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Emma Baccellieri

@emmabaccellieri.bsky.social
17K followers 665 following 1.2K posts

Writing about sports @washingtonsun.bsky.social // Previously: Sports Illustrated // emmabaccellieri@washsun.com

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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
On what Betnijah Laney-Hamilton has given the Mystics and what they have given her. (*And* on the question of whether there's an age limit on being a Young Ho: “Honestly, yes, and she is past that limit," says Cotie McMahon. "But she’s still considered a Young Ho.”)
washingtonsun.com
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton Is Right at Home With the WNBA’s Youngest Team
The Mystics’ midseason addition brings valuable playoff experience to a roster that has almost none.
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
From last night in Atlanta: “This is our first time here. Not that that’s an excuse, but now we know what it looks like. We have a taste for it.”
washingtonsun.com
In Their Game 1 Loss, the Mystics Acted Their Age
The team made plenty of youthful mistakes in a 92-77 loss to the Dream, setting up a do-or-die Game 2 in Washington.
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
The Dream are the only WNBA team without a mascot (sad!) but they've brought Harry the Hawk out tonight in a Dream jersey.
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
And the winner of the Mystics’ half-court contest at the end of shootaround is… special guest participant Elena Delle Donne. Team went crazy when her shot went in. (Including Georgia Amoore handing her jersey to EDD: “Suit up tonight!”)
Mystics players celebrating at half-court in an empty gym
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
"Coming into the season, we didn’t have anything to lose, but we knew everything that we wanted to accomplish. And we’re here. We’re accomplishing it all.”
washingtonsun.com
The Mystics Are Back in the Playoffs. Now They Want More.
They’ll be the No. 5 seed, set for a matchup with Atlanta, when the WNBA playoffs start on Sunday.
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Before I left Sports Illustrated last month, I did one last magazine story: I profiled Cheryl Reeve.
si.com
Cheryl Reeve Has Already Cemented Her Legacy, But She’s Nowhere Near Finished
Hall of Famer. Four-time WNBA title winner. Winningest coach in league history. Olympic champ. And the Lynx boss is hunting for more.
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Gillian Branstetter @gbbranstetter.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
I'm admittedly not an early child development expert but it does seem the ideal scenario for any baby is being collectively raised by a traveling women's professional soccer team
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Andi Sullivan, Ashley Hatch and Aubrey Kingsbury have been through everything together on the Spirit. Now they have one more big shared experience: First-time motherhood. (With an assist from veteran team mom Casey Krueger.) On the Spirit's team baby boom:
washingtonsun.com
The Spirit’s New Moms Navigate the Season with Babies in Tow
A league policy allows players to have their babies — and in some cases, their spouses — travel with the team.
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Amanda Katz @katzish.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Oh man, this is such a great story about pro soccer babies getting to travel along with their moms! The team refers to them as their “emotional support babies”
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Over the winter, Frances Tiafoe spent 6 weeks at his childhood tennis facility in Maryland, hoping to overhaul his game. Occasionally, Tiafoe hit with another pro, a good friend, who has been spending time of his own with someone in D.C... Ben Shelton. For the new @washingtonsun.bsky.social:
washingtonsun.com
To Overhaul His Game, Frances Tiafoe Came Home
Tiafoe’s new routine included some hitting sessions with Ben Shelton, who he’ll face Friday in the U.S. Open semifinals.
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Today’s my first day with @notus.com! Stoked to get started here writing about sports in DC + beyond. emmabaccellieri@notus.com for all your tips, releases, etc. Let’s go 🤸🏻‍♀️
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Fascinated by the concept of a local child who owns a Juan Yepez jersey. I would read 1,500 words on this.
Arlington Library post showing Foster Griffin signing a ball for a child in a Juan Yepez jersey
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Defector @defector.com · 19/08/2026
The new Women’s Pro Baseball League offers hope—and frustrations: defector.com/the-new-wome...
defector.com
The New Women's Pro Baseball League Offers Hope—And Frustrations | Defector
For most women who play baseball in the United States, playing America’s pastime in a professional league has been little more than a dream. Yet for a select group of women, that dream is becoming a…
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Jesse Dougherty @jessedougherty.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
In April of 2022, Donovan Casey spent five days with the Nationals but didn't play in a game. Then he never made it back to the majors. Is he a big leaguer? And how has he learned to live with that question rattling around his head? For @notus.com: www.notus.org/sports/washi...
notus.org
He Spent Five Days With the Nats But Never Played. Is He a Big Leaguer?
Donovan Casey made it to the cusp of his lifelong dream. His biggest challenge has been learning to live with that.
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Today is my last day at Sports Illustrated. My choice, after 8+ years and a ton of change and so many stories that meant the world to me. (With one more still on the way.) I'll have more on what's next soon but for now — what a gig! Can't believe how lucky I was to have it.
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
"...without the express written consent of the Women's Professional Baseball League" 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Gotta say that when I googled "Why do Belgium's kits look like that" I really was not expecting the answer to be "as a homage to Magritte"
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Wonder if they have this on the Jumbotron at MSG rn
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Rodger Sherman @rodger.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
WORLD'S #1 ARCHIPELAGO NOW AND FOREVER
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Frankie de la Cretaz @thefrankiedlc.news · 01/07/2026
I'm so excited to announce an event for Out of Your League paid subscribers—I'm gonna be talking about the excellent new book COURT QUEENS with authors @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social & @heyjordanr.bsky.social. You can register here:
thefrankiedlc.news
OOYL special author event: COURT QUEENS
a virtual chat with authors Emma Baccellieri and Jordan Robinson
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Love when you read a headline and just know this one is Dave McKenna
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james herbert @jamesherbert.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Marc Berman covered the Knicks for 23 years. He watched them win the championship at a sports bar in Florida www.cbssports.com/nba/news/mar...
cbssports.com
He covered the Knicks for 23 seasons. He watched them win a title from a bar in Florida
Marc Berman, formerly of the New York Post, is happy that Knicks fans can 'finally rejoice'
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Wrote about listening to the games on the radio 🤠
si.com
When the Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup Run Got Stressful, Tripp Tracy’s Radio Call Made It All Worthwhile
After 20 years of heartbreak, no one knew how best to meet the moment of Carolina’s championship run than the local crew who had been through it all.
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
I am so lucky to be alive right now
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Game 6 moodboard
Michael Clayton bread guy Sydney Sweeney in Euphoria looking distressedReba McEnrire with a corn dog Pyotr Kochetkov and Andrei Svechnikov taking a selfie in a car
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Dan Devine @yourmandevine.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Incredible read on Jose Alvarado from @jamesherbert.bsky.social: www.cbssports.com/nba/news/kni...
One of Pannone's mentors, the coach/skills trainer/analyst David Thorpe, had taught him that when smaller players are successful, it means they've figured something out that others haven't. That Alvarado had earned such an award at his height, then, suggested he was special. 

Later, Alvarado worked out for the Pelicans, which gave the team a chance to sit down with him. Often, since prospects are coached for these sessions, they are not particularly revealing. Alvarado's, however, made New Orleans' management fall in love with him. The highlight was when, during an exercise with the team's mental performance coach, he was asked, "What's your spirit animal?"

Alvarado stood up from his chair. He beat his chest, let out a scream and said, "Gorilla."
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Sports Illustrated Union @siunion.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
An update from the SI Union:
A navy blue card with a white header, providing an update from the SI Union. The text says: A LITTLE OVER a week ago, Sports Illustrated management laid off nine of our members, including three colleagues who had been with SI for over a decade and our entire golf vertical.
This devastating action came less than a month after we ratified a new contract with SI's current operator, Minute Media. We were pleased to reach a three-year deal that raised wages, improved medical benefits and parental leave, protected against AI's creep into our work, preserved our remote work flexibility and much more.
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Time to clock in for another shift at the “please kill me” factory
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
I’m going to die
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Blanked when I got to the deli counter and came up with “It’s a beautiful day for a sandwich” to have something to say
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
You cannot make me do another overtime I refuse
Tony Soprano “how can this happen?”
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Nikolaj Ehlers you are a god
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David_j_roth @davidjroth.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
A fantastic game story on a truly fantastic game. I already suspect I'll be re-reading this during the offseason. defector.com/my-god-victo...
defector.com
My God, Victor Wembanyama | Defector
Late in Monday night’s Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, a beleaguered Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dribbled tentatively into the mouth of San Antonio’s defensive zone. That zone had been total hell...
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
More from the WNBA refereeing beat! “We didn’t meet as often with our stakeholders, and it just started to drift away, and we found ourselves with a game that was too rough. And now we’re living with the process of cleaning that up.”
si.com
WNBA Leaders Say Officiating Changes Are Working Amid Uptick in Fouls
League leadership told SI that the increase in calls was expected and it will take time for everyone to adjust to new guidelines.
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
"His team immediately thought of doing a Pope Leo bobblehead but tragically couldn’t secure the necessary NIL rights, he said."
marketingbrew.com
A pastor helped the White Sox decide on Pope Hat Night
From Pope Hat Night to “Fourth Wing” Night, the team is upping the ante to get fans to Rate Field. We spoke to Mike Downey, the team’s senior director of marketing and promotions, about how it all com...
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Minor niche theory I’m developing: There are way more Bark in the Park games now than even just a few years ago. Feels like every night has at least one game with dogs.
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Jon Becker @handle.invalid · 13/05/2026
there are two types of people
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lindsey adler @lindseyadler.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
This is the longest story I have ever written. It is also the most meaningful. It will go out in The Small Bow's newsletter tomorrow. You can read it here now: www.thesmallbow.com/p/consider-t...
thesmallbow.com
Consider the Sister
Amy Wallace has spent two decades guarding the human her brother was—against a world that prefers David Foster Wallace as a puzzle.
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
WNBA teams averaged 17 foul calls per game in 2025. That was up to 22 in the first weekend of play in 2026. The new refereeing emphasis on freedom of movement was clear right away, and it asks for a big adjustment from players, coaches and refs alike:
si.com
Expect Officiating to Be a Recurring Storyline During This WNBA Season
Many around the league agreed that change was needed, but there are going to be some growing pains as everyone adjust to the new guidelines.
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
If you didn't previously know about the new officiating emphasis on freedom of movement, Mystics-Liberty's first half should have let you know reeeeal quick
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
The most cohesive, dominant Canes team of my adult life, in the best position imaginable here, and I still spent the entirety of that wanting to die
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
If your hockey team goes to overtime multiple games in one playoff series you should be entitled to compensation
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
“I really hope that people still do talk about those players. I mean, without them, we wouldn’t be here.” The players of the original Portland Fire often felt they were forgotten. That's changed as the new expansion franchise has brought back the name—and the archives. www.si.com/wnba/fire-ha...
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
“I know what it feels like to be at the bottom... I wanted to be a voice for the players like me.” The WNBA kicks off its 30th season under a landmark CBA. On Alysha Clark, the oldest player in the league, who helped negotiate it: www.si.com/wnba/for-vet...
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Sylvia Crawley is the all-time leading scorer (and rebounder and shot-blocker) of the original Portland Fire. When the franchise went under, it felt like a huge chunk of her career had simply disappeared. Now? "When they started resurrecting everything, it was like, we’re not forgotten.”
si.com
The Fire Have Rekindled a Long-Lost WNBA History in Portland
The city’s original WNBA franchise disbanded back in 2002. But with the league in a new era, Portland is the first expansion team that gets to revisit the past.
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Alysha Clark has seen the WNBA through a striking period of change, and she's helped drive some of that change herself, too. On what this new era means for the oldest player in the league: www.si.com/wnba/for-vet...
Alysha Clark dribbles in a white Dallas Wings uniform. text reads: UNDER HER WING, Sports Illustrated Digital Cover
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Really distressing how early in my life I have found myself pushed into old man sports takes. Arenas too constantly loud… uniform variants too weird… what’s happening to the games I love!!
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
🥹🥹🥹
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
Who is the crisis comms consultant they hired on this and *how* was this initial response what they came up with!!!
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Emma Baccellieri @emmabaccellieri.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Very unfair to have Tom Dundon Cheapskate Discourse without any mention of Chuck Kaiton
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