Public vs. private sports | Sports Daily Newsletter

For years, there’s been a rift between Pennsylvania’s public high schools competing against private schools in state playoffs.

Since the Catholic League and Public League moved under the jurisdictional umbrella of the PIAA in the fall of 2008, complaints have become common among public school coaches, administrators, parents, and players about issues of fairness.

But this fierce debate could soon be cast in stark relief, writes Mike Sielski.

Back in April, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives passed a bill that would allow the PIAA to “establish separate playoffs and championships for athletics for boundary schools and non-boundary schools.”

However, it has yet to be voted by the state’s senate. In the meantime, local coaches share their thoughts on the divide between public and private schools in the PIAA.

— Isabella DiAmore, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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Leading up to Wednesday’s round of 32 contest with Bosnia & Herzegovina, it’s good to remember that the U.S. men’s soccer team has won just one World Cup knockout game ever.

So while it may feel cliché to say this is one of the biggest moments in U.S. men’s history, it’s also true.

And now that the World Cup knockout bracket is set, let’s take a look at the 32 games left to go between now and the July 19 final.

⚽ Reminiscing: The best moments from Philly’s World Cup group stage matches, which ended Saturday night.

🥊 Learning: Philly’s Jaron Ennis knocked out Xander Zayas to become junior middleweight champ at the Barclays Center on Saturday.

🤔 Wondering: What grade writer Jackie Spiegel gave Flyers general manager Danny Brière after the first round of the NHL draft.

📖 Reading: Cheryl Reeve and Elena Delle Donne reflect on what it means to be inducted to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

Kyle Schwarber reached the 30-homer mark on Sunday in the Phillies’ 84th game, faster than any player in franchise history. His 408-footer to right-center field against Mets righty Kodai Senga in the seventh inning also gave the Phillies the lead to power a 5-4 victory that drew them to within three games of first place in the NL East.

After a wildly successful road trip, the Phillies’ flaws still bubbled to the surface: they’re vulnerable to left-handed pitching; the middle relief can be exposed when the starter doesn’t go six innings; the defense isn’t good. Ideally, the Phillies will address a few areas before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, writes Scott Lauber.

Also, Andrew Painter made his first start for triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday. While Don Mattingly is counting on having the 23-year-old back, the interim manager doesn’t have an outlined timetable for Painter’s return.

With the Eagles training camp on the horizon, let’s take a closer look at the more than three-dozen new faces who are expected to report along with the rest of the team on July 28.

Our writers will roll out two players per day in a mostly unscientific order that balances offense and defense, bigger names with mysteries, and locks with longer shots to be chosen for the 53-man roster — starting with Andy Dalton and a lesser-known name, defensive back Kapena Gushiken.

The feelings after the Flyers’ 2026 draft doesn’t feel fantastic. It doesn’t feel terrible. It just feels there.

The Flyers did, however, stick to their usual script of prioritizing size and two-way responsibility over offensive flash. It will take a few years before we know if that was the right course.

And here’s everything to know about the Flyers’ development camp, which starts this week.

There isn’t an executive in Major League Baseball that should be feeling more pressure than Dave Dombrowski now that Bryce Harper has answered fully and satisfactorily the infamous question that the Phillies president posed this offseason.

“Can he rise to the next level again? I don’t really know that answer.”

With just over a month to go until the trade deadline, Dombrowski and his front office better have a serious plan for broadening the team’s potential contributors, writes columnist David Murphy.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from David Murphy, Mike Sielski, Jonathan Tannenwald, Matt Breen, Mel Greenberg, Jackie Spiegel, Scott Lauber, Olivia Reiner, and Kerith Gabriel.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Thanks for getting your morning started with me. Have a wonderful Monday, we’ll be back in your inbox tomorrow. — Bella