matt Ludtke
He also struggled with drops in 2024, registering the third-highest drop rate at 11.8% among wide receivers with at least 70 regular-season targets, according to Stathead.
Still, the 6-foot-1, 206-pound Wicks has had his standout moments, including his two-touchdown performance in the Packers’ Thanksgiving victory over the Detroit Lions last season. His drop rate improved in 2025, too, finishing with a career-low 4.3%.
Path to a roster spot: Wicks currently projects (depending on whom you ask) as the third receiver behind DeVonta Smith and Makai Lemon, although Hollywood Brown could contend with him for more targets. Wicks will have an opportunity to show that he’s capable of taking on more responsibility in the offense, especially one that traded away its top playmaker in A.J. Brown this offseason.
The Eagles are high on Wicks. Nick Sirianni likened his skill set to that of Keenan Allen, especially in terms of their shared ability to get in and out of breaks and their efficiency at the line of scrimmage. Wicks also has the versatility to line up in the slot (39.3% of his career pass snaps, according to Pro Football Focus) and on the outside (58.9%).
Fun fact: Wicks was a quarterback at Plaquemine High School in Louisiana, and a left-handed one, too. His arm came in clutch during his rookie season when he completed a 14-yard pass to running back Aaron Jones on a trick play against the Denver Broncos.
Quotable: “He’s a unique player in terms of some of the things that he’s able to do from a route-running perspective. He’s headed into Year 4, you’ve seen the growth, and I think you’re excited, because you still see that there are parts of his game that he’s still refining, like every single player. I think he brings toughness. Obviously you can see from watching the tape, he’s a talented guy. One thing I think with Tay is his mindset, he thinks the game in the proper way.” — tight ends coach Ryan Mahaffey, the former Packers receivers coach, on Wicks in June
Player: Jose Ramirez
Position: Outside linebacker
Age: 27
Previous experience: Ramirez was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 2023 sixth-round pick out of Eastern Michigan. He didn’t make the initial 53-man roster out of training camp that summer and subsequently was signed to the Bucs’ practice squad.
In 2024, shortly after his three-sack performance in the second week of the preseason against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Ramirez made the active roster out of camp. He appeared in four games that season (30 defensive snaps, 40 special teams snaps). The 6-2, 252-pound outside linebacker was waived at the end of training camp in 2025.
Ramirez continued his pro career in the CFL with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last season. In three games, he registered one sack and four tackles. Ramirez was released in the offseason to sign a reserve/future contract with the Eagles in January.
Path to a roster spot: Ramirez has a shot at the practice squad, but it’s a long one. He will have to compete against veteran A.J. Epenesa and sixth-rounder Keyshawn James-Newby for one of the last spots on the active roster behind Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith, and Arnold Ebiketie. If the 27-year-old Epenesa is the early favorite to make the initial 53, James-Newby and Joshua Weru (International Player Pathway program; would not count toward 16-man limit) are the top candidates for the practice squad.
Fun fact: In four years at Eastern Michigan, Ramirez notched 20½ sacks, the second-greatest career total in school history. He had 12 sacks in 2022, making him the fourth player at Eastern Michigan since 1998 to notch double-digit sacks in a single season. That season, he was named the Mid-American Conference’s defensive player of the year.
Quotable: “I feel like my best attributes are my stab and my speed, just using my get-off to scare the O-lineman. But I feel like there’s a lot of things I need to work on. Even the things I’m good at, I feel like [there’s] still room to get to perfection. I feel like you can practice over and over and over, and there’s no such thing as getting to the end of it. There’s always time to get better.” — Ramirez in 2023 after the draft, via the Buccaneers
The Flyers’ schedule came out last week, and maybe I’m an exception in this regard, but I did not scan it immediately for games against the Penguins and Rangers and Capitals. My eyes fell on two dates: Saturday, Oct. 24, and Sunday, Jan. 3. A pair of unmissable matchups against the Flyers’ newest and most hated rivals: the … Anaheim Ducks?
This has been an odd few months, in so many ways, for the Philadelphia sports scene. Think about some of the stories. The A.J. Brown trade watch. The reasons for that trade — i.e. his relationship, such as it was, with Jalen Hurts. The Phillies’ slow start. Their decision to fire Rob Thomson. Their inability to play reasonably intelligent baseball. The Sixers’ comeback over the Celtics. Their embarrassing sweep by the Knicks. Their decisions to fire Daryl Morey and hire Mike Gansey and trade for Jaylen Brown. Their nightly vigil for LeBron James.
But none of those developments, none of them, compares to the sheer weirdness of the rising tensions between the Flyers and their Disneyland-adjacent counterparts. Imagine the Eagles and their fans hating the Jacksonville Jaguars or the Phillies and their fans being obsessed with beating the … Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and you have a sense of just how strange it is that the Ducks have become mallard non grata around here.
It’s one thing to despise Sidney Crosby; the guy is one of the greatest players in hockey history, has won three Stanley Cups, has tormented the Flyers for years, plays exactly the tenacious, win-at-all-costs style that would make him a god if he wore orange and black, and is based just 300 miles west of the Xfinity Mobile Arena. It’s another to despise a franchise that has been in existence for just 33 years, has won just one Stanley Cup (almost 20 years ago), and was named after a children’s movie. But here we are.
The origins of the bad blood are no secret, at least not to anyone who follows the Flyers closely. On Jan. 8, 2024, they traded Cutter Gauthier — the No. 4 pick in the 2022 NHL draft, the prospect who was presumed to be their top goal scorer and franchise centerpiece for the next decade or more — to the Ducks for Jamie Drysdale and a second-round pick. The deal was a shocker, and when Flyers president Keith Jones said during an NBC Sports Philadelphia interview that they traded Gauthier because “he didn’t want to be a Flyer,” Gauthier’s villain status was instantly established.
The public sentiment here, with some exceptions, went from For chrissake, the Flyers let their future get away to Who the hell does that punk think he is? And Drysdale, whom the Flyers recently signed to a four-year contract extension and whom they consider an important member of their corps of defensemen, would forever be compared to the potential superstar the Flyers felt they had to give up.
“The only thing that it does and will continue to do moving forward is just motivate me,” Drysdale said Monday. “I want to be the best player I can for the city, for the team, for the fans, for everything. I know I still have a lot more to give, and that’s exciting for me on my end.”
Things have gotten only more intense since the Gauthier-Drysdale trade. It’s not just that the two franchises consummated another significant trade — and, for the Flyers, a so far highly successful one — 13 months ago, when Anaheim sent Trevor Zegras here for forward Ryan Poehling and two draft picks. It’s not just that the Flyers have beaten the Ducks all four times the clubs have faced each other over the last two seasons. It’s not just that the teams’ last matchup in Philadelphia, a 5-2 Flyers victory on Jan. 6, was loaded with checks and hits that sometimes crossed the line separating clean from dirty.
Cutter Gauthier became an enemy for the Flyers’ fan base after his trade to Anaheim two years ago.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
It’s this: Of all the possible maneuvers and gambits that Flyers general manager Danny Brière could have attempted this offseason to supercharge the team’s push toward Stanley Cup contention, he and his staff decided to target Leo Carlsson, maybe the Ducks’ most important player. On July 3, they sent him to a five-year, $90 million offer sheet, one that would have made Carlsson — 21 years old, nearly a point-per-game player last season, still improving — the highest-paid player in the league.
The Ducks always had the right to match the Flyers’ offer, and as expected, they did, and Brière and the Flyers still have to figure out how to acquire (or somehow develop) a top-line center. A disappointing result, to be sure. But from the Ducks’ perspective, the outcome of the Carlsson situation wasn’t exactly seashells and balloons. Brière made a bold move at Anaheim’s expense, forcing Pat Verbeek, the Ducks’ GM and a notoriously tough and frugal executive, to pay a price that he never would have otherwise chosen to pay to keep Carlsson — who had made it clear he wouldn’t have minded playing somewhere else. Plus, though the NHL’s salary cap is rising and will likely continue to rise for a while, the Carlsson deal promises to limit the Ducks’ ability to add or re-sign other vital players, including Gauthier.
What we have now are two organizations that have squared off in some high-stakes competitions — on the ice, yes, but the boardroom battles between them have been even better. No, this coast-to-coast duel doesn’t immediately call to mind the fear and loathing that Philadelphia fans have had for the Cowboys, the Mets, and the Celtics. Yeah, it feels sort of silly to have a rivalry with a franchise whose spiritual forefathers are Emilio Estevez and the guy who played Pacey on Dawson’s Creek. But if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be … well, you know.
It’s Thursday. LeBron James is still playing with our emotions, the Phillies had another hard time figuring out the Dodgers, and we’re still about three-plus weeks away from getting an early look at the Eagles.
Let’s stick with that last part, because we want to gauge your thoughts on the news that Birds quarterback Jalen Hurts doesn’t rank within the Top 10 of NFL quarterbacks — yet again, according to league executives, coaches, and scouts.
It’d be a debate until you realize that QBs like Drake Maye, Caleb Williams, Jared Goff, and (wait for it) Dak Prescott beat out the former Super Bowl MVP. In fact, one pundit, former NFL linebacker Manti Te’o, said that, “Jalen Hurts is at his best when [Eagles rusher] Saquon [Barkley], in 2024, was running crazy.”
Anyway, that’s just some of the chatter about the Eagles ahead of training camp. The good news? If the forecast is correct, we are looking at potentially a picture-perfect day, with sunny skies and highs in the low 80s.
Former Lakers forward LeBron James has still yet to announce where he’ll play next. Ashley Landis
Three weeks. That’s how long basketball fans have waited to see where James will take his talents next. But it’s not just fans; the league also waits with bated breath as the second wave of NBA free agency has hit pause and the league schedule-makers can’t round out the 2026-27 season.
What we don’t: Whether or not real estate agents from Moorestown, N.J., to the Main Line will have to start dusting off their vacant luxury properties.
What we’re wondering: Did an alleged mistake by the Miami Heat social media team serve as foreshadowing that LeBron might move back there?
What we have: The latest LeBron news courtesy of Inquirer writer Gina Mizell, on what’s being said and how it relates to his chances of joining the Sixers.
Uar Bernard celebrates after being chosen by the Eagles with the 251st overall pick of the NFL draft in April.AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
Uar Bernard is an absolute freak of nature. But is he a football player? Furthermore, is he an Eagle? That’s the latest question as our Eagles team continues to analyze the new faces in the Birds’ player pool ahead of the season.
Bernard, the seventh-round draft pick from the NFL’s International Player Pathway program, impressed scouts with his athleticism and the fact that he’s a mere 6% body fat at 306 pounds. Inquirer writer Ryan Novozinsky dives into what more he’ll need to do at the defensive tackle position to see him in Eagles green.
What we’re …
👏🏽 Applauding: Over 66 million Americans watched the World Cup final, setting a record.
Sad about the World Cup ending? Take our quiz and find a Premier League team to supportSam Morris / Staff Illustration
Sad that the World Cup is over? Honestly, so are we. And with the Union still trying to crawl out from the bottom of the standings in Major League Soccer, looking for another team to support isn’t a bad thing right now. Ever wonder what English Premier League team suits your personality? Ever wonder if the EPL team you support is the right one? Take our quiz based on your sports personality to find out.
Scott Rolen speaks during his induction ceremony into the Phillies’ Wall of Fame on Sept. 22, 2023, just three months after being accepted into Cooperstown.Matt Slocum
July 23, 2023: Former Phillies slugger Scott Rolen gets inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
VAUGI STADE
Today’s word jumble is for the local (and really, hyperlocal) baseball fans in the area. This former Malvern Prep star and current ACC Player of the Year after his sophomore season at Louisville just received a spot on Team USA. Think you know? Take a guess and then click here to see if you’re correct.
What you’re saying about the Phillies
We asked: How do you think the Phillies should address their fifth-starter spot?
Trade [Andrew] Painter to the Red Sox for Ranger [Suarez] — Bill M.
We have no fifth starter. Zero wins the entire season. Kinda late in the year to figure it out. Actually, we barely have a fourth starter in [Aaron] Nola. Let’s face the facts. As we get down to “Magic Number” time, there will only be three starters, especially if we make the playoffs. Not having someone in triple-A they could bring up is a disgrace. — Ronald R.
Easy. Move Nola to the bullpen for middle relief, get another starter, go with four and use Nola when you need a fifth. That solves two of their problems. — Richard K.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Sam Morris, Matt Mullin, Ariel Simpson, Ryan Novozinsky, Owen Hewitt, Lochlahn March, Jonathan Tannenwald, Gina Mizell, Lauren Jones, Conor Smith, and Mia Messina.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
Appreciate your time as always, Philly. We’ll be back in your inboxes tomorrow to get you set for the weekend. Enjoy today. — Kerith
For most of the year, Jim DiGuiseppe and Joe DeBarberie are standing in opposing dugouts. But for a few weeks each year, they’re on the same team as co-managers for the Catholic League in the annual Carpenter Cup.
It’s an 18-year standing tradition between the pair to put aside their different allegiances — DiGuiseppe to Archbishop Wood and DeBarberie to Bonner-Prendergast — in favor of representing the Catholic League in the tournament.
The Carpenter Cup, a tournament that features the top players from leagues across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, had not seen a PCL win since 2005. That was until June 8, when the pair helped lead the PCL to its first title in 21 years.
The Catholic League team will be honored at the Phillies game on Aug. 4 for its victory.
“It was a really good mix of players that understood that we hadn’t won in a while, and I think really took it to heart,” DeBarberie said. “There was a little bit of strategy in there, and I think we did a good job of doing that, it just fell the way we thought it was going to.”
DiGuiseppe was head coach at Wood from 1995-2011, having joined the coaching staff a few years earlier when his son was on the team. DeBarberie began as an assistant coach with Bonner-Prendie in 2005 (while it was Monsignor Bonner) and took over as head coach from 2008-18.
Despite sporting different shades of green and gold, the pair are longtime friends off the diamond and share a lot in common.
They both were head coaches for more than a decade, they both saw their sons take over the helm when they stepped down, they both continue to serve in assistant coaching roles, and they share a love for the Catholic League.
Joe DeBarberie (left) and Jim DiGuiseppe Sr. led the Catholic League to a Carpenter Cup championship for the first time in 21 years.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
When DiGuiseppe’s son, Jim DiGuiseppe Jr., the current head coach at Wood, took over as the general manager for the Carpenter Cup team, he thought that his dad and DeBarberie would serve as unbiased managers for an all-star team.
And even though the two spend most of the year in the backseat, DiGuiseppe Jr. said, the two stepped into the lead role “like riding a bike,” with the background and credentials to support their positions.
“I think our league as a whole genuinely benefits from the structure of that and having guys like that,” DiGuiseppe Jr. said.
Through their many years together, the pair hasn’t rubbed off much on each other in terms of personality. DiGuiseppe is more outspoken, while DeBarberie is quieter. But the dynamic works for them.
“I’m fiery, I usually am on the field running, and he does all the paperwork and gives me all the knowledge that he can impart, but yeah, we’re a little different,” DiGuiseppe said.
DiGuiseppe’s passion is hereditary. Most people warn against working with family, but DiGuiseppe has been his son’s assistant for longer than his son served his dad.
In the dugout, the two get very animated during games, but it comes from a place of love and passion. Last season, DiGuiseppe Jr. became the winningest coach in Wood’s history with his 204th win. His father previously held the record with 203.
“The joke of it is that we struggled early. It took me 17 years to win about 210. He won about 220,” the elder DiGuiseppe said. “[But] you always want your son to do better.”
As for DeBarberie, with the amount of strategy that goes into the Carpenter Cup — making sure everyone is playing the correct number of innings and managing pitch counts — the knowledge he imparts comes in handy.
His son, Steve DeBarberie, the current head coach at Bonner, said this happens during the season with the Friars as well.
“The knowledge of having him in certain situations is invaluable,” Steve DeBarberie said. “When he’s up on the varsity staff he’ll just have little tidbits for me and put some stuff in my ear, to look out for it, to game plan for later on in the game because he sees stuff that not a lot of people see. He’s very intuitive and is always thinking ahead of the next steps.”
This year, thinking ahead included setting the tone early with highly competitive players throughout the league. DeBarberie said they reminded the athletes that the competition they once harbored during the season was behind them and for the duration of the Carpenter Cup, they were all working toward a shared goal.
Joe DeBarberie (left) was a head coach at Archbishop Wood, while Jim DiGuiseppe Sr. led Bonner-Prendergast.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
DiGuiseppe and DeBarberie served as the exemplars for that.
“Respect among the coaches is also transferred to the players on the various teams, and I think the fact that the Catholic League means a lot to us as coaches, kids also get that vibe,” DeBarberie said. “They understand that yes, you’re going to compete, that’s fine, but there’s no need for animosity — we’re all part of what we feel is the best league in the area.”
There’s a “coaching fraternity in the Catholic League,” says DeBarberie.
Along with DeBarberie and DiGuiseppe, Conwell Egan’s Jeff Manto, Neumann Goretti’s Nick Nardini, Lansdale Catholic’s Brian Ferko, St. Joseph’s Prep’s Jimmy Stinsman, and DiGuiseppe Jr. were members of the coaching staff for the Carpenter Cup.
Both DiGuiseppe and DeBarberie were PCL Honorary Coach Award recipients for their 10 years of service as a head coach. When DiGuiseppe was honored in 2024, DeBarberie presented the award to him. This year, when DeBarberie received the honor, DiGuiseppe Jr. presented it.
“Their personalities are very different, yet at the same time, they’re extremely close, not just in baseball, but off the field,” DiGuiseppe Jr. said. “Our families get together for dinner.”
Joe DeBarberie and Jim DiGuiseppe Sr. say the Catholic League is “the best league around.”Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Along with the friendship they formed from their time in the league, DiGuiseppe and DeBarberie also share an appreciation for a league that means “everything” to them.
“We think that this is the best league around, just everything about it,” DeBarberie said. “Even when we’re not playing or we lost in the playoffs or whatever, and other teams are going on, I’m rooting for the other Catholic League teams to win. It’s just been such a big part from a baseball standpoint of our lives.”
