Sportswoman of the Week Ending 6/28/2026

Crazy time for sports indeed.  Certainly, one of the most passionate among fans is the WNBA, the single basketball league going during the summer months.  And a surprise star has emerged.  Marina Mabrey of the Toronto Tempo scorched the Los Angeles Sparks for an WNBA single game record 53 points in 32 minutes.  Mabrey gathered points from all spots on the court, 17-28 from the field, including 9-18 from beyond the arc.  Which leaves 8-10 from inside.  Also 10-12 FG with six boards and a couple of assists in a dominant 125-97 Tempo victory.  She's not the first name you think of from what the media is feeding you about the WNBA, but the 6'1", 29-year-old is a star and her star is shining.  Marina Mabrey is third in the league in scoring and is the Longhorndave Sportswoman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 6/21/2026

The World Cup has taken the entire planet by storm, and especially in North America where they are hosting it for the first time in 32 years.  A South American player is etching his name amongst all greatest soccer legends not to exclude his fellow continental star Pele.  Lionel Messi is the all-time leader in World Cup Goals.  Period.  Messi scored a hat trick, the only in the 2026 World Cup so far, in easing to a victory in Argentina's opening match.  Then followed up with two more goals against Austria.  The 38-year-old gets better with age.  And has a World Cup title for his proud nation defending this year.  Will he repeat?  No reason to doubt him.  Lionel Messi is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week! 

This is Messi's third Sportsman of the Week becoming the 20th athlete to do so.  

December 2022

March 2012

Sportsman of the Week Ending 6/14/2026

Both the NBA and NHL finished amazing and dramatic Finals.  While neither went the full seven games, each game within was dramatic to say the least.  One of the most exciting games in Stanley Cup Finals history was Game 3, where the Las Vegas Golden Knights seemingly were putting a beat down of the Carolina Hurricanes both in the game, and maybe in the series, as they scored 4 second period goals to take a commanding 4-0 lead, looking to go up 2 games to 1.  This after torching the Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen for 5 goals in Game 1.  Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'amour had seen enough.  He pulled his goalie for a journeyman first-year player who had never played in the playoffs, let alone in the Stanley Cup Finals.  Brandon Bussi put up 45 straight minutes of scoreless hockey as the Canes came roaring back to force double overtime.  It was into second overtime before his Canes fell.  They would not fall again.  Bussi ran off three straight wins, the Cup winner a shutout of the high-flying offensive Knights in Game 6.  Bussi came from nothing to win it all.  And is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportspersons of the Week Ending 6/7/2026

This Blog has seen dueling winners for Sportsman of the Week, but never a Sportsman AND Sportswoman of the Week in the same week.  Until now.  Mirra Andreeva and Alexander Zverev both surged through fields to win their first Grand Slam tournament at Rolland Garros, the French Open.  In Andreeva's case, it may be the sign of the next superstar of ladies' tennis.  She's 19 and this was her first Grand Slam Final.  The Russian teen cruised to victory over qualifier Maja Chwalinska, who shocked the whole tournament just by getting this far.  In fact, Chwalinska earned more money at the 2026 French Open than she had in her pro career to date starting in 2019 before the COVID disruption.  Meanwhile the talented German Zverev hasn't been able to break through the best players in any tournament, being denied titles in Grand Slams in 2020, 2024, and 2025. But at the French Open, he surged past Flavio Cobolli in a five-set thriller for his title.  2026 was the year for this pair, winning their first Grand Slams and, especially in Andreeva's case, one of more to come.  Congrats to Mirra Andreeva and Alexander Zverev, the Longhorndave Sportspersons of the week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 5/31/2026

There's a new star pitcher emerging in baseball and his name isn't Paul Skenes.  It's Jacob Misiorowski.  Okay, they're both stars, but Misiorowski continues to emerge as the superstar he seems destined to become.  The tall, lanky right hander had two amazing games this week and seems as if he's just getting started.  The 24-year-old shut down both the Cardinals (5-1) and Astros (2-0) as the Brewers once again seem poised for another, quiet, division title.  If they make the playoffs, this time they'll have an ace that can nail down two games for them.  Over the week, Misiorowski had 14 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, and 20 K.  His ERA is entering Bob Gibson level at 1.65.  Will the Brewers finally make and win a World Series?  If so, the Miz will need to lead, he is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!