🔵 The Official Daily Newsletter For Kentucky Athletics

Good morning! This morning, we’re in awe of former Wildcat Rhyne Howard. She became the fastest player in WNBA history to make 150 career three pointers! She accomplished the feat in just 57 games with the Atlanta Dream.

What else did we pour into today’s Brew?

🏈 Top-100 ‘Cat
🏊 New ‘Cat in town
🔵 And much, much more!

📈 STOCK UP

🔼  Inside Job. Kentucky football’s head strength coach Mark Hill joined Big Blue Nation Tonight to discuss his job and go behind the scenes of what they see. He watches football differently than most of us, so check out what he had to say!

🎥 Mark Hill on BBN Tonight

🔼 Top Cat. Former Kentucky football player Za’Darius Smith broke the NFL Top 100 Players list for the third time in four years, coming in at No. 84. He also was rated 85 overall, the 14th best defensive end on the Madden 24 video game. He played at Kentucky in 2013 & 2014, recording 120 total tackles and 11 sacks in his two seasons. In 2015, he was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. Since then, Za’Darius has had stints with the Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and is now with the Cleveland Browns. He’s been selected to three Pro Bowls and has been a consistent starter in the NFL.

🔼 Dive In. The swimming and diving teams hired a very decorated head coach in Bret Lundgaard this week. He was named the 2023 Ivy League Coach of the Year for Princeton’s women’s swimming and diving team after winning their second Ivy League Championship under his direction. Before Princeton, he was an assistant coach and recruiting director at Tennessee, where the ‘Vols came in third place at the 2013 NCAA Championships. He has proven to develop great student-athletes in the pool and in the classroom.

🤔 BIG BLUE TRIVIA

Do you know how many Wildcats have been selected in the WNBA Draft?

Think you got it? Scroll on down to the bottom of this email for the answer!

🔵 ONE BIG THING

Members of the Kentucky basketball team are hitting the road to different Krogers around the state for the La Familia Autograph Tour. Eight Wildcats are splitting to two Kroger locations each day on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. There will be players in Somerset, Morehead, Louisville, Shelbyville, Lexington, and Versailles. Tickets are $60 at the door, which allows one entry and one autograph from each player there. A portion of proceeds will go to The Mayfield Flood Relief Mission.

📬 STICK WITH US

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📅 COMING SOON

Thursday, August 17

⚽️ Women’s Soccer vs. Eastern Kentucky @ 7:30pm ET (Season Opener)

Thursday, August 24

⚽️ Men’s Soccer vs. Florida Gulf Coast @ 7:30pm ET (Home Opener)

Friday, September 1

🏐 Volleyball vs. Pittsburgh @ 7:00pm ET (Home Opener)

Saturday, September 2

🏈 Football vs. Ball State @ 12:00pm ET on SEC Network | Watch Live | Reserve Your Tailgate

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Seven

The seven Wildcats to be drafted are Shantia Owens, Victoria Dunlap, A’dia Mathies, DeNesha Stallworth, Makayla Epps, Evelyn Akhator, and Rhyne Howard.

🔵 Have a great Thursday, y’all!