Is Naomi Osaka Serving a New Era?

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Is Naomi Osaka Serving a New Era?

What's going on: This year’s US Open has brought plenty of game, set, matchmaking moments — both on and off the court. From Carlos Alcaraz’s accidental buzz cut and Jelena Ostapenko’s controversial comments to Ben Shelton’s surprise exit, all eyes are on the action at Flushing Meadows. But nobody has garnered more attention than No. 23 seed Naomi Osaka — and it’s not just because of her bedazzled Labubus. Earlier this week, she beat No. 3 seed Coco Gauff in a 2019 rematch to advance to Wednesday’s quarterfinals. Since returning to the tennis circuit in 2024, Osaka hadn’t made it past the third round at a major. She made first-round exits at the 2024 Australian Open and this year’s French Open. Now, some sports analysts are asking: Could this be her breakthrough tournament? Time will tell (and soon).

Our take: A US Open title would be a statement. But win or lose, Osaka’s performance at Flushing Meadows highlights how she’s still evolving as a player. After openly talking about her struggles with mental health and the difficulties of returning to the sport after giving birth to her daughter, Osaka now appears to be writing her next chapter with confidence, joy, and resilience. “This is my favorite court in the world, and it means so much for me to be back here,” Osaka said. “For me, the main [thing] I want to take away from this tournament is just smiling and having fun.”

Related: Venus Williams Loved Her New Doubles Partner. Serena Had Thoughts (Well Played)

Psst… Naomi Osaka spoke to theSkimm about motherhood, mental health, and her least favorite fashion trend. 

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Timeout...

Our Well Played co-hosts and friends of the show tackle listener Qs.

Why is UNC's loss to TCU such a big deal in college football? 

While it’s only UNC’s first game of the season, many expected to see a better-coached team, given Bill Belichick’s success at the NFL level. As a reminder, he led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl victories. Analysts and famous UNC alumni — including Michael Jordan and Mia Hamm, who attended the game — presumably anticipated a more competitive matchup. Meanwhile, Belichick’s debut as a college football coach has received extra attention after an offseason filled with drama surrounding his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson. As the team figures out its identity and play style under a new coach, Belichick faces new pressure in the wake of such a blowout loss.

FEATURED EXPERT:

Caroline Hendershot

Reporter for the New York Jets and co-host of Well Played

The Press Box

Kristin Juszczyk, designer and wife of San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, has exploded into the spotlight with her DIY game-day looks and fashion. Now, she’s channeling momentum from her viral NFL designs into a WNBA line — and teasing what’s next for her brand, Off Season.

Q: When Brittany Mahomes helped get one of your puffers into the hands of Taylor Swift, your designs really took off. What was that like?

A: The NFL world is really such a family … It’s been everything for me to have the support of wives throughout different teams … That moment brought a ton of eyeballs, but I like to think that it was the five years of me making creations that kept people.

Q: We just saw Glen Powell rocking one of your designs at the UT game this past weekend.

A: Yeah, that's my bread and butter, and I will never get away from that: I love doing my one-off [designs] so much. It is a full creative-freedom outlet where I can add all the bells and whistles I want. 

Q: For your WNBA line, what are you bringing to fans that's different?

A: We always want to bring in the sense of style of that particular league. For us, we wanted to bring in sporty feels, but of course, feminine feels as well … I’m always trying to push the boundaries … and fashion, whether that’s through corsets, oversized button-ups, [or] cargo shorts.

Q: Who's a dream celeb you want to design for?

A: It’s probably LeBron … to make something for him, his son, and his wife — maybe, like, Bronny’s and LeBron’s jersey spliced.

To watch the full interview, check out this week’s episode.

This interview was edited for clarity.

Just Trust Us

Here are today’s recs to help you live a smarter life…

You’re not the only one salivating over Kristin Juszczyk’s statement necklaces, so we found an affordable dupe for your next game day. 

We’ll take your bleacher blanket and raise you this cozy MLB-themed lounge set. 

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