Baseball players' union head hopeful of major leaguers participating in 2028 Olympics
'There's a lot of work that still needs to be done,' he told the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Tuesday. 'We do know players are interested in playing, whether it's for the Team USA or any number of other teams around the world. ... There's just a lot of conversation that needs to be had sooner rather than later to see how viable this is, but we're hopeful that we can figure our way through it for the benefit of the game."
The World Baseball Softball Confederation said Monday the baseball tournament will be played from July 15-20 at Dodger Stadium. Major League Baseball is considering whether it can interrupt its 2028 season to allow major leaguers to participate, which could necessitate changes to the sport's national television contracts.
MLB did not allow players on 40-man rosters to participate in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, when Nippon Professional Baseball interrupted its season and Japan beat the U.S. 2-0 in the gold medal game.
'In the event that major league players are going to play, what does that mean and what does that look like?" Clark said. "And perhaps just as importantly, what does it mean for those players who aren't participating? What type of scheduling adjustments need to be made? What type travel considerations and support need to considered? What does that means in regards to insurance?'
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USA Today
23 minutes ago
- USA Today
Fans, brands, players and parties: Here's what you missed at WNBA All-Star in Indy
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USA Today
23 minutes ago
- USA Today
WNBA fans jeer commissioner with 'Pay them!' chants during All-Star Game ceremony
During Saturday night's 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, basketball fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse decided to show their support for the players amid their ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the league. With the current WNBA CBA set to expire in October, WNBA players wore "Pay Us What You Owe Us" shirts during All-Star Game warmups to send a message to the league about improving the WNBA pay scale. The WNBA met with more than 40 players on Thursday in Indianapolis but seemingly made little, if any, progress on finding compromises for a new CBA, as the WNBA players association issued a critical statement after the meeting concluded. The players understandably want their salaries to increase as more and more revenue pours into the WNBA, and any compromise will almost assuredly feature a higher salary cap for the league's teams so that the athletes' average pay scale can increase. Plenty of fans let the league know whose side they were on during the All-Star Game postgame ceremony, where loud chats of "Pay them!" broke out as league commissioner Cathy Engelbert spoke. Fans also held up "Pay the players" signs in the stands. Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes also held up one of the "Pay the players" signs while ESPN's Holly Rowe interviewed All-Star Game MVP Napheesa Collier. While we're sure the CBA negotiations still have a ways to go, the WNBA had to hear the message from the players and the fans loud and clear during one of the biggest nights on the league's calendar. "Pay the players" will be one of the biggest takeaways from WNBA All-Star weekend, whether the league wants it to be or not. We'll see if this momentum breaks the ice any as negotiations continue.
Chicago Tribune
23 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
Napheesa Collier's record-breaking performance leads her team to victory in the WNBA All-Star Game
INDIANAPOLIS — Napheesa Collier scored a record 36 points to help her team beat Team Clark 151-131 in the WNBA All-Star Game that was devoid of defense and full of 4-point shots. This record offensive effort came a year after the league's annual exhibition game was a competitive contest that pitted the U.S Olympic team against WNBA All-Stars. The game capped off a weekend during which negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement took center stage. Players wore warmup T-shirts before the game that said 'Pay us what you owe us.' Collier was named the game's MVP. As she waited to get her trophy, the crowd chanted 'Pay them more,' and All-Star Brittney Sykes held up a sign saying 'Pay the Players.' Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese, an All-Star reserve for the second straight year, had six points and nine rebounds for Team Collier. Captain Caitlin Clark was unable to play for her team because of a groin injury she suffered earlier this week. She still served as ambassador for the weekend. Known for her logo 3-pointers, Clark would have loved a chance at the 28-foot 4-point shot that was added to this game. Both teams took advantage of the deep shot en route to the record-setting offensive night. The 151 points scored by Team Collier broke the mark of 143 in 2023. Collier's point total broke Arike Ogunbowale's previous record of 34 points last year. The combined total of 282 also surpassed the previous high of 270, set in 2023. While there was little defense, both teams challenged plays in the fourth quarter with the game not in doubt. One was successful and one wasn't. The game also featured first-year players Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen making up the largest rookie contingent at the game since 2011. Citron and Iriafen were on Team Clark, and Bueckers was a starter for Collier's team. Besides the 4-point shot, the game also included a 20-second shot clock instead of the normal 24 and the ability for teams to substitute during live play. There also were no free throws — not that there usually are many in an All-Star Game — until the final two minutes of the game. Instead players were automatically awarded the points. Skylar Diggins attempted the only free throws of the game with 1:01 left. She made both. All four rules had been used at some point during previous All-Star Games, but not all in the same one. The All-Star Game brought the stars out in Indianapolis. Rapper GloRilla performed at halftime while musicians Common and Jennifer Hudson sat courtside near WNBA greats Lisa Leslie and Tamika Catchings. Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton sat in a suite and received the loudest ovation from the crowd when he was shown on the videoboard.
