Wisconsin alum. Cubs fan. 🍿 Substack: The Undercovered: Women’s sports with PJ Brown https://theundercovered.substack.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3mzdrllh6v22sAhead of the season opener, SMU women’s basketball coach Adia Barnes & I talked about what went into her strategy for Year 2 of building her program and how she got to this point. Here’s the latest in the series of building SMU (photo SMU Athletics) … https://theundercovered.substack.com/p/building-smu-womens-basketball-inside-18a02 Nov 2026 16:46 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mzdrllh6v22shttps://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3myd6esvr4k25Here we go!!!! The first piece in my series published on my 1-year anniversary of my pub. Here’s an inside look at building SMU women’s basketball. Everything from Adia Barnes’ strategy to how the season unfolds. (Photo SMU Athletics) https://theundercovered.substack.com/p/building-smu-womens-basketball-inside?r20 Oct 2026 17:37 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3myd6esvr4k25https://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3mxhcsncvh22a“When you are playing here, you never think about that.” Arizona volleyball’s Madi Kingdon Rishel on the Ring of Honor she never saw coming … and the coach who always believed. Here’s my latest (Photo Arizona Athletics) … https://theundercovered.substack.com/p/madi-kingdon-rishel-never-thought09 Oct 2026 15:42 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxhcsncvh22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3mwwlkkw2qs22Guess where I am tonight…03 Oct 2026 00:03 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwwlkkw2qs22https://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3mwvs56542c2iWhat does it feel like to coach a team that’s this close? Arizona volleyball’s Rita Stubbs takes you inside. Here’s my latest (photo Madison Bilagody, Arizona Athletics) https://theundercovered.substack.com/p/for-arizona-womens-volleyball-the?r=nr58&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true02 Oct 2026 16:28 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwvs56542c2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3mvo5qqg75c2zConcussions are the invisible injury that no one talks about. September is Concussion Awareness Month and I want to share part of my story on my long-term concussion. https://theundercovered.substack.com/p/concussions-dont-end-when-you-think16 Sep 2026 22:09 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvo5qqg75c2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3mvinxhkb7c27It all started with a question about why fans keep showing up. Here’s a little insight into that, as well as missed opportunities in women’s sports. https://theundercovered.substack.com/p/pj-brown-the-name-on-the-front-of?r=nr58&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true14 Sep 2026 17:44 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvinxhkb7c27https://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3mtwegxyo3k2mConcussions aren’t talked about enough. Mine lasted 18 months. Here’s what my recovery looked liked https://theundercovered.substack.com/p/concussions-dont-end-when-you-think25 Aug 2026 17:40 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtwegxyo3k2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3mtk5zvo4d22m“As a backup goalkeeper, you have to be the most prepared player on the sideline, but you’re the least likely to get called on ….”- Cara Martin, Orlando Pride backup goalkeeper I talked to Cara about being a backup goalkeeper (photo Jeremy Reper) https://theundercovered.substack.com/p/for-cara-martin-being-ready-is-the20 Aug 2026 21:14 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtk5zvo4d22mhttps://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3mtc7btjyck2iI love the stories that are quietly happening in the background. I talked to the Orlando Pride’s goalkeeper, Cara Martin, about her rookie season and what goes into being a backup. (Photo Jeremy Reper) https://theundercovered.substack.com/p/for-cara-martin-being-ready-is-the17 Aug 2026 17:15 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtc7btjyck2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3ms72fqmw2k2jI talked to sportswriter turned life coach, Lyndsey D’Arcangelo, about the struggles that athletes face and what she called the “inside game.” (Photo, from Lyndsey D’Arcangleo, right, Frankie de la Cretaz, at a book signing) https://theundercovered.substack.com/p/lyndsey-darcangelo-is-helping-athletes03 Aug 2026 17:44 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms72fqmw2k2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3mrsk7mfbgc24One of the things I loved about being a beat reporter was the community. Readers used to come up to me at games, on the streets of Tucson, to ask me questions or just say “Hi.” I miss that. Today I started a Chat for my subscribers. Now, we can talk and build community. …29 Jul 2026 18:22 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrsk7mfbgc24https://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3mqkgsdkghc2hWith all the changes in college sports, I sat down with Erika Barnes of EB7 Advisory Group & former Arizona Softball National Champ, to learn more about what’s going on. Here’s the story (photo from Erika Barnes). https://theundercovered.substack.com/p/erika-barnes-has-seen-college-sports13 Jul 2026 19:35 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqkgsdkghc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3mp4ycmd5uc25I talked former Arizona women’s basketball player about life overseas as a professional. Here’s the story (photo from Baptiste) … https://theundercovered.substack.com/p/trinity-baptiste-didnt-have-a-blueprint25 Jun 2026 17:46 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp4ycmd5uc25https://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3mnx7a23uvk2oSometimes there’s more to a story & you just have to do a follow up. That’s how I felt after talking to Arizona Track & Field’s Sydnie Vanek & Dino Dodig. We’ve got more from an athlete’s & a coach’s perspective (photo Mike Christy, UA Athletics) https://theundercovered.substack.com/p/what-sydnie-vanek-feels-and-what10 Jun 2026 17:08 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnx7a23uvk2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3mnkx4mg5f22lHere’s my latest on Team USA’s Emily Ausmus. https://theundercovered.substack.com/p/for-emily-ausmus-nothing-was-guaranteed05 Jun 2026 20:11 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnkx4mg5f22lhttps://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3mmwlopv3nk2zI talked to Arizona track’s Syd Vanek about her season and going from a 2-sport athlete to focusing on only one: long jump. Here’s the story. (Photo Arizona Athletics) https://theundercovered.substack.com/p/for-arizonas-sydnie-vanek-less-turned28 May 2026 17:53 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmwlopv3nk2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3mmripiw7p22tI talked to Arizona’s Tap Havea about what went into the uptick in performance this season. She is the Big 12 Indoors & Outdoors champion in shot put & competes in NCAA Regionals this week. Here’s the story (photo by Mike Gunnoe) … https://open.substack.com/pub/theundercovered/p/arizonas-tap-havea-was-good-that?r=nr58&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true26 May 2026 17:17 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmripiw7p22thttps://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3mm7ymbxfkk2m“My mom would always say ‘Aim for the stars, even though you might hit the top of the tree,’ and that’s what I’ve learned to do.” - Upshot’s Charlotte Crown coach Trisha Stafford-Odom Here’s Stafford-Odom’s story. (Photo Stafford-Odom) https://open.substack.com/pub/theundercovered/p/the-moment-isnt-too-big-for-trisha?r=nr58&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true19 May 2026 18:13 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mm7ymbxfkk2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3mltjod6bmc2i“You have to work for it. So go after it, and each day is a new day. So just keep going.” - Tele Jennings, Arizona Softball This is just part of what’s gone into Tele’s breakout season. (Photo, Madison Farwell, Arizona Athletics) https://theundercovered.substack.com/p/why-tele-jennings-breakout-at-arizona14 May 2026 19:14 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mltjod6bmc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3mlmdajje7k2oIt’s time for a little crossover. A series of local Tucson stories from The Undercovered will be featured on Tucson Spotlight. Check them out for some of the best in local news.11 May 2026 22:30 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlmdajje7k2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3mlbusqcwf22rParity’s Risa Isard’s research is behind some of the biggest conversations in women’s sports. Here’s Isard’s story (photo from Isard) https://theundercovered.substack.com/p/paritys-risa-isard-is-behind-some07 May 2026 18:46 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlbusqcwf22rhttps://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3mkqgdlbyb22hTaylor McQuillin is redefining what it means to stay in the game. Here’s the story … https://open.substack.com/pub/theundercovered/p/taylor-mcquillin-is-paying-it-back?r=nr58&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true30 Apr 2026 20:11 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkqgdlbyb22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3miu4om5ip224I talked to UCLA coach Cori Close last fall and she shared with me why this team was great. Turns out they had all the ingredients for this title run. Here are my thoughts… https://open.substack.com/pub/theundercovered/p/pj-brown-seeds-planted-early-for?r=nr58&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true06 Apr 2026 20:39 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3miu4om5ip224https://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3miowxn33uc24Time for some observations on the Women’s Final Four!! Read my thoughts here … https://open.substack.com/pub/theundercovered/p/pj-brown-observations-from-the-final?r=nr58&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true04 Apr 2026 19:13 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3miowxn33uc24https://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3mimdilh6m224Yes, it’s a two-fer Friday!! I’ve got NOTES on the Women’s Final Four. Check them out here (Photo UCLA Athletics) … https://open.substack.com/pub/theundercovered/p/pj-brown-notebook-from-final-four?r=nr58&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true03 Apr 2026 18:19 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mimdilh6m224https://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3milxcv3o6224I talked to UConn assistant coach Morgan Valley to learn more about her season, as well as what makes this squad stand out. Here’s the story … (Photo UConn Athletics) https://open.substack.com/pub/theundercovered/p/for-uconns-morgan-valley-it-all-comes?r=nr58&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true03 Apr 2026 14:41 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3milxcv3o6224https://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3mihrprp7bc2sHeading to Phoenix for the Women’s Final Four. I have stories lined up; will be doing notes (1 of my favorite things!), etc. Please read & subscribe so I can continue to do this work. You can find my pub here: theundercovered.substack.com https://theundercovered.substack.com/01 Apr 2026 22:51 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mihrprp7bc2shttps://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3micizzhflk2fI’ve been thinking a lot about the women who came before us in sports. Bobbi Palma is one of them. Here are some of my thoughts and part of Bobbi’s story. (Photo Bobbi Palma) https://theundercovered.substack.com/p/pj-brown-bobbi-palma-a-pioneer-you30 Mar 2026 20:32 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3micizzhflk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/pjbrown024.bsky.social/post/3mhj5sq7nys22We always talk about Arizona softball’s Tayler Biehl in terms of defense and now we’re talking about her hitting. Here’s the full story of what’s behind that … (photo Arizona Athletics) https://open.substack.com/pub/theundercovered/p/the-secret-behind-arizona-softballs?r=nr58&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true20 Mar 2026 18:35 +0000at://did:plc:mkllfe5ebdshipmtfsvh6lex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhj5sq7nys22