Lionel Messi has now appeared in six World Cups Lionel Messi Back to World Cup Business

Fever's Caitlin Clark - (WNBA photo)

GOLDEN STATE VALKYRIES coach Natalie Nakase has her team MOVING ON UP - (WNBA Photo)

Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics who later coached the Indiana Pacers ALL TIME NBA 1st TEAM - BREAKING IT DOWN

SPORTS NOTES EXTRA EXTRA - THIS WORLD CUP STANDS OUT

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

They had it on the ball in expanding the qualifying teams from 32 up to 48. More teams had a chance to earn more money for the team and their nations football programs. Cape Verde stood tall and topped of what should be considered a good experience for all - CAITLIN CLARK POUNDED - GOLDEN STATE VALKYRIES MOVING ON UP - THIS DAY IN THE NBA - NBA's ALL TIME BEST PLAYERS 1st and 2nd TEAMS

Monday July 20, 2026

ON THE BALL

You can say what you want about this World Cup but really now, it was a memorable one for sure. One controversy is it being expanded to have 48 teams in the tournament up from 32. That gave more teams exposure and money to improve their football programs at home.

Cape Verde is the prime example of a nation that has invested in their program. They qualified by harvesting talent from a population of under 600,000. The team responded by giving Argentina all they could handle before losing 3-2 to the then defending World Cup champions in the round of 32.

A TV feature showed the development and investments Cape Verde made in their football programs. New pitches were constructed. Player training and competition were applied. Their disbursement has reaped its rewards by the showing of their national team.

The talk of expanding to 64 teams gives more nations national teams a chance to participate against the best talent in the world.

The plan is comparable to what basketball legend John Wooden suggested in 1991, for the NCAA tournament to expand the competition so ALL teams could participate. It would only add one more week to the tournament, he noted.

The trickle-down effect is the expansion experience is a confidence builder for players from a team from a small nation like Cape Verde that could rise to the level to qualify.

Even in defeat losing to a team like Argentina, they will learn in the process. They will experience the talent and seeing the skills and moves from world class players. Even if beaten on a play of a move they've never seen before they will adjust their game so it will never happen again.

That was my experience from a teammate that went on to become an NBA champion as a starter. He scored a game high 27 points in the title winning game.

Without question players that have never played against or seen on the pitch the moves that Lionel Messi can make, even at 39 years of age. His presence in that game is a positive learning experience even in a lost contest for opposing players.

The half time talent show is an OK OLAY for us. The only drawback could be that in the 27-minute half time break for players, up from 15; they could lose their edge.

Basically, it was colorful and entertaining show for the most part. Nothing is perfect. It gave what appears to have been hundreds of dancers a pay day and that's a good thing.

WNBA

CAITLIN CLARK

Much has been said about Caitlin Clark's being busted about physically by opposing players. Much of the actions may have to do with jealousy and the attention Clark was given when she signed with the Indiana Fever.

Recently Clark was punched in the throat by the Phoenix Mercury's Alyssa Thomas. Physical play is a given in professional sports BUT… in basketball you play with your open hands not with your fist. You shoot with an open hand, you steal with an open hand, you block shots with an open hand, you dribble with an open hand, that is basketball; not boxing.

Initially Thomas was not called for a foul. When the play was reviewed the league gave Thomas a flagrant foul plus a one game suspension.

Thomas was a starting member of the USA gold medal winning Olympic team in Paris. She leads the WNBA with assists.

Last season she fouled Minnesota Lynx's Napheesa Collier causing a controversial injury. Collier is also a teammate of Thomas on that gold medal winning USA Olympic team.

Collier had an operation in the off-season and has yet to play this season while she has been in recovery. Collier (ankle) has recently been cleared to resume practices which is now past the half a season point.

Thomas apparently has a street mentality that could be dangerous should her extremely rough play continue. The league should monitor her deportment in the future. NO… she shouldn't be persecuted but… the situation needs to be addressed and called to her attention.

THE VAL GALS

At 19-8 the Golden State Valkyries are in third place with 17 games remaining in the 44-game season. They trail league leading Minnesota Lynx 19-6 by two games.

Additionally, they are only are only four games shy of their 23-win (23-21) inaugural WNBA expansion team season. They were the first team in league history to qualify for the eight team playoffs.

THIS DAY IN THE NBA

July 20, 2000 - Isiah Thomas is named head coach of the Indiana Pacers, replacing Larry Bird, who stepped down following the 1999-2000 NBA season. Thomas, 39, was a 12-time All-Star and led the Pistons to two NBA championships and was the Finals MVP in 1990. He also led Indiana University to the NCAA championship in 1981. As with Bird, who was the 1997-98 NBA Coach of the Year, the Pacers' job is Thomas' first coaching experience.