courtesy of UT Athletics
When the UT-Austin women’s college basketball team lost star point guard Rori Harmon to an ACL injury, freshman small forward Madison Booker didn’t just take over the reins at guard – she made history while adapting to a new position. After Harmon went down, the Germantown High School (Miss.) graduate averaged 19 points, 5.6 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game during UT’s league-winning final year in the Big 12 Conference. She was named an Associated Press second team All-American for her tremendous season and became the first-ever freshman to earn Big 12 Player of the Year. Next season, SEC accolades surely await.
www.texassports.com/sports/womens-basketball
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Breakfast Club melds two of Austin's favorite pastimes: being active and eating breakfast. What started as a meetup among friends who liked to bike around and get pancakes afterward has blossomed into a true community, bringing together hundreds of cyclists on Saturday mornings at either Central Machine Works or the Meteor Cafe for a healthy two-hour ride. They've also got pop-ups galore, from Hill Country gravel rides to one in Marfa this August. All paces and skill levels are encouraged; as they say on their website, "Everyone starts and finishes at the same place, regardless of speed and distance, and everyone from first time riders to world tour all stars are welcome. Bring a bike, a helmet, a couple bucks for breakfast, and leave the ego at home." Here's to the most important wheel of the day.
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At Austin Warrior Arts, led by chief instructor Da'Mon Stith, students dive into the realm of historical African martial arts. From machete arts to stick fencing, capoeira to kickboxing, the instruction blends artistry, footwork, and traditional weaponry skills. If you’re lucky enough to find yourself in the right space and time, you might witness a pop-up public performance, but you can immerse yourself in multi-disciplinary workshops and seminars year-round. Add in mindfulness training, de-escalation tactics, and SEL lessons for a holistic training experience. Hoping to unleash your inner warrior? Head to the African American Cultural & Heritage Facility.
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Combining elements of tennis, table tennis, and badminton, pickleball continues to see an upswing in popularity. Support for America’s fastest-growing sport extends locally in the form of the Austin-based Texas Ranchers, one of Major League Pickleball’s eight founding teams. Celebrity-led groups co-own multiple teams across MLP, but the Ranchers might have the cream of the crop. Last October, prolific rapper/avid sports fan Lil Wayne joined a stacked Ranchers ownership group and also took on the role of strategic adviser. Other co-owners include country music artist Zach Bryan, 2024 Masters Champion Scottie Scheffler, Falcons running back Bijan Robinson, and designer/entrepreneur Kendra Scott.
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Co-owner Bijan Robinson courtesy of Texas Ranchers
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Any post-top-surgery trans guy will tell you that getting back into movement after the massive medical procedure is tough. Not just because scar tissue builds up, or because you have restricted movement. Really, the difficulty is how few good resources are out there for trans masculine people on how to take care of their bodies in a balanced way. However, inclusive physical therapy and fitness purveyors OutWellness provide tons of queer-forward workout education with many classes focusing specifically on trans masculine bodies. Led by trainers who are either allies or trans masc themselves, these classes make for a safe and gender-affirming space where trans men can work out, make new friends, and move freely.
OutWellness
211 E. Alpine #100
512/387-3908
www.outwellnessatx.com
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If you feel like the world is moving entirely too fast, then head to Pease Park to mediate with Malin, the 18-foot-tall troll who arrived in the spring. Made from repurposed cedar by Danish recycling artist Thomas Dambo, Malin holds a welcoming bowl – itself mostly made from recycled, repurposed, and found materials – offering water for park critters, a reminder to share and protect our resources. Malin’s not alone in her waste-not mission: There are now more than 100 Dambo trolls sprinkled internationally.
www.peasepark.org/pease-park-troll
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photo by Kimberley Jones
Williamson County has seen explosive growth in recent years, and that kind of development can wreak havoc on natural habitats. Good news, then, for threatened species like the Salado salamander and the golden-cheeked warbler, that 1,205 acres of ecologically sensitive private land within the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone was gifted last year to the Hill Country Conservancy. The preserve isn’t open to the public on a regular basis, but nature lovers should check the website for scheduled birding and nature hikes to take in some of the property’s splendors – including six limestone caves and the headwaters for three tributaries of Salado Creek – themselves.
Pecan Springs Karst Preserve
www.hillcountryconservancy.org
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In the shadow of the University of Texas Main Building, the Union Underground has provided affordable bowling for students and non-students alike for 64 years. UT students pay as little as $2 per game, while non-students pay a premium of $3 per game. Though the scoreboard isn’t the most accurate and the 12 lanes show their age, who can complain about affordable fun with equally affordable food and drink? On the weekend, Glow Ball ups the ante with black lights and lasers. Tired of bowling? The Union Underground also boasts five pool tables, three air hockey tables, and one foosball table, each with cheap hourly rates.
Union Underground
Texas Union, 24th & Guadalupe
512/475-6670
universityunions.utexas.edu/underground
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photo by Aaron Sullivan
via X.com
What would wrestling in Texas be like without Biss? There'd be fewer stars, because he's booked and supported so many talents before they became TV mainstays. It would be less unified, because the man behind Austin's Inspire A.D. has always gone out of his way to work with other promoters, seeing them as friends and not rivals. And it wouldn't be as friendly, because no one cares for the crowd or the talent as much as Biss, the triple crown champion of the Texas wrestling scene.
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From the dissolution of one of the first all-woman soccer teams in Austin (FC Austin Elite) under not-so-great circumstances to becoming one of Austin’s premier soccer clubs, the women of Austin Rise FC embody their namesake. Founders Amanda Lisberger, Rachelle D’Amico, Erin Webb, Bethany Cyrtmus-DaVaul, and Katie Reed took their past trauma and in 2022 created a team that intentionally fosters community and offers women-identified athletes a safe space to express themselves and celebrate their love of the game.
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