Tank Top Tuesday: Amazing Lesbians Edition

So I guess I need to start watching “The Amazing Race.” I know, they’re entering season 39, so maybe I’m a little late. But now that soccer lesbians have joined the show, I think I can finally give it my full attention. US National Women’s Team and NWSL players Ali Krieger and Joanna Lohman have joined the new season of the long-running adventure reality series. Now in case you were wondering, and the hair wasn’t already a giveaway, yes, Joanna is also a gay. Her Instagram bio includes the title “celesbian” (and lots of photos of her wife and their child – and rainbows). Anyway, I’m so glad Ali continues to live her best life (and is happily together with a new, better soccer lesbian). Guess I’ll have to record the new season and fast forward to the lesbian bits, per usual.

p.s. Also, just because it’s Tuesday and sports bras and muscle shirts are included in the Tank Top Cinematic Universe, here’s a little preview. Hopefully they packed for the race accordingly.

Gender Fuck Thursday: Throwback Edition

Yes, I know, I keep talking about sports. A lot of the popular discourse keeps revolving around them – particularly women’s sports – particularly by people who have never in their lives watched professional women’s sports unprompted. But I digress. You know who I hope is basking in the progressive glory of today’s WNBA? Cheryl Miller, the college star and Team USA standout and Olympic gold medalist who went on to become the first head coach and general manager of the Phoenix Mercury and is now receiving some deserved flowers for her trailblazing career. But, honestly, I just remember her as the O.G. swaggiest coach of the WNBA. And 30 years later, she’s still got it.

WNBGAY Says Trans Rights

It’s been so hot this summer, I guess we’ll just have to post an extra day of tank tops, with a little advance of Thursday gender fuck in the mix. Because how great are the best coaches and players in the WNBA in their response to this artificial, right-wing freakout about trans athletes in women’s sports? With MAGA Barbie fanning the flames (gotta ensure there’s another career lined up after her mid-playing career ends), the Player’s union and individual players (and coaches) have all made their support for trans rights unequivocally clear. Isn’t it nice when abhorrently bigoted views are part of the unpopular minority in a group for a change. It’s called the WNBGAY for a reason. Don’t fuck with our family.

Also, come on, how hot is Gabby Williams? I saw it with my own two eyes. Plus 10 toes down for trans athletes? Died and gone to Ballhalla, indeed.

Also, thanks for the bonus tank out Seattle Storm star Stefanie Dolson. Somehow, the message is even better.

And there are good reasons the Lynx are No. 1, and Cheryl Reeve being a great leader is sure one of them.

My Weekend (Couple) Crush

Fine, last sportball thing for the week. I swear! You’d think I was the turning into a total jock. But who can resist Basketball’s Cutest Frenchies. I’m so glad that Gabby Williams and Marine Johannès are still together after hard launching their relationship at last year’s All-Star game. I love to see them interact, and that Gabby talks so openly about Marine’s importance in her life. Also, she finally hit Marine’s signature one-legged three at this year’s All-Stars. Like, that’s some romantic shit – for sporty gals. Plus, come on, they’ve giving Pazzi a serious run for their money in the Hottest WNBGAY Couple department. Bonus points because, for me, they’re slightly more age-appropriate. Also, the below interaction. Like, if that isn’t the most adorably coupley teasy comfy with each other lesbian thing you’ve ever seen. Plus that look Marine gave Gabby right after getting stamped? *low lesbian whistle* Someone is in trouuuuuble, but the mostly good kind. Happy weekend, all.

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Gender Fuck Thursday: WNBGAY Edition

One of the best things about today’s WNBA – and, make no mistake, this is all because of the players themselves – is all the acceptance of more masc/butch/stud et al presenting queer female athletes. And not just acceptance, but embrace. Heck, embrace isn’t even enough – in many cases, it’s full-on drooling over. Thinking back to 30 years ago when the league was formed, and they were scared to even admit any lesbians ever touched a basketball. All it took was three decades of non-stop fighting for our rights (and, clearly, our rights are still and always in jeopardy). But, still, it is quite something. Get it, you hot-ass ballers. You earned this.

Olivia Miles

Best suit of the orange carpet. I said what I said.

Breanna Stewart

Schoolboy shoes are working for me.

Kahleah Copper

Normally I don’t love a shiny suit. This is not normally.

Stud Budz

I’ll be honest, I don’t love the Trump ties. But I forgive them because of the Thing 1 & Thing 2 hair.

Paige Bueckers

Are “The Matrix”-era sunglasses back? This is like B-ball Trinity.

My Weekend Crush

I hope Azzi and Paige have another great WNBA All-Star Weekend. I mean, the People’s Princess already became the first rookie ever to win the 3-Point Contest. Like, come on. Pazzi always. I love the WNBGAY, especially on All-Star Weekend. I mean, they already met Obama. What if we just lived in this timelines all the time? Happy Everybody Watches Women’s Sports weekend, all.

Take Me Out...To the Ballpark

Now that the big men’s sportsball party is over, how about them ladies? Details about the first four teams in the new Women’s Pro Baseball League were finally released, and they will be the Boston Hunters, Los Angeles Queens, New York Heights, and San Francisco Firebells. And, well, the league is already being hailed as “Gayer Than the WNBA.” Sapphics, sapphics. No need to fight. Both leagues should be GAY AS HELL. According to Autostraddle, the WPBL initial roster has 18 out LGBTQ+ players, with representation on every team. Having finally gone to my first Valkyries game last month, I’m excited to get a chance to see yet another professional league play in my part of the country (I know, I know, the first season this year will be played in Springfield, Illinois – I can be patient.) All I know is, these athletes can take me out to the ballpark anytime – anytime at all.

My Weekend Crush

Goodness, another week got away from me. I hope the world is having fun watching the men kick the little ball around today. Me, I will be remembering the moment I realized I did like sports, as long as women were playing them. Happy remainder of the weekend, all.

My Weekend Crush

Yes, Pride Month is truly over. But we can still bask in the afterglow. And that afterglow includes allies. So instead of celebrating 250 years of this country’s way, way (way, way, way) too slow journey toward that more perfect union, how about we celebrate allyship. So thank you, A’ja Wilson for not only being the greatest player in the WNBA right now, but for also being the GOAT of allies to the LGBTQ+ community. Last month she continued the tradition of bringing in a gay cake, or gayke as she calls it, for her queer teammates during Pride. This is truly the only Let Them Eat Cake I approve of in this day and age. Also, how funny was her reaction be being used on the promo for Pride Night with the Aces? Thanks for being a great ally, A’ja. Keep ‘em coming. Also I went to my first Valkyries game last weekend, so I am feeling the W right now. Hard. Even the straight allies. Happy weekend, all.

Gender Fuck Thursday: Amber Glenn

Well now, let’s skate into (see what I did there) to our final Thursday of Pride. Please allow pansexual skating star Amber Glenn to Gender Fuck Up your day skating in a shiny suit to “That’s Life” belted out by Lady Gaga (take that, Sinatra). Truly, it feels like every word of that lat sentence was scientifically engineered to make a homophobic boomer’s eye twitch. For the rest of you, you’re welcome.

Sitting Courtside

Speaking of the WNBGAY, two of the league’s out stars have signed on to a new sapphic sports film “Courtside,” which has some other very familiar faces the camera as well. Abbot Elementary writer/producer Brittani Nichols and Autostraddle-alum Carly Usdin are writing and directing the film which “follows an injury-plagued women’s hoops superstar whose championship ambitions are upended when she falls for her teammate.”

Real-life out WNBA stars Gabby Williams of the Golden State Valkyries and Sydney Colson of the Indiana Fever and recent WNBA player Theresa Plaisance (last with the Seattle Storm in 2023) have all signed on to play, and I’m wildly guessing here, fellow WNBA stars.

But Colson isn’t just appearing, she’s also an executive producer. And guess what new production company is behind all this love and lesbian basketball? Run-A-Muck which was co-founded by, drum roll please, Ilene Chaiken and Jennifer Beals. Yes, that Ilene Chaiken and that Jennifer Beals of “The L Word” fame and infamy.

It’s actually heartening that two of the women behind the seminal lesbian TV series are still making stories for queer women. And, with the pedigree behind it, I have outrageously high hoops, I mean hopes. (I had too, apologies.).

As Brittani told Deadline:

“It feels like I’ve been waiting my whole life for this kind of excitement to surround women’s basketball, and I’m excited to blend my love of sports, lesbian tension, and comedy into one project,”

Add this to the happily growing list of upcoming sapphic sports stories vying to become queer women’s “Heated Rivalry," including the “Slo Pitch” and “Ripe!” and (maybe) “Cleat Cute.” I say, why have one “Heated Rivalry” when we could have at least one for each sport – softball, soccer and now basketball. Who’s got next? Looking at you, women’s rugby stories.

Tank Top Tuesday: WNBGAY Rookies

Welcome to the WNBGAY, rookies! In honor of the start of the WNBA season last month, here is a roundup of all the women loving women who were drafted and playing their inaugural years. How someone hasn’t optioned the story of last year’s No. 1 pick and this year’s No. 1 pick drafted to the same team while being in love into the next “Heated Rivalry” already is beyond me. But then maybe Paige and Azzi are being smart and waiting for a really, really, reallyreally good offer. Get that bag, ladies. And that ball. But, you know, in sapphic way.

p.s. Look at all those jersey tank tops. Ah, Tuesdays during Pride.

All the WNBGAY rookies this season:

Azzi Fudd: No. 1 Pick to Dallas Wings

Olivia Miles: No. 2 Pick to Minnesota Lynx

Lauren Betts: No. 4 Pick to Washington Mystics*

*Autostraddle lists her, but Outsports does not. So, apologies if this is just wishful-gay-thinking.

Taina Mar: No. 14 Pick to Seattle Storm

Rori Harmon: No. 34 Pick to Washington Mystics

Tank Top Tuesday: Feeling Ripe

Sports bras, as we all know, count as tank tops. Also, did we know Kelley O’Hara was also developing a sapphic soccer story for the big screen based a little on her own life/famous World Cup winning smooch? Like I knew about “Cleat Cute,” though I’m not sure where that project is now since the end of Megan and Sue. But “Ripe!”? Yeah, somehow I missed it. Maybe because the name is, how do I put this, terrible. I mean, I get it. But also kinda hmmm. But teasers about the film featuring its star, “The Summer I Turned Pretty” lead Lola Tung are certainly leaning into the whole ripeness of it all. According to Them, the movie, based on a Spanish short film, will follow an American exchange who falls for another female soccer player while playing overseas. But all I know is things are about to get sweaty.

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Ballad for Sue and Megan

I know, I know – Sue and Megan broke up. I avoided talking about it during Lesbian Visibility Week because, honestly, after that Emily news I couldn’t take more bummer crap. But after 10 years, even Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird couldn’t make it work. *Deep, endless sigh*

Obviously, sapphics like us get invested in our celebrated power couples – mostly because they are so rare. Sure, we have a good number of queer female celebrities in relationships with other women now. (Well, definitely more than 20 years ago, amirite kittens?) But very rarely are both partners equally famous. And, truly, no one was as well-matched accomplishment-wise as Sue and Megan. Both Olympic champions. Both world champions. I mean, it was the ultimate jock-4-jock situation. *Deep endless sigh*

I know, relationships are hard. I know. I hope they both find happiness again, apart. And that their separation has been as painless as possible. Even hearts are healthy as theirs break.

p.s. Don’t even think about it Sarah and Holland. Do. Not.

My Weekend Crush

I always, always love the Olympics. But this year, the event (despite its many, many flaws from ongoing corruption, exorbitant expenses, environmental impacts, et al) came at perhaps the perfect time. For a nation like ours that is so fiercely and feverishly divided, the Olympics was a hopeful reminder of what makes us really great. No, obviously not that rah-rah jingoism of bald eagle screeches and whatever the fuck Kash Patel was doing in the Team USA men’s hockey lockeroom. But the big-hearted, big-dreamers who care about and cheer for each other.

The version of America that most of the athletes of the 2026 Winter Games showed was that of empathy, grace, compassion and most importantly concern for their fellow athletes. I’ve never seen a more genuinely caring figure skating Olympic competition. Like this is the same contest where in the past one athlete ordered a hit on another athlete, FROM THE SAME TEAM. I’ve never heard more athletes talk openly about the toll Olympic pressure puts on their mental health. Or what success means outside of winning medals. And, of course, I’m heartened despite the horrid backlash they’ve endured that so many of Team USA also have spoken out about what is happening in this country. More of that, from more athletes and everyone else, all the time and not just every four years, please.

This year’s Olympics were also a reminder for me about how much I despise all the unchecked AI being thrust into our lives. I can’t help but believe it’s true intent is – besides, of course, getting rid of all those pesky higher-paying white collar jobs so the oligarchs can buy more private sex islands and megayachts – is to rob us of the wonder of humanity. So with each picture, each video, each given “fact” we have to ask, “But is it real or AI”?

Honestly, when I look at any of the magnificent photography coming out of this year’s Olympics, I see why I will never accept AI art. A whole industry just to recreate and reorder reality. Yet the beauty of human emotions doesn’t need enhancement. We’re doing it every day. Look at Alysa Liu's face. The JOY. All that, and it’s also destroying the planet. So, truly, truly fuck off, AI. Happy weekend, all.

p.s. Credit to the human photographers Matthew Stockman/Getty (top) and Christophe Ena/AP (bottom).

My Weekend Crush

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As if there was any other choice than newly engaged Olympic medalists and celesbian supercouple extraordinaire Hilary Knight and Brittany Bowe? As captain, Hilary just led Team USA to its third gold medal at the Winter Olympics, defeating arch rivals Canada (we’re sorta sorry about that, given how our government has been such twats to our Canuck friends – but still) yesterday. Today, Brittany takes to the ice again to race in the 1500m, her final of these Games.

And they aren’t the only Team USA queers to make their mark on these Olympics. From Amber Glenn’s team gold (plus redemptive free skate last night) to Breezy Johnson’s downhill gold and Hilary’s fellow golden out teammates Cayla Barnes and Alex Carpenter, I’m so proud of our out athletes. In fact I’m proud of so many Team USA athletes for speaking out against what this corrupt and cruel administration. But anyway, back to the newly engaged lovebirds. Mavel tov, you magnificent sporty sapphics, you. May your lives together be golden always. Happy weekend, all.

My Weekend Crush

@amberglenniceskater Reminder during this Olympics that athletes come in all shapes & sizes #strongisbeautiful #olympics #TeamUSA ♬ original sound - Tbow

Whew. Olympic gold medalist and out queer figure skater Amber Glenn is…fit. She is very fit. She’s also very rad. She is among the slew of Team USA athletes who has spoken out against the Trump administration (only to face the wrath of the MAGA hate mob and the Orange Turd himself – because of course). I’m really so proud of all these athletes for showing the world that decent and compassionate U.S. citizens still exist. While I’ve been too busy to write about these Winter Olympics, I have taken every free moment to catch what I can. The 26 year old, who came out as pansexual in 2019, will return to Olympic ice on Tuesday. But before then she posted herself in this tank top. And, well, I simply could not wait until Tuesday. I think you can understand my reasoning perhaps. Also, please accept this early submission as my apology for going AWOL again this week. My work thing is now successfully over and I can return my attention to Ye Olde Blogge again. Anyway, please enjoy the abs. *swallows tongue* Happy weekend, all.

p.s. Did you know she is also a huge Magic: The Gathering fan? A queer jacked nerd with guns and a six-packs who prioritizes her mental health? *reswallows tongue*

Music Monday: Super Sapphic

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I’m alive! Sorry, I’ve had an extremely (like crazy stupid) busy February for work. But I did make time to watch the Super Bowl, you know, to fill my once-a-year quota for straight male sportsball viewing. (Don’t worry, I’ve of course also been watching the Winter Olympics and will have some very queer thoughts about that this week.) Anyway, what I wanted to say about the Big Game – other than how much I’m looking forward to watching MAGA’s heads explode about Bad Bunny’s exquisite showcase of Latino Excellence during the halftime show – is how great it was to see Brandi Carlile sing “America the Beautiful.” Like, an out queer female icon (and wearing a suit and tie no less) invited to the biggest celebration of traditional heteronormative values. You just love to see it. Happy Monday, kittens. (Also, please say a prayer or whatever you do to ask the universe to be gentle for me, my crazy busy work February culminates later this week.)

Total Ballers

Yeah, yeah, the world has gone gaga for some hockey gays. But you know what I still can’t get over? Lesbian ballers. O, ALOTO, ALOTO, wherefore art thou, ALOTO?

So imagine my glee (no, not that kind, no one needs Gleek PTSD on top of everything else right now), when I heard that a new queer lady ballplayer show was in the works. “Slo Pitch” comes to us from Crave, the Canadian streaming service behind “Heated Rivalry.” We salute you, Canada, for your belief in equal opportunity queer sports representation. We’re so sorry about, well, everything. I mean, at least the sane among us are.

“Slo Pitch,” a comedy about lesbian softball players, actually started as a webseries. And now it will be a 10-episode series done in mockumentary style comedy which follows The Public Lass Brovaries, a queer underdog slow-pitch softball team. The show’s tagline is “Beer. Lesbians. Baseball.” I mean, what’s not to love?

Per the official synopsis:

“Welcome to the world of beer league sports, where Joanne Pico (Salgueiro) is to coach six-time league losers, The Public Lass Brovaries. Coach Joanne is dead set on turning things around this season despite having just been brutally dumped by her girlfriend and co-founder of the team. Throughout the summer, Joanne leads her lovable, chaotic crew through a season of strikeouts, petty rivalries, conservative-politician sponsors, and sexy carwash fundraisers gone wrong. With her ex now playing on a rival team, Joanne’s got a lot to prove this season. It’s time to win the breakup, get the gang back together, and maybe even find new love over beers in the dugout.”

You already had me at “Beer. Lesbians. Baseball.” Adding sexy carwashes almost seems unfair. Almost. But do it anyway, especially softball sexy style. So many wet tubesocks. *snort*

Jess Salguiero (who apparently is in the new “Frasier” reboot I barely realized existed and a couple episodes of “Orphan Black,” but honestly I’ve forgotten more of that show’s plot than I remember) stars at Coach Joanne. Emily Hampshire (a.k.a. Stevie “Are We Sure She’s Not Gay” Budd on “Schitt’s Creek”) also stars and is an executive producer and Elliot Page's PAGEBOY Productions is also behind the project.

I never watched the webseries, but have watched so many lesbian softball games in real life. So many. I don’t know if this will be the sapphics “Heated Rivalry,” but I do know the universe owes us a lesbian ballplayer show after doing us dirty with ALOTO.

My Weekend (Wedding) Crush

Soccer stars Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis got married on New Year’s Eve and the party looked amazing and amazingly gay. The Aussie and American national team players’ nuptials also landed them a glossy photo spread in Vogue Australia, which is pretty cool considering the land down under only legalized marriage equality eight years ago. (Don’t get on your high horse, America, we’ve only had it two years longer.) I truly believe that the media helping to normalize our everyday lives – because we are just normal human people who fall in love, get married, raise kids, go to work etc. etc. etc – has been key to the gains LGBTQ+ people have made toward full civil rights. Which comes from the hard work of activists over the years demanding their basic rights and moving culture forward. But, as always, those who wish we didn’t exist and were never seen remain relentless. So congrats to Sam and Kristie, the happy couple and new masc/femme wedding dream board inspo role models for sapphics everywhere.

But, seriously, how cute are they? And the tux? Low whistle.

Mazel tov, ladies. Happy weekend, all.

p.s. Posting wedding videos? See, gays really are just like everyone else.

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