Heated Rivalry’s Hollywood Takeover, Ilona Maher’s Lesson in Clapbacks and Playoff Josh Returns ft. Ali Truwit

Mercury is in retrograde which can only mean one thing — breakups. From Dak Prescott and Sarah Jane Ramos calling off their wedding to Luka Dončić’s fiancée deleting all of her photos with the star hooper, this week gave us nothing but drama in the love department. Plus, Caroline recaps this week’s free agency frenzy and CBS’ betting analyst, Mackenzie Brooks, gives practical advice on how to actually win your March Madness pool. In this episode of Well Played, we also cover: Who promptly shut down the Joe Burrow and Jessica Alba dating rumors Why some are mad after Sydney Leroux’s annual International Women’s Day post How Tobin Heath’s jersey retirement came full circle, ft. Brandi Chastain Why no one — not even elite athletes like Aryna Sabalenka — is safe from their moms comments on their appearance Send Its: Italians at the World Baseball Classic: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVmhwuWDezX/?hl=en Sydney Leroux’s iconic International Women’s Day post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVpJv2Bj8Fs/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&img_index=6 Steven’s Institute lax bros support at spelling bee: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVoQ_QMDij2/ Iridocyclitis: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oOrWDt1o1gk Practicing sports is embarrassing: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVoQ_QMDij2/ Follow Mackenzie Brooks: @kenzbrooksbets Follow Well Played: @wellplayedbytheskimm Follow Blake: @blaaakkkke Follow Caroline: @cghendy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Harry Styles ran two marathons and all he got was peeing advice that we may or may not adopt. Heavy on the “may not”. Trinity Rodman and Cameron Brink reminded us that Gen Z almost always finds love using the internet, and made us yearn for the Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and JFK Jr. days of romance (are you team red roses or white orchids?). And in actual sports news, Caroline tells us who to look out for post-NFL Combine. In this episode of Well Played, we also cover: Charles LeClerc’s first wedding – implying there is a second How Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong led UCONN women’s basketball to dominance this season Comparing the NBA and WNBA’s salary caps ahead of the women’s CBA deadline on March 10  Dawn Staley’s advice for Bam Adebayo when it comes to A’ja Wilson  A four-for-one Alysa Liu Send It, from her trip to “Watch What Happens Live” to meeting Daniel Radcliffe Send Its: Soccer player gives seagull CPR: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DVXHV-vkxgj/  UCONN vs. UMass breakaway lights out: https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/uconn/article/hockey-umass-mullins-center-lights-viral-score-ot-21949129.php  Who’s Alysa Liu’s Olympic crush?: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVSW-YTFHTn/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=cd0deea4-8a44-408a-be19-2aafadcb19b8  And who’s the mascot who dressed like her?: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/q_wuyZ33cJs  Follow Dawn Staley on IG: @staley05 Follow Well Played on IG: @wellplayedbytheskimm  Follow Blake on IG: @blaaakkkke  Follow Caroline on IG: @cghendy  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women won big time at the Winter Olympics, taking home more than half of Team USA’s gold medals. But a story involving President Trump and the US men’s hockey team has clouded the moment, raising questions about support for the women. After the team declined a White House visit, Flavor Flav offered to host them instead. Yes, really. Meanwhile, Megan Thee Stallion linked up with Laila Edwards, and figure skater Amber Glenn pushed for more conversation about competing on your period. Send Its: Irvine PD curling PSA: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DU_3DPSElHu/  Bratz Doll x Alysa Liu: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVFCiaFEp-x/?img_index=1  Myles Garrett’s poetry: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oJqb-h06gG0  Lindsay Vonn’s almost-amputation: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVGlrZuDYhq/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(Almost) the entire pod is about the Olympics this week. Sorry, not sorry. Caroline and Blake beg the question: why are winter Olympic athletes so much more unhinged than the summer ones? From a Norwegian biathlete’s very public cheating confession to a gold medalist’s credit card fraud conviction, we dive deep into the most wild stories from the week. In this episode, we also cover: Why the NFLPA can no longer publish its report cards publicly – and why that’s a loss for the league What Joe Judge gets wrong about fatherhood in Trinidad Chambliss’ eligibility testimony What Breanna Stewart’s off-season move to play in Turkey could mean for the WNBA season A Canadian curling scandal ft. the Swedish…surveillance state?  Going for the Golds:  Milan-Cortina c*ndoms restocked at the village: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2026/02/17/winter-olympics-condom-supply-shortage/88715151007/ Taylor Swift presents…the “Blade Angels”: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DU1aS--Aan4/?igsh=ZGg3Mm15aTc2NWJl Benoit Richaud’s changes outfits more than his skaters: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DU3CTbdjY95/  Follow Well Played on IG: @wellplayedbytheskimm  Blake on IG: @blaaakkkke Caroline on IG: @cghendy theSkimm on IG: @theskimm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After spending eight straight days together, Blake and Caroline are back in NYC with another episode of “Well Played.” We recap our Super Bowl experience with some exclusive intel on the Cardi B and Stefon Diggs break up, say goodnight to the NFL season, and send it to the Winter Olympics which is our collective fixation.  In this episode, we also cover: A special giveaway for one new follower of @wellplayedbytheskimm on IG How Lindsay Vonn shut down armchair experts around her recent leg fracture Who Surya Bonaly is, and why she’s getting her flowers in the wake of Ilia Malinin’s backflip The extremely practical backstory of Bad Bunny’s bush people  The Dyson Air Wrap’s missed opportunity at the Winter Olympics Going for the Golds:  Maddie Schiza’s professor is the MVP: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PhOOl7PCvw⁠  The Winn Brothers winning our hearts: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/reels/DUeuk7cjPth/⁠  The unsung hero of the ski jump: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/reels/DUcy2jeAq8w/⁠  NJ Devils are salty over these Team USA brothers: ⁠https://x.com/wyshynski/status/2020968647259304015?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2020968647259304015%7Ctwgr%5Ede395a3c80c9caf589ba60125b8775e96a2c3718%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fgonepuckwild.com%2Fdevils-quinn-hughes-photoshop-jack-hughes-wild-trade⁠  Follow Well Played on IG: @wellplayedbytheskimm  Blake on IG: @blaaakkkke Caroline on IG: @cghendy theSkimm on IG: @theskimm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Brady showed us just how much of a teen girl at heart he is with a recent series of Instagram stories. Did Gisele have anything to do with it? Caroline has thoughts. We also answer listener questions around the Super Bowl, like what “game odds” even mean and a vibe-check of the Seahawks and Patriots O & D-lines.  In this episode, we also cover: What our Bravo taglines would be as podcasters  Carlos Alcaraz proving “if he wanted to, he would” after his Australian Open win  A convo with Nordic combined skier, Annika Malacinski, on why her brother can compete at the Olympics but she can’t  Whether Lewis Hamilton is next on the “Kardashian kurse” list  How to tune into the Winter Olympics opening ceremony this Friday  Fun Stuff that aren’t Send Its:  Bravo taglines: https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/team-usa-athletes-real-housewives-taglines-2026-winter-olympics-video  Sam Darnold’s bird-app: https://www.tiktok.com/@vikingzfanpage/video/7463889814689975582  Crotch-enlargement scandal: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/m-UFFj3SNW8  Annika Malacinski: @annika.malacinski Blake on IG: @blaaakkkke Caroline on IG: @cghendy theSkimm on IG: @theskimm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sorry boys, but Kendall Jenner’s getting the last laugh around the “Kardashian Kurse". Well, at least she did in her Super Bowl ad with Fanatics Sportsbook. WNBA star Cameron Brink joins Well Played to talk about why she wants Alex Consani on her pod, the most “big brother” thing about Steph Curry, and the biggest difference in her routine since her ACL injury. Finally — we have big news surrounding Well Played and Super Bowl LX. If you see us in the Bay, say hey. In this episode of Well Played, we also cover: Donna Kelce and Andrea Swift’s girls trip to the…Sundance Film Festival? How Travis Kelce’s supporting a women’s ice hockey player’s historic journey to the Olympics Send Its of the week, including how Shaun White is handling his separation from Nina Dobrev, a Redbull athlete to watch at the Olympics, Derrick Rose’s positive masculinity, and Kendall Jenner addressing the “Kardashian Kurse” Cameron Brink: @cameronbrink22 Blake on IG: @blaaakkkke Caroline on IG: @cghendy theSkimm on IG: @theskimm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The NFL postseason is in full chaos mode, and this week Blake and Caroline are breaking down the Chicago Bears game that put fans through an emotional roller coaster. From pivotal play calls to high-pressure moments, they dig into what went wrong, what worked, and what Caleb Williams’ performance reveals about the road ahead. Plus, Caroline is making sure we all know who to root for in the NFL playoffs based on the characters in “Heated Rivalry.” In this episode of “Well Played”, we also cover: -Why the Beckham beef is back in the spotlight -Which WNBA star is joining “Hunting Wives” -Why Chloe Kim is spending so much time in the pedicure chair -The reason Fernando Mendoza’s story has us in our feels -What it was like for former Laker’s owner Jeannie Buss as a woman in a male-domited industry (hint: not easy) Plus Caroline and Blake conduct a sniff test with Literie’s new 2026 FIFA World Cup collection candles. Use code SKIMM10 for 10% off your order at https://literiecandle.com. Editor's note: In this episode Blake and Caroline discuss a NHL hockey team selling jerseys to support Pride. The correct team was the Ottawa Senators. Jeanie Buss on IG: @jeaniebuss Blake on IG: @blaaakkkke Caroline on IG: @cghendy theSkimm on IG: @theskimm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The “Heated Rivalry” craze that started in 2025 spilled into the new year, with everyone (us) foaming at the mouth over the Heated Rivalry boys. Hollanov/ HudCon/our boyfriends dominated the Golden Globes, where Julia Roberts revealed her football fandom, Hailee Steinfeld debuted her bump on the red carpet, and Timothée Chalamet took home the gold statue for Best Actor for playing the insufferable lead in “Marty Supreme”. Plus, Caroline breaks down everything you need to know about last weekend’s wild card round – and what’s to come in the no-man’s-land of the NFL post-season. In this episode of Well Played, we also cover:  Ali Truwit’s journey from losing her foot in a shark attack to medaling at the Paris Paralympics The unprecedented matchup between Indiana-Miami in the college football finals – and how much it’ll cost to watch the game IRL  George Kittle’s relatable request post-Achilles tear  How Alysa Liu made the Olympic figure skating squad, despite retiring at 16 Our takeaway from Ilona Maher’s response to a body-shaming troll  Check out Ali's work with "Love, Your Mind" and find mental health resources at LoveYourMindPlaybook.org. Ali Truwit on IG: @⁠alitruwit⁠ Love, Your Mind IG: @love_yourmind Blake on IG: @blaaakkkke Caroline on IG: @cghendy theSkimm on IG: @theskimm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For many of us, following our passions doesn’t always pay the bills. But sometimes, the right idea (and a little grit) can change that. In this special episode created in partnership with Capital One Venture X Business Card, we sat down with Kristen Dermer, a CEO who took her childhood passion for skateboarding and turned it into a career. Kirsten, the co-founder of Spohn Ranch, told us all about how she built her award-winning skatepark design-build business from the ground up. Click play, lean back, and prepare to get inspired.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices